Louis Tamminga
Elders have played a prominent part during my ministry years. Foremost, of course, during my years as a parish pastor. (I served congregations in British Columbia, Alberta, Iowa, and Ontario). But then also when I served, for a dozen years, in the denominational Pastor-Church Relations ministry. It was there that I learned even more how important elders are to their pastors, and, broader, to their congregations.
Soon after I began that ministry, a development took place of which I had, initially, not seen the importance. I was regularly invited to lead elders' workshops. They became important experience to me. Many questions surfaced there. I made it a practice to always write them down. Still further along, I wrote little essays on each of those questions. All that, in due time, led to writing the ELDER'S HANDBOOK which enjoyed broad interest. Many councils gave the new elders a copy for their personal use. (Faith Alive also published a companion volume, the DEACON'S HANDBOOK, around that time.)
Following my retirement, I began a twelve-year volunteer ministry with Chr. Ref. World Missions. This enabled World Misisons to provide some pastoral care to world missionaries. My wife Jean and I traveled to most mission areas and conducted retreats for missionaries and national leaders.
Jean and I grew up in the Netherlands, spent several years in Canada and have lived in Grand Rapids since 1980. We have six children (of whom the youngest died in a traffic accident) and ten grandchildren.
Posted in: Internet Culture
prayer
O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life,
until the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in thy mercy,
grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest,
and peace at last,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
== Cardinal Newman
Posted in: Classical Renewal Prairie Style
Louis Tamminga
Thank you, Norman, for these helpful lines! You have entered upon a strategic ministry. You did it with vision and trust. Our prayers accompany you and your fellow-workers.
Many church leaders across the denomination realize that your challenge is theirs.
The 2014 Yearbook that appeared just a few weeks ago reports that the total number of members of the CRC stands at 245.217.
The Yearbook of 2013 reported hat figure to stand at 248.258.
The reduction was a significant 3.041.
But we look at all figures in the light of the Gospel, its challenges, and its power. Keep writing, Norm.
May 3, 2014
Posted in: (re) Introducing Jolanda
Nice you are on board, Kim!
You have already been a great help to me.
You have a heart for this work.
We hope you will stay around for many decades!
Louis
PS. The same holds for Tim !!!
Posted in: Lent and Lonely People
Thanks so much for your good words, Leon!
You yourself will be the beneficiary of what you propose.
Hurrah for Southern Alberta!
Louis
(sorry for the delay of my response...)
Posted in: Jake: A Tribute
Whose heart will not have been touched by this tribute in honor of a man who loved the Kingdom and the youth of the church. Jake Hiemstra left a trail of goodness and spiritual health. His family will so miss him; so will the Christian community and a large number of young people, whose friend and mentor he was.
It is heart-warming to read these lines of appreciation and praise. Church communities will grow in quality and integrity when experiences of love and unity are also voiced, even written down. The Tribute to Jake above is a splendid example.
Louis
Posted in: But What Will I Say?
Louis Tamminga
"But what will I say ?"
Some fine advice here. Thoughtful, empathetic presence goes such a long way. Loving gestures too!
But a helpful pastoral visit also needs more.
The sick and lonely will invariably struggle with burdensome questions. Both spiritual and material.
The visitor should not hesitate to inquire carefully and lovingly about the things of the heart. If the patient is not of a mind to reveal any, he/she will so indicate. But it may lead to a setting of listening to concerns the patient is willing, or eager even, to reveal. Without trying to give solutions, the visitor will listen, speak a word of encouragement and conclude the visit with voicing these needs in prayer to God.
Posted in: Why Every Elder Needs a Deacon
March 6, 2014.
Thanks for your comment, John.
Your point is well taken. When councils are small, there will be overlap, all for the good. It demonstrates that the three offices have some in-built similarities. And the office of evangelist embodies all three.
Not surprising, since they serve the one congregation and represent the one Lord and Master, the great office-bearer, Prophet, Priest, and King. Paul the Apostle served as a Deacon when he brought gifts to the needy congregation of Jerusalem from believers in Macedonia and Achaia (Romans 15). Philip and Stephen, both Deacons (Acts 6), served also as Evangelists. Philip baptized the governent official from Ethiopia (Acts 8) and Stephen preached to the Sanhedrin (Acts 7).. Officebearers are called "Shepherds" in Acts 20:228 & 1 Peter 5:2.
However, when you read the Forms for the Ordination/Installation of Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, you will see that each of the three offices does have its own specific thrust.
Blessings on your work!
Lou
Posted in: Making a Sick Visit
Louis Tamminga
April17, 2014
I appreciate Smitty's appeal to James 5:14 and Gal. 6:2. The first text bids the sick to call the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil. The second tells believers to carry each other's burdens. Let's heed these invitations to the letter. Yes, there will be situations where it is proper to cry with the suffering and laugh with them too.
What I fail to see is how these texts and this laudable approach relate to the Pope's advice to his priests to get out of their churches and "getting messy" in this broken world, and that "all of us need to get messy in our broken world."
We as elders have our districts and among the members will be some who are confined to beds of illness. We must visit them. We will not just come waltzing in and hug and laugh as we see fit. Rather, we visit with grace, sensitivity and courtesy We will come at a time that suits their routine,. And when making calls in the neighborhood such preparations will even more be a necessity.
If I must one day keep to my bed because of illness, I would hope that my elder would honor me that way.
Posted in: When Churches Lose Members
Neil Koning wrote a splendid article on Funeral Services. He makes several good points. Pondering on all this now, I remember how we at pastors' gettogether would discuss the difficult aspects of this pastoral task. Nell gives good advice. What I personally often struggled with was: to what extend do we use the pulpit at such services to preach the gospel? Neil stresses that the community can expected to be present. To some extend community members can are, to some extend, a captive audience. Also, where do we place the emphasis ... commemorating the life and person of the deceased, or on the worship service itself? The Church Order says: "Funerals are not ecclesiastical but family affairs.." Then adds: " ... and they should be conducted accordingly." So, what does that mean, exactly? Synods before and after added little light or guidance.
So, what think ye?
Posted in: Elders and Members Keeping in Contact
Jim, thank you for your remarks.
My excuses for my late response.
More observation and research need yo be made. Has it been established that those who leave have a history of non-participation? Whatever the answer, congregations will profit from a ministry that focusses on creating an atmosphere of togetherness, congeniality, and participation. The second half of your comment actually establishes that ideal. It seems to me that a ministry thus designed and practised will contribute toward keeping more members with the church. And it will draw new member to the church.
I wonder what theexperience of pastors around the continent has been.
Posted in: When Churches Lose Members
One pastor contacted me and suggested that the reason for member-loss is basically two-folf:
l. CRC members are not vigorous witnesses of the gospel; the CRC faces a spiritual malaise, and 2. the religious landscape in the US and Canada is such that established churches have lost their appeal because of deeper sociological reasons. The populations of these two nations diverge into two camps: those for whom religion has lost its appeal, and those who find a spiritual home in evangelical churches more expressive of the faith.
Perhaps some of the readers of NETWORK willwant to comment.
Posted in: A Grateful Goodbye
This is long overdue...
But I believe that the elders who read these Network comments will have sensed deep gratitude to Neil De Koning for his helpful leadership! Neil has served several congregations with distinction. He served the denomination with equal distinction. I think of Neil with deep appreciation. Our friendship goes back to a church in Toronto when I taught catechism and Neil was member of the class. His devotion to his Sender was evident then already.
Blessing to you and yours, Neil,
Louis