Office Bearers

GS 1965 ARTICLE 199: Theological Training

 Advisory Committee I presents the final edition of proposals re Training for the Ministry of the Word.

In addition to the decisions already mentioned in the field of Training (art. 99: the provision of $6,000.00 for the library; Art. 180: Subscription Form for Docents) the committee’s proposals are adopted, so that all further decisions on Training are:

  • “With regard to the Governors’ Report, the Synod decides
    • 1.    To appoint three Governors from the jurisdiction of the East and three from the jurisdiction of the West, with alternates.
    • 2.    To authorize the Governors to compensate current docents for the work they perform or to be performed.
    • 3.    Since the Synod, in the absence of sufficient insight, cannot take responsible decisions on various proposals submitted by Governors, to request the Governors to examine the whole matter of a Theological College in all aspects, together with the Board of Docents[1], and with respect to this matter, to send a joint report to the next General Synod.
    • Furthermore, to request Governors to send a copy of this report to the Churches for information at least six months before that Synod.
    • 4.    To authorize the Governors to purchase an estate in the Province of Ontario. They shall not make such a purchase until they have received prior favourable expert opinion and final approval from the Regional Synod of Ontario. Among the conditions that will have to be met is that there is a considerable area for possible further expansion and that affiliation with a University is possible.
    • 5.    Persons over the age of 30 can be admitted to the lessons and examinations of the Training without possession of a B.A. degree or equivalent degree, provided they have passed an admission examination, the requirements for which will be determined by the Board of Docents, subject to further approval by Governors; however, in such a way that they will not exceed what is required for the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
    • 6.    The following provisions of the Rules and Regulations proposed by Governors are now already adopted:
      • I.     The Churches provide Training for the Ministry of the Word through Governors, who are appointed and mandated by the General Synod. Governors are nominated by the minor assembly. Each Regional Synod nominates three Governors with alternates.
      • II.    Governors will meet together at least once a year. Docents will have the right to attend these meetings as advisers. Governors will issue a Press Release of their meetings.
      • III.  Governors will supervise the teaching in order to ward from it anything that is not in accordance with Scripture and the Confessions of the Churches.
      • They, with the advice of the docents, draw up a curriculum.
      • IV.  Governors will submit to the General Synod a nomination for the appointment of docents to fill existing vacancies. The General Synod shall not be bound by this nomination.
      • Governors will draft up a separate regulation for the interruption or termination of a Docent’s service.
      • V.   A Docent must be a member of a Canadian Reformed Church or of a Church with which the Canadian Reformed Churches maintain correspondence. Before beginning their service, teachers will sign the “Form of Subscription for Docents at the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches”, drafted by the General Synod of Edmonton, 1965.
      • Docents shall submit in their work to the supervision of the Governors, but shall at all times retain the right to appeal to the General Synod.
      • VI.  Governors will advise the General Synod as to the number of Docents deemed necessary.
    • 7.    In response to his request, to send to Br. M.C. Werkman of Edmonton a copy of the decision under 5.
    • 8.    The contribution of the Churches for the Training for the Ministry of the Word is set at $7.00 per professing member per year.”

The Synod further decided:

  • “1. To express its gratitude to Governors for the work done by them.
  • 2.    Regarding Rev. L. Selles’ request to be relieved of his teaching assignment in New Testament subjects, to postpone a decision to the (agenda) item Appointments.
  • 3.    Regarding the suggestions of Rev. G. Van Dooren regarding contact with future Theological Students the following:
    • The Synod expresses the desirability of contact with students who intend to study theology, but does not consider it to be within its jurisdiction, to take a decision in that direction.
    • With regard to the question raised by Rev. G. Van Dooren as to whether there is a possibility that we may benefit from setting up an institution, proceeding from the Association for Reformed Scientific Studies, the Synod replies that, even if there is such a possibility, it could not go beyond expressing the wish, that future students in theology will make use of it.
  • 4.    Re the financial report of Br H. Leffers, the Synod decides
    • a.    to thank Br. Leffers for the work he has done in this capacity;
    • b.    given the report of the Church at Coaldale, to grant Br. H. Leffers discharge with respect to these;
    • c.    to ask Governors to give due consideration to Br. H. Leffers’ suggestion of better investment of the available funds;
    • d.    to append the financial report when the Acts are published;
    • e.    to request the Governors to point out to the Churches, that the General Synod of Hamilton, 1962, decided to ask for an amount of $1.00 per soul per year for the matter of Training and to request those Churches, which failed to contribute, to supplement their assessment with their arrears.

With respect to decision 2, the Docents present at synod abstained from voting as per C.O. article 33.

