About

The annual Niagara Reformed Office-Bearers Conference seeks to serve the churches of the Niagara region and abroad by helping to prepare godly men to serve in Christ’s church as faithful ministers, elders, and deacons. In light of Paul’s words to Timothy, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1), our desire to better equip men for this noble task. Each year, the conference centers on a main theme and typically holds sessions over a Friday evening and Saturday morning.

This conference is hosted by the United Reformed Churches in the Niagara region and is organized by Revs. Bryce De Zwarte (Adoration URC, St. Anns), Joel Dysktra (Wellandport URC), Daniel Hamstra (Trinity URC, St. Catharines), and Ryan Swale (Immanuel URC, Jordan).

·      Rev. Bryce De Zwarte is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and has been serving as the pastor of Adoration URC since 2020. Rev. De Zwarte also serves as the Stated Clerk of Classis Ontario-East and as the chairman of the Mid-America Reformed Seminary Alumni Council.

·      Rev. Joel Dykstra is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and has been serving as the pastor of Wellandport URC since 1998. Rev. Dykstra also serves on the URCNA’s Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity (CERCU) and on the Classical Committee for Home Missions (CCHM) in Classis Ontario-East.

·      Rev. Daniel Hamstra is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and has been serving as the pastor of Trinity URC since 2020. Rev. Hamstra also serves on the Classical Committee for Home Missions (CCHM) in Classis Ontario-East.

·      Rev. Ryan Swale is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and has been serving as the pastor of Immanuel URC since 2019. Rev. Swale is currently pursuing a DMin through the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary; and he has served on the URCNA Study Committee to provide pastoral advice to the churches on the nature of corporate worship.

All men desiring to serve Christ faithfully in church office are invited to attend the NROBC. This conference is not just for those who are currently serving in church office, but the aim of the NROBC is also to prepare younger men who have a desire to serve Christ in church office in the future.