Office Bearers

GS 1971 ARTICLE 28 – Book of Praise

Committee IV presents:

Materials – 

  • Agenda 8  I, 1 – Report of Committee for an English Calvinistic Psalter.
  • (See Supplement II, Page, 55)
  • I, 2 – Financial statements of Committee. (See Supplement III, Page 57)
  • I, 3 – Audit by the Church at Brampton, Ont.
  • S, 1 – Letter J. DeKoning, Toronto,  Ont. (partly).
  • Hymn-section presented by Committee to Synod.

Considerations

  • a.  Committee IV has concluded, after discussion, that the Committee for the Psalmbook has endeavoured to stay as closely as possible to the mandate of Synod 1968, Acts Art. 87.
  • b.  We agree with the Committee that due attention must be given to the preparation of the publication of the Creeds, Forms, etc. in the Psalm­ book, and that a special Committee should be appointed for that purpose.
  • c.  Synod should express itself on the question whether the present edition of the Church Order (added to the Acts of General Synod, 1968) is to be Included ill’ the first printing of the completed Book of Praise. With the Committee we are convinced that ultimately the Church Order should have its proper place in our Church Book.
  • d.  The necessity of sub b is underlined by the pertinent remarks made by Rev. D. DeJong as to ‘the correctness of translation of the Creeds. The sub b suggested Committee should indeed “scrutinize the text of the Creeds”.
  • Rev. DeJong’s letter be passed on to such a Committee.
  • e.  Committee IV has convinced itself that the financial statements men­tioned in the Acts of Synod 1968, sub art. 87, 3, re: the period 1962 – Feb. 1965, have been presented, to, and audited by the Church at Brampton, Ont.
  • We are satisfied with the available information, and convinced that the Committee for the Psalmbook can be discharged of the responsibility for the finances of the Book of Praise during the years 1962-1965 and 1968-1971.
  • f.  Br. J. DeKoning is of the opinion that deputies should have received the mandate “to look for more contemporary church music”, “stimulat­ing 20th century’s musicians.”
  • Committee IV wishes to state:
    • (1)  that adopting this suggestion would mean a deviation from the line in which the Churches have gone until now;
    • (2)  it would also mean that a complete Psalmbook would be “out” for years to come, whereas br. DeKoning does not in any way provide indications that such “20th century music”, which might be considered acceptable for use in the Churches, is available.
  • Therefore Committee IV is not at all in favour of acceding to the request of br. J. DeKoning.
  • g. Concerning the Hymn-section of the Book of Praise presented to Synod, Committee IV wishes to stress that the purpose of this present­ation is not that this Synod (or Committee IV) scrutinize this Hymn­ section in detail.
  • This section is to be considered part of the complete Book of Praise which will be submitted to the Churches in the near future, the Lord willing.
  • If then legitimate criticism arises, the Committee for the Church Book will have to strive for further. improvement.
  • We recommend that Scripture references be placed with the Hymns.
  • h. Consequently we are of the opinion that the Committee is to be con­tinued for several reasons:
    • (1)   The Psalm book is not yet completed.
    • (2)  After the first printing has been made available, a “standing­ committee” for the Church Book has to ‘take care of distribution, has to be the address for remarks etc., has to prepare, when necessary, the next printing and to include a finalized edition of the Church Order.
  • In addition to this it has to advise the next General Synod as to further procedures and arrangements, which will prove neces­sary after completion of the Church Book.

Recommendations

1.  Synod approve of the action of the Committee for an English Cal­vinistic Psalter to supplement the membership of their Committee.

ADOPTED

2.  Synod take into account the result of this action when a new Committee is appointed.

ADOPTED

3.  Synod appoint a separate Committee for the second half of the Church Book (Creeds, Forms – including new Forms) with the mandate:

  • a.  to remove all printing errors;
  • b.  to scrutinize the text of the Creeds (and introductions) as to correctness of translation.

ADOPTED

4.  Synod decide that the Church Order shall not be included in the Church Book until its text shall have been finalized. 

ADOPTED

5. Synod discharge the Committee of their responsibility for the finances of the Book of Praise during the periods 1962 – Feb. 1965, Sept. 1, 1968 – March 22, 1971.

ADOPTED

6. Synod decide to receive for information the Hymn-section as part of the report of deputies to the, Churches.

ADOPTED

7.  Synod express its desire that Scripture references be placed with

the hymns.

ADOPTED

8.  Synod continue the Committee on the Church Book, to be charged with this mandate:

  • a.  to complete the Book of Praise;
  • b.  to take care of the distribution etc.;
  • c.  ‘to advise the next Synod regarding procedures and arrange­ments which will become necessary after the first printing has been published and distributed.

ADOPTED

9.  Synod express its gratitude for all the work done by the Committee and their assistants.  

ADOPTED

10.  Synod appoint a Church to audit the financial records of the Committee, and to report to the next General Synod.

ADOPTED