Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/95

Contributor - Jeff Kingswood

Title - An Executive Shepherd (Secretary) For The Regional Synod Of Canada - Rev. James Peter Moerman

Topic - Reformed Church In Canada

The fourth son of an eight-child family, James Peter Moerman (Jim) was born January 25, 1960 to Rev. John and Corrie Moerman in Cambridge, Ontario where Jim's father pastored the congregation of the Galt Reformed Church. After a brief introduction to Ontario living, Jim moved west and spent his early childhood in Edmonton, Alberta where his family served Emmanuel Community Reformed Church for nine years until 1970. As a ten year old, he moved with his family to the prairie land of Monarch, Alberta, home of the Canadian Synod's oldest RCA congregation, the Monarch Reformed Church. It was after an evening service there in 1971 that Jim received Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

In 1978, the family moved still further west to British Columbia, where Rev. John Moerman pastored Grace Community Church in Surrey and Jim obtained a B.A. from Simon Fraser University, a teacher's certificate from the B.C. Ministry of Education, and a Master's of Divinity Degree from Regent College in Vancouver which led to ordination for pastoral ministry in the RCA in 1985.

It was during these years of further education that Jim met his wife Babette. At a junior high youth retreat in 1980, Jim was serving as a counsellor and took special notice of one of the young students in attendance. They exchanged Christmas cards for two years and then in April of 1982, Babette was one of the guest speakers at a Classis wide youth service on the subject of Christian dating. Jim was so impressed with the 16 year old's standards, that he just had to investigate! The next Saturday afternoon they went on their first date (after Jim received approval from Babette's father), and well, to make a wonderful story exceedingly short, they were married on June 28, 1986 after a four-year courtship.

Babette graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Simon Fraser University in 1987, just three days before the birth of their first child, a daughter, Rachel Lynn. A happy stay-at-home mom, Babette also gave birth to David James in 1989, Sarah Noelle in 1990, and Benjamin Josiah in 1993.

The summer Babette and Jim were married (1986), they bought a house, discovered the joyful news that a baby was on the way, and began pastoring their home church - Grace Community Church - on a full-time basis after serving there as an associate pastor for twelve months. In short, Jim and Babette entered the adult world rather suddenly, but made the necessary adjustments.

Babette has been very active in women's ministry during the ten years at Grace Community Church, beginning a small support group for new mothers which steadily grew and branched off into various other ministries for women. The current women's ministry encompasses ministry for stay-at-home moms and working moms, seasoned believers and new believers. There's also a strong outreach component for unbelievers who attend special evening events.

The story of being called to the ministry of "Executive Shepherd" for the Regional Synod of Canada is a marvellous record of divine providence. As vice-president of the Synod in 1994, part of Jim's portfolio was to chair the committee responsible to find a replacement for Dr. Jonathan Gerstner. For six months this work proceeded - but without apparent success. Then early in January of 1995, it began to dawn on both Babette and Jim that perhaps -just perhaps! - the position was not being filled because the Lord was calling them to this new ministry. After waiting until the position's closing date Oust in case the Lord had someone else in mind) Jim faxed-in a "letter of intent" to its new chairman with great fear and trembling, following it up with a complete resume and vision statement. To make another wonderful story very short, the Synod officially extended a call to Rev. Jim Moerman on April 29, 1995 to serve as in the ministry of Executive Secretary (shepherd).

It is with genuine excitement along with great fear and trembling that Jim, Babette and family have accepted this call from the Lord and now make the life-changing journey across this great nation to continue the ministry of "drawing near to God's along with the entire Regional Synod of Canada. Do pray for them.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.