Classis BC South-East
Who Are We?
Classis British Columbia South-East (BCSE) is a group of twenty-five Christian Reformed churches located in the south and east regions of British Columbia’s mainland. We have churches through the Fraser Valley and into the Interior—Lake Okanagan and the Shuswap—and on to Kamloops and the Cariboo. We are blessed by natural beauty in many forms and by people who are committed to serving their Lord in their churches and communities.
For a list of BCSE churches click here
The Classis BC South East Mission Statement
Classis BCSE has adopted the following Mission Statement to explain its purpose and provide a basis for planning and evaluating its work and ministry.
Classis British Columbia South East
is a community of Christian Reformed Churches
bound together by a shared confession, and by this common calling:
to pray and worship together
to plant new churches
to share, celebrate and encourage each other in our ministries
to provide training for church ministry programs
to study and deliberate on matters of mutual concern
to support and supervise classis approved and denominational ministries
to fulfill the governance functions assigned by the Church Order.
What is the Christian Reformed Church?
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has just over a thousand congregations in Canada and the United States. About one quarter are Canadian and three quarters are American. These congregations are grouped into 49 classes—11 in Canada and 37 in the United States, and one with congregations on both sides of the border. The Canadian CRCNA office is in Burlington, Ontario, and the American is in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more on the history and beliefs of the CRCNA, click here
What does Classis BC South-East do?
Classis benefits the churches of south-east BC in several ways. We are an avenue for mutual support and accountability. For instance, classis offers assistance churches during times of transition (as when a pastor leaves or a new pastor arrives). It oversees the process of pastors entering or leaving their ministries. It corresponds with the provincial office in licensing pastors to conduct wedding ceremonies. And more.
To make inquiries about Classis BCSE please email the stated clerk: statedclerk.bcse@gmail.com
The churches of Classis BCSE provide support to a number of ministries that no single church could do alone. There is a ministry to seafarers in Vancouver and Roberts Banks, a campus ministry at UBC Okanagan, a training and equipping ministry called 1Life, as well as a Safe Church program to make our churches a safe place for all who attend—especially children and vulnerable adults. And more. For information on these, click here
Christian Reformed Ministries
The Five Callings:
As a part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America Classis BC South-East hears five callings—five assignments—given to us by the Lord of the Church. They are:
Faith Formation
As a community of believers, we seek to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to nurture their faith through all ages and stages of life.
Servant Leadership
Understanding that the lifelong equipping of leaders is essential for churches and ministries to flourish, we identify, recruit and train leaders to be servants in the Kingdom of God.
Global Mission
Called to be witnesses of Christ’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth, we start and strengthen local churches in North America and around the world.
Mercy and Justice
Hearing the cries of the oppressed, forsaken and disadvantaged, we seek to act justly and love mercy as we walk humbly with our God.
Gospel Proclamation and Worship
Believing that faith comes through the hearing of God’s Word, we proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ and seek to worship him in all that we do.
For more on the Five Callings see: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/our-vision-our-mission-our-calling
The Christian Reformed Church Order
Classis BCSE and its churches work under the CRC Church Order, a policy manual that defines:
- the offices of the church (pastor, elder, deacon and commissioned pastor)
- the assemblies of the church (council, classis and synod)
- the tasks and activities of the church
- the admonition and discipline of the church
For a digital copy of the CRC Church Order, click here: https://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/Church_Order.pdf