10 Aug GS 1992 art 111

Posted at 11:32h in CanRC, GS 1992 by

GS 1992 ARTICLE 111 – Relations with Churches Abroad re PCK

Committee I presents:

Agenda item VIII G1a,4,6,7

The following motion is made and defeated: To delete Consideration D.

The following motion is made and defeated: To add to Observation E, as point 3:

  • “Let us not pre-empt the discussions we are having with them (the OPC) by extending sister church relations to similar groups abroad.”

Rev. J.D. Wielenga & br. P. Vandergugten present:

  • Agenda VIII, G1a,4,6,7

I. MATERIAL

  • A. Report of the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) re the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK).
  • B. Letter from the church at Attercliffe, ON.
  • C. Letter from the church at Fergus, ON.
  • D. Letter from the church at Port Kells, BC.

II. OBSERVATIONS

  • A. The CRCA reports that the communications problem with the PCK has been resolved so that an essential obstacle to enter into a sister church relationship with the PCK has been removed.
  • B. Synod 1986 (Art. 150, C, 5) with regret recognized that due to language and communication difficulties a correspondence relationship with the PCK can neither be established responsibly nor maintained fruitfully at this time.
  • C. The mandate given by Synod 1986 to the CRCA to be diligent in the endeavour to improve communications with the PCK so that entering into and maintaining of a correspondence relationship becomes possible. Synod 1989 charged the CRCA “to continue to be diligent regarding the matter of communication with the PCK” (Acts 1989, Art.103,D2).
  • D. The church at Attercliffe, ON urges Synod not to accept the recommendations of the CRCA with regard to the PCK on the following grounds:
    • 1. these recommendations did not come from the churches;
    • 2. a sister church relationship can only be established after divergencies between the Westminster Confessions and the Three Forms of Unity have been resolved;
    • 3. they question whether it is our ecumenical task to search the whole world for sister churches;
    • 4. they suggest a regional approach towards our contact with other churches;
    • The church at Fergus, ON also suggests that before Ecclesiastical Fellowship can be established the PCK adopt the Three Forms of Unity.
  • E. The church at Port Kells, BC writes:
    • 1. concerning Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the PCK that “It seems unwise to . . . establish full sister church relations with churches abroad when we have not reached that stage with churches in our own area who have the same confessions and church government”;
    • 2. “such a step abroad would tend more toward disunity than unity on the home front.”
  • F. The communications from the PCK received by the CRCA since 1989 reveal that the General Assembly of the PCK of Sept. 1990 decided to establish Ecclesiastical Fellowship with our churches.
  • G. The consideration of Synod 1986 (Art 150, C,4) that formal recognition of the PCK as churches of Jesus Christ should not be based on testimony of sister churches only or on ICRC membership. Such recognition remains the churches’ own responsibility.
  • H. The CRCA in their 1983 report has evaluated the PCK’s Confessions, church government, history and character of these churches. They state that there is nothing that forms an impediment to our recognizing the PCK as a true church of our Lord Jesus Christ and to entering into an official relationship with this church.
  • I. The same report addresses the concern of Synod 1980 (Art. 153,E,4) expressed in its charge to the CRCA to evaluate the communications with the PCK as to the question whether official ecclesiastical correspondence, even if it would be warranted in principle, can be responsibly maintained, due to distance and language. This matter has been satisfactorily addressed as it does not return in the mandate given to the committee by Synod 1983.
  • J. The PCK testifies in the received communications that they “believe in, preach and live by the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament and the original Presbyterian Standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechism, the Form of Government, the Manual of Discipline, and the Directory of Worship) following Reformed theology.”
  • K. The sister churches in the Netherlands maintain a sister church relationship with the PCK since 1967 and require that the missionary professors which they appoint to the PCK seminary become a member of a PCK congregation and place themselves under the supervision of the eldership of that congregation (Groningen Zuid 1978,Art. 175).
  • L. The sister churches in Australia decided at their last Synod (Bedfordale 1992) to continue their relationship with the PCK on the ground of proven faithfulness of the PCK to Scripture and Confessions.
  • M. The CRCA, considering the expressed desire of the PCK, recommends to offer the PCK a sister church relationship called “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” to be practised under the rules adopted by this Synod.
  • N. The CRCA further recommends to send two delegates to a next General Assembly of the PCK to formalize the sister church relationship in a solemn ceremony.

