Office Bearers

GS 2025 Article 78 – HRC (Heritage Reformed Congregations)

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Committee for Ecumenical Relations (CER) Report 6: Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) (8.2.10.6).

2.   Admissibility

  • 2.1    The report was declared admissible.
    • Grounds: It was mandated by the previous synod and was received on time.

3.   Observations

  • 3.1    GS 2022 (art. 162) decided:
    • [3.1]    To accept the Heritage Reformed Churches in North America (HRCNA) Level 2 relationship of “Formal Correspondence”;
    • [3.2]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • [3.2.1]    To continue discussions with the HRCNA in an effort to work towards Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF);
      • [3.2.2]    To meet simultaneously with the HRCNA and Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA) ecumenicity committees;
      • [3.2.3]    To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next general synod.
  • 3.2    From the CER report, the following:
    • 3.2.1    The HRC is a member of both NAPARC and ICRC.
    • 3.2.2    The CER has had several interactions with the HRC since 2022, including bilateral meetings at NAPARC.
    • 3.2.3    The HRC emphasizes Christ-centred preaching and the unconditional offer of grace.
    • 3.2.4    The HRC have expressed to us their appreciation for the individual and institutional collaboration between Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS) and our CRTS.
    • 3.2.5    The CER was unable to meet simultaneously with the FRCNA and HRC ecumenical committees as mandated.
    • 3.2.6    Progress towards organic unity between the FRCNA and HRC appears to have stalled. The FRCNA/HRC joint unity committee has not been disbanded but its focus is now more on “grassroots” activity.
  • 3.3    The CER recommends that Synod decide:
    • 3.3.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Contact (EC) with the Heritage Reformed Churches in North America (HRC) according to the adopted rules with a view to possibly advancing this to a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF);
    • 3.3.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • 3.3.2.1   To convey this decision to the HRC;
      • 3.3.2.2   To submit its report on its activities with respect to the HRC to the churches 6 months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

4.   Considerations

  • 4.1    The CanRC shares the same Reformed confessional standards as the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC).
  • 4.2    The CER has found the HRC to be faithful to Scripture and the gospel of Christ.
  • 4.3    The HRC is receptive to dialogue and discussion with the CanRC and we are already in their “Level 2” relationship.
  • 4.4    The HRC work together with the CanRC on a local level as well as through our respective seminaries, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS) and CRTS.

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 5.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Contact (EC) with the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) according to the adopted rules with a view to possibly advancing this to a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF).
  • 5.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • 5.2.1    To convey this decision to the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC);
    • 5.2.2    To submit its report on its activities with respect to the HRC to the churches no later than six (6) months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED