Medenblik Inaugurated CTS President

Rev. Jul Medenblik dropped to his knees on Saturday morning, took up a glass pitcher and began pouring water over the bare feet of John Cooper, a professor of philosophical theology at Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS).

Medenblik, having minutes before been inaugurated as new president of CTS, then took a towel and carefully dried Cooper's feet. As he did, Cooper leaned over in his chair and placed his hand appreciatively on Medenblik's shoulder.

It was a moving moment, one of many during the two-hour "Called to Serve" service in which Medenblik was inaugurated as seventh president of the Christian Reformed Church in North America's seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich. The service took place at Calvin College's Covenant Fine Arts Center.

There were other significant parts of the service as well, such as when 30 pastors, friends and others gathered and laid hands on Medenblik, investing him into the office of president. Or there was the a collage of photos that appeared on a big screen, showing various, touching scenes detailing Medenblik's role as the pastor who served members of New Life CRC in New Lenox, Ill. for the last 16 years.

Or there was the moment Medenblik’s wife and partner in ministry, Jackie, joined him on the stage to be acknowledged.

But the washing of feet was perhaps the most memorable part, reflecting the approach Medenblik plans to take as president.

After washing Cooper's feet, Medenblik moved on to wash the feet of Byron Noordewier, vice president of the CTS Board of Trustees, Carolyn DeNeut, executive associate to the CTS president, and Hitomi Urushizaki, a Master of Divinity student at CTS.

Before the foot washing, Connie Kromminga Mulder, daughter of former CTS president John H. Kromminga, read John 13:1-17, the part of the gospel describing how Jesus, on the night before he died, washed the feet of his disciples and told them to do the same for others.

Medenblik says the passage speaks deeply to him and inspires him as he seeks to be as a servant who encourages others to do the same.

As a reminder of the inauguration service and its theme, all those who attended were given a towel on which are these words: CTS Called to Serve.

"It is Jesus Christ who we are to follow," Medenblik said in his message, titled appropriately “Called to Service,” before the foot-washing. "We are marked by his love, and we are to share that love with others … May our attention turn to Jesus and may we serve others as he has served us."

Officiating at the service was Rev. Kevin Adams, former president of the CTS Board and pastor of a church in California. "What a gift it is to be gathered together to celebrate God's faithfulness as we inaugurate a new president," he said in words of welcome at the start of the service

Flanked by CTS faculty members and representatives of other seminaries, Medenblik stood on the stage and, raising an arm in praise, joined others who listened to the Korean Choir from CTS sing the anthem, "Friends, Let Us Together Exalt."

A powerfully sung rendition of "Praise to the Lord, Almighty" followed soon after.

Then Rev. Case Admiraal, former pastor of Bethel CRC in Fulton, Ill., testified to God’s calling on the life of the new president. The Medenblik’s attended his church.

Admiraal recalled how he saw that calling at work in the life of Jul Medenblik even when he was in high school. "I came to know Jul very well and it became apparent that God had graced him with many gifts" – gifts that could be used in ministry.

Although he pursued a law degree and practiced law for a time, Medenblik couldn't avoid the calling that Admiraal discerned. Medenblik eventually left the law as a profession to earn a Master of Divinity degree at CTS.

From there he went on found the church on New Lenox, watching it grow from four people to more than 700. He also worked for Christian Reformed Home Missions as a leader in church planting. "Even when he was working as an attorney, God was preparing Jul for something else," said Admiraal.

Since service to others has long been a key part of how Medenblik views ministry, he was pleased to see, just in the last week, examples of how CTS works in the service of God.

In his message, Medenblik said people may not remember his words, but he hoped they would recall the foot washing and take an important lesson from it.

He also asked for members of the CTS faculty and staff, as well as the church at large, to help him in a life of ministry and service to others.

"I will not be able to serve well unless we serve together as a community … This will not work unless God leads and we follow," he said.