Press Release version ARTICLE 19: Financial Report Theological College[2]

A financial report is presented by Br. H. Leffers, treasurer for the Education for the Ministry. Some Churches did not send in any contributions for the year 1964. Up until now only four Churches contributed for 1965. At October 30th, 1965 the funds amounted to $31,681.72.

Press Release version ARTICLE 38: Theological College.

Re: Theological College.

Synod makes the following decisions concerning the report of the Governors.

  • 1.    To appoint three governors from Western Canada and three from Eastern Canada with alternates;
  • 2.    To authorize the governors to compensate the present Docents for their work, already done, or still to be done;
  • 3.    To request the governors to study the whole matter of the Theological College in all its aspects; to do this together with the college of Docents; and to submit a joint report about the matter to the next General Synod, since Synod, for lack of sufficient knowledge of these matters, cannot at present make warranted decisions with respect to several proposals made by the governors;
  • 4.    To authorize the Governors to purchase an estate in the Province of Ontario. Such a purchase shall be made only upon preceding favourable advice of experts and upon definite approval of the Particular Synod of Ontario.
  • Among the conditions which have to be met are these, That a fair­sized plot be available for possible further extension; and that affiliation with a university be possible.
  • 5.    Persons over 30 years of age may be admitted to the courses and ex­ aminations of the College without being in the possession of a B.A. degree or its equivalent, if they pass successfully an admission-examination, the requirements for the which shall be set up by the College of Docents with concurrent approval of the Governors; on the understanding that these requirements shall not exceed what is required for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • 6.    To adopt at this moment already the following provisions from the “Rules and Regulations” which were proposed by the· Governors:
    • I.     The Churches shall take care of a Theological College through Governors, who shall be appointed and instructed by the General Synod. Governors shall be nominated by the Minor Assembly. Each Particular Synod shall nominate three Governors with alternates.
    • II.    The Governors shall meet at least once a year; Docents shall have the right to attend these meetings in an advisory capacity. The Governors shall publish a brief report of their meetings.
    • III.  The Governors shall exercise supervision over the instruction given in order that may be barred whatever is not in accordance with the Scripture and the Creeds of the Churches.
    • IV.  The Governors shall submit to the General Synod a nomination to appoint Docents for existing vacancies. The General Synod shall not be bound by this nomination.
    • The Governors shall draw up separate regulations covering leave of absence and the termination of the service of Docents.
    • V.   A Docent shall be a member of a Canadian Reformed Church or of one of the Churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches maintain Church correspondence.
    • Before entering upon their service Docents shall subscribe to the “Form of Subscription for Docents at the Theological College of the Canadian Reformed Churches”, drawn up by the General Synod of Edmonton, 1965. (See Dutch Text of Acts, Article 180).
    • Docents shall submit themselves in their work to the supervision of the Governors, but shall always retain the right of appeal to the General Synod.
    • VI.  The Governors shall advise the General Synod about the number of Docents which is deemed necessary.
  • 7.    To send to Mr. M. C. Werkman of Edmonton, in reply to his request, a copy of the decision mentioned under 5.
  • 8.    To set the contribution of the Churches for the Theological College at $7.00 (seven dollars) per communicant member per year.

Further did Synod make the following decisions:

  • 1.    To express its gratitude towards the Governors for the work which they did.
  • 2.    Re: Request of the Rev. L. Selles to be relieved from his task to teach the New Testament courses: to postpone a decision till Agenda point 10: Appointments.
  • 3.    With respect to the suggestions of the Rev. G. Van Dooren concerning contact with future students of theology the following:
    • Synod expresses the desirability of contact with students who are planning to study theology, but does not judge it to be in its province to make a decision in that direction.
    • As to the question of the Rev. G. Van Dooren whether there is a possibility to benefit from an institution which is in the process of being set up by the Association for Reformed Scientific Studies, Synod answers that even if such possibility exists, it could not possibly go any further than eventually express the desirability that future students of theology make use of it.
  • 4.    Re: Financial Report of Br H. Leffers, Synod decides
    • a.    To express its thanks to Br H. Leffers for the work he did;
    • b.    To give Br H. Leffers honourable discharge on the ground of the re port of the Church at Coaldale;
    • c.    To request the Governors to pay due attention to Br H. Leffers’ suggestion for a better investment of the moneys available;
    • d.    To include the Financial Report as a Supplement in the publication of the Acts;
    • e.    To request the Governors to remind the Churches that the General Synod of Hamilton 1962 requested the sum of $1.00 per member per year for the Theological College, and to ask the Churches which failed to pay this amount during the past years, to pay the arrears as yet.

With decision 2 concerning the report of the Governors, the Docents who were present at Synod, were not allowed to vote, in accordance with Article 33 C.O.

[1] Translator: later known as the Senate.

[2] Translator: There appears to be no Acts article equivalent to this Press Release article.