Office Bearers

GS 2025 Article 108 – ERQ (Reformed Church of Quebec)

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Committee for Ecumenical Relations (CER) Report 4: Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) (8.2.10.4).
  • 1.2    Letter from the church at Barrhead (8.3.10.2).

2.   Admissibility

  • 2.1    The report was declared admissible.
    • Grounds: It was mandated by the previous synod and was received on time.
  • 2.2    The letter was declared admissible.
    • Grounds: It interacts with a report to GS 2025 and was received on time.

3.   Observations

  • 3.1    GS 2022 (art. 160) decided:
    • [3.1]    To continue the relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Reformed Churches in Quebec (ERQ) under the adopted rules;
    • [3.2]    To encourage the churches to support the ERQ prayerfully and financially in their missionary endeavours and special projects;
    • [3.3]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • [3.3.1]    To maintain contact with the ERQ according to the adopted rules;
      • [3.3.2]    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 ERQ continues to uphold the Reformed confessions and maintains a faithful witness in a challenging cultural context;
    • 3.2.2    The CER has maintained contact with the ERQ and attended its synodical meetings;
    • 3.2.3    The relationship remains positive and mutually encouraging.
  • 3.3    The CER recommends that synod decide:
    • 3.3.1    To express thankfulness to the Lord for the faithfulness of the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ);
    • 3.3.2    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) according to the adopted rules;
    • 3.3.3    To continue to encourage the churches to support the ERQ prayerfully and financially in their missionary endeavours and special projects;
    • 3.3.4    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • 3.3.4.1   To submit its report on its activities with respect to the ERQ to the churches 6 months prior the convening of the next general synod.
  • 3.4    The Barrhead CanRC requests that the CER be mandated to raise the issue of women deacons.

4.   Considerations

  • 4.1    The Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) remains a faithful Reformed church with whom fellowship is both appropriate and beneficial.
  • 4.2    The ERQ appreciates the ongoing contributions from the CanRC both in terms of human as well as financial resources.
  • 4.3    The Barrhead CanRC neglects GS 2016 art. 59 cons. 3.4 which said “Discussion of these issues [i.e. differences that were noted and discussed prior to, but do not hinder, EF] may take place naturally in the course of EF, but a specific mandate, identifying particular issues, need not be given.”

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 5.1    To express thankfulness to the Lord for the faithfulness of the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ);
  • 5.2    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) according to the adopted rules;
  • 5.3    To continue to encourage the churches to support the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) prayerfully and financially in their missionary endeavours and special projects;
  • 5.4    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • 5.4.1    To submit its report on its activities with respect to the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) to the churches no later than six (6) months prior the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED