10 Aug GS 2010 art 103

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GS 2010 Article 103 – Report of the Board of Governors of the Theological College

1.         Material

  • 1.1         Report of the Board of Governors of the Theological College (8.2.l).
  • 1.2        Letters from Winnipeg-Redeemer (8.1.t) Burlington-Ebenezer (8.1.f), Elora (8.3.L.1), Coaldale (8.3.L.2), Winnipeg-Grace (8.3.L.3), Chilliwack (8.3.L.4), Fergus-Maranatha (8.3.L.5), Neerlandia (8.3.L.6), Willoughby Heights (8.3.L.7), Attercliffe (8.3.L.8), Fergus North (8.3.L.9), Abbotsford (8.3.L.10), and Lincoln (8.3.L.11).

2.         Observations

  • 2.1       The report of the Board of Governors gives an overview of its many activities to ensure the ongoing operation of the Theological College.
  • 2.2         Dr. G.H. Visscher, professor of New Testament since June 2001, and Dr. A.J. de Visser, professor of Diaconiology and Ecclesiology since June 2004, meet the requirements for tenure as set forth by Synod Abbotsford 1995.
  • 2.3       The Board reports on the difficulties it encountered in finding a temporary instructor in Dogmatology for Semester I of the 20082009 academic year, which led to the appointment of Dr. J Maris of Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, who is not a member of a Canadian Reformed Church or a sister church. Several churches criticised this appointment as in conflict with the College Act and the By-laws. The Board admits that these churches were correct in pointing this out, but states that it had no other choice.
  • 2.4         In accordance with the mandate in Article124 of Synod Smithers the Board has facilitated significant dialogue between representatives of the FRCSA and the Senate of the College.
  • 2.5       In accordance with the instructions 5.3 – 5.5 of the mandate in Article130 of Synod Smithers the Board has established a Review and Accreditation Committee for accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). An external committee of three experts from the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) was also appointed to conduct a review as mandated by Synod 2007. The findings of this committee were presented to the Board with a number of considerations and recommendations. Even though this process has not led yet to a clear direction and a concrete proposal, the Board remains convinced that a fifth professor would be very beneficial for the future of the College. The Board expects to come to Synod 2013 to seek approval for a fifth faculty member, and provides reasons for this as follows:
    • 2.5.1    Workload help is needed in delivering the current curriculum. The greatest need for workload relief is in the area of Diaconiology. The present church historian is far too overworked to maintain his current pace.
    • 2.5.2    There is a need for a fifth full-time professor for the academic year 2010-2011. Barring substantial growth, the school should be well situated with five professors for many years to come.
    • 2.5.3    Generally, the course offerings of the College are appropriate and sufficient but there are some areas of weakness which need to be addressed. The areas which need to be developed are pastoral theology, missions, apologetics, philosophy and spirituality.
    • 2.5.4    There is need for more help in the area of administration. The external committee recommends the appointment of a full-time person to this position as soon as possible.
    • 2.5.5    The principalship should be a permanent rather than rotating position and the present principal should be appointed to that position. Rationale: Not everyone is equally qualified for this position and too many changes from year to year in leadership leave a school in a rather tenuous position.
    • 2.5.6    The Deanship should be a permanent position for similar reasons for continuity’s sake. When deans rotate this can be difficult on the student body.
    • 2.5.7     The College should join the Association of Reformed Theological Schools (ARTS). Being part of this body would assist the College in keeping abreast of contemporary developments without in any way jeopardizing its Reformed identity
    • 2.5.8    For smoothness of operation and continuity with other seminaries, the College should consider the possibility of moving to a regular two-semester-per-year system, with as many annual or every other year course offerings as is feasible with a small faculty.
    • 2.5.9    The College should update the College Handbook and, in the process, discuss levels of expectation for continued education, study, workloads (taking into account teaching loads, new preps, and administrative hours), and writing/ publication of faculty members.
    • 2.5.10 Having five professors would allow the College to have a bit more flexibility with sabbaticals, and enable the faculty to get a bit more involved in lecturing, writing, and publishing.
    • 2.5.11 Though the faculty does a good job of keeping its doors open to students, more work should be done by the faculty in mentoring students.”
  • 2.6       In accordance with instruction 5.6 of the mandate in Article130 of Synod Smithers, the Board has improved the transparency of the appointment procedure for faculty members.
  • 2.7       The Board approved four required amendments to By-law Number 12.
  • 2.8       The Board adopted a proposal to implement a Bachelor of Theology program.
  • 2.9       The Board of Governors recommends:
    • 2.9.1    To receive this report and all its appendices.
    • 2.9.2    To acknowledge the expiration of the term of office of Dr. G. Nederveen, Mr. G.J. Nordeman and Rev. R.A. Schouten and to express gratitude for their work. Further, to express gratitude for the contributions of Rev. G. Ph. van Popta who resigned from the Board in 2007.
    • 2.9.3    Pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Act and Section 3.04 of ByLaw 3:
