Office Bearers

GS 1971 ARTICLE 48 – Implementation art. 13 C.O. and other articles of the C.O.

Committee I presents:

Materials –  Agenda 8 

  • G, 1 Overture of Rev. L. Selles
  • G, 2 Overture Church at Fergus-Guelph, Ont.

Observations

  • 1.  Rev. Selles overtures Synod to draw up regulations for the implementation of article 13 of the Church Order.
  • 2.  The Church at Fergus-Guelph overtures Synod to appoint a Committee to advise the next General Synod concerning general regulations which would be advisable in connection with various articles of the Church Order.

Considerations

  • 1.  Some synodical decisions have been taken with regard to the application of some articles of the Church Order.
  • 2. The Canadian Reformed Churches have adopted the Church Order of the Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands, but not the various synodical decisions taken with regard to the practical application of the various articles of the Church Order.
  • 3.  Experience has taught that certain general regulations are required to prevent difficulties in the future, f.i. when a minister, belonging to a Church with which we did not have correspondence, was called by two of our Churches (art. 5 C.O.) and we could learn from the experience of our Sister churches in the Netherlands through the decades, that also have several general regulations.
  • 4.  General regulations with the intent to achieve uniformity in action do not necessarily infringe upon the freedom of the local Church.

Recommendations

Synod appoint a Committee with the following mandate:

  • 1.  To search the Church Order for articles which require further pro­ visions regarding their practical application, for instance article 13 of the Church Order;
  • 2.  To serve the next General Synod with proposals regarding the re­quired provisions;
  • 3.  To send these proposals to the Churches well in advance of the next General Synod in order to enable them to study these proposals before General Synod convenes.
  • The following motion is made and seconded:
    • Synod do not appoint a Committee as recommended by Committee I, since
      • a. neither the need for regulations for the implementation of article 13 of the Church Order,
      • b. nor the need for regulations for the implementation of “various” articles of the Church Order is proved and specified.  

ADOPTED