19 Feb GS 1977 art 60

Posted at 14:45h in CanRC, GS 1977 by

GS 1977 ARTICLE 60 – Book of Praise

Committee IV presented: Material

– Agenda 8, C, 1, 2

  • –   Psalm and Hymn Section:
    • a. Report of the Committee on the Church Book (Psalm and Hymn Section). (See Appendix III, p. 74.)
    • b. Letter Church at Brampton, re: Book of Praise.
  • –   Forms Section:
    • a.  Report of the Committee for Doctrinal and Litur­gical Forms appointed by the General Synod of Toronto 1974.
    • b. The Church at Burlington (Ebenezer), re: Form for the Ordination of Missionaries.
    • c. Classis Alberta-Manitoba, re: Form for the Ex­ communication of Members who, having not yet made Profession of Faith, are Living in Disobe­dience (Text for the First Public Admonition).
    • d. The Church at Barrhead, re: use of the R.S.V. in the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort.
    • e. Church at Winnipeg, re: Adoption Draft Transla­tions.
    • f. Church at Toronto, re: Liturgical Forms.

General Information

  • In their report, the Committee on the Church Book, Psalm and Hymn section, re­ mark that the examination and revision of the Psalm and Hymn section is a “painstak­ing and time-consuming work.” Your Committee realizes that, but at the same time we are to bear in mind that the work on the Book of Praise should be concluded within the foreseeable future, preferably before the convening of Synod 1980. Your Committee would advise you to instruct all committees which we suggest to appoint or re-appoint to have their complete reports in (with copies to the Churches) at the time set by the Gen­eral Synod of Orangeville 1968, Acts, Article 41: “copies of reports which are to be sent to the Churches, shall be in nine months before the opening of Synod.”
  • As the moment will be reached when the definite edition of the Book of Praise will be issued, it is also advisable to have a coordinating body which can keep track of the pro­gress and, if necessary, can stimulate said progress. The Committee for the Psalm and Hymn section appointed a Publication Committee which took care of the printing of the Book of Praise. It is only proper that Synod appoint this Committee on the Psalm and Hymn section as the coordinating committee to ensure that the definite printing of the Book of Praise can indeed contain all forms and other writings which Synod may decide to have inserted in it.
  • From the above-mentioned documents it appears that the following requests, sugges­tions, proposals have been made to your assembly.
    • 1. To see to it that a harmonization of the hymns become available for use in the ser­vices and also in the homes.
    • 2. To appoint the Rev. C. Van Dam instead of the Rev. D. VanderBoom as a member of the Committee on the Psalms and Hymns.
    • 3. “To set a deadline for the reports of all the committees whose work is related to the publication of a definite edition of the Book of Praise.”
    • 4. “To appoint a committee to deal with the matter of preparing a four-part music edition of the Book of Praise.”
    • 5. That an effort be made to make sure as much as possible that “no pages need to be turned for the playing of any one song.”
    • 6. To appoint a committee “with the mandate to re-translate the Liturgical Forms into present-day English.”
    • 7. “That all Scripture-quotations (both direct and indirect) in all the Forms be changed in accordance with the Revised Standard Version.”
    • 8. “To add a Form for the Ordination of Missionaries to the existing Forms for Ordi­nation/Installation of office-bearers in God’s Churches.” A translation of the form adopted by our Netherlands sister Churches accompanied this proposal.
    • 9. “To have a ‘First Public Admonition’ added to the ‘Form for the Excommunica­tion of Members who, having not yet made Profession of Faith, are living in Dis­ obedience.’ “A proposed text of such admonition was added.
    • 10. That “all quotations from Scripture be taken from the R.S.V.,” such quotations, namely, as are found in the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort.
    • 11. Not to “adopt as final at this time any of the draft-translations of our Confessions and Forms, until the Churches (via their Synod) have adopted a definite Bible translation.”
    • 12. “Not only to have the Liturgical Forms re-translated into present-day English, but also revised and, where necessary and possible, shortened. In this connection we refer especially to the Form for the Solemnization of Marriage.”
  • Your Committee wishes to make the following general remarks about the above men­tioned proposals.
  • We realize that it is advisable to have the quotations from the Scriptures as found in our Forms taken from the same translation which is used in the services. However, here we are faced with many difficulties.
  • In the first place – apart from the question whether a General Synod indeed “adopts” a Bible translation or even recommends one – we must keep in mind that wait­ing for such a moment could mean a delay in the appearing of our definite Book of Praise of many years. In any case, we would not have to hope for such a definite edition till after the Synod of 1983, if even then.
  • Secondly, a decision to take quotations from a specific translation would mean that all such quotations will be inserted, whether they are correct translations or not.