      • 2.9.3.1             To appoint, elect or re-appoint six active ministers to hold office until the next General Synod and to appoint at least three substitutes from each Regional Synod area, keeping in mind that the By-laws prohibit anyone serving more than three consecutive terms and also keeping in mind the recommendations of the Board in regard to reappointments.
      • 2.9.3.2             To reappoint brs. A. Bax and H. Kampen as Governors for a term lasting until the second subsequent General Synod.
      • 2.9.3.3             To reappoint brs. L. Jagt and K. Veldkamp as Governors for a term lasting from the date of re-appointment until the next subsequent General Synod.
      • 2.9.3.4             To appoint one new non-ministerial Governor for a term lasting from the date of appointment until the third subsequent General Synod, with a standby replacement candidate as well. The Board recommendation for this appointment can be found in a separate letter which also contains a curriculum vitae.
    • 2.9.4    To express gratitude for the help of Rev. P. Feenstra, Rev. E. Kampen, Prof. J. Geertsema, Dr. J. Maris, and Rev. J. Van Vliet during the illness of Dr. N.H. Gootjes.
    • 2.9.5    To request the churches to continue to remember in their prayers the needs of Mrs. K. Deddens, Dr. and Mrs. J. DeJong, Mrs. W. Faber, Dr. and Mrs. N.H. Gootjes, and Prof. and Mrs. J. Geertsema.
    • 2.9.6    To judge that under the circumstances surrounding the department of Dogmatology and in view of the lengthy past practice of inviting guest speakers and guest lecturers who are not members of the Canadian Reformed Churches or their sister churches, the appointment of Dr. J. Maris as temporary instructor in Dogmatology was understandable and defensible.
    • 2.9.7     To approve the granting of tenure to Dr. A.J. de Visser and to Dr. G.H. Visscher.
    • 2.9.8     To approve the appointment of Dr. J. VanVliet as professor of Dogmatology.
    • 2.9.9     To approve the retirement of Dr. C. VanDam and to express deep gratitude for thirty years of faithful and diligent service to the College and the Churches as professor of Old Testament.
    • 2.9.10 To approve the appointment of a new professor of Old Testament in accordance with the recommendation of the Board contained in a submission separate from this Report.
    • 2.9.11 To appoint Prof. G.H. Visscher as Principal for the years 2011-2014.
    • 2.9.12 To approve the changes to By-law 12 described in this report.
    • 2.9.13 To renew the mandate given to Board in sections 5.3 – 5.5 of Article 130 of the Acts of Synod 2007.
    • 2.9.14 To agree that the Board has completed the mandate given in section 5.6 of Article 130 of the Acts of Synod 2007.
    • 2.9.15 To agree that the Board has completed the directives of Article 124 of Acts of Synod 2007.
    • 2.9.16 To recommend for the consideration of the churches the reasons given in this report for the eventual appointment of a fifth professor and to seek the direction of the churches in that regard.
    • 2.9.17 To approve all other decisions and actions of the Board and of its committees for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 until the date of this Report.
    • 2.9.18 To express gratitude for the support from the Free Reformed Churches in Australia.
    • 2.9.19 To consider the audited financial statements and the report of the Auditors for the previous fiscal periods; to relieve the Treasurer of the Board of all responsibilities for these fiscal periods; to reappoint br. H. Salomons as Auditor until the next General Synod.
    • 2.9.20 To acknowledge with gratitude the enormous contributions of the Women’s Savings Action to the well-being of the College.
  • 2.10     Burlington-Ebenezer, Fergus-Maranatha, Fergus North and Lincoln ask Synod to judge that the Board of Governors erred when it appointed a temporary instructor in Dogmatics, who was not a member of a Canadian Reformed Church or a sister church, since it was a violation of the adopted College Act and By-laws.
  • 2.11      Elora, Coaldale, Chilliwack, Neerlandia, and Abbotsford support the recommendation to begin the process, with input of the churches, of seeking a suitable candidate to serve as a fifth professor at the Theological College. Chilliwack suggests that the Board should appoint a temporary professor in whatever department is necessary with a view to approaching Synod 2013 with a request for a permanent appointment of that professor.
  • 2.12     Fergus-Maranatha, Willoughby Heights, Attercliffe, and Lincoln question the need to appoint a fifth professor without well-defined requirements for this position. Attercliffe urges Synod to instruct the Board to rearrange the workload among the four professors. Lincoln feels that the Review and Accreditation Committee should complete its report before any decision re: a fifth professor be considered.
  • 2.13      Chilliwack asks that Synod mandate the Board of Governors to investigate the potential for making Missiology one of the core subjects at the Theological College.
  • 2.14     Fergus-Maranatha and Lincoln are puzzled by the Board’s proposal with regards to By-law 12.
  • 2.15     Fergus-Maranatha cannot support the recommendation regarding the approval of all previous decisions of the Board, since it is not clear what all these decisions are.
  • 2.16     Fergus-Maranatha and Willoughby Heights recommend not to add a Bachelor of Theology or other programs that go beyond the mandate of Article 19 CO.
  • 2.17     Fergus-Maranatha is of the opinion that the report of the Board of Governors does not reflect the transparency that they feel the College should have in light of the fact that it is to serve the churches.
  • 2.18     Willoughby Heights strongly urges Synod to instruct the Theological College to explore avenues of possible cooperation with MidAmerica Reformed Seminary.
  • 2.19     Abbotsford questions the wisdom of having the practical training taking place during the summer.

