28 Jul GS 1992 art 17

Posted at 15:43h in CanRC, GS 1992 by

GS 1992 ARTICLE 17 – Theological College: General

Committee II presents: Agenda item VIII A1,2,5,6

I. MATERIAL

Nominations for the Board of Governors Regional Synod East Nov. 13-14, 1991.

Regional Synod West June 16, 1992.

Report of the Board of Governors to General Synod 1992.

Report of the Board of Governors (Finance and Property Committee) to General Synod 1992.

Letter from the church at Cloverdale, BC re assessments for Theological College.

II. OBSERVATIONS

  • A. With respect to the appointment to the Board of Governors Synod observes:
    • 1. The Board of Governors recommends that Synod “appoint, elect or re- appoint or re-elect six active ministers [in accordance with section 3.04(a) of By-Law Number 1 (as amended) to hold office until the next General Synod and to appoint at least three substitutes from each Regional Synod area.”
    • 2. Regional Synod East of Nov. 13-14, 1991 nominated the following ministers to serve as Governors of the Theological College: D.G.J. Agema, W. den Hollander, P.G. Feenstra, and as substitutes: G. Nederveen, G.Ph. VanPopta, P. Aasman, in that order.
    • 3. Regional Synod West of June 16, 1992 nominated the following ministers to serve as Governors of the Theological College: B.J. Berends, C. VanSpronsen, J. Visscher, and as substitutes: R. Aasman, J. Moesker, P.K.A. DeBoer, in that order.
    • 4. The Board of Governors makes the following recommendation with regard to the Governors who will serve on the Finance and Property Committee:
      • a. to re-appoint the brs. H. Buist and C.G. Heeringa as Governors for a term that will expire by the next General Synod.
      • b. to re-appoint the brs. K.J. Veldkamp and A. VanEgmond for a term from the date of their re-appointment until the second General Synod after the date of their re-appointment.
      • c. to appoint br. H.J. Sloots of Burlington, ON, for a term from the date of his appointment until the third General Synod after the date of his appointment (with as substitute: br. H.F. Stoffels of Stoney Creek, ON).
  • B. The Report of the Board of Governors covers the academic years 1989-1990, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, and from it the following highlights may be gleaned:
    • The work at the Theological College could continue without interruption. The Governors who regularly visited the lectures during the past three years report that the instruction is given in accordance with the Word of God and in harmony with the Reformed Confessions.
    • At times guest lecturers visited our College, while our own professors attended conferences or visited the churches. An elective course for senior students was given in OT Aramaic.
    • During the past three years five students have graduated from our College, two of whom have accepted a call within our churches. For the academic year
    • 1992-1993, five new students were admitted (one from a sister church in Australia), which means that at present fifteen students are enrolled. Various promising contacts have been made with nine future students, of which two are from Australia.
    • The academic year 1989-1990 was marked by a time of transition. Prof. Dr. J. Faber officially terminated his twenty-one years of service at our College. Prof. Dr. N.H. Gootjes began his work as Professor of Dogmatics in January 1990. On May 1, 1990, Dr. J. DeJong entered the service of the College as Professor of Diaconiology and Ecclesiology. On May 4, 1990, Dr. K. Deddens delivered his final lecture.
    • The Board of Governors acknowledges with gratitude that Prof. J. Geertsema obtained a Master of Theology degree from Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto. It is proposed that he be granted the status of a professor with tenure.
    • Our emeritus Professor of NT, Prof. L. Selles celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as Minister of the Divine Word on April 20, 1991.
    • In accordance with the appointments made by General Synod 1989, as of January 1, 1990, a rotating Principalship is now in place at our College. It is proposed that Prof. J. Geertsema be appointed as Principal for the period of Sept.1, 1993 – Aug.31, 1996, and that Prof. Dr. N.H. Gootjes be designated as Principal for the period of Sept.1, 1996 – Aug. 31, 1999.
    • The Board gratefully acknowledges the work of its Administrative Assistant and Assistant Librarian, Miss Catherine Mechelse and of its Associate Librarian, Ms. Marian Van Til. It also mentions with great appreciation the volunteer work of Mrs. Marsha Ostermeier, Mrs. Allison Schutten and Mr. U. Krikke. As well the Board remembers with gratitude the work of the Women’s Saving Action. The labours of Mrs. C. Lindhout, who passed away in this past year, are gratefully remembered.
    • Regarding matters pertaining to the property and finances, the Board reports:
    • The members of the Finance and Property Committee have been able to do their work in brotherly harmony.
    • The College building has been well maintained. A new roof has been added at the cost of $17,000.00.
    • The salaries of all Professors have been reviewed and increased annually based on the prescribed formula (Acts 1986, Art. 154, D, 4). Two Professors continue to receive retirement benefits. The salaries of the Staff have been reviewed and increased annually.
    • The churches continue to support the College faithfully, including continued generous contributions from our sister churches in Australia.
    • Audited financial statements for the years ending May 31, 1989, May 31, 1990, May 31, 1991, May 31, 1992, were sent to Synod as appendices to the
    • reports for the years 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992. The Board recommends that Synod consider the audited statements and the reports of the auditor for the previous fiscal periods, and to ratify the appointment of Mrs. A. Spithoff C.A. as Auditor until the next General Synod.
    • The budget for the year 1989-1990 required an assessment of $53.00 (an increase of $8.00); the budget for the year 1990-1991 required an assessment of $54.00 (an increase of $1.00); the budget for the year 1991-1992 required an assessment of $55.00 (an increase of $1.00). Subject to the approval of the Board of Governors, the 1992-1993 year requires an increase of $6.00 or an assessment of $61.00.
    • The tuition fees for the period 1989-1992 were set at $1325.00 for full-time Canadian Reformed students and $4,000.00 for non-Canadian Reformed fulltime students. The fees for the years 1993-1995 will be increased. No particulars were supplied.
    • In accordance with the regulations of the College Act, several members of the Board are scheduled to retire: Rev. P. Kingma, Rev. M. Vanderwel and Rev. J. vanRietschoten, due to their retirement from active service in the ministry; Rev. Cl. Stam and br. A.L. VanderHout, due to their having served the maxi- mum allowable number of consecutive years.
  • C. General Synod 1992 gratefully acknowledges the promotion of the Professor of Diaconioloy and Ecclesiology, Prof. J. DeJong to Doctor of Theology, at the Theological University of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.
  • D. The church at Cloverdale, BC, proposes to change the annual tally of commu- nicant members for the purpose of allocating costs to a twice annual count: January 1 and July 1.