  • In the third place: The point mentioned in favour of the King James Version was not that its translation is correct for the larger part, but that “the character of this transla­tion as being faithful to the Scriptures has never been disputed” (Acts, Synod Homewood 1954, Article 71). On the other hand. the objections raised against the Revised Standard Version are that it reveals “unscriptural influences.” In other words, since there are among our members who are not convinced that a number of translators submit them­ selves unconditionally to the Holy Scriptures as the inerrant Word of God and, e.g., are said to deny the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the whole Revised Standard Version as such seemed to be unacceptable to them or in any case suspect.
  • In order so as not to delay the definite edition of the Book of Praise we have to look for a solution which would not bind the Churches to an antiquated translation and which, at the same time, would not bind them to a translation of whose faithfulness to the Scrip­tures some are not convinced either.
  • Your Committee sought the solution in this direction: That Synod requests the Facul­ty of our Theological College to provide the Committee on the Book of Praise with a cor­rect and up-to-date translation of all Scripture passages quoted in our Confessional and Liturgical Forms. In this manner the Churches will not be bound indirectly and prema­turely to a specific translation of God’s Holy Word.
  • As for the proposals re: the Liturgical Forms, your Committee agrees that it is neces­sary to update their wording and also to revise them or to shorten them.
  • More than once the desire has been expressed that a shorter form for the celebration of the Holy Supper be introduced; objections have been raised against insertion of a creed in the prayer before the celebration; criticism has been voiced on various passages in the “Form for the Solemnization of Marriage,” e.g., when it is called an “ordinance of God” that the desire of the woman shall be to her husband and that he shall rule over her.
  • Since we are aiming for a complete edition of the Book of Praise immediately after the 1980 General Synod, it is a matter of wisdom to see to it that it can indeed be a defi­nite edition and to prevent as much as possible that changes will have to be made after three years.
  • For that reason the Committee would recommend that Synod grant the requests re­lated above.
  • As for the form for the ordination or installation of missionaries, the need for such a form has been evident for many years. Your Committee has checked what was presented as a faithful translation of the form which has been adopted recently by our Netherlands sister Churches, and presents you with a revised version which may become standard among us.
  • Regarding the proposal re: “adding a ‘First Admonition’ to the Form for Excom­munication of non-communicant members,” your Committee is of the opinion that it is advisable to add the above-mentioned “First Admonition,” since that would bring this form more in line with the one used for communicant members.
  • The committee which was to advise re: corrections in the translation of the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort submitted proposals for specific changes. These changes are of a technical nature insofar as knowledge of the Latin language is required. Since one-half of the members of Synod presumably have never studied that language, a decision will have to be made on the ground of the judgment of experts. It appears wise also in this respect to engage the Faculty of our College and to request them to provide the Committee on the Church Book. Psalm and Hymn Section, with a complete text of the Belgic Confession and of the Canons of Dort in which all necessary corrections have been made besides the change of translation of Scripture passages where necessary.
  • The question of a harmonization or four-part settings of the music in our Book of Praise had the attention of your Committee.
  • On the one hand, it is full-well realized that it is of extreme importance for the sing­ing within the family circle that such harmonizations become available. That applies mainly to the Hymn section. For the Psalm section books are available which not only contain the complete harmonization of the Psalm tunes but also preludes, postludes, and intermezzi. Such books do not exist for the Hymn section of our Church Book, neither can they be compiled or produced until a decision has been made by Synod 1980 concerning the songs which will together form the Hymn section.
  • On the other hand, providing a four-part setting of the music appears not to be the task of an ecclesiastical assembly, as little as the printing and administration of the Book of Praise is an ecclesiastical matter.
  • It appears, therefore, advisable that Synod confine itself to express and stress the need for such a harmonization and to request the Committee on the Psalm and Hymn section to look for ways and means that the members may be provided with a book which contains the complete harmonization of all the songs in the definite Book of Praise, or even to insert such harmonization in the Book of Praise itself. It is very important for the membership that the above Committee look for brothers and sisters able and willing to do that work, that they stimulate that work, so that possibly the appearing of a book with harmonizations coincide with the appearing of the complete Book of Praise. Your Com­mittee would even advise Synod to urge the Committee on the Psalm and Hymn section to seriously consider insertion of those harmonizations in the Book of Praise itself to facilitate the singing in Church, Home, and School.

After the above general information your Committee comes to your assembly with the following:

