GS 1968 ARTICLE 58
Regarding Declaration of Agreement, Committee II presents:
Materials:
- a. III,3,3b: Overture of the Church at Smithers, B.C., “to decide that the delegates have to declare that they agree with the Three Forms of Unity before they take session”.
- b. V,5: Communication re a. from the Church at Barrhead, Alta.
Considerations:
- A. Re grounds of Synod Homewood 1954:
- The Church at Smithers does not relate the ground stated by Synod Homewood 1954 correctly.
- B. Re grounds given by the Church at Smithers:
- 1. That “a public statement of agreement with the confession is not a mere formality”. That is not a reason why it should be introduced.
- 2. That “the General Synod is the broadest assembly where matters pertaining to the confession are dealt with.” From this it does not follow that a public statement of agreement with the confession must be introduced in order to ascertain the reliability of the delegates.
- 3. The Church at Smithers incorrectly states that a public declaration of agreement with the confession at a General Synod is necessary to provide “a possibility to directly approach a delegate who has given serious reasons of doubt … regarding his concurrence with the confession”.
- 4. To demand such an express agreement by the delegates at General Synod does not constitute an “open declaration” by the Canadian Reformed Churches “over against the outside world”.
Recommendation:
Not to act upon the proposal of the Church at Smithers.
- Ground: The Church at Smithers has not given conclusive grounds why the decision of the Synod Homewood-Carman 1954, namely that the delegates shall not be demanded to express their agreement with the confession at Synod, should be changed.