Classis (a class, division), the name of an ecclesiastical body in the Reformed (Dutch)Church in Holland and in America, corresponding to the presbytery in -the Presbyterian Church. A classis is composed of the minister or ministers, and one elder, of each church constituting the body, together with such other ministers without pastoral charge as may belong to it. The same arrangement prevails in the German Reformed Church in the United States.
The classis hold an intermediate place between the consistory and the particular synod. It is represented by two ministers and two elders in the particular synod, and by three ministers and three elders in the general synod. It is both a legislative and a judicial body, many of whose acts are -
subject to the revision of the superior courts. SEE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA; SEE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA. (W. J.R.T.)
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More