Office Bearers

GS 1971 ARTICLE 92 – Contact Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Committee II presents:

Materials –  Agenda 8

  • D, 1 –  Report of the Committee on the con­tact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, appointed by General Synod 1968. (See Supplement V)
  • D, 2 – Overture  Church  at  Toronto,  Ont.
  • D, 3 –  Letter Church rut Burlington-East, Ont.
  • D, 4 – Overture  Church  at  Burlington-West, Ont.
  • D, 5 – Letter Church at London, Ont.
  • D, 6 – Proposal Classis Pacific, April 197L
  • D, 7 – Overture Church at Brampton, Ont.
  • D, 8 – Proposal Church at Carman, Man.
  • D, 9 – Letter Church at Smithville, Ont.
  • D, 10 – Letter Church at Lincoln, Ont.
  • S, 1 – Letter br. J. DeKoning, Toronto, Ont.

Observations

  • 1.  Synod Edmonton 1965 decided:
    • a. to request the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to appoint Deputies to establish contact with Deputies of the Canadian Reformed Churches;
    • b. to inform the Orthodox Presbyterian Church about our Con­fession and Church government;
    • c. to discuss frankly with the Deputies the differences in Confes­sion and Church-polity and to compare these differences with the Word of God.
  • 2.  Synod 1968 gratefully acknowledged the facts:
    • a.  that  the Orthodox Presbyterian Church can accept the Canadian Reformed Churches as true Churches on the basis of the Creeds and Church Government;
    • b. that, in many respects, the good fight of the faith is being fought in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
  • 3.  Deputies, appointed by Synod 1968, have examined the differences in Confession, Church Polity and Church Correspondence. They have evaluated them to see whether these differences are of such a nature that they would prevent the Canadian Reformed Churches from recognizing the Orthodox Presbyterian Church as a true Church and from entering into correspondence with this Church. (Mandate General Synod 1968, Acts, Art. 154.)

Considerations

  • 1. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church “is of the conviction” that the correspondence with the (Synodical) Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands “requires termination”. (Minutes of the 37th General Assembly, 1970, p. 105.)
  • 2.  The Orthodox Presbyterian Church still maintains ‘fraternal relationship’ with Churches that have correspondence with the (Synodical) Gereformeerde Kerken in the Netherlands.
  • 3. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is still a member of the Re­ formed Ecumenical Synod.
  • 4. The discussion and talks of the Deputies of both Churches, which have lasted almost six years, have not resulted in a recommenda­tion to, gladly and without reservation, enter into correspondence with these Churches.
  • 5.  Deputies of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church have expressed the stand· of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, namely a preference for ‘fraternal relationship’ instead of ‘rules for sister-church rela­tionship’.
  • 6.  The time has come that the Canadian Reformed Churches state clearly their position toward the Orthodox Presbyterian Church In the matter of entering into correspondence.

Synod conclude

To acknowledge gratefully,

  • 1.  that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a group of Churches that commit themselves to the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God, and that wish to maintain the Creeds, based on this Word of God;
  • 2. that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church desires to regulate and order the government of the Church in accordance with the Scriptural confession, namely that “all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God.” (Form of Government, Chapter I, 7) ;
  • 3.  that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church “is of the conviction” that the correspondence with the  (Synodical)  Gereformeerde  Kerken in the Netherlands “requires termination”. (Minutes of the 37th General Assembly, 1970, p. 105.)

ADOPTED

Synod further conclude

  • 4. that the relation with Churches, that maintain a correspondence with these Churches is still existing;
  • 5. that this fact and the membership in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, are impediments to enter into correspondence;
  • 6. that the preference for ‘fraternal relationship’ prevents the use of the rules for correspondence as a condition for entering into correpondence;
  • 7. that divergencies in confession and in Church polity are serious enough to remain the subject of further and frank discussion.

ADOPTED

Synod decide

  • I to forward a letter directly to the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
    • a.  informing this Assembly of the foregoing observations, consider­ ations and conclusions;
    • b.  requesting it brotherly and urgently:
      • 1. to regulate, order and maintain church government wholly in accordance with the Scriptures;
      • 2. to also terminate their relationship with Churches, that main­tain correspondence with the (Synodical) Gereformeerde Ker­ ken in the Netherlands, as well as membership in the Reform­ed Ecumenical Synod;
      • 3. to consider to adopt the rules for correspondence of the Canadian Reformed Churches.

ADOPTED

Synod further decide

  • II a. to express the gratitude of Synod to the Committee on contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for their work done In this matter;
  • b. to appoint a Committee with the mandate:
    • 1.  to prepare and forward a letter as outlined above to the forth­ coming General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
    • 2. to serve as contact – address, and to remain diligent in the matter of contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
    • 3. to report to the next General Synod. and to keep the Churches informed about the developments of this contact.

ADOPTED