Date: Mon, 07 Jun 1999 07:02:22 -0400 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99045: Classis Central US Votes for Open Agendas and Minutes NR #1999-045: Classis Central US Votes for Open Agendas and Minutes With no debate and by unanimous vote, Classis Central United States of the United Reformed Churches voted to support open access to its minutes and agendas by URC churches, URC members, and "responsible" news organizations. In its grounds, the overture from Redeemer URC of Orange City, Iowa - pastored by classical stated clerk Rev. Ralph Pontier - noted that "the open and free exchange of information about the business of classis promotes the work of ecumenicity and gives church members greater access to information about the church so that they can participate more fully and pray more intelligently." The overture also noted that "the meetings of classis are open to the public except for executive session" and that "the minutes of executive session do not record confidential matters." NR #1999-045: For Immediate Release: Classis Central US Votes for Open Agendas and Minutes by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service LYNWOOD, ILL. (May 1, 1999) URNS - With no debate and a unanimous vote, Classis Central United States of the United Reformed Churches voted to support open access to its minutes and agendas by URC churches, URC members, and "responsible" news organizations. The overture from Redeemer URC of Orange City, Iowa - pastored by classical stated clerk Rev. Ralph Pontier - asked classis "to grant to the stated clerk permission to make the agenda and minutes of classis available in electronic format for any URC church which may wish to post the minutes on their church web page, and in printed or electronic format to any URC church member or any responsible news organization which may request the agenda or minutes." In its grounds, the overture noted that "the open and free exchange of information about the business of classis promotes the work of ecumenicity and gives church members greater access to information about the church so that they can participate more fully and pray more intelligently." The overture also noted that "the meetings of classis are open to the public except for executive session" and that "the minutes of executive session do not record confidential matters." URC classes have a variety of procedures on access to minutes and agendas. In October 1998, Classis Michigan unanimously adopted two overtures from Covenant URC of Kalamazoo which asked classis "to allow us to post the classis meeting agendas and minutes on our web site" and to overture synod "to give us permission to post a list of URC churches, synodical agendas and minutes, and similar documents on our Web site." Classis Southwest United States and Classis Eastern United States provide copies of agendas and minutes to the news media upon request but have no formal policies or prior discussion on the matter. Classis Southern Ontario decided to provide minutes and agendas after debating the matter; Classis Western Canada declined to provide agendas of its most recent meeting but agreed to send minutes. The United Reformed church order requires that "each classis shall inform the other classes regarding matters of mutual concern by forwarding its minutes to them in a timely manner," but has no formal rules on providing agendas to other classes or providing either minutes or agendas to organizations, to individual members, or to churches outside the classis. Classis Central United States also adopted a series of overtures >from Redeemer URC to tighten its procedures. The classis appointed church visitors for two regions, one in metro Chicago and one in Iowa; appointed an alternate stated clerk and alternate treasurer; decided to require only one annual meeting while allowing additional meetings to be called as necessary; and corrected a number of errors in its local rules referring to changed articles of the denominational church order. In its closing actions, the classis also voted to send a letter of concern to the Orthodox Reformed Church of Delavan, Wisconsin, which did not send delegates to the meeting. The Delavan URC owns its own storefront, but the church has dwindled to the point that it has only two council members and sixteen members. Cross-References to Related Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Rev. Ralph Pontier, Stated Clerk, Classis Central United States (URC) 4608 Jackson Ave., Orange City, IA 51041-7446 H/O: (712) 737-4901 * FAX: (712) 737-3350 * E-mail: rpontier@rconnect.com ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-045.txt .