3.         Considerations

  • 3.1         Synod notes with thankfulness that the work at the Theological College could continue without interruption between Synod Smithers 2007 and Synod Burlington-Ebenezer 2010.
  • 3.2       Synod does not question Dr. J. Maris’ qualifications to teach Reformed Dogmatics, nor his faithfulness to the Scriptures and the Reformed Confessions. Synod also appreciates that it was difficult for the Board to find a suitable temporary instructor (or temporary instructors) within the Canadian Reformed Churches or sister churches to teach Reformed Dogmatics. However, the Board of Governors is at all times required to operate within the bounds of the College Act and the By-law.
  • 3.3       Synod notes with gratitude that the now mandatory Pastoral Training Program continues to be very beneficial for the students and for the churches, and that the appointment of a committee to look after the funding of this program has worked well.
  • 3.4       Although the Review and Accreditation process, as mandated by Synod Smithers, is a lengthy one, it should be completed. It will be a valuable exercise that will benefit the well-being of the churches in the future. The process has already provided convincing arguments to work towards the appointment of a fifth professor, rather than rearranging the workload among the four current professors.
  • 3.5       The process implemented after a vacancy was declared in the department of Old Testament shows that the Board has significantly improved the transparency of the appointment procedure for faculty members. Still, the Board only provides a general outline of the process to Synod, and not the particular policy adopted. Since the concern of Smithers was transparency in the process, it would be good for the Board to inform the churches of the adopted policy, ask for their input and submit this to the next General Synod for their review.
  • 3.6       As the Review and Accreditation process continues and the Board is going to evaluate the implications of this review, it has merit to give special attention to the subject of Missiology.
  • 3.7       The changes in By-law 12, section 13.10 are of a technical and legal nature and the churches that have questions about this should ask the Finance and Property Committee of the Board of Governors for clarification.
  • 3.8       The Board’s request to approve all other decisions and actions of the Board and its committees is a legal requirement in accordance with the College Act.
  • 3.9       The mandate of Article 19 CO is not restricted to the current M.Div. program. On the contrary, the Board should be encouraged to explore the options of offering more courses and perhaps more degrees so as to better serve the purpose of Article 19, “that the churches may be provided with ministers of the Word who are able to fulfil the duties of their office.” This could include possible cooperation with MidAmerica Reformed Seminary.