A. Considerations

  • 1.  It appears advisable to do our utmost endeavour to see to it that the Synod of 1980 can make the final decisions on a complete Book of Praise which will con­tain not only the rhymings of the Psalms and Hymns but also the Confessional and Liturgical Forms and the Church Order.
  • 2. It therefore appears advisable to appoint committees for:
    • a. The Psalm and Hymn Section:
    • b. The Confessional Forms:
    • c. The Liturgical Forms.
  • 3. No General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches has yet declared an English translation of the Doctrinal and Liturgical Forms adopted and the Churches are, according to Synod 1954, bound to the Dutch texts.
    • It is therefore desirable that a faithful translation be prepared in order that the Churches may be bound to the Forms in the English language.
  • 4. In order that the work may proceed regularly and as speedily as possible, it also appears advisable to have one of the committees charged with the task of coordinating the above-mentioned efforts. Seeing that the printing of the Book of Praise takes place under the supervision of the Committee on the Psalm and Hymn Section, it is proper to charge that Committee with the coordination.
  • 5. As the Churches should be provided with a definite edition of the Book of Praise as soon as possible, the committees should be charged to have their complete and definite reports ready before January 31, 1980, so that copies of those reports can be sent to the Churches before February 1, 1980, in accord­ance with the decision of Synod Orangeville 1968, Acts, Article 41.
  • 6. Since the Churches should not be bound indirectly and prematurely to any spe­cific translation of Holy Writ, no decision should be made as to any existing translation from which the quotations of Scripture passages in our Forms should be taken; instead, use should be made of the gifts and talents which the Lord has given in our midst.
  • 7. The need for a Form for the Ordination/Installation of Missionaries has been long realized and adoption of such a form is appropriate. The Form adopted by our Netherlands sister Churches appears to be wholly Scriptural and suitable. There would be no reason why the Canadian Reformed Churches should not take that Form over in an English translation, provided permission to do so is granted by our Netherlands sister Churches.
  • 8. Adding a “First Admonition” to the Form for the excommunication of non­ communicant members would bring this form more in line with that used in the case of communicant members, since this step is desirable in the course of the administration of discipline.
  • 9. With a view to the importance of singing within the families in the Church it is advisable that the Committee on the Psalm and Hymn Section look for ways and means to make available to the membership the harmonizations of the Psalms as well as of the Hymns.
  • 10. Taking into account objections voiced within the Churches against some parts of the Liturgical Forms and taking into account the desirability of having an abbreviated version of the Form for the Lord’s Supper, there appears to be need for a general checking and revision of those Liturgical Forms.
  • 11. As the changes proposed in the text of the Belgic Confession and of the Canons of Dort require the knowledge of classical languages, it is advisable to make use of the gifts and talents which the Lord has given in the Faculty of our Col­lege.
  • 12. The Committee on the Psalm and Hymn Section informed Synod that it did re­ ply to Mr. D. Westra’s accusations and that no reaction has been received, from which the conclusion may be drawn that this matter is finished.

Recommendations

Synod decide,

  • 1.   Gratefully to acknowledge the work done on the Church Book <Psalm and Hymn Section) and by the Committee for the Doctrinal and Liturgical Forms.
    • ADOPTED
  • 2. To continue the Committee on the Church Book, Psalm and Hymn Section, and add to its mandate the charge that it coordinates the work of the committees to be appointed and instructed hereafter.
    • ADOPTED
  • 3. To appoint as a Committee the Faculty of our Theological College and others whose task it shall be:
    • a. To submit a text of the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort in which such changes have been made in the text that a faithful rendering of the ori­ginal is obtained and in which all quotations from Holy Writ are given in a correct and up-to-date translation.
    • b. To submit a correct and up-to-date translation of all quotations from Scrip­ ture contained in our Liturgical Forms.
    • c. To examine and to make use of the report of the Committee for Doctrinal and Liturgical Forms which was submitted to General Synod Coaldale 1977.
      • ADOPTED
  • 4. To appoir.t a committee to revise the Liturgical Forms and to update the lan­guage, especially the Form for the Holy Supper and the Form for the Solemni­zation of Marriage.
    • ADOPTED
  • 5. To adopt provisionally a Form for the Ordination/Installation of Missionaries and adopt as such the English translation of the Form which our Netherlands sister Churches have inserted in their Gereformeerd Kerkboek, published by order of Deputies of the General Synod of the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands at Kampen, 1975, page 424, as this translation is presented to Syn­od by its advisory committee, and to instruct the committee mentioned under 4 above to establish the final text.               
    • ADOPTED
  • 6. To add to the Form for the Excommunication of non-communicant members a First Admonition as follows:
    • “The Consistory has the sad duty of informing the Congregation that a brother/sister, by Baptism ingrafted into the Christian Church, is guilty of the sin of _____________ , and that he/she in spite of many earnest ad- monitions, did not show evidence of true repentance. Therefore the Consis­tory, to its great sorrow is obliged to deal further with this brother/sister, and, if he/she persists in his/her sin, to proceed to his/her excommunica­tion. The Consistory is making this known to you for the first time and in all seriousness exhorts you to pray for him/her continually, that it might please the Lord to bring him/her to repentance.”
      • ADOPTED
  • 7. To urge the Committee on the Psalm and Hymn section to seek ways and means to make available to the membership of the Churches the harmonization of the Psalms and Hymns which will be found in the definite edition of the Book of Praise, and, if at all possible, to insert those harmonizations in the Book of Praise. 
    • ADOPTED
  • 8. To charge the committees mentioned above to have their complete and definite reports ready by January 31, 1980, so that copies of these reports can be in the possession of the Churches nine months before the convening of Synod 1980, as provided by the Synod of Orangeville, 1968, Acts, Article 41.                                                                                        
    • ADOPTED
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