Contents[Show]
Day Three of the 2024 PRC Synod
The PRC Synod will begin its Thursday morning session at 8 a.m. in Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI). After opening devotions, the seminary professors and delegates will continue with the oral examination of Sem. Arend Haveman.
The exam will begin with questions on Church Polity by Prof. B. Gritters (45 mins), followed by Church History by Prof. D. Kuiper (45 mins), OT History by Prof. B. Huizinga (45 mins), NT History by Prof. R. Cammenga (45 mins) and, finally, Practica by Rev. W. Langerak (20 mins).The livestream of this examination may be found here on Trinity PRC's Sermonaudio channel.
May the Lord grant grace to the brother for this final part of his examination.
Prof. B. Gritters examining Sem. A. Haveman in church polity.
Prof. D. Kuiper examining Sem. A. Haveman in church history.
Prof. B. Huizinga examining in OT History.
Prof. R. Cammenga examining in NT History for the final time.
Rev. W. Langerak examining Arend H. in Practica (practical matters relating to the ministry)
*UPDATE:Synod has unanimously approved all aspects of Arend Haveman's examination and declared him a candidate for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the PRC, eleigible for a call on or after July 15.We praise God for upholding the brother and enabling him to give a good testimony of his readiness for the work of a pastor. Now may the Lord soon provide a call and place of labor for him in the churches. Great is the goodness and faithfulness of our God!
Rev. W. Langerak (Arend's pastor) announcing the decision of Synod 2024 to approve his examination and declare hima candidate for the ministry in the PRC and her sister churches.
Synod's delegates, family, and friends congratulating Arend H.
The PR Theological Seminary commencement program for Arend will be held this evening in Trinity PRC beginning at 7:30 p.m. Prof. B. Huizinga will give the address on "The Minister's Fixed Heart."All are invited to attend in person or online through Trinity's livestream.Refreshments and fellowship will be enjoyed afterward.
Here are a few photos from the seminary commencement program (thanks to John Van Baren!):
Prof. B. Huizinga giving commencement address
Candidate A. Haveman receiving his diploma
Some of the crowd congratulating Cand. A. Haveman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report of Synod of the PRCA
Day 3, June 13, 2024
This morning synod concluded the examination of Seminarian Arend Haveman. He answeredquestions about Church Polity, Church History, Old Testament History, New Testament History,and on more personal matters in an exam section called Practica. At the conclusion of theexam synod met in closed session and unanimously approved the exam and declared brother Haveman a Candidate for the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments in the PRCA. He is eligiblefor a call on or after July 13, 2024. When he receives a call, he will have six weeks to consider itbefore answering. We thank God for gifting our churches with another man for the ministry ofthe word.
Synod began the afternoon session by considering matters pertaining to the work of theDomestic Mission Committee (DMC). Synod expressed thanks to Rev. Jim Laning and his wifeMargaret for their work in bringing the gospel to places in the USA and in Europe. Synodapproved the work the DMC is doing to redesign the website (prca.org), to develop a concretefield for the labor’s of Rev. Laning, to expand the use of radio for spreading the word of God,
and to develop a mission manual for use in our churches.
Synod continued in session to consider the report of the Theological School Committee(TSC). Highlights include:
-ATTENTION PLEASE: I was asked by a member of the 100th anniversary committee tohighlight this part of the report: “Archives: For 2023, about 30 boxes of archived materials wereadded from a variety of PRCA sources. With the PRCA’s 100th anniversary to be celebratednext year (2025) and a significant book to be published by a special committee, the archivistis looking for any sized donations of historical documents, pictures, memorabilia, andrecordings to preserve and promote PRC history. This includes denominational,congregational, organizational, and family/personal materials.”
-Students enrolled for the 2023-2024 school year included fourth-year student ArendHaveman, third-year student Aaron VanDyke (scheduled to begin an internship in Wingham,Ontario on July 1), second-year student Bruce Feenstra, and first-year student Isaac VanBaren.
-Joe Ophoff was approved by synod for admission to the seminary for the fall semester of2024.
-Prof. Doug Kuiper was granted tenure as Professor of Church History and New TestamentStudies.
-Prof. Barry Gritters was approved for teaching another year at the seminary as his teachingduties continue to be transitioned to Professor Cory Griess.
-Prof. Ronald Cammenga completed his final year as Professor of Dogmatics and OldTestament Studies after 20 years of faithful labors in our seminary. The transition fromProfessor Cammenga to Professor Huizinga is now complete.
-Synod expressed appreciation to Professors R. Cammenga, C. Griess, B. Gritters, B.Huizinga, and D. Kuiper, as well as to Mr. Charles Terpstra, Miss Valerie Kleyn, and Mrs.Bethany Engelsma, and the TSC for their faithful work on behalf of the churches in theseminary.
Synod also treated one part of the Contact Committee’s report, namely, a proposal to establisha Corresponding Relationship with the BERG. The BERG is well known to many members ofthe PRCA, but for those who do not know, it is a German congregation whose name translatesin English to Confessing Protestant Reformed Congregation. In the PRCA a CorrespondingRelationship is a formal relationship that is established by the PRCA with another church wherethere is significant disagreement that precludes the establishment of the closest formalrelationship, a Sister Church relationship, but there is also widespread agreement that warrantsestablishing a formal/official relationship. The committee of pre-advice proposed postponingthe establishment of the Corresponding Relationship between the PRCA and the BERG. Thisrecommendation was voted down by synod. The committee of pre-advice will formulate a newrecommendation for synod to treat either tomorrow or sometime next week.
Synod recessed for the day a little after 5:00pm so that the delegates could attend thegraduation ceremony for Candidate Haveman at 7:30pm. Hopefully you were able to attend ortune into the graduation.
For Synod 2024,
Rev. C. Spronk, Second Clerk
