I am in my seventh year of pastoring the congregation of Champlain Valley CRC in Vergennes, Vermont. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and two curious children. I spent most of my life in central Iowa where I worked in Information Technology and did lay ministry for several years before attending Calvin Seminary. Ministry keeps me quite occupied, and I'm encouraged by what the Lord is doing in the lives of many people I pastor. I also enjoy some needed breaks from ministry on outings with my family, beekeeping, and gardening.
leadership, ethics, discipleship, beekeeping, gardening, art
I am curious if anyone has experience providing individuals in financial trouble with interest-free loans as a ministry of benevolence. If so, could you share what you have learned from doing this? Are there legal issues I'm unaware of?
My posting was made in 2014 based on a family who asked our church to loan them money. They stated they would not accept a gift. We gave them $600 and told them if they wanted to give back to the...
This family does not want a hand out but the dignity that comes with getting over this hurtle in a way they can manage with the church's assistance. I don't know what Bill Vis means by "help them...
This seems like a rabbit trail to the real issue that I have not found very helpful. I have actually read everything Augustine wrote about Genesis 1-3 and wrote a paper about it in my ThM studies...
I want to speak in favor of Zylstra's freedom to begin a discussion like this about church discipline in the forum. He posted a question and offered what I understand is his belief about what the...
I am saddened by the polarization that happens on online forums like this. Discipline requires a process that would involve face to face communication and ample opportunities for those being...
Hi Terry. Will you be at classis ANEin March? I must not be clear as to what exactly the article 77 change is meant to accomplish or why it is part of deacons being delegates to synod. I...
We have read the report and are getting ourselves ready to discuss this at classis in a couple weeks. I speak for most people in my church and classis when I say that we endorse sending deacons...