July 16, 2019
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Classis by Video
Can classis meetings happen by video? Should they?
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Write your own blog post to share your ministry experience with others.
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June 6, 2019
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Classis as a Worshiping Community
What does it mean for a classis to worship and pray as a community of churches?
February 8, 2018
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Who Is a Stated Clerk and What Does a Clerk Do?
You might be surprised at the varied, changing, and expanding role assumed by your classical stated clerk. Here's how I experienced my role in the winter of 2017-18 in Classis Lake Superior.
January 25, 2018
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Collecting Classis Delegate Information
Some shared wisdom & experience from Stated Clerks on collecting credentials and other delegate information ahead of the meeting.
September 13, 2017
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Strengthening Ministry Relationships
I recently asked the CRC Pastors’ Facebook Group what they wanted to tell CRCNA staff about our connection to classes. There were many responses, but here is the main nugget: show you care about us.
November 22, 2016
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Classis: Near and Far
Classis is like a set of bifocal lenses. There are times when we need to look close by, and times when we need to look farther. Do you agree that classis functions this way or is there a better metaphor?
October 20, 2015
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Who Does Classis Serve?
In one classis where I served, most of our attention and energy was focused elsewhere. Even though we had our share of struggling congregations, time was mostly taken up with denominational issues.
August 11, 2015
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Trusting the Spirit
In response to the news that choosing by lot had been part of the selection process, someone commented that it was good to see us trusting the Spirit just a little. What do you think?
July 27, 2015
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Classis Renewal - The Momentum Builds
Classis was in the spotlight at synod—in part because of the big structure decision! Synod also asked to take a hard look at the purpose and structure of classis. This is momentous for classis leaders.
June 30, 2015
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Weighing Classical Exams
Over the last ten years classis Chatham has conducted more than fifteen exams. My overall impression is that one exam is pretty much like another, even though the purpose of each exam is different.
June 18, 2015
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By Any Other Name
My father was ordained as an evangelist. Though he served under a different title, the work he did is not that much different from what I do as a minister of the Word.
May 22, 2015
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Classical Appointment, an Endangered Species?
The classical appointment might be an endangered species. While understandable given a surfeit of preaching resources available, its passing may further fray our communal identity.
April 29, 2015
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Clear the Decks
I once read that organizations should periodically clear the decks, disband every committee, and run lean for a season. Classes may soon be given the opportunity to do something like this...
April 14, 2015
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Long Pastorates, an Old Problem?
“The extremely long pastorates of our day place a great strain on many a congregation and especially upon its minister.”That comment may sound familiar, but it is not new.
April 7, 2015
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Diakonia Redux: Will Deacons Get a Voice?
I am not sure I’ve ever heard a deacon speak up at classis. We will soon be able to test whether this is simply a failure of my own perception.
March 12, 2015
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Break It Up
Years ago I was a guest at a Presbytery meeting that broke into advisory committees. I recently heard of a CRC classis that did the same. Why don’t more classes break up the work in this way?
February 19, 2015
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One Hundred
Is 100 members the threshold for congregational viability? If so, what might that mean for congregations seeking pastors and candidates seeking a call?
February 6, 2015
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Self Diagnosis and Church Visiting
“I doubt that church visiting is very effective anymore.” In spite of comments like that, church visiting is one way classes can help strengthen congregations.
January 30, 2015
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Does Classis Help Churches?
While talking with a church council, it became clear that few members could remember a time when their church felt engaged and motivated by classis. Few knew much about classis at all.
January 21, 2015
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What Do Ministers Do?
Over time our official descriptions of what pastors do have grown longer. The latest evidence is a recommendation to add engaging in “the work of diaconal outreach” to the list.
January 11, 2015
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Classical Transitional Specialist
Classis is the front line for leadership development, deployment and support for the CRC yet most classes struggle with consistency and follow-through with basic tasks.
January 5, 2015
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Best Classis Ever
“It was the most fun Classis I’ve ever attended.”
An unusual word to describe a gathering of delegates, pastors, elders, and deacons. What ‘fun’ things happened in those hours from 4:00-9:00 p.m.?
December 25, 2014
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9 Things I Appreciate About Classis
What makes the classis structure so valuable? Here's a few of the things I've come to notice and like about classis.
December 9, 2014
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Classical Consultants
In “Why Staff?” I suggested that unclear expectations may be one reason many classical staff positions seem to be falling by the wayside. Another reason might rest in the nature of the positions; they cannot help but function as consultants.