Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Call to Order
Roll Call:
VanBunschooten Bequest
Report of the Administrative Council Meetings of July 7 and September 14, 2009
R1 That the Budget for 2010, as prepared by the Administrative Council, be adopted.
Candidate Care
Justice/Mercy
New ministries
Miscellaneous
Adjournment
MINUTES
THE CLASSIS OF NEW BRUNSWICK, RCA
Monocacy Valley Church, Ijamsville, MD, May 30, 2009
The Classis of New Brunswick met for its Stated Session on Saturday May 30, 2009 at the Monocacy
Valley Church in Ijamsville, MD starting at 12:00 P.M. with lunch after having been welcomed by the
members of the congregation and their pastor, Mark Vander Meer.
Worship: After lunch, the Worship Team of the congregation led the Classis in worship with Mark
Vander Meer preaching, and conducting the communion service.
Call to Order: The Stated Session was called to order by the President, Christopher Vande Bunte.
Roll Call:
Monocacy Valley Rev. Mark Vander Meer Elder Martin Mulhern
Brielle Rev. Keith Schmitt
Colts Neck Rev. Scott Brown Elder Nancy Ruiter
Rev. Chris Vande Bunte
Grace, Edison Elder Alan Slaight Elder Sylvia Engel
Franklin Park Six Mile Run Elder Robin Suydam
Freehold Rev. Christopher Jacobsen Elder William Barth
Hazlet, Faith
Highland Park Elder Frances Schell
Keyport Rev. E.J. Emerson
Linden Rev. David Groeneveld
Long Branch Rev. Jane Price
Manahawkin, Ocean Elder Ken Gibson
Marlboro, Old Brink Rev. John Sanders Elder Mary Brotherton
Metuchen Rev. Richard Ruch
Middlebush Rev. George Montanari
Middletown
1st New Brunswick Rev. Hartmut Kramer-Mills
Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills
2nd New Brunswick
New Brunswick, Suydam
North Brunswick
North Plainfield, Trinity Elder James Beil Elder Joel Kenderline
Perth Amboy, St. Paul’s
South River
Spotswood Elder Jennifer Mullen-Somer
Tinton Falls Rev David De Forest
Toms River, Pinelands Elder Muriel Maat
Whiting Community Elder Carol Babinsky Elder Tony Thorne
Willingboro Rev. Susan Klimstra
Page 1 of 3
Rev. Frederick Mold Jr. Rev. Eltje Brunemeyer Rev. Renee House
Rev. Frederick Mold Rev. Samir Youssef
Students Present:
Rev. Ursula Gargill
Excused Absences:
VOTED (’09-66) that the following persons be excused
Rev. Ben Alicia Rev. Philip Bakelaar Rev. Peter Berry
Rev. Richard Blake Rev. Shari Brink Rev. Stephanie Kaper-Dale
Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale Rev. Ben Lin Rev.Timothy Lowe
Rev. Osy Nuesch Rev. Jim Ribbons Rev. Wilfredo Rodriguez
Rev. David Taylor Rev. Doug Shepler Rev. Don Stager
Rev. Ron Vande Bunte Rev. Rich Weir Elder Alice Abner
Elder Jack Conover Elder Stephen Dedinsky Elder Robert Dey
Elder Stephen DiPaolo Elder Shirley Harrison Elder George Henn
Elder Carol Konscol Elder Fred Longenecker Elder John Post
Elder Waldo Roa Elder Iris Truex Rev. David Waanders
Elder Donna Wagenheim Eugene Foley Robert Dey
Rev. Linda Laschesnez Rev.Ben Rivera
Guests:
VOTED (’09-67) to grant the privilege of the floor to guests present including:
Rev.Ursula Cargill David Martin Rev. Keith Schmitt
VanBunschoten Bequest:
The Rev. George Montanari read the VanBunschoten Bequest
Minutes:
VOTED (’09-68) to approve the minutes of the January 31, 2009 Stated Session.
VOTED (‘09-69 to approve the minutes of the April 20, 2009 Special Session.
