GS 2025 Article 124 – NAPARC (North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council)

1.   Material

• 1.1    CER Report 24: North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) (8.2.10.1.24).

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. 159) decided the following:
  • [3.1]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • [3.1.1]    To represent the CanRC at the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) and to continue active involvement in it;
    • [3.1.2]    To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next general synod;
    • [3.1.3]    To consider including relevant information about ecumenical conferences in the report to general synod.
• 3.2    From the CER report, the following:
  • 3.2.1    The CER participated in meetings in 2022 & 2023
    • 3.2.1.1   During these meetings CER held bilateral meetings with delegates from the following churches: RCUS, URCNA, ERQ, HRC, FRCNA, OPC, RPCNA, and ARP.
  • 3.2.2    The CER continues to see the benefit of being involved in NAPARC.
  • 3.2.3    NAPARC meetings provide opportunities for CER to fulfill other parts of its mandate.
  • 3.2.4    The CER is willing to assist the local churches in regard to NAPARC issues.
• 3.3    The CER recommends that synod decide:
  • 3.3.1    To continue membership in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC);
  • 3.3.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • 3.3.2.1   To continue to represent the CanRC at NAPARC and to continue its active involvement in it.
    • 3.3.2.2   To submit its report on its activities with respect to NAPARC to the churches 6 months prior to the convening of the next General Synod.

4.   Considerations

• 4.1    With thankfulness to the Lord, the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) continues to be a useful forum to promote harmony and unity among Reformed and Presbyterian churches within Canada and the USA.

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

• 5.1    To continue membership in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC);
• 5.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
  • 5.2.1    To continue to represent the CanRC at the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) and to continue its active involvement in it.
  • 5.2.2    To submit its report on its activities with respect to NAPARC to the churches no later than six (6) months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED