Curatorium Announcement

It is again time to announce the annual meeting of the Curatorium of our theological school. The meeting this year is scheduled to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rev. J. den Hoed hopes to preach a prayer service the preceding evening at the Beckwith Avenue Church.

Very recently, the congregation of Norwich has lost its beloved minister, Rev. J. Spaans. He has also served as president of the Curatorium for the past twenty years from 1990 till 2009. His presence, leadership, and advice will be sorely missed among us.

Once again, we must try to lay before you the need that the Lord might provide men of His choosing to serve in the congregations of our denomination. The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. On the other hand, in such circumstances we need to be especially cautious that man is not running ahead of the Lord to fulfill the need but that we may wait upon the Lord. There is a Church that may sing by moments of the marvelous works of the Lord, as David did, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 72:18&19.) These wondrous works, however, are experienced in the extremity of man, in his impossibility.

What a wonder it may be if we may so magnify the name of the Lord in this coming season. What a wonder if, after nine long years, the Curatorium would be given the freedom to accept a man, or more, with a clear calling to begin studies at the theological school once again. What a wonder if it would distinctly be felt as the work of the Lord and not of men. Then David’s song will become ours, and the Lord will indeed receive His honor in the small way that His remnant is given to sing it here below.

Are there, therefore, men in our denomination upon whom the Lord has laid the burden of the ministry? Are there those who are not strangers of the Lord’s dealings with their soul and whom the Spirit of the Lord impels to this work? No, we do not ask what your own fleshly desires are. One said to Christ, “I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest,” but this eager scribe, with all his learning and zeal, was rejected. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” (Matthew 8:19&20). Ah, he looked for the honor of the office but had never counted the cost. To another the Lord said, “Follow Me.” He was truly called, but he had his objections. “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” He did not want to go yet. He first wanted to take care of his old father, to finish his temporal obligations. When his father would be gone, dead and buried, then he would be ready, but despite his objections, the Lord would not let him go. “Let the dead bury their dead.”

Are there such also among us whom the Lord does not let go despite all your objections? Do you also ask with Jeremiah, “Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable?” Then we would recommend you to your consistory, so that you may lay your case before their judgment in the sight of an all-knowing God and leave the outcome in His hands. When we are a riddle unto ourselves, the Lord is able to use others as instruments in His hand to make the truth of the matter evident.

Consistories of vacant congregations which receive a request for an attest should seek the advice and presence of their moderator. If, indeed, the matter is judged to be of the Lord, please contact the clerk of the Curatorium who will forward a request for information regarding the applicant. The applicant should also forward his own request to the clerk, asking for a hearing by the Curatorium. All information should be submitted as soon as it is available and at least, if possible, by the first week of May.

May the Lord remember us as a denomination and favor us with men of His choosing, for the gathering of His Church among us and our children.

On behalf of the Curatorium,
Rev. J. den Hoed, vice chairman
Rev. H.D. den Hollander, clerk

Address of the clerk of the Curatorium:

Rev. H.D. den Hollander
P.O. Box 627, Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada T0L 0Z0
Phone (403)553-4499
Fax (403)553-4436

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