Contact Persons

Stated Clerk – Bob Arbogast
Classis administrative officer

Treasurer – Pam Bishop
Classis financial officer

Ministry Coordinators – Steve Timmermans
Ministry coordination and support

Church Visiting Team Leader – Jeff Sajdak
Visits the Councils of Classis Congregations

Leadership Development Team Leader – Ken Bratt
Arranges for the support of those seeking ministerial education

Community Engagement Team Leader – Lori Wiersma
Assists congregations in community-based ministry with various organizations

Pastor to Pastors Coordinators – Thea Leunk and Doug Macleod
Pastoral care to pastors

Racial Justice Team Leaders – Cindy Vander Kodde and Becky Witte
Leads and supports classis and its congregations in praying and working for racial justice and unity

Safe Church Coordinator – Julia Rathbun
Abuse prevention and response

Starting and Strengthening Team Leader – Nate Dejong McCarron
Works with congregations and the denomination in church starts and the strengthening of congregations

Church Counselors – Mike Abma and Rebecca Jordan Heys
Advise churches re: calling and supervision of ministers of the Word and commissioned pastors

Classis Mission

The mission of Classis Grand Rapids East is to be a community of congregations that encourage, equip, and challenge one another to be vibrant and missional” by affirming that this requires us as a Classis and member churches to also pray and work for racial justice as foundational to true reconciliation and unity in Christ. ( rev 9/17/2020)

Core Values

We develop long-terms relationships that sacrificially enfold people into our family, and are instruments for salvation, healing, and growth.

To pass our faith to the next generation we need to know, grow in, and experience God’s grace in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

God holds us accountable for our growth and for how we help others grow as Jesus followers. Let us be and make disciples.

God expects us to be salt and light in our neighborhoods and city, and challenges us to implement divine mercy, justice, and righteousness.

We will overcome our contentment with the status quo, and give priority to addressing the needs of those with fewer resources and more disadvantages.

We are called to be the best possible model of valuing others, with no outsiders who have been consciously or unconsciously excluded.

In living out our communal commitment to racial justice and reconciliation, white members of classis will embrace a posture of listening to, collaborating with, offering encouragement, and expressing accountability to African Americans and other persons of color within our community of congregations.

Ministry Priorities

Coordinate training for church leaders (including orientation to classis meetings) and provide links to other opportunities.

Promote corporate worship in classis and as a community of congregations, and mobilize prayer for our congregations, ministries and partners.

Help us partner with public schools, other churches, and businesses to make our neighborhoods better places to live, work, play, learn, and worship.

Equip our congregations to identify and break down barriers that prevent full participation in church life.

Identify quality resources and provide guidance to congregations for reaching, developing and ministering to persons in each new generation.

Increase knowledge, skill, and participation for disciple-making through regular contact, support for each other, and regular training opportunities.

Equip congregations to develop sister church relationships with neighboring churches and develop justice and mercy ministries.