Office Bearers

GS 1968 ARTICLE 172

Committee II on the Implementation of Article 19 C.O. (Compare Art. 155) presents:

Re:  Mandate of Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O.

A. Proposal of Regional Synod of Ontario 1968

Materials:

  • a.        Report of Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O., 1,2 (See Supplement 11-A);
  • b.       Proposal of Regional Synod of Ontario 1968, Ilp7 sub 4.

Observations:

  • 1. Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O. granted a large amount of financial assistance in a case where a “large family” was involved.
  • 2. Deputies, having been criticized by some Churches for doing so, express the hope that Synod may give Deputies instruction for similar cases that might turn up in the future.
  • 3. Regional Synod of Ontario 1968 proposes to Synod to restrict financial aid to needy students for the ministry to the actual costs of their studies.

Considerations:

  • 1. In order to meet the need for ministers, the Churches set up in 1962 a provisional training for the Ministry where students of theology could receive their instruction.
  • 2. In order to meet the difficulties resulting from that set-up, the Churches have established a General Fund out of which students might receive financial assistance, Acts 1965, Art. 147.
  • 3. From the character and set-up of this General Fund it follows that financial assistance to the students should be limited to the actual cost of this study.

Recommendation:

Synod instruct Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O. to restrict the financial assistance to the needy students at our own Theological College to the actual cost of their theological studies.

ADOPTED

B. Proposals of Churches at Barrhead, Alta, and Edmonton, Alta.

Materials:

  • a.       Report of Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O. 1,2 (See Supplement 11-A);
  • b.       Overture of the Church at Barrhead, Alta, III,17;
  • c.        Overture of the Church at Edmonton, Alta. III,20.

Observations:

  • 1. The Church at Barrhead and the Church at Edmonton are of the opinion that theological students should be free to choose the Seminary at which they would like to study.
  • 2. These Churches feel that this freedom is restricted by the regulations for the financial help out of the General Fund ad Art. 19 C.O. as proposed in the report of Deputies.
  • 3. The Church at Barrhead therefore proposes not to limit the financial assist­ance out of the General Fund ad Art. 19 C.O. to theological students who study at our own Theological College.
  • 4. The Church at Edmonton for this reason proposes that newly appointed Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O. will also receive the mandate “to, in exceptional cases, support students who are not studying” at our own Theological College.

Considerations:

  • 1. The Churches should respect the freedom of study for students of Theology.
  • 2. The Churches at Barrhead and at Edmonton claim that this freedom of study is limited when no financial assistance is given to those students who do not study at our own Theological College.
  • 3. Neither Church has furnished any proof for this claim.
  • 4. Moreover, the proposal of the Church at Edmonton fails to make clear what is meant by “exceptional cases”, some of which “might even be beneficial to the Churches”.

Recommendation:

Synod decide not to accept the proposals of the Churches at Barrhead and at Edmonton.

ADOPTED

C. Appointment of Deputies ad Art. 19 C.O.

Materials:

  • a.       Report of Deputies. 1,2 (See Supplement 11-A);
  • b.       Overture of the Church at Barrhead, Alta, III,17;
  • c.       Overture of the Church at Coaldale, Alta. III,4;
  • d.       Overture of Regional Synod of Ontario 1968, III,27 sub 6.

Observations:

  • 1. Deputies state that the General Fund ad Art. 19 C.O. was a temporary set-up.
  • 2. Deputies propose that, if Synod should decide to carry on with this Fund, Deputies be again appointed.
  • 3. Deputies include in their report a draft of regulations which could be a guide for the General Synod if this Fund should be continued.
  • 4. The Churches at Barrhead and at Coaldale suggest some changes in this draft.

Considerations:

  • 1. Deputies rightly state that the General Fund ad Art. 19 C.O. was a temporary set-up.
  • 2. Synod Edmonton 1965 established such a Fund because it was of the opinion that it was reasonable to arrange the support of students generally until the time that a College would have been established at a certain place, Acts Art. 147.
  • 3. Synod 1968 has appointed three professors and two lecturers and has decided that a College shall be established shortly.

Conclusions:

  • 1. In view of the facts stated above it may be assumed that this temporary fund will discontinue as soon as this College commences its operation.
  • 2. In the meantime the operation of this fund is to be continued by new Deputies.

Recommendations:

Synod appoint five deputies with the mandate

  • a. to continue the operation of this fund in accordance with the mandate of Synod 1965, Acts Art. 147, until the College becomes operational;
  • b. to give financial assistance from the General Fund only to students who make use of the provisional training and need help, and to restrict this assistance to the actual costs of their theological studies;
  • c. to honour the commitments made prior to 1968.

ADOPTED