III. CONSIDERATIONS

  • A. According to the Word of God and the Confession (John 17:11, 17,20,21; Eph. 3:14-4:16; 2 Tim.3:15, 16; L.D. 21, H.C. and Art. 27-29 B.C.), true believers and churches have the calling to seek ecclesiastical fellowship with all those who with them confess the same faith and maintain and practise it in preaching, worship, discipline and government.
  • B. With regard to the church at Attercliffe, ON:
    • 1. The following up of this calling (mentioned in consideration A) lawfully belongs to the jurisdiction of the combined churches, on the ground that this calling has been accepted by the churches together in their confession (Art. 27, B.C.; Art. 50, C.O.), and should therefore not be made dependent on the initiative of a local church only.
    • 2. The matter of the relationship to the PCK has been on the agendas of previous Synods. Synod 1971 mandated the CRCA to examine whether there were any obstacles to enter into correspondence with the PCK. (Art. 47, 6b)
    • 3. A regional approach towards contact with other churches does not exclude the worldwide calling, and cannot avoid worldwide contacts, although by reason of proximity, resources and other practical factors, priority should be given to the ecumenical calling in the churches’ own environment.
  • C. With regard to the church at Port Kells, BC, entering into Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the PCK need not be a cause for disunity on the home front. The reason Ecclesiastical Fellowship has not been finalized with the OPC is because of certain different practices and not due to their different confessions or form of government.
  • D. In response to the churches at Attercliffe, ON and Fergus, ON the fact that the PCK has the Westminster Standards and Presbyterian Form of Government is not in itself a hindrance to Ecclesiastical Fellowship.
  • E. According to the testimony of the PCK itself and the testimony of the RCN and of the FRCA, as well as the CRCA, the PCK is faithful in its adherence to the Westminster Confession and the Presbyterian Form of Government.
  • F. The elimination of the communication problem opens the possibility of a fruitful relationship with the PCK, although limitations to an optimum form of contact, due to language, distance and resources, should be taken into account.
  • G. The request of the PCK to our churches to enter into a sister church relationship with them should be honoured since there are no lawful grounds to doubt the testimony of the PCK itself and the testimony of two sister church federations regarding the faithfulness of the PCK.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS

Synod decide:

  • A. to note with gratitude that the obstacles to Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the PCK have been removed.
  • B. to mandate the CRCA:
    • 1. to inform the PCK of our acceptance of their request for Ecclesiastical Fellowship using the adopted rules.
    • 2. to formalize this relationship in a manner satisfactory to both church federations.
    • 3. to inform the churches and to report to the next General Synod on the relationship with the PCK.

ADOPTED

Because of the adoption above, the following is considered defeated. (Report of Rev. D.G.J. Agema and elder A. Witten)

I. MATERIAL

  • A. Report of the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) re the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK).
  • B. Letter from the church at Attercliffe, ON.
  • C. Letter from the church at Fergus, ON.
  • D. Letter from the church at Port Kells, BC.

