OFFICE-BEARERS’S CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Ministers, elders, and deacons live in a time that necessitates a humble attempt to be a hand and foot to one another in office-bearing concerns. This conviction urged Classis West to present to Synod 1980 the following point:

Classis requests Synod to discuss the possibility of having a special minister-elder conference on a regular basis, having ministers and/or elders speak on practical topics for the profit and instruction of office-bearers.

Synod unanimously approved this request and “also expressed the hope that such conferences could also be held at the classical level so that attendance would be possible for many office-bearers who could not attend Synod’s conferences due to distance.”

The first of such conferences was held at Waupun, Wisconsin, on March 25,1981. Rev. L. Kieboom spoke on Spiritual Growth and Rev. J.R. Beeke on Personal Obstacles in Office-bearing and their Solutions (part I, II). At the request of Ontario office-bearers, a second conference was held on January 9, 1982, in St. Catharines, Ontario. A third conference at the synodical level was scheduled for June 15, 1982, as follows:

2:00–2:40 Rev. W.C. Lamain: The Most Important Thing in Office-bearing

2:40–2:50 Questions answered

2:50–3:30 Rev. A.M. Den Boer: Do We Need Church Order?

3:30–3:50 Coffee Break

3:50–4:00 Questions answered

4:00–4:40 Rev. J.R. Beeke: Personal Obstacles in Office-bearing and Their Solutions (Part V, VI)

4:40–4:50 Questions answered

Ever since 1982, such office-bearers’s conferences have continued to be held. Currently, all three classes regularly hold such conferences to the mutual benefit of all involved. The Synodical Office-bearers’s Conferences in particular have been highly appreciated. Topics and speakers since 1982 have included:

1984 Conference

The Arminian Conflict in Dutch Theology by Rev. A.W. Verhoef.

Teaching Catechism by Elder N. Greendyk.

1986 Conference

Children by Elder C. Moerdyk.

Plodding On in the Strength of Christ: Hints for Improvement in Office-bearing by Rev. J.R. Beeke.

1988 Conference

The Names of God and Office-bearing by Rev. J. Spaans

Practical Thoughts for Office-bearing in the Eighties by Elder H. Kamp.

May God’s richest blessing rest upon these conferences. May He provide converted and called office-bearers among us who are personally acquainted with a Godfearing dependency upon the great and only Office-bearer, Jesus Christ, through whom and from whom all office-bearing instruction must ultimately be received.

Finally, a word is in order concerning possible subject matter at office-bearer conferences since they are still relatively new in our circles. Perhaps there is no better way to convey what office-bearer conferences are intended to be by suggesting possible topics. To name only a few, consider the possible potential of office-bearing instruction when the following topics may be discussed with one another, seeking the Spirit’s blessing:

The Institution, History, and Purpose of Church Offices

The External and Internal Call to Office-bearing

The Office-bearer’s Relationship to God, Himself, Family, and Congregation

Consistory Life and Relationship of Offices to Each Other

Satanic Devices in Office-bearing

Congregational Obstacles in Office-bearing and Their Solutions

Difficulties and Encouragements in Office-bearing

Training the Youth in Catechism and Sunday School

Choosing and Constructively Judging Sermons

Exercising Christian Discipline in its Various Steps

Handling Special Types and Cases of Persons

Handling Ordinary Conversation

Conversing with Sinners Under Natural and/or Saving Convictions

Spiritualizing: It’s Boundaries, Asets, and Dangers

Taking Heed to Ourselves and the Flock

The Office-bearer’s Relationship to Christian School Education

The Necessity of the Holy Spirit in Office-bearing

Reformed Principles of Church Government

Preparing for Classis and Synod

Congregational Gatherings

Visiting the Sick

Counseling

Leadership

Public Worship

How to Deal with Criticism

Visiting God’s People

Shepherding

Public Prayer

Family Visitation

Preserving True Doctrine

Handling Confession of Guilt

To date we have not met one office-bearer who has not felt the worthwhileness of such office-bearer discussions/ topics in our circles. It is hoped that these conferences will continue to promote much God-glorifying and profitable instruction.

Office-Bearers’s Conference Committee

Members: 4

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Pres. • 729 Willow Run, Wyckoff, NJ 07481

Dr. J.R. Beeke, Clerk • 2115 Romence, N.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49503

Mandate:

To facilitate relevant conferences on office-bearing duties.

Recent Tasks:

Hosting of Classical and Synodical Office-bearers’s Conferences.

Addresses are available on tape for $2 each from “The Tape Room,”

540 Crescent Ave, N.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49503.

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