Mid-America Board Meets
The Board of Trustees of Mid-America Reformed Seminary met on Mid-America's campus on May 15-16. The Board heard reports from various committees including the Executive, Education, Finance, and Long-Range Planning committees. The Board also received reports from President, Dr. Cornel Venema, Director of Development, Mr. Keith LeMahieu, Director of Institutional Assessment, Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Librarian, Rev. Alan Strange, and Dean of Students, Dr. Mark Beach.
Mid-America Board of Trustees
A significant portion of the two-day meeting was taken up with an evaluation of the seminary's mission statement and the question of Mid-America's effectiveness in fulfilling her stated mission. At the fall, 2007 meeting, the Board passed a motion that significant time be set aside at its spring meeting to discuss these matters. Preparations were committed to the Long-Range Planning Committee who met regularly over the past six months to lay out a plan for making this exercise effective.
The Long-Range Planning Committee determined the best way to stimulate meaningful discussion was to review the mission statements of other Reformed seminaries, and to propose three different models for seminary education. The Long-Range Planning Committee called these three models the traditional model, the transitional model, and the transformational model. The purpose of these three models was to help the Board think in ways that sought to help determine if Mid-America is being effective in fulfilling its mission of preparing men to minister the Word in the 21st century.
Mr. Mike De Boom
The Board asked Mr. Mike De Boom to facilitate and moderate the discussion. Mr. De Boom, a former Board member, is a businessman who lives in California and has experience in leading strategic planning sessions. Mr. De Boom adeptly guided the Board through this conversation. After many hours of conversation, the Board concluded the seminary's present Mission Statement aptly communicates the mission of Mid-America, but it determined to evaluate more carefully what we do and how we do it in order to determine if the seminary can be more effective in fulfilling its mission of training men for the ministry of the Word and sacraments. On motion, the Long-Range Planning Committee was asked to present recommendations on how the seminary can carry out its existing mission more effectively. These recommendations will be brought to the Board at its fall meeting.
While much of the Board's time was taken up with the discussion of the seminary's mission, a number of other important items were considered. The Finance Committee presented a proposed budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year of $1,386,650. The Board approved this budget. The Board also considered a slate of new Board member candidates to present to the Mid-America Association. The ballot for these new candidates will be sent to the Association shortly.
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Mid-America Celebrates
Its 23rd Commencement
Commencement ceremonies for the class of 2008 were held Friday evening, May 16, at 7:30 PM at Calvary Community Church in South Holland, Illinois. The Master of Divinity degree was awarded to Mr. Vic Bernales (Davao City, Philippines); Mr. Todd De Rooy (Winnipeg, Manitoba); Mr. Andrew Eenigenburg (Cedar Lake, Indiana); Mr. David Robbins (Penryn, California); Mr. Hank Van der Woerd (Abbotsford, British Columbia); and Mr. Steve Van Noort (South Holland, Illinois).
Class of 2008 and their Wives
After the audience sang Rejoice the Lord is King, Dr. John R. Sittema, Mid-America Board member and pastor of Christ Church (PCA) in Jacksonville, Florida, delivered a commencement address entitled Preach the Word! Rev. Alan Strange, Associate Professor of Church History, gave a charge to the graduates.
At the conclusion of the ceremony friends and family gathered in the church fellowship hall to congratulate the graduates and enjoy a time of refreshments and fellowship.
Mid-America Reformed Seminary has announced the winners of this year's senior academic awards. At the closing chapel service each year, the faculty honors selected seniors with awards for academic excellence. The following awards were given to the class of 2008.
(L to R) Dr. Nelson Kloosterman, Steve Van Noort,
Todd De Rooy, David Robbins, and Gary Fink
Biblical Studies Award - The Biblical Studies Award is given to the senior with the highest combined scores on the Hebrew and Greek comprehensive exams. This year's award was shared by David Robbins and Gary Fink.
Doctrinal Studies Award - The Doctrinal Studies Award is given to the student with the highest grade point average in the area of doctrinal studies. David Robbins received this award.
Ecclesiastical Studies Award - Steven Van Noort received the Ecclesiastical Studies Award for achieving the highest grade point average in the area of ecclesiastical studies.
Ministerial Studies Award - The Ministerial Studies Award for highest grade point average in the area of ministerial studies along with the highest marks on exhorting evaluation forms was given to Todd De Rooy.
Prayer Requests
Pray for the 2008 graduates as they undergo ecclesiastical examinations and seek calls to the ministry.
Pray for the junior and middler students as they take up summer internships throughout North America.
Pray for the incoming class of 2011 as they prepare to begin their seminary studies.
Pray for the faculty as they engage in important study and writing projects over the summer.
Pray that God would provide much needed operating revenue. We have seen a significant decrease in giving which is some cause for concern.