Restructuring the Local Classes
Note: this is revised from the original using Yearbook 1997 data.
As discussed in the first section of this paper, for historical reasons the classis structure of the Grand Rapids area is geographically disjointed, due to several classical splits. While Grand Rapids North and Grand Rapids East seem well grouped geographically (especially since Thornapple Valley was established), Grand Rapids South makes less sense geographically, running from downtown Grand Rapids to Wayland.
A restructuring on geographic lines, instead of simply dividing current classes, should be designed to create more equally sized classes, which today range from 4,800 (Thornapple Valley) to 10,075 (GR North), from 11 congregations (Thornapple) to 21 (GR North4). The five local classes have a total of 84 congregations and 42,540 members. This averages to 17 congregations and 8,508 members per classis.
The current denominational average is 21 congregations and 6,082 members per classis.The local classes average 19% fewer congregations but 40% more members. In the 1997 Yearbook the number of congregations per classis ranges from 11 to 34. Based on these figures, we could work for five classes of about 17 congregations or seven classes of about 6,077 members. As a compromise, we will aim for six classes averaging 14 churches and 7,090 members.
The current breakdown of classes is follows (1996 membership):
TABLE 1
Grand Rapids East (9,155) |
Grand Rapids North (10,075) |
Grand Rapids South (9,448) |
|
|
|
Grandville (9,062) |
Thornapple Valley (4,800) |
|
|
Classis Thornapple Valley is significantly smaller than the other four Grand Rapids classes. The first step should be to add a few more churches to this classis. I suggest moving Woodlawn and Church of the Servant to classis Thornapple Valley, which would now have 13 congregations and 5,983 members.
Next, a Wyoming classis makes sense. The Wyoming congregations are now split between Grand Rapids South and Grandville. It's about time the Hahn-In church realigned itself with its geographic area. Classis Wyoming would contain both Wyoming and southwest Grand Rapids congregations (Roosevelt Park and Hillcrest Community), totaling 14 congregations and 5,232 members.
Classis Grand Rapids South would add Seymour CRC to partially offset the loss of the Wyoming congregations. LaGrave would be moved to Grand Rapids East, which makes much more sense for a downtown church. This would give a classis of 13 congregations and 6,704 members.
Grand Rapids North is geographically and numerically large and so placed that splitting off congregations is difficult. By moving Mayfair, Coit Community, and Gold Ave. to Grand Rapids East, North would have 17 congregations and 9,272 members, while East would have 16 congregations and 8,850 members. I suggest renaming the latter classis Grand Rapids Central since it now covers downtown and stands between Grand Rapids North and South.
Finally, the remainder of classis Grandville (primarily Grandville and Byron Center) would have 11 congregations and 6,502 members.
The end result of this proposal would be one new classis (Wyoming), minor adjustments to three (GR North, East, and Thornapple Valley), and major adjustments to two (GR South and Grandville). We end up with classes which are geographically smaller, closer to the denominational average in membership, and have a closer to average number of congregations.
TABLE 2
Classis |
Current
|
Members |
Proposed
|
Members |
GR East (Central) |
|
|
|
|
GR North |
|
|
|
|
GR South |
|
|
|
|
Grandville |
|
|
|
|
Thornapple Valley |
|
|
|
|
Wyoming |
|
|
The smallest of the new classes has 41 more members than Thornapple Valley has today, and the largest, GR North, is 803 smaller than it is today. All classes are within three congregations of our target of 14. The range from smallest to largest classis is 6 congregations and 4,040 members, instead of 10 congrega tions and 5,275 members. The only classis larger than it is today would be Thornapple Valley, which is currently much smaller than the others.
Because of the disproportionate size of Sunshine, GR North will remain the largest local classis for some time. The second largest, GR Central, contains several churches with declining membership, so it can be expected to drop in size over time. The remaining classes contain a mix of established (and often declining) churches with newer, growing congregations and growing communities. Over time, each can be expected to grow in membership and number of congregations.
The new breakdown of the classes would be as follows:
TABLE 3
Grand Rapids Central (8,850) |
Grand Rapids North (9,272) |
Grand Rapids South (6,704) |
|
|
|
Grandville (6,502) |
Thornapple Valley (5,983) |
Wyoming (5,232) |
|
|
|
Classes should also work to redefine the role of classis. Perhaps each could hire a part-time church growth specialist (maybe a seminarian or someone with an M.A. in church growth) to work with congregations in finding and developing a better fit with their environment. This person could do demographic research, take surveys, and help declining congregations re-vision. Cost could be divided between the classical budget and congregations using these services.
Additionally, each classis could have regular meetings or retreats for ministry staff from the whole classis, Perhaps offering an annual brainstorming session for church musicians, liturgists, youth workers, evangelists, education coordinators, etc. Classes should work to promote growth by helping to plant new churches, coordinate evangelism programs and training, and spin off new churches from congregations bursting at the seams.
With a classical ministry/growth coordinator, it might be possible to develop specific ministries targeting the whole area, such as a crusade or concerted evangelism program coupled with long term planning and follow up. Two or more classes might choose to cooperate in ministering to areas such as Heartside. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination, and since each coordinator will work directly for the classis, the problems sometimes encountered with an independent board and limited oversight could be eliminated.
This proposal doesn't solve the problem of large classes, but it does reduce the size differences locally. Any such reorganization would have to be done by consulting local classes and congregations, so it could take some time before a more geographic grouping of classes arises. Further, the creation of a new classis and transfer between classes would require synodical approval.
Alternately, except for classis Wyoming, congregations could petition to transfer to another classis based on geographic proximity. Creation of classis Wyoming is overdue and would require the cooperation of Grand Rapids South, Grandville, and synod.
UPDATE, September 1997. The Walker CRC has voted to secede from the denomination and affiliate with the United Reformed Churches. The Little Farms CRC in Coopersville has also voted to secede; they will join the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Both congregations were part of Classis Grand Rapids North.
Any comments? Send
.
Copyright ©1992, 1996-2000 by Dan Knight.
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