Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene
I have been working in the classis level of church life for almost eight years. While attending Tyndale Seminary in Toronto in 2003 I began working half-time for Classis Toronto as their first Ministry Coordinator. I still work for them half-time but my life has changed significantly in the last seven plus years.
A few months before beginning with Classis Toronto I married David Koene. We are now the proud parents of two boys, Job 4 years old and David is two, and are looking forward to another addition this summer.
In the last seven years I also finished my MDiv at Tyndale and took the required courses for the EPMC program at Calvin Seminary. I was called by Hope Fellowship this year and was ordained May 27, 2011. Now I serve Classis Toronto as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament.
Posted in: Do You Take Your Classis to the Doctor?
I really like this list, Karl. I think it is right on. Have you ever experienced a classis meeting where any of these things are present? What difference did that make? For those who want to see some of these things happen, do you have any ideas of how to make these things happen?
In Classis Toronto we are getting good at sitting in ways that promote community and mutualty - by sitting at round tables rather than in pews - it does help with disucssion but it limits where we can have the meetings as not all churches can accomodate fifty plus people around tables. We are also trying to be very intentional about praying for each other - at each classis meeting at least six churches share and we spend time praying for those churches.
Something that I've been thinking about lately is how to be sure that everyone is heard. So often discussions are dominated by five to ten people who feel comfortable talking in large group settings and many people are not heard. They may have a lot of wisdom to give to a decision or discussion but the style of discussion oes not promote this. Any ideas about how to encourage everyone to be heard?