It is with a large degree of mixed feelings that I provide what I expect will be my final evaluation of the work and state of the Western Classis. Thank you for the trust placed in me. If I may be permitted a moment of reflection, I trust it will be relevant to this report. I attended my first classis meeting as a delegate in 1993. As I reflect on the years following, I am stunned by the changes which have occurred. Many pastors and elders have been called home, and many others have now stepped into their metaphorical shoes. In 1993, it would have been impossible to predict what the next 30-plus years would bring. During those years, the RCUS seriously considered, and ultimately rejected, organic union with the OPC, and adopted
(or re-adopted depending on your understanding of our history) the Belgic Confession and Canons of Dordt and even modified both of them. We reorganized the procedures of the synod and classis meetings but rejected the idea of lessening the frequency of synod meetings. Our formal relationships with the two Westminster Seminaries were terminated, and new seminaries arose which serve the church in the preparing of potential pastors. We took stands to protect the women of our churches from compulsory military service and expressly stated our 6-day creation position in position papers. We argued (and continue to argue) about the use and authority of position papers. Lest the point be belabored, I reflect on these things as I reflect on the life of the church and those within her. Psalm 84:1-8 reads:
1How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
2My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.
4Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
5Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.
7They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.
8O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
The first stanza expresses the beauties of the house of the Lord and the perspective is close – even seeing the birds which nest in the temple courts and even on the altar. But the second stanza is from a distance. The house of the Lord is viewed as being at the end of a long journey or pilgrimage. That journey is through a valley wherein the view of the destination is obscured and cannot be seen by the pilgrim. It is a hot and dry journey which tests the pilgrim who must proceed on faith in the Lord’s promise of preservation. It is a hot and dry journey which brings tears to the eyes of the pilgrim. The tears of the tired pilgrim water the dry ground as summer rain, but the Lord also provides the rain which gathers in pools as an answer to the salty tears of the pilgrim. It is, literally, a valley of tears and weeping. We do not know how the Lord will bring us to the end of our journey, but we know that he will, even “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). The relevance to my reflection is that we do not know, nor do we need to know, what the future holds, but we do know what we must know; the Lord will cause us to go “from strength to strength” and He will cause us all to appear before Him in Zion. As with my previous report, I will highlight what I perceive as the positives and then what are the negatives or things we may consider.
Each report I received was at times a narrow and very parochial view. This is not a criticism, but an acknowledgement that the church consists of individuals and families, and the core of the life of the church is a ministry to individuals and families. As I read the reports, certain themes emerged. By my count, there are four pastors who are active in seminary teaching. This is a growing trend and, in my judgment, a good one. There are various and often creative efforts to reach the communities and the lost in those communities in many of the churches. Of course, this is as it should be. The use of social media and services such as SermonAudio is so common now that their use is no longer mentioned in the reports anymore. The planned pastoral fellowship meetings are now taking place, and this is a very good thing. While we read of exercise of discipline in some reports, this was not as dominant as in previous years. What can we glean from these observations? In my judgment, there are two main lessons: 1) that the day-to-day life of the church and churches continues on much as it has, as a pilgrim takes one step, then another, and another, looking toward that destination which seems far away sometimes, and is sprinkled with tears, and 2) the pace of change in many areas is fast and dynamic. Interaction with the world, including technology, is also part of the life of the church. While these two observations may appear at first to be contradictory, they are quite compatible. The first represents our commitment to the Great Commission of going, making, baptizing, and teaching; the second represents the truth that this all happens in a specific cultural context and ours is fast-paced and ever-changing. The first demonstrates that the churches of the Western Classis are committed to the principles of our reformation heritage; the second serves as a reminder that standing still is not an option, and we must thoughtfully meet the world where it is, not as we would want it to be or remember it to be. This truth leads me to consider some of the challenges we face. I want us to consider four challenges.
First, consider the challenges of technology. We are truly blessed with tools which greatly advance our ability to reach a very broad, indeed, worldwide audience with our preaching and teaching. Two of our supported seminaries use these tools to teach in Africa, the Philippines, and Latin America, for example. But the advance of technology is not cost-free in my opinion, especially within the life of the local church. More to the point, it can never replace true fellowship with each other. While quick and easy communication through texts, instant messaging, or emails is fine, it should never be allowed to replace the face-to-face chat over coffee or the invitation to come over on a Saturday afternoon for a summer barbecue. And it should never be allowed to replace personal evangelism.
Second, consider the struggle of filling vacant pulpits, especially here in California. While there are two currently, and the reality of vacant pulpits is normal, there will be more relatively soon. None who have heard or read my reports will be surprised at my observation, having heard it before, but I am striving to encourage us to consider creative ways to fill vacant pulpits. I am also encouraging us to consistently pray not only for the churches with vacancies, but that the Lord will guide and direct us as to how to address the issue which will likely increase, not decrease. This leads naturally to my third observation.
We have seen many new pastors and elders added recently as an answer to our prayers. We should acknowledge this in our prayers of thanksgiving. But we should also acknowledge that we have very definite ways of doing things, whether church discipline or classis processes, and the learning curve can be steep as well as a little intimidating. Those of us who have been around a while may need to come alongside them and help. I confess this has been my own failing in not doing so as I should. “Sink or swim” should not be our training method.
Lastly, and related to the previous two observations, is the subject of encouraging young men to pursue training for the gospel ministry. Pastors and elders, look at the young men in your churches. Are there any who show the aptitude to serve as ministers of the gospel? Are there any who have a young zeal for the truths of the Bible? Have you encouraged them to seek to serve as a pastor? Do you present to them a good example of the life of a joyful servant of the Lord, or something else? Humanly speaking, the future pastors are in your Sunday School and Catechism classes right now. They attend the Heidelberg West Youth Camp. How many of you remember being encouraged to pursue the ministry and that made all the difference? Brothers, do not neglect your duty here.
It is often asked if the true marks of the church are manifested among us. Truly, the marks of the true church are manifested among us. Our numbers continue to be small compared to our Reformed and Presbyterian brethren, but we are faithful, and this is a precious truth, and one we should pray continues and should strive toward maintaining. It is not always easy. Sometimes we may be distracted or tempted to walk the easy path. Sometimes we may be tempted to grumble that we are called to walk the pilgrim path and the tearful valley, but the Lord will continue to answer those tears with refreshing rain and bring us to that glorious destination.
Rev. Douglas Schlegel
Heidelberg Theological Seminary