30 Sep GS 1980 art 152

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GS 1980 ARTICLE 152 – Contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church

I. Majority Report

A. Material –

  • Agenda VIII, E, 1 – Report from the Committee (plus appendices I, II and Ill).
  • E. 2 – Additional Report from the Committee, Oc­tober 22, 1980.
  • I, 4-  Request of the Church at Lincoln in its appeal.

B. Observations

  • 1. Synod Coaldale 1977, Acts, Article 91, Ill, Recommendations, decided: “To offer the Orthodox Presbyterian Church a temporary relationship called ‘ecclesiastical contact’ with the following rules:
    • a. to invite delegates to each other’s General Assemblies or General Synods and to accord such delegates privileges of the floor in the Assembly or Synod, but no vote;
    • b. to exchange Minutes and Acts of each other’s General Assemblies and General Synods, as well as communications on major issues of mutual concern, and to solicit comments on these documents;
    • c. to be diligent by means of continued discussions to use the contact for the purpose of reaching full correspondence.”
  • Synod Coaldale also decided, sub IV:
    • “To continue the Committee for Contact with the Orthodox Presby­terian Church with the mandate:
      • a. to inform the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations of the decisions of Synod regarding the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
      • b. to continue the contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church while taking into account the rules for ‘Ecclesiastical Contact’;
      • c. to respond to the letter of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Inter­ church Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church dated April 14, 1976;
      • d. to discuss and evaluate the relationships of the Orthodqx Presby­ terian Church with other Churches, as the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, and the Christian Reformed Church;
      • e. to inform the Churches from time to time about the progress made (e.g., by press releases of combined Committee meetings);
      • f. to report on its activities to the next General Synod.”
  • 2. The Committee reports that it met six times. The LORD took to Himself br. W. Wildeboer who, from the start, was a member and served the Commit­tee as secretary-treasurer. “His diligence … was highly appreciated.” The Rev. W. Huizinga succeeded him as secretary, and br. J. Boot became treasurer.
  • 3. Besides corresponding with the Committee on Ecumenicity and Inter­church Relationships, the Committee advised our Committee for Cor­ respondence with Churches Abroad that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has the same fraternal relationship with the Presbyterian Church in Korea, Koryu-Pa, as with the Hapdong. The Committee also recom­mended, upon request of the Dutch sister-churches, via the Committee for Correspondence, to the Dutch sister-churches to contact the Ortho­ dox Presbyterian Churches directly; and to “engage in a similar relation as our ‘Ecclesiastical Contact,’ urging them not to proceed faster than we do.” A communication regarding the Book of Praise was received from
  • the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. It was passed on to the Committee on the Church Book for their consideration.
  • 4. The Committee informed the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations of the decisions of Synod Coaldale regarding the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and received as reply that the 46th General Assembly 1979 has accepted the Synod’s offer of “Ecclesiastical Contact” as defined in the three rules.
  • 5. In its contact with the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Rela­tions two combined meetings were held. In these meetings our prefer­ence for “Ecclesiastical Contact” was explained as well as its temporary character. Also the meaning of our rules for correspondence was dis­ cussed, and the matter of the delegates. From the rules of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for their delegates it became clear to our Committee that they will not dominate the floor at our Synods.
  • Our Committee wrote a reply to the letter of the Orthodox Presby­terian Church of April 14, 1976. This reply, dated October 13, 1978, was initially discussed at the second combined meeting. A response was not received yet. The Committee added this reply to its report to Synod as Appendix I.
  • 6. Our Committee invited a delegate of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to our General Synod Smithville, while Dr. J. Faber attended the 47th General Assembly 1980 of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church which was held in Beaver Fails, PA. for three days. Matters regarding the contact of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church with other Churches were dealt with during these days. In his concluding remarks, Dr. Faber states that although the difference in Church government was evident, and the deci­sion re the membership of the Synodical Reformed Churches in the R.E.S. could have been stronger, “the sincere appeal to Holy Scripture, the clear desire to be obedient to Christ … , and the direction and contents of its decisions, convinced him again of the fact that the Orthodox Presby­terian Church is a true Church of our Lord Jesus Christ as confessed in Article 29 of the Belgic Confession.”
  • 7. Regarding the execution of the mandate “to discuss and evaluate the re­lationships” of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church with other Churches, our Committee reports that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a mem­ber of the NAPARC (North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council), with three other Presbyterian Churches and the Christian Reformed Church. In this organization rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship are adopted, including occasional pulpit exchange. Our Committee asked the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations about the Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s relationship with the Christian Reformed Church. It was pointed out that this relationship has grown historically, due to the tact that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the beginning of its existence received much help from the Christian Reformed Church. Although merger talks are going on with the other members in the NAPARC, they are not being held with the Christian Reformed Church. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church has fraternal relations with a number of other Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. Regarding the member­ ship in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, our Committee stated the posi­tion of our Churches. The response was that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has considered leaving this organization, but so far it has decided to remain a member in order to let its warning voice be heard.
  • 8. The Committee published press releases of its meetings and a report of Dr. J. Faber’s visit to the General Assembly meeting. Also the reply of the Committee to the April 14, 1976, letter was published in Clarion. In this reply, the doctrinal and church-political divergencies were discussed. The reply is added as Appendix I. A substantial part of the draft reply is taken up in this finalized reply.
  • 9. In its conclusion, the Committee points at the progress in the contact toward a correspondence relation: “ecclesiastical contact was estab­lished, and misgivings at the side of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church regarding the rules for correspondence were removed.”
  • The Committee recommends to Synod to keep in the mandate a con­tinuation of the discussion and evaluation of the divergencies and of the contact in general.
  • 10. In the additional report, the Committee makes a clarification as pointed at by Prof. N. Shepherd: the Orthodox Presbyterian Church does not have a fraternal relationship with the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland, but with the Free Church of Scotland.
  • 11. Our Committee further reports that as a result of the combined meetings certain members of the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Rela­tions think that there is the obligation “to move toward full correspon­dence between our Churches if at all possible.” But one of the questions which arose in the CEIR was: what is involved in the rule of “giving account to each other regarding correspondence with third parties.” “If the Orthodox Presbyterian Church announced that it was ready to enter into full correspondence on the basis of the five rules as you have them, would the Canadian Reformed Churches be ready to accept us on that basis as we now are?” This includes membership in the Reformed Ecu­menical Synod. Our Committee replied that prior approval from other cor­responding parties is not necessary, “although it is of course ideal that all corresponding churches would maintain the same international, ec­clesiastical relationships.” The Committee, further, wrote that it could not answer the question and would put ii before the Synod of Smithville.
  • 12. The Church at Lincoln requests that the “draft reply,” submitted to Synod Coaldale 1977, be taken up in the Acts as an Appendix.