4.         Recommendation

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1         To receive the report of the Board of Governors and its appendices (three annual reports of the Finance and Property Committee), and to thank the Board for its work .
  • 4.2       To acknowledge the expiration of the term of office of Dr. G. Nederveen, br. G.J. Nordeman and Rev. R.A. Schouten, and to express gratitude for their work as governors. Further, to express gratitude for the contributions of Rev. G. Ph. van Popta who resigned from the Board in 2007.
  • 4.3       Pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Act and Section 3.04 of By-Law 3: To appoint, elect or re-appoint six active ministers to hold office until the next General Synod and to appoint at least three substitutes from each Regional Synod area, keeping in mind that the By-laws prohibit anyone serving more than three consecutive terms, with the actual appointments to be made under point 9 of the agenda, to be prepared by the officers of Synod.
  • 4.4       To express gratitude for the help of Rev. P. Feenstra, Rev. E. Kampen, Prof. J. Geertsema, Dr. J. Maris and Rev. J. VanVliet during the illness of Dr. N.H. Gootjes.
  • 4.5       To request the churches to continue to remember in their prayers the needs of Mrs. K. Deddens, Dr. and Mrs. J. DeJong, Mrs. W. Faber, Dr. and Mrs. N.H. Gootjes and Prof. and Mrs. J. Geertsema.
  • 4.6       To judge that the Board of Governors erred when it appointed Dr. J. Maris as temporary instructor in Dogmatology.
  • 4.7 To approve the granting of tenure to Dr. A.J. de Visser and to Dr. G.H. Visscher.
  • 4.8       To appoint Prof. Dr. G.H. Visscher as Principal for the years 20112014.
  • 4.9       To approve the changes to By-law 12 described in the report of the Board.
  • 4.10     To renew the mandate given to Board in sections 5.3 – 5.5 of Article 130 of the Acts of Synod Smithers 2007.
  • 4.11     To instruct the Board to inform the churches of the adopted appointment process and to involve the churches in seeking their input in completing the mandate given in section 5.6 of Article 130 of the Acts of Synod 2007, and to submit the final appointment policy to be reviewed by General Synod 2013.
  • 4.12     To agree that the Board has completed the directives of Article 124 of Acts of Synod 2007.
  • 4.13     To recommend for the consideration of the churches the reasons given in the report of the Board to Synod Burlington-Ebenezer for the eventual appointment of a fifth professor and to seek the direction of the churches in that regard.
  • 4.14     To approve all other decisions and actions of the Board and of its committees for the years 2007, 2008, and 2009, until the date of the report of the Board to General Synod Burlington-Ebenezer 2010.
  • 4.15       To express deep gratitude for the generous support from the Free Reformed Churches in Australia.
  • 4.16     To consider the audited financial statements and the report of the Auditors for the previous fiscal periods, to relieve the Treasurer of the Board of all responsibilities for these fiscal periods, and to reappoint br. H. Salomons as Auditor until the next General Synod.
  • 4.17     To acknowledge with gratitude the contributions of the Women’s Savings Action for the well-being of the College.

ADOPTED

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