What Is Classis and Why Should We Care?
Pastor Rob Byker and Elder Kelly Tien are going to Classis this week. If you have been part of the Christian Reformed Church for a while, you might have heard the word Classis. But if someone asked you what it actually is, could you explain it?
Connections Church is part of Classis Rocky Mountain, a regional group of Christian Reformed churches. In the CRC, our churches are connected through three assemblies: the local church council, the regional classis and the denomination-wide synod. The CRC describes a classis as neighboring churches coming together to seek and discern God’s will, support and hold one another accountable, pursue ministry together in their region and stay connected to the wider denomination.
That means Classis is more than a meeting.
When delegates from churches gather, they pray, listen, deliberate and make decisions together. They also share the joys and struggles of ministry, encourage one another and consider ways churches can accomplish together what might be difficult for one congregation to do alone. Classis can help churches and pastors through challenging seasons, support new ministries, examine candidates for ministry and address matters that affect more than one congregation.
There is something deeply biblical about that.
Paul describes the church as the body of Christ: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). A local congregation is not meant to follow Christ in isolation. We belong to one another in Christ.
Classis gives that truth a practical expression. It reminds us that Connections Church is part of something larger than ourselves. Other churches have wisdom and experience that can help us. We can encourage and strengthen them in return. We can pray together, learn from one another and work together for the kingdom of God.
The CRC even describes one purpose of Classis as creating a place where churches can share their “joys and struggles” and be “encouraged and challenged.” That may be one of the most important things to remember about Classis. We do not have to do ministry alone.
So, as they attend Classis this week, let’s pray for them. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give them wisdom and discernment. Pray that they will be an encouragement to the other churches gathered there and that they will also return encouraged, strengthened and equipped by the larger body of Christ.
And perhaps we can each take one more step: pray this week not only for Connections Church but also for the other congregations in Classis Rocky Mountain.
They are not simply other churches in our denomination. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ, seeking with us to faithfully serve the Lord where He has placed us.