II. OBSERVATIONS

  • A. Synod 1989, charged the CRCA to continue to be diligent regarding the matter of communication with the PCK, and report to the next General Synod (Acts, 1989, Art. 103, D,2).
  • B. Synod 1986, decided to “recognize with regret that due to language and communication difficulties, a correspondence-relationship with the Presbyterian Church Koryu-Pa can neither be established responsibly nor maintained fruitfully at this time.” It therefore charged the CRCA to be diligent in the endeavour to improve communications with the PCK so that the “entering into and maintaining of a correspondence – relationship” becomes possible.
  • C. Synod, 1986, based its decision on the following considerations:
    • 1. “General Synod Edmonton 1965, judged that correspondence with churches abroad should be established only after an accurate and serious examination has shown that these churches not only officially have adopted the Reformed confessions and church government, but also practically maintain the same (Acts, 1965, Art.141,II).
    • 2. The General Synod of Smithville expressed its concern regarding the importance of communications with these churches and charged the Committee on Correspondence with Churches Abroad to evaluate the communication with the Presbyterian Church Koryu-Pa as to the question whether official ecclesiastical correspondence, even if it would be warranted in principle, can be responsibly maintained, due to distance and language (Synod Smithville 1980, Acts, Art. 153, E,4,b).
    • 3. Formal recognition of the Presbyterian Church Koryu-Pa as true churches of Jesus Christ should not be based on testimony of sister churches only, or on ICRC membership. Such recognition remains the churches’ own responsibility.
    • 4. Mere formal recognition of the PCK as a true church of Jesus Christ without the possibility to implement such recognition by entering into a correspondence relationship with the PCK renders such recognition ineffective.
    • 5. Both the General Synods of Smithville and the General Synod of Cloverdale expressed their regret that with regard to the OPC the publication of the detailed evaluation of the divergencies was not given before stating that these divergencies do not form an impediment to recognition. It is therefore understandable that the General Synod of Cloverdale did not consider it edifying to proceed with ecclesiastical fellowship until this evaluation for the benefit of the churches was completed.” (Acts, 1986, Art. 150, C,2-6)
  • D. The CRCA report gives evidence that the lines of communication have greatly improved.
  • E. The CRCA report notes:
    • 1. the PCK decided at their 40th General Assembly to enter into a sister church relationship with the Canadian Reformed Churches.
    • 2. our sister churches the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland [Vrijgemaakt]) (RCN) have formally recognized the PCK as sister churches.
    • 3. an English summary of some of the highlights of the PCK 40th General Assembly and a booklet in English with information on their history, organizational principles and standards, constituency, institutions, home and foreign missions, church education, literature activities and cooperation with other church bodies were received by the CRCA.
  • F. The PCK testifies in the received communications that they “believe in, preach and live by the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament and the original Presbyterian Standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechism, the Form of Government, the Manual of Discipline, and the Directory of Worship) following Reformed theology.” In Appendix III to the CRCA Report the PCK gives further detailed information about its organizational principles and standards: “Our church doctrinal standards are the Westminster Confession of Faith, with the Larger Catechism and the Shorter Catechism. With the addition of the 1903 American Presbyterian chapters on ‘The Holy Spirit’ and ‘The Mission of the Church’ to the 17th century Westminster Confession of Faith, our confession numbers 35 chapters. Also as administrative standards we have the Form of Government, the Manual of Discipline and the Directory of Worship. These standards have been published (in Korean) in a book entitled ‘the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in Korea.’ ”
  • G. The CRCA recommends to offer the PCK a sister church relationship called “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” to be practised under the rules adopted by this Synod.
  • H. The CRCA further recommends to send two delegates to a next General Assembly of the PCK to formalize the sister church relationship in a solemn ceremony.
  • I. The church at Attercliffe, ON notes that “until now the CanRC have not entered into a sister church relationship with churches that adhere to different standards.” It suggests that the question, whether we can have a sister church relationship with churches which do not adhere to the same confession, must be answered. The church at Attercliffe is of the opinion that a sister church relationship can only be established after divergencies between the Westminster Confessions and the Three Forms of Unity have been resolved.
  • J. The church at Fergus, ON reacts to the recommendation to have Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the PCK by suggesting that before Ecclesiastical Fellowship can be established, the PCK should adopt the Three Forms of Unity.
  • K. The church at Port Kells, BC suggests:
    • 1. “Let us not pre-empt the discussions we are having with them [the OPC] by extending sister church relations to similar groups abroad”;
    • 2. “It seems unwise to    establish full sister church relations with churches
    • abroad when we have not reached that stage with churches in our own area who have the same confessions and church government”;
    • 3. “Such a step abroad [to establish a sister church relationship with the PCK] would tend more toward disunity than unity on the home front.”
  • L. This Synod has adopted the following Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship:
    • 1. The churches shall assist each other in the maintenance, defence and promotion of the Reformed faith in doctrine, church polity, discipline, and liturgy, and be watchful for deviations.
    • 2. The churches shall inform each other of the decisions taken by their broadest assemblies, if possible by sending each other their Acts or Minutes and otherwise, at least by sending the decisions relevant to the respective churches (if possible, in translation).
    • 3. The churches shall consult each other when entering into relations with third parties.
    • 4. The churches shall accept one another’s attestations or certificates of good standing, which also means admitting members of the respective churches to the sacraments upon presentation of that attestation or certificate.
    • 5. The churches shall in principle open their pulpits for each other’s ministers in agreement with the rules adopted in the respective churches.
    • In exercising these relations, the churches shall strive to implement also the following:
    • 6. When major changes or additions are being considered to the confessions, church government or liturgy, the churches shall be informed in order that as much consultation can take place as possible before a final decision is taken.
    • 7. The churches shall receive each other’s delegates at their broadest assemblies and invite them to participate as much as local regulations permit.

