GS 1968 ARTICLE 1

On Behalf of the Canadian Reformed Church at Orangeville, the convening Church, Rev. M. van Beveren calls the assembly to order. He requests to sing Psalm 89:1,5, reads Revelation 19:6-16, and leads in prayer.

He addresses the delegates as follows:

Esteemed Brethren:

On behalf of the Church at Orangeville I extend a cordial welcome to you as delegates to this fifth General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches. Many of you have made a long trip. We are thankful to the Lord that you arrived safely. We hope that you will enjoy your stay here. It will benefit you and the work to be done.

It is a great task to which you are called. You are to deal with matters pertaining to the churches in general, which also means each church in particular. You have to decide on matters in which, as appears from the list of overtures and requests, the churches are keenly interested, matters of great and decisive importance for the future course of our churches.

There is always progress in the church of Jesus Christ. Since the General Synod of Edmonton, the Lord has relieved of his office one of the ministers of the first hour, the Rev. G. Ph. Pieffers, the first of our ministers to die in Canada. About the same time, however, He has provided the churches with other, younger ministers, mainly from the Netherlands, to take up the duties of the ministry, the ministry of reconciliation, in order that his building might g ow to a holy temple of the Lord. It is a sign of Christ’s coming with haste, which, though often against our flesh, brings about the progress of the church. We live in the time in which the church is preparing for the marriage-supper of the Lamb. This preparation of which Revelation 19 speaks, cannot be called a period of rest and inertia. It is a time of struggle and development, caused by Him who sits on a white horse, followed by his mounted armies, ready to smite his enemies. It is clear that his course and progress should be the course and progress of the church.

Keep this in mind while making decisions which will have an impact upon the churches for many years to come. Changing circumstances, developments of thoughts may not prevent you from following Him who is seated on the white horse. For his name is the Word of God. Among the many attacks upon this Word are the present devaluation of the standards of the church and the world-wide relaxation of creed subscription. More than ever you need to take your stand on the old foundations.

Seeing the agenda and the several different opinions laid down in the reports and overtures, it is to be expected that days of hard work are ahead. If the Word of God is a lamp to your feet and a light to your paths, you surely will see the progress and course of the Lord and of the church.

May the Lord bless you.