C. Considerations

  • 1. The Committee executed its mandate in corresponding and meeting with the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations, as well as in publishing its reply to the letter of April 14, 1976, and press releases of its meetings.
  • 2. Synod takes note of the passing away of br. W. Wildeboer and of the ap­preciation of the Committee for the work done by this brother.
  • 3. It is a reason for thankfulness that the Committee could report that there is progress in our contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, as this appeared in the acceptance of the “Ecclesiastical Contact” relation with its three rules, and in the willingness of certain members of the Commit­ tee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations to move toward full corres­pondence.
  • 4. It is also a reason for thankfulness that Dr. J. Faber could come with a positive report about his findings of the 47th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
  • 5. Our Committee has not received an official response to their letter of October 13, 1978. Only some preliminary discussions were held. These discussions on the doctrinal and church-political divergencies should not continue endlessly, but come to a conclusion.
  • 6. Information was received regarding the “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church with three other Presbyterian Chur­ches in North America and with the Christian Reformed Church in the NAPARC, and regarding “fraternal relations” with other Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in the world. The membership of the Orthodox Pres­byterian Church in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod and the relation with the Christian Reformed Church were initially discussed. These discus­sions are not finalized and an evaluation has not been given to Synod.
  • 7. Synod New Westminster 1971 decided “to forward a letter directly to the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church … requesting it brotherly and urgently … to also terminate their relationship with Chur­ches, that maintain correspondence with the (Synodical) Gereformeerde Kerken in The Netherlands, as well as membership in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod.” (Acts, Article 92, Decision I, b, 2)
  • 8. Synod Toronto 1974 decided “to discontinue the contact with the Chris­ tian Reformed Church,” and “to appoint a Committee with the mandate to draft a Christian appeal and to send it to the Christian Reformed Com­ munity, taking into account the recent developments in the Christian Reformed Church. (Acts, Article 146, Recommendation 2 and 3, a) This decision was upheld by Synod Coaldale 1977. (Acts, Article 77, A)
  • 9. The Canadian Reformed Churches, in obedience to the Word of God (Romans 16:17; II Timothy 3:5; Titus 3:10; Revelation 18:4; I Kings 13), reject all official relationship with Churches that are not Reformed or are deviating from God’s Word as confessed in the Reformed Standards.
  • Therefore, the membership of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod and also a continuation of maintaining an official relationship with the Christian Reformed Church form an impediment for the Canadian Reformed Churches to enter into full corres­pondence with the Orthodox Presbyterian Churches.
  • 10. The reply of our Committee, dated October 13, 1978, to the letter of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Committee of April 14, 1976, contains a substantial part of the “draft reply” submitted to Synod Coaldale 1977. This reply is to be included in the Acts of this Synod as an Appendix. Synod Coaldale judged that this “draft reply” showed too much the marks of a draft. Therefore, there is no need to include the “draft reply” in the Acts of this Synod.

D. Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 1. To express its gratitude to the Committee for all the work done, in parti­cular for the faithful labours of the late br. W. Wildeboer;
  • 2. To continue the Committee for Contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, with the mandate:
    • a. to continue contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, while taking into account the rules for “Ecclesiastical Contact”;
    • b. to serve the next Synod, for the benefit of our Churches, with a detailed evaluation of the divergencies as not forming an impediment for recognizing the Orthodox Presbyterian Church as a true Church (see Acts 1980, Article 97, II, C, 3);
    • c. to evaluate the reaction of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church regarding the divergencies, and to come to the next Synod with recommendations (cf. Consideration 5);
    • d. to use as guideline in the continued discussion with the Committee on Ecumenicity and lnterchurch Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church that membership in the Reformed Ecumenical Synod and an official relationship with the Christian Reformed Church form an impediment for the Canadian Reformed Churches to come to full cor­respondence with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
    • e. to continue and, if possible, to complete the discussion and evalua­tion of the relationships which the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has with other Churches, as the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod;
    • f. to inform the Churches from time to time about the progress made (e.g., by press releases of combined Committee meetings);
    • g. to report on its activities to the next General Synod.
  • 3. To include in the Acts as Appendices:
    • a. the reply of our Committee, dated October 13, 1978;
    • b. the report and the additional report of the Committee;
    • c. the report of our delegate to the 47th General Assembly of the Ortho­ dox Presbyterian Church.
  • 4. Not to grant the request of the Church at Lincoln.

DEFEATED

II. Minority Report

A. Material

(same as the Majority Report)

B. Observations

(same as the Majority Report)

C. Considerations

  • 1-6 (same as the Majority Report)
  • 7. The questions posed by our Committee for Contact to Synod with regard to correspondence and the R.E.S. should not be answered at this time seeing that the mandate given to the Committee by Synod 1974 and Synod 1977, namely, to evaluate the relationship of the O.P.C. with third parties, has not been completed.
  • This evaluation must be completed because it may also have a bearing on the sister-church relationship that the Canadian Reformed Churches have with the Free Reformed Churches of Australia and the Gereformeerde Kerken in The Netherlands (seeing as they both have correspondence with the Presbyterian Church in Korea [Koryu-pa] which in turn has fraternal relations with the Christian Reformed Church).
  • 8. The reply of our Committee, dated October 13, 1978, to the letter of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Committee of April 14, 1976, contains a substantial part of the “draft reply” submitted to Synod Coaldale 1977. This reply is to be included in the Acts of this Synod as an Appendix. Synod Coaldale judged that this “draft reply” showed too much the marks of a draft. Therefore, there is no need to include the “draft reply” in the Acts of this Synod.

D. Recommendations

Synod decides:

  • 1. To express its gratitude to the Committee for all the work done. In particu­lar, it remembers the faithful labours of our late brother W. Wildeboer.
  • 2. To continue the Committee for Contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, with the mandate:
    • a. to continue contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. while taking into account the rules for “Ecclesiastical Contact”:
    • b. to publish, for the benefit of our Churches, a detailed evaluation of the confessional and church-political divergencies as decided by this Synod (see: Acts 1980, Article 97, 11, C, 3);
    • c. to evaluate the reaction of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Inter­ church Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church regarding the divergencies. and to come to the next Synod with recommendations (cf. Consideration 5);
    • d. to complete the discussion and evaluation of the relationships which the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has with other parties, especially the Reformed Ecumenical Synod. the Christian Reformed Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church – Evangelical Synod, and the Presby­terian Church of America;
    • e. to inform the Churches about the progress made by means of press releases;
    • f. to report on its activities and findings to the next General Synod.
  • 3. To include in the Acts as Appendices:
    • a. the reply of our Committee dated October 13, 1978;
    • b. the report and the additional report of the Committee;
  • c. the report of the delegate to the 47th General Assembly of the Ortho­dox Presbyterian Church;
  • 4. Not to grant the request of the Church at Lincoln.

ADOPTED

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