Press Release for the Board of Governors of the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches [Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary] for a meeting held on March 1, 2012
The Board of Governors met at the Seminary Facilities in Hamilton, Ontario on March 1, 2012. Present at the meeting were Archie J. Bax, Hank Kampen (Treasurer), Rev Richard Aasman (Chairman), Barry Hordyk, Dr. Andrew J. Pol (Secretary), Rev. Willem B. Slomp, Rev Eric Kampen, Rev John VanWoudenberg, Rev John Ludwig and Karl J. Veldkamp (Vice-Chairman/Corresponding Clerk). Regrets: Lammert Jagt. The Principal, Dr. G.H. Visscher also was present. The meeting was opened by Rev R. Aasman with the reading of Mark 8:22-38and prayer.
Memorabilia
In our memorabilia we remembered the recent birth of Joelle Adina Van Vliet, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Van Vliet. The mother of Rev Slomp was also remembered, as she was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Minutes, Agenda & Officers of the Board - The minutes of the Board meeting held on September 8, 2011, with amendments and clarifications, were adopted. The agenda for the meeting was settled.
Correspondence of Note
a. Press Release for September 8, 2011 Board meeting
b. A letter of appreciation sent to the council of the Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church for the assistance provided by Rev J. Ludwig in leading a course on Church Polity.
c. A letter sent to the Deputies for Training for the Ministry (appointed by Synod 2009 of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia) regarding their inquiries and desire for comprehensive consideration of some form of distance education for the freshmen year.
d. A letter received from the Review Committee in connection with the Superannuation Fund. This was responded to by the Finance and Property Committee.
e. An invitation to the Synod of the United Reformed Churches to be held in New York State in July, 2012 was considered. Representatives of the Seminary were delegated to attend.
f. Letter of appreciation received from Dr. C. Van Dam relating to the open house organized in connection with his 40th anniversary in the ministry of the Gospel.
g. Request of Dr. A.J. De Visser relating to approval for a sabbatical for him, tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2013. This is approved in principle, subject to the submission of a comprehensive proposal and confirming the availability of a suitable replacement.
Receipt of Reports-Material Agenda Items:
a. Exit Surveys – The process for soliciting exit surveys from previous students at the Seminary, the confidentiality safeguards included and the proper process by which the responses were vetted, with the involvement of the Senate was considered. It was acknowledged that the limited sampling size and relatively small community presented challenges in achieving the full intent of the surveys.
b. Visits to the Lectures – The Revs. E. Kampen and J. Van Woudenberg provided their report on the visits to the lectures completed in the fall of 2011. The reports were very positive and presented and received with gratitude.
c. Principalship – The Board affirmed the existing policy of a rotating principalship, whilst concurrently affirming that current circumstances and recent appointments of professors did not allow for regular rotations. It was acknowledged that extensions of current terms may be necessary from time to time. This will be revisited at the Board meeting scheduled for September, 2012, d.v.
d. Finance & Property Committee Matters – Note was taken that the Board should be vigilant in ensuring that compliance documents are signed by all requisite members of the Board, Staff, Faculty and Senate. It was reported that a review was being conducted to ensure that there were systems in place whereby minutes of the Board and/or Finance and Property – as may be appropriate, are distributed to the Australian Deputies.
e. January 2013 Conference – 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism – The status report on this conference was received [scheduled for January 18-19, 2013, d.v.]. Initial indications suggest a substantive conference of lasting value. At the same time that the conference planning continues, it was confirmed that a website, www.Heidelberg-catechism.com, will be developed and managed by the Seminary.
f. Second Annual Theological Conference held at the CRTS on Jan. 13-14, 2012 regarding Reformed Evangelism and Church Planting. This conference was reportedly very well received and attended. The preaching seminar held as a follow on to the conference was seen as beneficial to all participants, particularly the students.
g. Reports on the following conferences, where Professors either presented or attended (or both) were received:
i. Bavinck Conference 2011- Dr. J. VanVliet.
ii) British Columbia Speaking Tour, Oct. 22-29, 2011, by Dr. J. Smith
iii) ETS (“Evangelical Theological Society”) Conference, Nov. 16-18, 2011 - Dr. A.J. De Visser and Dr. G. H. Visscher.
iv) Society of Biblical Literature, Nov. 19-21, 2011 - Dr. J. Smith.
v) Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents, Jan. 4-7, 2012. Dr. G. H. Visscher. These meetings were observed as being very helpful to the accreditation process and the continuing presence of the Seminary within ATS.
h. Governance Matters – It was confirmed that the proposal for amendments to incorporate the concept of adjuncts was reviewed by K. Veldkamp and submitted to the Governance committee for their consideration. This will be finalized at the board meeting scheduled for September, 2012. Updates to the College Handbook were received and approved. The governance committee was mandated to develop an orientation policy for new board members, Faculty and staff.
i. Pastoral Training Program – The annual report of Dr. A.J De Visser was received with thankfulness. The report by the coordinator demonstrated that this program continues to function well for the benefit of the churches and the students.
j. Accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools (Pittsburgh, PA) – Interim reports from the four working sub committees were received and where necessary guidance and advice was provided.
k. Search Committee – Fifth Professor – This committee provided an update as to their activities and current action, in the full understanding that any recommendation is fully conditional on the synod of the churches to be convened in 2013 approving the appointment of a fifth professor. With the withdrawal of Rev E. Kampen from this sub committee, Rev R. Aasman was appointed as his replacement.
l. Board Appointments by Regional Synods – It was observed that the matter of ministerial appointments to the Board of Governors by regional synods was not regularly added as a specific agenda item for regional synods in a timely manner. It was further observed that this is a matter for the convening churches and should be included in the regulations for regional synods. It was left to the individual board members to consider having this matter addressed at their local consistory level so as to bring the matter to the attention of a classis and ultimately to a regional synod.
Next meeting of the Board was tentatively scheduled for September 6, 2012, d.v.
Press Release and Closing
The completion of the Press Release is delegated to the Vice Chairman in consultation with the Executive and the meeting was closed with prayer and thanksgiving.
On behalf of the Board of Governors of the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches, Karl J. Veldkamp, Vice Chairman/Corresponding Clerk
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