07 Jun GS 1998 art 40

GS 1998 Article 40 – Committee for Churches Abroad: RCN

Committee III presents:

Agenda items: I.D, II.S, II.W, II.CC, IV.W, II.UU, IV.M, IV.T (part 4)

I. MATERIAL

• A. Report of the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad regarding the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands [Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Vrijgemaakt)] (RCN).
• B. Letters from the churches at London, Aldergrove, Willoughby Heights, Guelph, Fergus, and Elora.

II. INTRODUCTION

• A. The Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad received from Synod the following mandate:
  • 1. To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands in accordance with the adopted rules.
  • 2. To charge the CRCA to send an invitation to the sister churches abroad to attend the next General Synod as soon as its date has been established and published by the convening church and to have our churches represented by a delegate to General Synods of such churches abroad if invited and when feasible.
  • 3. To mandate the CRCA to discuss with the Dutch deputies, pursuant to our Rule Six, our questions concerning the “blessing elder” and its possible consequences regarding the distinction between the offices of elder and minister in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands.
  • 4. To mandate the CRCA to seek clarification from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands concerning the use of the word “inform” in Rule Three of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship].

III. OBSERVATIONS

• A. From the Committee Report we note:
  • 1. The CRCA asked the deputies of the RCN to respond to the matters of the “blessing elder” and about the word “inform” in Rule Three of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship but the report does not indicate whether an answer was received.
  • 2. The RCN informed the CRCA of their decision to intensify contact with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil.
  • 3. The RCN continues to be very busy in their contacts with churches abroad such as CanRC, OPC, and RCUS.
  • 4. Synod Berkel decided to cease all official contact with the Nederlands Gereformeerde Kerken especially in light of the toleration of deviation from the Reformed Confessions in those churches.
  • 5. Synod Berkel upheld the decisions of Ommen 1993 regarding voting rights to women and allowing elders to give the benediction.
  • 6. Synod Berkel approved an alternate Form for the Solemnization of Marriage which no longer makes reference to the husband’s obligation to work faithfully in his daily calling so that he may support his family. The CRCA recommends that they inquire further about this change.
• B. From the churches the following concerns are raised:
  • 1. The churches of Willoughby Heights, London, and Fergus, observe that the CRCA did not receive a response to their inquiry concerning the matter of “the blessing elder” and on the wording “to inform” in Rule 3 of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship.
  • 2. The churches at Elora and Fergus urge General Synod to accede to the Committee’s recommendation to explore the reason why the RCN has approved an alternate Form for the Solemnization of Marriage.
  • 3. The church at Aldergrove expresses disagreement with Synod 1995 mandate to the Committee with respect to the “blessing elder”. They also
  • disagree with the CRCA’s recommendation regarding the alternate Form for the Solemnization Marriage
  • 4. The church at Willoughby Heights suggests that the Committee be instructed to use the actual name of the “Reformed Churches in the Netherlands” . They suggest to do the same when referring to churches in countries where the language is other than English.
  • 5. The church at Fergus notes that Synod Berkel 1996 upheld the decision of Ommen 1993 giving women voting rights, notwithstanding the fact that 35 submissions were received to the contrary. Fergus requests that the deputies try to convince the Dutch churches to take back this decision since it does not reflect the overall sentiments of the churches.
  • 6. The church at Guelph brings to Synod’s attention statements made by certain ministers in the RCN which they believe to be in conflict with Scripture, the Reformed Confessions and in violation of the Form of Subscription. They refer to an article published in Reformed Perspective dealing with homosexuality. They question whether the commitment to the authority of Scripture and the Reformed Confessions is being upheld. They also cite a series of articles in De Reformatie addressing an alleged deviation from Reformed doctrine regarding Christ’s suffering on the cross, the concepts of eternal death and of substitutionary atonement. They question whether the Form of Subscription is being upheld.

IV. CONSIDERATIONS

• A. From the correspondence and the Acts of the RCN we may gratefully conclude that these churches are faithful to the Word of God, the Confessions, and the Church Order.
• B. The CRCA should as yet obtain an answer to their inquiry about the “blessing elder” and the word “inform” in Rule Three of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship of the RCN.
• C. The CRCA does not need to receive a specific mandate to investigate matters of concern. In Rule 1 of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship there is already the mandate ” to assist each other in the maintenance, defense and promotion of the Reformed faith in doctrine, church polity, discipline, and liturgy, and be watchful for deviations”.
• D. Synod disagrees with the church at Aldergrove that the matter of the “blessing elder” and the alternate Form for the Solemnization of Marriage needs more substantial proof before it falls within the scope of Rule Six of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship. Rule Six speaks of information and consultation when major changes and additions are being considered to the confessions, church government or liturgy. The above issues fall within these parameters.
• E. Although Synod could agree with the church at Willoughby Heights in regards to the name of the sister churches in the Netherlands, Synod considers establishing a rule applying to all churches abroad is neither feasible nor practical.
• F. The request of the church at Fergus falls outside the mandate of the CRCA. Synod cannot judge to what extent the 35 submissions reflected the overall sentiments of the churches.
• G. Synod agrees with the concerns expressed by the church at Guelph. In view of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship, the church at Guelph could have conveyed its findings directly to the CRCA.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS Synod decide

• A. To thank the CRCA for the work done since 1995.
• B. To continue the Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the RCN in accordance with the adopted rules and to be vigilant in applying these rules in regards to any concerns coming to their attention.
• C. To mandate the CRCA as yet to inquire about the matters of the “blessing elder” and the word “inform” in Rule Three of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship of the RCN.
• D. To mandate the CRCA to discuss the points raised in observations III A.6 & III. B.6.E.
• E. To charge the CRCA to send an invitation to RCN to attend the next General Synod as soon as its date has been established and published by the convening church and to have our churches represented by a delegate to their General Synod if invited and when feasible.

An amendment is proposed to add to the end of V.D.:

And addressed in Considerations IV. G.

DEFEATED

An amendment is proposed to change Recommendations V. D. to To mandate the CRCA to discuss the points raised above.

ADOPTED

An amendment is proposed to add the following recommendation between V. D. and V.E.:

To inform the churches that if there are concerns about relations with churches with whom we have ecclesiastical fellowship they should address those concerns directly to the CRCA.

An amendment is proposed to this amendment, namely to change the word “should” to “may.”

ADOPTED

The proposal of Committee III as amended is put to a vote.

ADOPTED

Thus Recommendation V reads:

SYNOD DECIDE:

• A. To thank the CRCA for the work done since 1995.
• B. To continue the Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the RCN in accordance with the adopted rules and to be vigilant in applying these rules in regards to any concerns coming to their attention.
• C. To mandate the CRCA as yet to inquire about the matters of the “blessing elder” and the word “inform” in Rule Three of the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship of the RCN.
• D. To mandate the CRCA to discuss the points raised above.
• E. To inform the churches that if there are concerns about relations with churches with whom we have ecclesiastical fellowship they should address those concerns directly to the CRCA.
• F. To charge the CRCA to send an invitation to RCN to attend the next General Synod as soon as its date has been established and published by the convening church and to have our churches represented by a delegate to their General Synod if invited and when feasible.