Classis Watch: Spring 2026

Two or three times each year, Christian Reformed churches send representatives to their classes, regional assemblies of churches.

Many of the actions taken by classes are governed by the CRC’s Church Order, the rules that govern denominational life. Here are some of the actions by classes in the past several months. (Unless otherwise noted, quotations come from minutes of the classis. Links to the relevant articles of Church Order are included.)

Candidates examined and approved for ministry in the Christian Reformed Church (Arts. 6 and 10): David Kyo-Chan Koo.

Ministers welcomed from other denominations (Art. 8): Revs. Justin Njikeu and Samuel Kaha.

Ministers loaned (Art. 12-d): Revs. Mark Park to Choongsyn Korean Church (Reformed Church in America) in Flushing, N.Y.; and Samuel Kim to Sojourner Presbyterian Church in Paramus, N.J.

Ministers released from ministry in a congregation via Art. 17-a: Rev. Rodolfo Galindo from South Grandville (Mich.) CRC; Duane VanderLaan from Drayton (Ont.) Reformed Church.

Declared eligible for call: Duane VanderLaan and Dawei Shao.

Eligibility extended for Rev. Mark Van Drunen.

Leaving Ministry in the CRC

Classes may end a pastor’s ordained ministry status guided by Church Order articles 14 and 17. In the case of Art. 14, designations of release (reflecting the manner and spirit in which the minister acted during the time leading up to and including resignation from office) are “honorably released,” “released,” “dismissed,” or in the “status of one deposed.”

Honorably released via Art. 14-b: Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene; via Art. 14-c: John Moelker.

Dismissed via Art. 14-c: Jesse Eng.

Deposed via Art. 82-83: John Cleveringa.

Ministers retiring (Art. 18) (granted emeritus status): Revs. Tom Baird (effective Feb. 1, 2027), Steve DeVries, Frank Guter, Geok Keng Faith Lim, Rita Klein-Geltink, Bonny Mulder-Behnia, and Lesli van Milligen.

Resigned as minister emeritus (Art.18-b): Mariano Avila, Michael Bruinooge, Randall Buursma, Andrew De Jong, David Deters, William De Vries, Jack Kooreman, Sheryl Leisman, Al Mulder, Kenneth Pomykala, Jack Roeda, Sid Sybenga, James Stoel, Norman Thomasma, Bill Tuininga, William Vanden Bosch, Epke vander Berg, and Leonard Vander Zee.

Commissioned Pastors

Approved as commissioned pastors called to specific roles within their classes (Art. 23): Debbie DeVries and Rowan Scott (Ontario Southwest), Shawn England (Grand Rapids East), Zachariah Johnson (Thornapple Valley), Joshua Sinnema (Yellowstone), Josh Sweetman (Huron), and Joel Trinidad (Kalamazoo).

Ending service as commissioned pastors (Art. 24-d): Fred Kim (Classis Hudson) and David LaGrand, Lorraine Rong Li, and Carrie Rodgers (Grand Rapids East).

New Ministries and Ministry Changes

An emerging (unorganized) church does not have its own council and is under the care of the council of a neighboring CRC. An organized church has its own council (Art. 38).

Moved from “organized” to “unorganized” status: The River Church in Allegan, Mich. Classis Zeeland’s Missions Team has proposed “a ‘Death-Grave-Resurrection’ paradigm for a restart initiative over the next year.”

Disbanded, dissolved, or closed: First CRC in Zeeland, Mich.; Good News Church in New York, N.Y.; Green Meadow Community CRC in Helena, Mont. (had been emerging); Hanley CRC in Grandville, Mich.; Joy Love Church in Oakland Gardens, N.Y. (had been emerging); New Community Church of Newaygo, Mich. (had been emerging).

Other Matters

The council of Nobleford (Alta.) CRC was appointed “to serve, temporarily, as the supervising council of High River (Alta.) CRC” at a March 13 meeting of Classis Alberta South/Saskatchewan, held in executive (closed) session. The public minutes note that classis discussed recommendations of the Classis Interim Committee and classically appointed church visitors, deciding “the supervising council will appoint a Steering Committee consisting of 5-6 members of classis … (that) will provide resources, direction and counsel to the High River CRC with the purpose of providing reconciliation and restoration among its members. The Steering Committee will call upon the expertise of Thrive and others to facilitate the movement back toward a healthy church status.”

High River CRC is not currently served by a pastor, with its most recent pastor taking a call to an Iowa church in March 2025.

Church visitors are officebearers assigned by classis to visit member congregations yearly and “ascertain whether the officebearers of the church faithfully perform their duties, adhere to sound doctrine, observe the provisions of the Church Order, and promote the building up of the body of Christ and the extension of God’s kingdom,” according to Church Order Art. 42.

Classis Hamilton, with 13 member churches, has eight active searches for ministers. From the agenda for the meeting of May 26, 2026: “Classis Hamilton now has 13 churches. Six are without a pastor, and two additional congregations are each short one pastor from a team. Classis Hamilton is looking for eight ministers.”