GS 1965 ARTICLE 177: Christian Reformed Church.
Advisory Committee III proposes a different version of the proposals on Agenda item 8 M, Contact Christian Reformed Church. The Synod adopts them in the following form:
- “A. The Synod took note:
- 1. Of the letter of the Contact Committee of the Christian Reformed Church, dated March 13, 1965, in which it informs us that the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church 1964 appointed a special contact committee “to communicate with the Canadian Reformed Churches with a view to establish a closer relationship with these churches”, and requests that a committee be appointed to discuss the question, how a loser relationship can be established between their and our Churches.
- 2. Of the proposal of the Church of Edmonton, to appoint, in accordance with the request of the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church, a committee with specific instructions on the matters which it considers need to be discussed.
- 3. Of the proposal of the Regional Synod of the Churches in Ontario 1965, to appoint deputies with the mandate to take up contact on with the “Special Contact Committee”, appointed by the Synod 1964 of the Christian Reformed Church, to discuss with this Committee those matters which in the past have stood in the way of unity according to the Word of the Lord; and of what presently stands in the way of unification, with the aim of removing the obstacles to scriptural unity.
- 4. Of the letter of the Church at Barrhead, September 20, 1965, in which it asks the Synod to decide in accordance with the proposal of the Church of Edmonton.
- B. The Synod considers:
- 1. It is the Son of God, who, by his Spirit and Word, gathers, defends, and preserves a church in the unity of faith. It is the calling of all believers to gather with Christ, by maintaining together the unity of the Church in the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God in the concrete situation of today.
- 2. As far as the Christian Reformed Church and our Churches are concerned, this situation is shaped by, among other things, the following circumstances:
- a. The Christian Reformed Church and our Churches have adopted the same confessional writings as Forms of Unity: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort.
- b. The Christian Reformed Church has also accepted:
- The Decisions of Utrecht (1905/1908) and an official interpretation thereof (1962).
- The Three Points of Kalamazoo (1924) and an official interpretation thereof (1959 /1960).
- Where the doctrine of the Church is concerned, our Churches have not accepted any other declarations besides the Three Forms of Unity.
- c. The Christian Reformed Church maintains correspondence with the synodically bound Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. Our Churches maintain correspondence with the liberated Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.
- d. The Christian Reformed Church has adopted a new Church Order. Our Churches still have the Order of the Church of Dort/Utrecht (1619/1905).
- C. The Synod decides:
- To appoint four deputies with the mandate:
- 1. To examine with the contact committee of the Christian Reformed Church how their and our Churches should enter into and maintain with each other on the foundation of the apostles of the Lamb the unity of the Church in the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God and therefore, with the aforementioned committee, to examine the concrete situation, as shaped by the differences mentioned under B 2, in the light of the Three Forms of Unity.
- 2. To keep the Churches informed of what has transpired in the exercise of this (mandate) and to submit a report to the next General Synod.
- To appoint four deputies with the mandate:
Press Release version ARTICLE 31: Christian Reformed Church
Committee III reports about the request of the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church that Synod appoint a Committee “which could meet with our Committee, to discuss together how closer relationship can be established between our Churches”.
Synod considers
- 1. It is the Son of God Who by His Spirit and Word gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself a Church in the unity of faith. It is the duty of all believers to gather with Christ by maintaining together the unity of the Church in uniformity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God in the concrete present-day situation.
- 2. This situation, as far as the Christian Reformed Church and our Churches are concerned, is determined by, among other, the following conditions:
- a. The Christian Reformed Church and our Churches have adopted the same confessional forms as Forms of Unity: the Heidelberg Catechism. the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort;
- b. besides, the Christian Reformed Church has adopted
- The Conclusions of Utrecht (1905/1908) and an official interpretation of them (1962);
- The three Points of Kalamazoo (1924) and an official interpretation of them (1959/1960).
- Our Churches have not adopted any other declarations concerning the doctrine of the Church beside the, Three. Forms of Unity.
- c. The Christian Reformed Church maintains correspondence with the “synodical” Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands. Our churches maintain correspondence, with the “liberated” Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands.
- d. The Christian Reformed Church has adopted a new Church Order: our Churches do still abide by the Church Order of Dort/Utrecht (1619 / 1905).
- Synod decides to appoint four deputies with the mandate
- 1. to examine, together with the Contact Committee of the Christian Re formed Church, how their and our Churches are to enter into and to maintain together the unity of the Church in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God on the foundation of the apostles of the Lamb, and therefore to examine, together with the said Committee, the concrete situation, as it is also determined by the differences mentioned under B 2, by the light of the Three Forms of Unity.
- 2. to keep the Churches informed about the matters dealt with in their contact with the said Committee, and to submit a report to the next General Synod.”