13 Nov GS 1989 art 162

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GS 1989 ARTICLE 162

Committee IV presents:

Agenda Items VIII, D 20, B, 1, d,e,g,h,j,

A. MATERIAL

  • 1. Letter from the Church at Langley re word “Christian” in Apostles’ Creed.
  • 2. Letter from the Church at Orangeville re same
  • 3. Letter from the Church at Brampton re same
  • 4. Letter from the Church at Burlington-West re same
  • 5. Letter from the Church at Cloverdale re same
  • 6. Letter from the Church at Chatham re same.

B. OBSERVATIONS:

  • 1. The Church at Langley appeals “the inclusion of the word ‘Christian’ in the Apostles’ Creed.” (Acts Synod 1986, Art.101)
  • Grounds:
    • a. It is a basic principle of translation to go back to the original and authentic text.
    • b. The word “Christian” is a result of the influence of a medieval German tradition.
    • c. Scriptures never speak of “the Christian Church”.
    • d. The Apostles’ Creed falls under the heading, “The Ecumenical Creeds”.
    • e. The adjective “Christian” makes it seem as if the church is the possession of the Christians.
  • 2. The Church at Orangeville requests the same and gives as grounds the grounds given by the standing Committee for the Book of Praise (Agenda VIII B 1):
    • a. The word “Christian is a late medieval Germanic rendering of the word catholic.
    • b. The early editions of the Heidelberg Catechism do not have “this superfluous adjective”.
    • c. “We do not have the right to change the received text of the Apostles’ Creed or add to it.”
  • 3. The Church at Brampton asks the same and gives as grounds:
    • a. the Apostles’ Creed can be found under the heading “The Ecumenical Creeds”.
    • b. Scripture does not speak of “the Christian Church”
  • 4. The Church at Burlington-West requests the same and gives as ground that the considerations of Synod 1986 are incorrect.
  • 5. The Church at Chatham requests the same and gives as ground that the word “Christian” as used by Luther appears to express ‘of the Christian’ rather than ‘of Christ’ and therefore is a duplication of the term ‘communion of saints’
  • 6. The Church at Cloverdale requests that the text of the Apostles’ Creed as contained in the 1984 edition of the Book of Praise be maintained since no substantially new grounds are adduced to change the present form of the Apostles’ Creed.

CONSIDERATIONS:

  • 1. Art. 33 C.O. states that matters once decided upon may not be proposed again unless they are substantiated by new grounds.
  • 2. Comparison of the grounds with the decisions made by previous Synods shows that all the grounds brought forward by the Churches at Langley, Orangeville, Brampton, Burlington-West have been dealt with by previous Synods (See Acts 1983, Art. 70 and Acts 1986, Art. 101). The only exception is ground 5 of Langley which is also mentioned by Chatham.
  • 3. This ground is not substantial for the word “Christian” can express ‘of the Christian’ and ‘of Christ’.

RECOMMENDATION

Synod decide:

  • not to accede to the requests of the Churches at Langley, Orangeville, Brampton, Burlington-West and Chatham. The request from the Church at Cloverdale is hereby also answered.

ADOPTED

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