VOTED (‘09-70 to approve the minutes of the May 27, 2009 Special Session.
Candidate Care:
Richard Ruch, the chair of the committee, presented the report.
VOTED (’09-72) To grant to Dawn Seaman a Provision License to Preach.
Justice/Mercy:
A report was presented by the Chair,Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale.
New ministries:
Rev. Jane Price presented the report of the New Ministries Committee.
Page 2 of 3
Overtures and Judicial Business:
The Clerk reported that the overtures approved at the previous session of the Classis have been sent to
the General Synod.
Nominations:
The Chair was not able to be present for the meeting. The Classis was asked to continue prayers for her
complete healing after surgery.
Miscellaneous:
Rev. George Montanari expressed questions about using Classis resources as appropriate to assist
congregations with various legal matters related to privacy lawn and their impact on local church print
materials and websites. The Administrative Council will seek proper referral of this concern.
Treasurer’s Report:
The Treasurer, Frederick Mold, presented the Audit Report.
VOTED (’09-73) To receive the Audit as presented by the Treasurer.
Resolutions:
VOTED (’09-74) The following resolution.
Be it resolved that we express thanks to God for the vital ministry of the Monocacy Valley Church,
for its intentional outreach and expression of faithfulness provided by the congregation
for the time of worship, the service of praise offered through music, the teaching by our esteemed
colleague, Mark Vander Meer,
for the sacrament shared that strengthens us from singing to service –
service to all others in the name of God to whom be all praise and thanksgiving.
Adjournment:
VOTED (’09-75) to adjourn the meeting at 3:45 P.M. A closing prayer was offered by the
President.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eltje Brunemeyer, Stated Clerk
Page 3 of 3
Classis of New Brunswick
Reformed Church in America
Purpose: The Classis of New Brunswick was called into session on September 20, 2009 at the
Pinelands Reformed Church of Toms River to install Allan Conover as the Minister of Word and
Sacrament of that church.
VOTED (’09-78) Grant privileges of the floor to our guests: the Rev. Mr. Pete Mitchell and the
Rev. Bruce Brown.
VOTED (’09-79) to receive the Rev. Mr. Allan Conover from the Classis of Passaic-Valley.
VOTED (’09-81) that this meeting of the Classis will be adjourned with the benediction at the
conclusion of the Service of Installation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eltje Brunemeyer, Stated Clerk
REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
CLASSIS OF NEW BRUNSWICK
St. Paul’s Reformed Church, Perth Amboy, September30, 2009
The following actions were taken at the Administrative Council meeting on July 7, 2009
VOTED (’09-61) that the Minutes of 05-04-09 be accepted.
VOTED (’09-61) That Classis should continue to pay medical insurance for Rev. Vicente
Martinez until he is covered by COBRA or finds benefit-yielding employment, whichever comes
first, for a possible total of $2,346.00. APPROVED.
MOVED (’09-62) That Classis offer a loan to Vicente Martinez for $3,500.00 to pay for his and
his wife’s rent. DEFEATED.
VOTED (’09-63) That Classis request that the Pastoral Care Committee set up a Pastoral
Transition Committee. APPROVED. The PTC will be headed for the time being by Phil
Bakelaar, who has experience in some of the goals stated during conversation including, but not
limited to: transition counseling, job search, personal counseling, and interim medical and
insurance benefits.
MOVED (’09-64) That Classis pay an additional three months severance for Rev. Susan
Klimstra for a total of $15,647.73.
AMENDED – Only to extend to Susan Klimstra payment of one-half the amount of basic
insurance for a single person through RCA for 12 months. The other one-half to be paid for by
BOBS or Rev. Klimstra. VOTED AS AMENDED.
VOTED (’09-65) That Classis authorize First Church, New Brunswick, to pursue a line of credit
up to $200,000.00. APPROVED.
The following actions were taken at the Administrative Council meeting on September 15, 2009
MOVED (’09-68) to approve the Administrative Council’s minutes of July 7, 2009, with thanks
to Nancy Ruiter for writing them.
