Office Bearers

GS 1965 ARTICLE 7: Adoption of the agenda. Procedure.

Given a letter from “The Canadian Reformed Church of Winnipeg, Manitoba” address: 729 Hoskin Avenue, Winnipeg 15, Manitoba dated November 1, 1965, the Synod decides to announce that a submission received before November 15, 1965 will as yet be added to the agenda. [1]

The agenda is now adopted as follows:

  • 1.    Opening on behalf of the convening church at Edmonton.
  • 2.    Examination of credentials.
  • 3.    Election of the executive.
  • 4.    Constitution of the Synod.
  • 5.    Communications on behalf of the convening Church.
  • 6.    Adoption of the Agenda.
  • 7.    A. Session times and procedure.
    • B. Letter from the Board of the Superannuation Association, containing the request that Synod take into account that the Board has called a General Meeting of the Association on Friday, November 5, at 8:00 P.M.
  • 8.    Submissions
    • A.   Eligibility for call of ministers who have served beyond our churches and churches with which we are in correspondence.
      • 1.    Proposal 7 from the Regional Synod of Ontario, 1965.
      • 2.    Proposal from the church at Coaldale.
    • B.    Training for the Ministry of the Word.
      • 1.    Request from Br. M.C. Werkman, Edmonton, August 15, 1965.
      • 2.    Report from the church at Coaldale on the finances for Training.
      • 3.    Submission from Rev. L. Selles.
      • 4.    Submission from Rev. G. Van Dooren.
      • 5.    Report from br. H. Leffers.
      • 6.    Governors’ Report, with additional material yet expected.
    • C.    Needy Students.
      • Proposal from the church at Edmonton, February 3, 1964.
    • D.   Address to the Federal Government.
      • 1.    Proposal from Rev. G. Van Dooren.
      • 2.    Submission from the church at Toronto.
      • 3.    Submission from Br. T. Van den Brink in Barrhead.
    • E.    Appeals
      • 1.    A. De Vries and others at Hamilton, Ont.
      • 2.    Cl.K. Oosterveld at Winnipeg.
      • 3.    K. Esselink at Winnipeg.
      • 4.    E. Ter Mors at Winnipeg.
      • 5.    H. Tams at Edmonton.
    • F.    General Archives.
      • Report from Rev. G. Van Dooren.
    • G.   Deputies.
      • Proposal from the church at Barrhead concerning the bodies to which governors and other deputies have to report.
    • H.   General Synod Hamilton 1962.
      • 1.    From Rev H. Scholten re execution of the decision to send a telegram to Rev. Knigge.
      • 2.    “Financial Statement” of General Synod Hamilton 1962.
      • 3.    Report from the church at Smithville on facilitating the finances of General Synod 1962.
    • I.     Heidelberg Catechism.
      • 1.    Proposal from Rev. G. Van Dooren concerning the English translation of Dr. T. F. Torrance.
      • 2.    Proposal from the church at Edmonton, to decide in accordance with the proposal of Rev. Van Dooren.
      • 3.    From the Church at Barrhead, proposal to decide in accordance with the proposal from Rev. Van Dooren.
    • J.     Psalms and Hymns.
      • 1.    Report of Deputies.
      • 2.    Proposal 2 from the Regional Synod of Ontario 1965.
      • 3.    Submission from the church in Toronto.
      • 4.    Request of deputies.
    • K.    Excommunication and re-admission of baptismal members.
      • 1.    Forms for this as adopted by Classis Ontario North, May 22, 1964.
      • 2.    Proposal 15 from the Regional Synod of Ontario 1965.
      • 3.    Submission from the church at New Westminster.
    • L.    Foreign Churches in correspondence with us.
      • 1.    Proposal from the church at Barrhead to revise the rules for correspondence.
      • 2.    Report deputies for correspondence with foreign Churches.
    • M.  Christian Reformed Church.
      • 1.    From “Special Contact Committee” to Rev. Van Popta, Nov. 20, 1964.
      • 2.    From Rev. Van Popta to Rev. N. B. Knoppers, Feb. 4, 1965.
      • 3.    From “Special Contact Committee” to General Synod, March 13, 1965.
      • 4.    From the church at Edmonton to “Special Contact Committee”, May 6, 1965.
      • 5.    Proposal from the church at Edmonton, June 28, 1965.
      • 6.    Proposal 1 from the Regional Synod of Ontario 1965.
      • 7.    Proposal from the Church at Barrhead, September 20, 1965.
    • N.   Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
      • 1.    Report on possible contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
      • 2.    Proposal 4 from the Regional Synod of Ontario 1965.
      • 3.    Proposal from the Church at Toronto.
    • O.    Reformed Ecumenical Synod.
      • 1.    From the Calvin Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, March 1963.
      • 2.    From the Church at Edmonton to Rev. Boomsma, April 5, 1963.
      • 3.    From Rev. A. Brink to Rev. Van Popta, May 20, 1963.
      • 4.    Two circulars and two surveys seeking data.
      • 5.    Two copies in Dutch and two in English of the Agenda of the Fifth Reformed Ecumenical Synod.
      • 6.    Proposal from the church at New Westminster, Aug. 13, 1965.
      • 7.    Proposal from the church at Burlington, Sept. 23, 1965.
    • P. Church Order.
      • 1.    Proposal from the church at Barrhead, Aug. 11, 1965.
      • 2.    Proposal 6 from the Regional Synod of Ontario, 1965.
      • 3.    Proposal from the church at Carman on CO Article 8.
    • Q. Information regarding our churches.
    • Proposal 3 from the Regional Synod of Ontario, 1965.
  • 9.    Reports.
  • 10.  Appointment of deputies.
    • Submission from Regional Synod of the West nominating governors.
  • 11.  If necessary, censure as per CO article 43.
  • 12.  Publication of the Acts
  • 13.  Facilitating the finances of the Synod.
  • 14.  Appointment convening church.
  • 15.  Adoption of the Acts.
  • 16.  Adoption of the Press Release.
  • 17.  Close.

