Classis Georgetown Holds 'Risky Compassion' Meeting

June 17, 2013 — As delegates of classis Georgetown in West Michigan arrived at Harbor House Ministries for their spring meeting, they knew they were not at a typical classis meeting.

Instead of gathering at a church as they normally do, the members met here so they could put into action the meeting’s theme: risky compassion.

Classis leaders normally choose a theme for their meetings.

Aside from the meeting’s usual business in May, the delegates took time to eat dinner and worship with the 36 residents of Harbor House whose facilities serve those who have severe multiple impairments.

“We were looking for somewhere that compassion is a regular way of life,” said Rev. Gerry Koning, who served as president for the meeting.

“We wanted to shift the focus from a business setting to one where members can actually participate in ministry.”

The meeting used Luke 14's parable of the Great Banquet as its framework. In the passage, a master prepares a banquet and instructs his servants to invite the “poor, crippled, blind, and lame.”

The delegates did their normal work, and then, keeping the passage from Luke in mind, they divided and met the Harbor House residents in each of the three homes, learning more about what they like by talking with them and touring their rooms.

Rev. Mark Stephenson, director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church, also spoke at the meeting to further the discussion on risky compassion.

He said, “It’s okay if you are feeling a bit anxious about eating with the residents. We all feel anxiety when meeting people who are very different from us, but God calls us to keep on stepping out of our comfort zones to give and receive love.”

Stephenson introduced delegates to a continuum of disability attitudes that runs from ignorance to seeing fellow Christians who have disabilities as co-laborers in Christ. Later in the evening, the delegates invited the residents to share a time of worship including communion.

The time provided a way for the residents to serve the delegates as well when April, one of the residents, distributed the bread to everyone.

“This is Christ’s body, broken for you,” she said.

Stephenson observed, “When we encourage each person to use their gifts in ministry, we open ourselves in new ways to the work of the Spirit.” 

The Lord’s Supper was especially moving for Rev. Dave Jolman, pastor of First Hudsonville CRC, because April is his second cousin.

“Receiving the bread of communion from April brought me to tears,” Jolman said. “That classis meeting definitely stands out for me as the most memorable.”

Koning said he considered using other places as the meeting’s setting for risky compassion before deciding on Harbor House because of its connection to classis Georgetown.

“Our classis actually helped in raising funds for Harbor House Ministries’ construction,” Koning said, “so it was great to meet somewhere that already had a connection to our classis.”

As classis Georgetown moves forward, they will shift focus from risky compassion to the theme of daring hospitality.