pilgrim people

The 23rd stated Classis Southwest U.S. of the URCNA met in Escondido on June 30-July 1, hosted by Escondido United Reformed Church. We adjourned at around 7.30pm on Wednesday. The greatest highlight of the meeting for our Consistory was watching Mr. Brad Lenzner and Mr. Mark Vander Pol sustain their candidacy exams. They are picutred here, surrounded by the members of the Christ URC Consistory (from left to right: Trent James, Matt Jumper, Mark Vander Pol, Roy Lopez, me, Brad Lenzner, Dan Palmer, Brett Watson, and Dave Butts). Both men are are now eligible for a call to the pastorate within the URCNA. Please pray that they receive calls soon.

For those of you who do not know, the URCNA candidacy exam is tough. It is not a cake-walk. It is open only to seminary graduates who are put forth by a Consistory. It is a closed-book, oral exam before the delegates of classis that lasts about five hours. It consists of seven areas: practica, Bible knowledge, exegesis and knowledge of original languages, confessions, Reformed doctrine, church history, and ethics. Moreover, the candidate is previously assigned an Old Testament text and a New Testament text and must submit an exegetical paper and written sermon on each, as well as a catechetical sermon. The candidate is grilled in these seven areas in order to test his knowledge, and is then subject to questions from the floor (i.e. other delegates). Not everyone passes these exams the first time they take them. By God's grace, and through the means of Brad and Mark's self-discipline and hard study, these two men sustained all seven areas. Soli Deo Gloria!

The rest of the two days of Classis was taken up with more examinations for two other candidates, church discipline cases (in which, according to our Church Order [namely, Article 55], local Consistories sought the advice of Classis before proceeding in the course of discipline), one overture, committee reports, home and foreign mission reports, and church visitor reports. Both days were filled with long hours of work (about 12 hours both days), and required from the delegates much concentration. Yet, the work was a joy and filled with encouragement and even some refreshment.

Other Classis highlights included:

• Excellent food and hospitality by the saints of Escondido United Reformed Church.
• Encouraging response and advice from delegates of Classis regarding the report of the work in Italy.
• Great fellowship with the brothers from the other churches in our Classis.
• Having Scott Clark present as a delegate (which, as you could imagine, made Classis a whole lot more fun - I think he should be a delegate every time).
• Seeing Rev. Derrick Vander Muelen in a tie for possibly the very last time. (He left for his new call in Kauai the following day.) We will see if he dons one for Synod. :-)

The Consistory returned from Classis encouraged and motivated in the work of the kingdom, and humbled by the opportunity to serve our Lord and his church. Thank you for your prayers.

The next Classis meeting is scheduled for January 19-20th in either Oceanside, CA or Ontario, CA (the location is yet to be confirmed).