21 Jun GS 1998 art 120

Posted at 15:25h in CanRC, GS 1998 by

GS 1998 Article 120 – CRCA on Free Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of Korea

Committee III presents: Agenda Item I D.

I. MATERIAL

Report of the CRCA on the Free Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church in Korea

II. INTRODUCTION

Synod 1995 gave the CRCA the following mandate:

  • 1. To continue a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the the Presbyterian Church in Korea in accordance with the adopted rules.
  • 2. To mandate the CRCA to investigate the suggested exchange of professors between Hamilton and Pusan (Acts 1995, Art 101, II, C, 2, 3).
  • 3. To continue a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the Free Church of Scotland …in accordance with the adopted rules. (Acts 1995, Art. 101, II, C, 2)

III. OBSERVATIONS

  • A. Regarding the Presbyterian Church in Korea
    • 1. The CRCA reports that even though they have received regular letters of invitation to attend the General Assembly of the PCK they have no longer been receiving an English summary of the PCK’s decisions and activities.
    • 2. From the Acts of sister churches in Australia and the Netherlands as well as from the impressions received at the ICRC in Seoul it would appear that the PCK continues to conduct herself as a faithful church of Jesus Christ.
    • 3. The CRCA recommends that a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship be continued and that every attempt be made to improve communications between our respective churches.
  • B. Regarding the Free Church of Scotland
    • 1. According to a policy of the CRCA of deputizing ministers and professors if their trips abroad coincide with a major assembly of a sister church, Rev. K. Jonker was delegated to attend the General Assembly of the FCS in 1996.
    • 2. For some time the FCS has been involved in a controversy regarding the person of Prof. D. Macleod. Apparently criminal charges were brought against him and this resulted in much unrest in the Church with members and ministers taking sides. In the fall of 1996 Prof. Macleod was acquitted of all charges. Steps were taken by the 1997 General Assembly to promote healing in the Free Church.
    • 3. At the General Assembly in 1997 it was decided that “the teachings commonly known as Theonomy or Reconstructionism contradict our subordinate standard, the Confession of Faith and are inconsistent with our supreme standard, the Bible, particularly on the question of the expiry of the judicial laws.”
  • C. The CRCA recommends:
    • 1. that Ecclesiastical Fellowship be continued with the Free Church of Scotland under the adopted Rules.
    • 2. that it be charged to express the prayerful support of the Canadian Reformed Churches of the Free Church of Scotland as it enters into what will hopefully be a time of healing and reconciliation.

IV. CONSIDERATIONS

  • A. The CRCA correctly draws Synod’s attention to the lack of communication with the PCK. For a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship to function properly there must be meaningful communication.
  • B. Synod 1995 mandated the CRCA to investigate the suggested exchange of professors between Hamilton and Pusan. There is no evidence in the report of the Committee that this mandate was fulfilled. In all likelihood the lack of communication contributed to this. The CRCA should as yet be instructed to complete this part of their mandate.
  • C. The CRCA did not have to wait for a mandate of Synod to express the prayerful support of the Canadian Reformed Churches for the Free Church of Scotland. It may have been better if the CRCA had informed the churches in our federation about the unrest within the FCS so that our local congregations could have prayed about these concerns.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

Synod decide to give the CRCA the following mandate:

  • A. With regard to the PCK:
    • a. To continue a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the Presbyterian Church in Korea in accordance with the adopted rules (Acts 1995, Art. 101, II, C, 2).
    • b. To mandate the CRCA to investigate the suggested exchange of professors between Hamilton and Pusan (Acts 1995, Art 101, II, C, 2, 3).
    • c. That every attempt be made to improve communications between our respective churches.
  • B. With regard to the FCS:
    • a. To continue a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the Free Church of Scotland in accordance with the adopted rules (Acts 1995, Art. 101, II, C, 2).
    • b. To express the prayerful support of the Canadian Reformed Churches of the Free Church of Scotland as it enters into what will hopefully be a time of healing and reconciliation.

ADOPTED

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