27 Apr GS 2001 art 22

GS 2001 Article 22 – L’Église réformée du Québec  (ERQ)

Synod reconvened to continue the discussion on the ERQ. Committee 1 presented the following proposal:

1.    Material

• 1.1.    Church at Burlington-Ebenezer – CCCA re: ERQ,OPC,RCUS.
• 1.2.    Church at London – Addition to mandate of CCERQ.
• 1.3.    Church at Coaldale – Comments on various aspects of the report.

2.    Admissibility

• The letters from the churches are declared admissible.

3.    Observations

• 3.1.    Synod thankfully observes that the CCERQ has fulfilled the mandate given to it by Synod Fergus 1998 (See the Report in the Appendices).
• 3.2. The CCERQ recommends the following:
  • 3.2.1.  To note with gratitude that the ERQ strives to be faithful to the Word of God and to bring the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
  • 3.2.2.  In order to continue developing closer ties with the ERQ with a view to ecclesiastical fellowship, Synod reappoint the committee for contact with the following mandate:
    • 3.2.2.1.  To continue discussions in particular regarding the matter of confessional membership and fencing of the Lord’s table.
    • 3.2.2.2.  To discontinue discussion on the matter of federative unity and differences in the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship.
    • 3.2.2.3.  To encourage the churches to continue supporting the ERQ financially when needed.
    • 3.2.2.4.  To respond if specific requests for assistance and advice are made on matters of confession, church polity, liturgy, and mission.
    • 3.2.2.5.  To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend synods of the ERQ.
    • 3.2.2.6.  To serve Synod 2004 with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod.
• 3.3.    Reactions of the Churches to the Committee report.
  • 3.1.1.  The Church at Burlington-Ebenezer is pleased with the report and concurs with the committee’s recommendation.
  • 3.1.2.  The Church at Coaldale endorses the report.
  • 3.1.3.  The Church at London requests that Synod include the matter of Sunday observance in the mandate of the CCERQ. It recommends that Synod decide the following: “Although the matter of Sunday observance cannot be a bar to ecclesiastical fellowship, discussion and encouragement on this point be continued with the ERQ to the end that they might come to the historic practice in Reformed churches of holding two worship services on the Lord’s Day.”

4.    Considerations

• 4.1.    From the report Synod thankfully concludes that the ERQ is faithful to the Word of God and brings the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
• 4.2.    The report of the CCERQ indicates that we can learn from the practices of the ERQ (e.g. missionary activity of the church, extensive fellowship and teaching on Sundays).
• 4.3.    Synod acknowledges that the ERQ in certain issues has established principles but varying practices in applying these principles. This does not constitute scriptural unfaithfulness. The ERQ is open to further discussion regarding various principles and practices. This process must be encouraged.
• 4.4.    The Report of the CCERQ indicates that the following matters have been clarified and do not need further discussion before establishing ecclesiastical fellowship, but they may come up for discussion within ecclesiastical fellowship:
  • 4.4.1.  The nature and status of deacons and deaconesses;
  • 4.4.2.  Liturgical forms;
  • 4.4.3.  Order of worship;
  • 4.4.4.  Lord’s Day observance;
  • 4.4.5.  The differences in our respective rules for ecclesiastical fellowship;
  • 4.4.6.  The question whether federative unity is desirable.
• 4.5.    Specific areas that should be priorities in the discussion of differences are: supervision of the pulpit, confessional membership and the fencing of the Lord’s table. It should be noted that Synod 1986 received the report “Evaluation of Divergences” (Acts,Art.126, p.55) which relates to differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. The concluding paragraph of the “Evaluation” states, “Permanent contact in the unity of true faith and continual discussion of divergences may express the catholicity of the Church of God and enrich the body of Christ by the grace of the Holy Spirit, until we all attain to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Acts 1986, p. 151). Once ecclesiastical fellowship is established the differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards must be discussed in line with the acceptance of this report. Throughout the “Evaluation” the comment is made that the various issues discussed are treated differently in the respective confessions, but cannot be considered impediments to further unity. Although the ERQ is small and limited in manpower the differences referred to in the “Evaluation” should be discussed in the relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship.
• 4.6.    The suggestion that the ERQ ought to adopt the historic practice of the Reformed churches of holding two worship services on the Lord’s Day is not valid since it is clear that the ERQ maintains the Lord’s Day as a special day. Although there is only one worship service, there are also hours of further interaction, including much conversation and instruction as well as a meal together. The report indicates that the Biblical principles of worship, teaching and fellowship are alive and well in the ERQ.

