23 Feb GS 1977 art 79

GS 1977 ARTICLE 79 – Appeal Edmonton re: Article 89, Acts, Toronto 1974

Committee I presents:

Material

– Agenda 8, K, 1 – (Second part of) Appeal of the Church at Edmonton, Alberta, re: Article 89, Acts, General Synod Toronto 1974.

Observations

• 1. The consistory of the Church at Edmonton requests Synod to declare that General Synod Toronto 1974 should not have made the words, “Although General Synod un­animously agrees with the brethren on the ‘desirability of Canadian Reformed Schools’ ” part of its decision.
• 2. The consistory of the Church at Edmonton submits as grounds:
  • a. General Synod Toronto 1974 had only to judge the appeal of the brs. Huizinga, Merkus and Visscher against the decisions of Regional Synod;
  • b. General Synod created a precedent by making a “general statement” which is in conflict with Article 30, Church Order. “In these assemblies no other than ec­clesiastical matters shall be transacted:” To substantiate its claim the Church at Edmonton refers to Acts, General Synod 1974, Article 171, p. 73, consideration 2, b.

Considerations

• 1. The words “unanimously agrees with the brethren on the desirability of Canadian Reformed Schools” is a statement in which Synod 1974 expressed that it did not re­ ject the appeal of the hrs. Huizinga et al. because of their desire with respect to the matter of Canadian Reformed Schools but because solution to the problem as set forth by them could not be reached by a synodical decision.
• 2. The Church at Edmonton did not prove that General Synod 1974 by making such a statement acted in conflict with Article 30, Church Order.
• 3. The reference of the Church at Edmonton to Article 171, p. 73, consideration 2, b of the Acts of General Synod Toronto is not relevant to the matter, because that con­ sideration speaks about providing Christian education and not about the principles of promoting it.

Recommendation

Synod decide not to grant the request of the Church at Edmonton.

ADOPTED