III. CONSIDERATIONS

In accordance with section 3.04 (a) of By-Law Number 1 (as amended by By-Law Number 3), the General Synod shall appoint or re-appoint six active ministers to the Board of Governors.

In accordance with By-Law Number 1, section 3.04(b), the General Synod shall appoint or re-appoint five brothers who are not ministers.

On the basis of the reports received, Synod considers that the affairs of the Theological College are being well managed by the Faculty and the Board of Governors, composed of the Academic Committee and the Finance and Property Committee.

According to Section 5.11(e) of the Act of the Theological College, the Board of Governors has the power “to grant tenure…to members of the faculty in accordance with the policies established by Synod ” Synod notes that at present no policy is in place with regard to the granting of tenure.

With regard to the concerns raised by the church at Cloverdale about the matter of assessment, Synod considers that this matter should be submitted to the Board of Governors for further investigation and evaluation to see whether or not a change to the current procedure is warranted.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS

Synod decide:

  • to appoint as Governors of the Theological College the following active ministers and their substitutes:
    • From Eastern Canada:
      • Rev. D.G.J. Agema, Rev. W. den Hollander, Rev. P.G. Feenstra.
      • (Substitutes: Rev. G. Nederveen, Rev. P. Aasman, Rev. D. Moes, in that order).
    • From Western Canada:
      • Rev. B. J. Berends, Rev. C. VanSpronsen, Rev. J. Visscher.
      • (Substitutes: Rev. R. Aasman, Rev. J. Moesker, Rev. P.K.A. DeBoer, in that order).
  • to appoint as Governors of the Theological College the following brothers who are not ministers, according to the retirement schedule adopted by the Board of Governors: brs. H.J. Sloots (nine years); K. J. Veldkamp and A. VanEgmond (six years); H. Buist and C. G. Heeringa (three years).
  • to express its sincere gratitude for the work done by the retiring Governors: Revs. P. Kingma, Cl. Stam, M. Vanderwel, J. vanRietschoten and br. A.L. VanderHout.
  • to express gratitude that the work at the Theological College continues without interruption and that all instruction is given in harmony with the Word of God and in agreement with the Confessions of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
  • to acknowledge gratefully that Prof. Dr. J. DeJong was promoted to Doctor of Theology and that Prof. J. Geertsema obtained a Master of Theology degree.
  • to grant Prof. J. Geertsema the status of a Professor with tenure.
  • to appoint Prof. J. Geertsema as Principal of the Theological College for the peri- od of Sept.1, 1993 to Aug.31, 1996 and to designate Prof. Dr. N.H. Gootjes as Principal for the period Sept. 1, 1996 to Aug.31, 1999.
  • to acknowledge gratefully the work for our Theological College by the Women’s Saving Action, especially the work of our late sr. C. Lindhout.
  • to express gratitude to the:
    • Board of Governors, the Faculty and Senate, the Staff and volunteers, for all of their labours for the Theological College.
  • to express gratitude to the churches in Canada and the United States, and Australia, for their faithful and regular support of the Theological College.
  • to receive and adopt the report of the Board of Governors along with all appendices.
  • to acknowledge gratefully and approve the actions of the Board of Governors and officers of the College as mentioned in the report (including the interim appointment of sr. A. Spithoff as Auditor).
  • to take note of the audited financial statements and the reports of the Auditors for the years ending May 31, 1989, May 31, 1990, May 31, 1991, and May 31, 1992; and to relieve the Treasurer of the Board of all responsibilities for the years indicated; to appoint Sr. A. Spithoff C.A. as Auditor until the next General Synod.
  • to advise the church at Cloverdale to submit their suggestion to the Board of Governors.
  • to instruct the Board of Governors to establish a policy for the granting of tenure.

ADOPTED

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