5.    Recommendations

Synod decide:

• 5.1.    To thank the CCERQ for the work done and presented.
• 5.2.    To note with gratitude that the ERQ is faithful to the Word of God and brings the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
• 5.3.    To thankfully note that progress has been made in advancing the development of the relationship.
• 5.4.    To reappoint the CCERQ to continue developing closer ties with the ERQ with the goal of establishing ecclesiastical fellowship (to be determined by Synod 2004) by fulfilling the following mandate:
  • 5.4.1.  To discuss the differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards as found in the “Evaluation of Divergences” received by Synod 1986. Considering the limited resources of the ERQ priority should be placed on discussion and clarification of pulpit supervision, fencing of the Lord’s table, and confessional accountability;
  • 5.4.2.  To work towards formalizing a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship under the adopted rules;
  • 5.4.3.  To encourage the churches to continue supporting the ERQ financially, when needed;
  • 5.4.4.  To respond if specific requests for assistance and advice are made on matters of confession ,church polity, liturgy, and mission;
  • 5.4.5.  To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend synods of the ERQ;
  • 5.4.6.  To serve Synod 2004 with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod;
• 5.5.    To serve the Church at London with this decision as a response.

An amendment was made to drop the references to the Report on the “Evaluation of Divergences” in 4.5 and 5.4.1.This was seconded.

An amendment was made to delete 4.5 “in line with the acceptance of this report,” and to delete 5.4.1 “as found in the “Evaluation of Divergences” received by Synod 1986.” This was seconded.

The motion to drop the references to the Report on the Evaluation of Divergences was defeated. The second amendment was adopted.

The amended proposal was adopted as follows:

1.    Materials

• 1.1.          Church at Burlington-Ebenezer – CCCA re: ERQ,OPC,RCUS.
• 1.2.          Church at London – Addition to mandate of CCERQ.
• 1.3.          Church at Coaldale – Comments on various aspects of the report.

2.    Admissibility

• The letters from the churches are declared admissible.

3.    Observations

• 3.1.    Synod thankfully observes that the CCERQ has fulfilled the mandate given to it by Synod Fergus 1998 (see the Report in the Appendices).
• 3.2.    The CCERQ recommends the following:
  • 3.2.1.  To note with gratitude that the ERQ strives to be faithful to the Word of God and to bring the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
  • 3.2.2.  In order to continue developing closer ties with the ERQ with a view to ecclesiastical fellowship, Synod reappoint the committee for contact with the following mandate:
    • 3.2.2.1.  To continue discussions in particular regarding the matter of confessional membership and fencing of the Lord’s table.
    • 3.2.2.2.  To discontinue discussion on the matter of federative unity and differences in the Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship.
    • 3.2.2.3.  To encourage the churches to continue supporting the ERQ financially when needed.
    • 3.2.2.4.  To respond if specific requests for assistance and advice are made on matters of confession, church polity, liturgy, and mission.
    • 3.2.2.5.  To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend synods of the ERQ.
    • 3.2.2.6.  To serve Synod 2004 with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod.
• 3.3.    Reactions of the Churches to the Committee report.
  • 3.3.1.  The Church at Burlington-Ebenezer is pleased with the report and concurs with the committee’s recommendation.
  • 3.3.2.  The Church at Coaldale endorses the report.
  • 3.3.3.  The Church at London requests that Synod include the matter of Sunday observance in the mandate of the CCERQ. It recommends that Synod decide the following: “Although the matter of Sunday observance cannot be a bar to ecclesiastical fellowship, discussion and encouragement on this point be continued with the ERQ to the end that they might come to the historic practice in Reformed Churches of holding two worship services on the Lord’s Day.”