MOVED (’09-69) to approve the call of Grace Church of Edison to David Martin. His
ordination and installation will be on Sunday, October 18.
MOVED (’09-70) to approve the call of the Church in Brielle to the Rev. Louis Lafazia.
Louis Lafazia, Karen Rhies, and Chris Vande Bunte were appointed to serve as the committee to
plan the installation service.
……. 1
MOVED (’09-71) to recommend the changes in the Salary Guide to the Classis for approval at
the next Stated Meeting.
MOVED (’09-72) to refer the proposal of the New Ministries Committee back to the Committee
for further study and clarification.
MOVED (’09-73) to recommend the budget as amended to the Classis at its next Stated Session.
MOVED (’09-74) to affirm the e-mail vote regarding the rental agreement between the
Reformed Church of Willingboro and the Destiny Family Worship Center.
MOVED (’09-75) to grant the request of change of status for Joy Kulvicki from “Specialized
Minister” to “retired”. The Clerk was instructed to inform Joy Kulvicki and the RCA offices of
this change, and to invite Joy to be present at the next Stated Session of the Classis so that me
might recognize her ministry.
MOVED (’09-76) to adjourn at 10:10. Stephanie Kapper-Dale offered the closing prayer.
……. 2
THE CLASSIS OF NEW BRUNSWICK
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2010
**The Regional Synod gives a grant of $10,000 to offset the cost of the
Classis Minister, therefore that reduces the budget to $67,480 that divided
by the number of members(3,232) leaves an assessment of $20.88 for Classis
Operations.
OVER
Membership is the Classis has steadily declined since
1999 about 900 members.
NEW MINISTRIES ACCOUNT
Receipts 1908
$ 8,550.00
Disbursed 4,576.37
RECEIPTS 2009
TOTAL 4,273.63
Disbursed 1,196.50
2008 115,191.29
2007 109,073.35
2006 104,759.20
2005 101,508.54
Classis of New Brunswick
Report of the New Ministries Committee
September 30, 2009
y Meetings held: June 17, July 15, August 19, and September 16, 2009.
y Next meetings scheduled: October 21, November 18, December 16, 2009 (7:30 PM
at The Reformed Church, Freehold on the third Wednesday of the month)
y Committee members: Elder Carol Babinsky; Rev. Robert Bender; Rev. Peter Berry;
Rev. Ursula Cargill Rev. Chris Jacobsen; Elder Beth Kenderdine; Elder Joel Kenderdine;
Rev. Susan Kramer-Mills; Rev. Jane Price; Rev. John Sanders. Advisors: Rev. Heidi
Butterworth, Rev. Luis Perez. Note: addition of Rev. Cargill.
Progress
y Rev. Brigido Cabrera, RCA Coordinator for Hispanic Ministries, met with Bishop
Jordean deOliveira (Bride of the Lamb Church, Long Branch, NJ) and Rev. Jane Price to
explore possibilities for the Bride of the Lamb becoming an RCA church. No further
progress to date.
y The Resource Team for the Trinity Reformed Church (North Plainfield) new church
start met six times since June 8, 2009. A vision for the new church start has been cast
and a preliminary budget has been formulated (see attachments and the recommendation
below). The Team is in the process of reviewing church planter profiles with the goal of
hiring a full-time planter by the end of 2009.
y The committee has continued to meet with Rev. Hak Kim as he pursues his personal
calling to start a new church in central NJ. It encouraged his completion of the RCA’s
church planter assessments and now is evaluating the results.
The New Ministries Committee of the Classis New Brunswick requests that $10,000 per
year for 3 years (totaling $30,000) be budgeted for the North Plainfield church plant from
the Classis ‘Trustee Account.’ This money will be one part of a funding package for the
North Plainfield church plant, which will go toward the planter’s salary and the plant’s
ministry. This money will demonstrate New Brunswick Classis’ support and
commitment, in partnership* with North Plainfield Trinity Reformed Church, the
Regional Synod of the Mid-Atlantics, and the General Synod.”