Regarding procedures, the Synod adopts the following proposals:

  • 1.    Meeting times will be from 9am – 12n, 2pm – 5:30pm, 7:30pm – 10pm. Saturdays only from 9am – 12n. These times will apply to both plenary sessions and committee work.
  • 2.    As much as possible, plenary sessions will be held in the evening.
  • 3.    Friday evening, November 5, there will be no session given the meeting of the Superannuation Foundation called for that evening.
  • 4.    The Press Release will not be published until after the conclusion of the Synod.
  • 5.    Discussion will be limited to two rounds as much as possible.
  • 6.    All proposals must be submitted in writing to the executive.
  • 7.    The Press Release will be drafted in Dutch and published in English translation on the understanding that it will be clearly indicated that its translation is the responsibility of the vice chairman. The most important acts translated into English will be included in the published edition of the Acts.
  • 8.    The committee appointed by the Edmonton Church Council for the purpose of overseeing the finances of the Synod, consisting of brothers W. Van Assen and H. A. Van Spronsen, will be asked to continue to look after the finances of the Synod.
  • 9.    The following advisory committees are hereby appointed, with mention of the items on the agenda entrusted to them to prepare for reporting:
    • Advisory Committee I: the Brs. E.C. Baartman, H.A. Stel, W.W. J. Vanoene and P.H. Wildeboer. Items 8 A, B, C, E 1, G, P.
    • Advisory Committee II: the Brs. D. De Jong. J.P. Kuntz, J. Mulder, L.M. Toet. Agenda items 8 D, F, H, I, J, K, L, plus report deputies correspondence with foreign churches.
    • Advisory Committee III: the Brs. F. Kouwenhoven, J. VanderLinde. J.T. Van Popta, H.J. Wildeboer. Agenda items 8 M, N, 0, Q.
    • Advisory Committee IV: the Brs. C. Ouwersloot, H. Scholten, L. Selles, H. Van Veen. Items on the agenda 8 E 2, 3, 4, 5 and any further appeals, see first paragraph of this article of the Acts.
  • 10.  On Friday afternoon at half past five, it will be determined whether it makes sense to meet in plenary session on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon at 12 noon, it will be determined whether it will be possible to begin with a plenary session on Monday morning.
  • 11.  Each Synod member will have to obtain a copy of the reports of the advisory committees so that each matter can be sufficiently studied.
  • 12.  Even if there is only committee work, the day will open and close in plenary session.

[1] Translator: The Press Release contains the following article 6:

ARTICLE 6: Letter from Winnipeg.

Session is reopened and a letter, signed C. de Haan, 729 Hoskin Ave., Winnipeg 15, Manitoba, is read. It contains information about a time-problem in preparing a letter to this Synod due to the late arrival of the answer of the Particular Synod of Abbotsford, September 8-10, 1965.

It is decided that a letter shall as yet be added to the agenda, provided it is received before November 15th.