Canadian Reformed Churches held May 27, 2010
The meeting was opened by Dr. G. Nederveen. He read Psalm 146 and led in prayer. G.
Nordeman, K. Veldkamp and B. Hordyk were absent with notice.
The Minutes of the meeting of January 28, 2010 were approved. The new governors appointed
by the recently held Synod, Rev. R. Aasman and Rev. J. Ludwig, submitted letters indicating
they had accepted their positions. They also signed a Statement of Compliance. The following
were elected to serve as executive: Chair: Rev. R. Aasman; Vice: K. Veldkamp; Secretary: Dr.
A.J Pol; Treasurer: H. Kampen. Words of appreciation were spoken to the retiring Board
members, Dr. G. Nederveen and Rev. R.A. Schouten, who then left the meeting.
The Board noted with gratitude that Dr. J. VanVliet and Dr. J. Smith had accepted their
appointments to the departments of Dogmatology and Old Testament respectively. The process
has begun to move Dr. Smith and his family to the Hamilton area during the summer. The Lord
willing, they will arrive sometime in August. With respect to the appointment of Dr. Smith, it is
noted that he has served the Church at Albany for only five years after a vacancy of four years.
As the churches may express thankfulness for having the vacancy at the College filled, it would
also be fitting to remember the needs of the church at Albany in its upcoming vacancy.
Rev. J. DeGelder requested to be released from his appointment as lecturer in Church Polity due
to the need to reduce his workload outside his congregation. The Board accepted his request and
noted with appreciation the seven years he taught Church Polity. A letter of appreciation will be
sent to Rev. DeGelder as well as to the Council of the Church at Flamborough for giving their
minister the opportunity to teach at the College. The Board was informed that Dr. Nelson
Kloosterman is available on a part-time basis to teach Church Polity. He is well qualified to
teach this course, being very familiar with Reformed Church Polity. In 1991 he obtained his
Th.D. from the Theological University of the Reformed Churches (liberated) in Kampen, the
Netherlands, with a dissertation on Scandalum Infirmorum et Communio Sanctorum: The
Relation between Christian Liberty and Neighbor Love in the Church. In addition to co-editing
and writing numerous articles for the Mid-America Journal of Theology, and writing for various
church magazines, Dr. Kloosterman has translated and published several books, including The
Ten Commandments: Manual for the Christian Life, and Responsible Conduct: Principles of
Christian Ethics, by J. Douma; Preaching and the History of Salvation, by C. Trimp; and Saved
By Grace: The Holy Spirit's Work in Calling and Regeneration, by Herman Bavinck.
He has also served many years on the Joint Church Order Committee. The Board appointed Dr.
Kloosterman as lecturer in Church Polity at our Theological College for the next academic year.
The Board received reports from various committees. It was noted that the application to the
Association of Theological Schools will be formally dealt with at a meeting of ATS to be held in
June in Montreal. Membership in this Association has been pursued with a view to doing a
comprehensive internal review of the College, as mandated by Synod Smithers 2007.
The next meeting was scheduled for September 9, 2010. Rev. R. Aasman led in prayer after
which he closed the meeting.
On behalf of the Board,
Rev. E. Kampen
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