14 Mar GS 1977 art 115

Closing

ARTICLE 115

The chairman speaks as follows: “

• Beloved Brethren,
• The moment has arrived when we may say that we have completed our work.
• Whether we have done that in a satisfactory manner – that is something about which the Churches will have to judge; it is something about which, above all, the Lord will judge. And that is our comfort.
• We may state that we did our work in submission to our God and to His Word.
• We may say this, too: We did our work in good, brotherly harmony. Even though sometimes a decision could not be reached unanimously, the number of times that we all agreed in a matter was surprisingly large. Thus the prayers which were offered up by us and in our behalf by the Churches have borne rich fruit. Is it not a fruit of the Spirit when, at an ecclesiastical assembly, the brethren do their utmost to convince one another in­ stead of outvoting one another? Let us gratefully acknowledge what the Lord our God has done during these almost three weeks of meeting.
• What shall we say in evaluation of our work and the result of our labours? By what would we wish to characterize our work?
• There was no “outstanding issue” to be dealt with by this Synod. There was nothing “brand-new” to be initiated, no extremely important aspect of the life of the Churches was brought to a conclusion. To a certain extent this Synod was an “interim-Synod,” one which simply decided that work in various areas shall be continued and, perhaps and hopefully, be brought to completion before the next Synod is convened.
• We dealt with our Book of Praise and its varied contents. The revision of the rhymings of the Psalms and of the Hymns is still incomplete; the definite text of our Confessional and Liturgical Forms has as yet to be fixed; even the text of the quotations from Holy Writ will still have to be determined.
• As for the translation of the Holy Scriptures which the Churches will be using, we have not reached a definite conclusion. The revision of our Church Order is far from complete and even the part which is ready, although scrutinized by Synod, is still up in the air as far as the final redaction is concerned.
• Hearing those things, one might well ask, “Has this Synod done anything more than just pass on matters to its successor?
• Only in the future it will be possible to correctly evaluate what we did here. There is, however, one thing which we are permitted to mention at this very moment. This Synod has served to bring us closer together as brothers from the East, as brothers from the West. In this vast country of ours it is a great blessing when we can meet, when we can speak face-to-face, when we can discuss and argue about things and in personal contact can try to come to a common answer and to oneness of conviction and approach.
• I am assured that you will agree with me when I say that in this respect this Synod has already borne fruit.
• During our discussions the wish was expressed that this Synod might become known as the Synod of Christian unity. I think that, at least partially, as far as we are concerned, this wish has come true.
• The true unity has been sought by this Synod also with respect to those who are around us. A large part of the agenda was dedicated to discussions concerning our relationship, altitude, and actions towards the Christian Reformed Church, towards the Orthodox Pres­byterian Church, towards the foreign sister Churches, towards the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the Koryu-Pa. And in all discussions concerning those contacts we have endeavour­ed to seek what would be the way pleasing to the Lord and therein beneficial for the Chur­ches.
• Even though in other matters we had to decide that the work is to be continued since it could not be completed, yet we have brought the completion closer by setting a final date at which the reports are to be ready in preparation of a final decision, to be made by General Synod of 1980.
• I shall refrain from discussing anew what we have already dealt with. When the Acts appear in print, you all will be able to read it much more accurately and completely than I would be able to relate them in a few minutes.
• When you do read the proceedings of this Synod, you will also recall the discussions which we had; at times you will feel excited, at other moments you may chuckle. May you, however, at all times recall the good time we had here together as brothers in the Lord.
• That we had a good time here was also the fruit of the preparations which had been made by the convening Church and of the constant and abundant care which has been be­ stowed upon us by the members of the Church at Coaldale. I shall not mention any names but do wish to single out the two sisters whose shoulders carried the heaviest load, who were here every day, from early morning till evening, and who pleasantly and unob­trusively were there whenever we needed something. Their only vice was that they tempt­ed us into increasing our intake to such a level that it began to constitute a danger to our continued health. There are, however, worse vices, I should say.
• On behalf of all of us who have been meeting here for almost three weeks, I say a heartfelt, “Thank You” to the Church in this place, to all and everyone who in any way have contributed towards reaching this moment of closure.
• And now, brethren, we part again. Within a few days, the Lord willing, we shall all have been reunited with our families and the Congregations to which we belong. Then the normal work will demand our time, attention, skill, and strength.
• Have a good and safe journey, may you all see your dear ones in good health.
• And when you bow your knees before your God to thank Him for the blessings be­ stowed upon you, do not, then, forget the brotherhood, in order that we may remain united as we were united here.
• The Synod of Unity? Be it so; let it remain so. The LORD be with you.”

The assessor. the Rev. M. van Beveren, speaks words of thanks to the chairman for the way in which he has chaired the meetings. After the singing of Psalm 121, Rev. M. van Beveren leads in thanksgiving and prayer.

At 12:15 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 1977, the chairman closes the eighth General Synod of The Canadian Reformed Churches.

On behalf of Synod:

• W.W.J. VanOene, chairman
• J. Mulder. first clerk
• J. Geertsema, second clerk
• M. van Beveren, assessor