4.    Considerations

• 4.1.    From the report Synod thankfully concludes that the ERQ is faithful to the Word of God and brings the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
• 4.2.    The report of the CCERQ indicates that we can learn from the practices of the ERQ (e.g. missionary activity of the church, extensive fellowship and teaching on Sundays).
• 4.3.    Synod acknowledges that the ERQ in certain issues has established principles but varying practices in applying these principles. This does not constitute Scriptural unfaithfulness. The ERQ is open to further discussion regarding various principles and practices. This process must be encouraged.
• 4.4.    The Report of the CCERQ indicates that the following matters have been clarified and do not need further discussion before establishing ecclesiastical fellowship, but they may come up for discussion within ecclesiastical fellowship:
  • 4.4.1.   The nature and status of deacons and deaconesses;
  • 4.4.2.   Liturgical forms;
  • 4.4.3.   Order of worship;
  • 4.4.4.   Lord’s Day observance;
  • 4.4.5.  The differences in our respective rules for ecclesiastical fellowship;
  • 4.4.6.  The question whether federative unity is desirable.
• 4.5.    Specific areas that should be priorities in the discussion of differences are: supervision of the pulpit, confessional membership and the fencing of the Lord’s table. It should be noted that Synod 1986 received the report “Evaluation of Divergences” (Acts,Art.126, p. 55) which relates to differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. The concluding paragraph of the “Evaluation” states, “Permanent contact in the unity of true faith and continual discussion of divergences may express the catholicity of the Church of God and enrich the body of Christ by the grace of the Holy Spirit, until we all attain to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”(Acts 1986, p. 151). Once ecclesiastical fellowship is established the differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards must be discussed. Throughout the “Evaluation” the comment is made that the various issues discussed are treated differently in the respective confessions, but cannot be considered impediments to further unity. Although the ERQ is small and limited in manpower the differences referred to in the “Evaluation” should be discussed in the relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship.
• 4.6.    The suggestion that the ERQ ought to adopt the historic practice of the Reformed churches of holding two worship services on the Lord’s Day is not valid since it is clear that the ERQ maintains the Lord’s Day as a special day. Although there is only one worship service, there are also hours of further interaction, including much conversation and instruction as well as a meal together. The report indicates that the Biblical principles of worship, teaching and fellowship are alive and well in the ERQ.

5.    Recommendations

• 5.1.    To thank the CCERQ for the work done and presented.
• 5.2.    To note with gratitude that the ERQ is faithful to the Word of God and brings the Reformed confessions and church order to expression in its own context.
• 5.3.    To thankfully note that progress has been made in advancing the development of the relationship.
• 5.4.    To reappoint the CCERQ to continue developing closer ties with the ERQ with the goal of establishing ecclesiastical fellowship (to be determined by Synod 2004) by fulfilling the following mandate:
  • 5.4.1.  To discuss the differences between the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. Considering the limited resources of the ERQ priority should be placed on discussion and clarification of pulpit supervision, fencing of the Lord’s table, confessional accountability;
  • 5.4.2.  To work towards formalizing a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship under the adopted rules;
  • 5.4.3.  To encourage the churches to continue supporting the ERQ financially, when needed;
  • 5.4.4.  To respond if specific requests for assistance and advice are made on matters of confession, church polity, liturgy, and mission;
  • 5.4.5.  To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend synods of the ERQ;
  • 5.4.6.  To serve Synod 2004 with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod;
• 5.5.    To serve the Church at London with this decision as a response.

Synod broke for lunch and committee work.