III. CONSIDERATIONS

  • A. The lines of communication with the PCK have improved since Synod 1989. The CRCA has fulfilled its mandate to improve the communication with the PCK.
  • B. The CRCA’s consideration that the matter of communication as cited by Synod 1989 was the only obstacle to offering the PCK a sister church relationship is not accurate. Now that the communication has improved, the CRCA through further discussion with the PCK may be able to come to a responsible recommendation as to the concerns raised by previous Synods (Acts, 1980, Art. 153, E, 4, a,b; Acts, 1986, Art. 150, C, 2-6).
  • C. The report of the CRCA does not give evidence that the CRCA addressed with the PCK the items mentioned in the considerations of General Synod, 1986, namely:
    • 1. how the confessions and church government are practically maintained.
    • 2. whether due to distance and language an official ecclesiastical fellowship can function meaningfully.
    • 3. the doctrinal divergencies between our respective standards.
  • D. The CRCA report to Synod Lincoln 1992, and the previous CRCA reports (Appendices, Acts 1980, 1983, 1986) provided the churches with information about the history, background, doctrinal standards and church government of the PCK. Synod notes that the CRCA has consistently recommended that an official relationship be established with the PCK, whereas previous Synods have not acceded to this request (Acts, 1980, Art 153; Acts, 1983, Art. 105; Acts, 1986, Art. 150).
  • E. A regional approach towards contact with other churches does not exclude the worldwide calling, and cannot avoid worldwide contacts, although by reason of proximity, resources and other practical factors, priority should be given to the ecumenical calling in the churches’ own environment.
  • F. According to the testimony of the PCK itself and the testimony of the RCN and of the FRCA, as well as the CRCA, the PCK is faithful in its adherence to the Westminster Confession and the Presbyterian Form of Government.
  • G. The church at Attercliffe, ON is correct in its observation that the CanRC do not as yet have ecclesiastical fellowship with a Presbyterian church maintaining the Westminster Confessions and the Presbyterian Form of Government. The church at Attercliffe, ON and the church at Port Kells, BC rightly point towards the discussion about “divergencies” with the OPC. Previous Synods mention the same concerns (Acts, 1986, Art. 150, C,6).
  • With regard to the OPC Synod Lincoln 1992, however, decided that the divergencies are not impediments to ecclesiastical fellowship with the OPC, but may be discussed within the framework of church unity. At the same time Synod Lincoln 1992, mandated the CCOPC to continue the discussion of divergencies which are considered to be impediments (i.e. confessional membership and supervision of the Lord’s table) to ecclesiastical fellowship, and to see whether these divergencies stem from ecclesiological and/or historical differences with the purpose of having these impediments removed. Such discussion has not taken place with the PCK and therefore should as yet be done in order that the one discussion does not pre-empt the other.
  • H. The suggestion made by the church at Fergus, ON is too premature but the CanRC should further consider the implications of a sister church relationship with a Presbyterian church maintaining the Westminster Confessions and the Presbyterian Form of Government, to ascertain whether the newly adopted (Synod Lincoln 1992) Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship can function meaningfully.
  • I. Previous Synods have not evaluated current third party relationships (although the CRCA Report to Synod 1983 only mentioned them) which the PCK maintains. In view of the adopted Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship this should as yet be done.

IV. RECOMMENDATIONS

Synod decide:

  • A. to thank the CRCA for its work done with regard to the PCK and express our appreciation for the improved contact and PCK’s offer of sister church relationship.
  • B. not to offer the PCK’s a sister church relationship at this time.
  • C. to encourage the CRCA to utilize the improved contact in order to further work towards a sister church relationship with the PCK.
  • D. in further discussion, if feasible during a visit by two CRCA delegates to Korea, with the PCK the CRCA should focus on:
    • 1. how the confessions and church government are practically maintained, while considering similar discussions taking place with the OPC;
    • 2. whether due to distance and language an official ecclesiastical fellowship according to the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship adopted by Synod Lincoln 1992, can function;
    • 3. to discuss and evaluate the current third party relationships of the PCK.
  • E. to instruct the CRCA to report to the next General Synod.
  • The chairman notes that this is a historic moment for the Canadian Reformed Churches. The Presbyterian Church in Korea is now our fourth sister church. He expresses the hope that God will bless this relationship so that it may be a benefit to both the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Presbyterian Church in Korea.

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