*Without classis funding, Regional Synod and General Synod funding is not guaranteed.
Submitted by
Rev. Jane L. Price
New Ministries Chairperson
Timeline for North Plainfield Church Plant
March 2009 – The task force met with Heidi Butterworth (Church Planting Coordinator for the
RSMAt and church planter for Lighthouses of Oxford Valley). 1) A percept demographic study
and planter on site demographic study was completed. 2) The task force looked at the possible
options for North Plainfield.
April 2009 – The task force took their proposal of the best option – planting a new church in the
area‐ to the Admin Council for approval.
May 2009 – The New Ministries Committee set out to form a resource team to identify the
community needs, the finances, the prayer base, create a profile of the church plant, and
interview potential planters. The team included 4 classis people from the New Ministries
Committee, 4 members of the North Plainfield Ref. Church, and Heidi Butterworth
June 2009 – The Resource team met twice and began to work through building a prayer team
that would pray specifically for this process and the church plant as well as create a strategy for
communicating this vision with North Plainfield Ref. Church. NPRC had a congregational
meeting and vision was communicated through a variety of methods such as through
newsletters, bulletin boards, personal letters to members, moments during the worship for
prayer, specific written requests handed out at worship to pray for, and much more throughout
the summer months.
July 2009 – The resource team continued to meet looking at the trends in the demographics
and identifying the most urgent unmet need in the community. They spent time interviewing
people in the community finding out why they did not go to church, what kind of church would
they go to, and how they viewed spirituality. They also investigated whether other new
churches had been started in the area and what their success was. The team began to form a
vision of what were possibilities for a new church in their community.
August 2009 – The resource team met with the NPRC consistory to talk through anxieties, fears,
vision, and celebration of this step of faith. The consistory has been praying and following and
was extremely excited about seeing this take off. The team also met again to prepare a budget
and prepare funding for the church plant.
September 2009 – Having put together the profile (see attached) the team began to review
profiles of planters and move with phone interviews for two planters. They are currently still in
this process. The NPRC consistory approved funding the church plant with $200,000 over 4
years. The proposed funding from classis will be presented at the September meeting.
October 2009 ‐ The team will continue to interview planters as well as talk to other churches
about supporting this church plant with a mission share.
November 2009 – Continue to interview and hopefully select a planter which will be presented
to the New Ministries Committee. The Planter and new ministries committee will together
begin to write a New Congregation Plan which lays out the vision, the tangible benchmarks, and
financial and funding pieces for the church plant.
December 2009 – The New Church Plan will be present to the New Ministries Committee for
approval and then taken to Admin Council for Support. At this time the planter is being
extended a call which upon approval by the classis in January, the call is approved. The planter
will begin moving into the area, getting to know people, and begin building their relationship
with North Plainfield Ref. Church.
January 2010 – The New Congregation Plan will be presented in full to the classis for approval
and then sent to the Multiplication Committee of the RSMAt for funding and approval, and
onto the Denomination for funding and approval. Upon approval of the New Brunswick Classis,
the time clock of the plant officially begins and the call has been accepted.
February ’10 thru February ‘11 – the Planter will meet monthly with the New Ministries
Committee for oversight, prayer, and encouragement. The Planter will begin building
relationships and a core launch team of at least 30 people. The planter will be identifying the
worship space and the needs for the worship space as well as building the esl program in the
community. The planter will be coached on a regular basis by another church planter and also
be part of a regular network with other planters.
Fall 2010 – The planter will begin building teams for the launch such as the follow‐up team, the
worship team, the education team, the hospitality team, the small groups team, etc. The
evangelism and outreach continue possibly with some events in the community.
Spring 2010 – the plant will launch its first worship services and the planter continues to meet
with the committee for evaluation of its goals, prayer, and encouragement.
January 2014 – The church is self‐sufficient and the classis holds a service to organize and
celebrate the birth of a new church.
February of 2014 – The church plant of NPRC begins planting their new church plant!
The Profile of North Plainfield Reformed Church’s Plant
Where: This is in Plainfield NJ. The mother church is North Plainfield Reformed Church
401 Greenbrook rd. 07063
What type of plant?
The community is clearly divided with wealthier Caucasian people living on the outskirts and a
poorer multiracial community in the center. The town has seen a rise in gangs and crime in the
center of the city and with a study has found that unless the children are reached at a 3‐6th
grade level they will drop out after that because they cannot understand English enough in the
school system to continue and do well. This has been the major contributor to the rise gangs
and crime in those areas.
The major need in the community is for a program that does ESL with kids in the 3‐6th age
range and works with the parents and school systems. We have done a demographic study of
the area through percept and one on one interviews in the area. The demographics show the
area would support a congregation that could be multiracial, Caucasian, African‐American, or
Hispanic. The particular feel for this church plant is that it would become a multiracial
congregation. This percept is available for viewing upon request.
The church plant looks like it will be a combination of both filling the spiritual need of the
community and the educational need as well. We are looking for someone that can lead a
multicultural plant and has the ability to set up a program with strong community ties/roots.
Who: We are looking for a full time person experienced with multicultural worship and
community. They will obviously have the program and the plant so it's somewhat a part time
built in there. We do have funding and a package put together at this time and would be
welcome to a single, married, or married with family planter. The planter is expected to live in
the community. This person should be called, extremely highly motivated, and ready to
experience very hard ground and tough circumstance.
TRC Church Plant Version 3 09/22/09
Preliminary Budget - 4 Yrs
2010 2011 2012 2013
Budget Budget Budget Budget Notes
Receipts
01. Trinity Church Endowment 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 $100,000 commitment
02. Trinity Church Operations Budget 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 Additional $100,000 from Trinity
03. New Brunswick Classis 10,000 10,000 10,000 0 Pending approval.
04. RCA Regional Synod 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Pending approval.
05. RCA General Synod 10,000 6,000 6,000 0 Guaranteed upon support from Classis and R
06. Church Plant Offerings 15,000 25,000 55,000 95,000 Projections estimated based on church plant
07. Partners In Mission Shares 16,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 Projections estimated from churches through
08. Grants/ Individual Donations 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 Funds raised by the church planter
09. Misc. Income 0 0 0 0 Change found in chairs, etc.
Disbursements
Plant Salary/ Support:
11. : Salary 40,500 42,500 44,100 45,700 Full-time, 5 Yrs Exp. w/family, 2% annual inc
12. : Housing Allowance 16,200 17,000 17,640 18,280 40% Salary
13. : Car Allowance 4,860 5,100 5,292 5,484 12% Salary+Housing
14. : FICA (Social Security) 4,697 4,929 5,114 5,300 .082837*(Salary+Housing)
15. : Medical Insurances 17,124 17,124 17,124 17,124 Based on family rates, med+dent
16. : Pension 6,237 6,545 6,791 7,038 11% Salary+Housing
17. : Planter Cont. Ed. 779 817 848 879 1/52 of Salary
18. : Plant Expense Allow. 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 $100 per month for misc. business expenses
19. : Moving Expenses 8,000 0 0 0
TOTAL 99,597 95,215 98,109 101,005
Marketing Expenses
31. : Direct Media Expense 4,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 Mailings, ads, progam exp.
32. : Marketing Materials 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 Brochures, religious materials
33. : Postage/ Mailing 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Estimate only
TOTAL 8,000 5,000 5,000 5,000
Facilities Expenses
41. : Facility Rental 8,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 For planning only - not confirmed.
42. : Furniture 5,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Est. purchase - rental would be less
43. : Maintenance 2,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 Labor & materials
44. : Utilities 200 500 500 500 Phone, water, electric, security, trash, gas
TOTAL 15,200 29,500 29,500 29,500
51. Other Miscellaneous Expense 1,500 2,500 5,500 9,500 At least 10% of offerings must be given to mi
Page 2 of 2