GS 2001 Article 7Agenda

The following Agenda was adopted

  • 1.     Opening on behalf of the convening church
  • 2.     Examination of the credentials
  • 3.     Election of moderamen
  • 4.     Constitution of Synod
  • 5.     Information from the convening church
  • 6.     Adoption of the Agenda
  • 7.     Setting of Time Schedule
  • 8.     Incoming Mail
    • 8.1.    Synod Procedures
      • 8.1.1.    Financial
        • 8.1.1.1.    Church at Carman: Report as Church for the General Fund.
        • 8.1.1.2.    Church at Guelph: re: audit of the finances of Synod 1998 in Fergus
    • 8.2.    Relations with Other Churches.
      • 8.2.1.    Report of Committee for Contact with Churches in the Americas
        • 8.2.1.1.    General
          • 8.2.1.1.1. Church at Burlington – Ebenezer– CCCA re: ERQ, OPC, RCUS.
          • 8.2.1.1.2. Church at London – Mandate of CCCA.
          • 8.2.1.1.3. Church at Coaldale – Comments on various aspects of the report.
          • 8.2.1.1.4. Church at Lincoln – Comments on various aspects of the report.
          • 8.2.1.1.5. Church at Orangeville – clarification regarding committee mandate and geographical responsibilities.
          • 8.2.1.1.6. Church at Willoughby Heights – doctrine of creation in our contacts with other church federations.
          • 8.2.1.1.7. Church at Aldergrove – comments on the work of all the committees.
        • 8.2.1.2.    Orthodox Presbyterian Church
          • 8.2.1.2.1. Church at London – expresses disagreement with recommendations 2 and 3 in the Report of the CCOPC.
          • 8.2.1.2.2. Church at Elora  overture agreement with Hamilton.
          • 8.2.1.2.3. Redeemer Church at Winnipeg – CCOPC to stay within their mandate.
          • 8.2.1.2.4. Church at Houston – not to make pronouncements about the office bearers in the OPC.
          • 8.2.1.2.5. Church at Grand Valley.
          • 8.2.1.2.6. Br. J. Werkman – Acts of Synod Fergus 1998 – to rescind Article 130.
          • 8.2.1.2.7. Church at Barrhead – Acts of Synod Fergus 1998 – article 136 – as to the appeal of the Mid-Atlantic Presbytery of the OPC re: Rev. Hofford.
          • 8.2.1.2.8. Church at Hamilton – Synod Fergus 1998 did not deal properly with the report of the CCOPC.
          • 8.2.1.2.9. Br. D. Teitsma – agreement with Synod Fergus 1998 – Article 136.
          • 8.2.1.2.10.  Church at Langley – appeal Synod Fergus – Articles 130 and 136.
          • 8.2.1.2.11.  Br. W. deHaan –appeal re: Synod Fergus.
          • 8.2.1.2.12.  Church at Coaldale – appeal decision Synod Fergus Article 130.
          • 8.2.1.2.13.  Church at Surrey-Maranatha– appeal decision Synod Fergus Article 130.
          • 8.2.1.2.14.  Church at Winnipeg-Grace – appeal decision Synod Fergus Article 130.
          • 8.2.1.2.15.  Church at Coaldale – Appeal decision Synod Fergus Article 136.
          • 8.2.1.2.16.  Church at Burlington-Ebenezer, see 8.2.1.1.1.
        • 8.2.1.3. Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS)
          • 8.2.1.3.1.    Church at Cloverdale – “renewed” mandate with respect to the RCUS.
          • 8.2.1.3.2.    Church at London – RCUS and ERQ – to include the matter of Sunday observance in the mandates of the committee.
          • 8.2.1.3.3.    Church at London – give the RCUS time to do what they have promised.
          • 8.2.1.3.4.    Church at London – CRCA – mandate of the committee concerning the RCUS.
          • 8.2.1.3.5.    Church at Langley – agreement with committee recommendations.
          • 8.2.1.3.6.    Church at Owen Sound – concerns with committee recommendations.
          • 8.2.1.3.7.    Church at Houston – attendance Lord’s supper.
          • 8.2.1.3.8.    Church at Barrhead – Acts of Synod Fergus – Article 51 – concerning the relationship with the RCUS.
          • 8.2.1.3.9.    Church at London – appeal – Art. 51, Synod Fergus 1998; Consideration D – finds the recommendation premature.
          • 8.2.1.3.10.    Church at Lynden – Synod Fergus Article 51 – IVB, p 43.
          • 8.2.1.3.11.    br.B.Wielenga  Synod Fergus Article 51 – IVE, p 43.
          • 8.2.1.3.12.    Church at Burlington-Ebenezer,see 8.2.1.1.1.
        • 8.2.1.4.    L’Église réformée du Québec (ERQ)
          • 8.2.1.4.1.    See 8.2.1.3.2  (London).
          • 8.2.1.4.2.    See Church at Burlington-Ebenezer (8.2.1.1.1.)
        • 8.2.1.5.    Independent Church of Mexico
          • 8.2.1.5.1.    Regional Synod East – to further investigate the federation of the Independent Church of Mexico as requested by Classis Ontario – North and the Church at Toronto.
      • 8.2.2.    Report of the Committee for the Promotion of Ecclesiastical Unity
        • 8.2.2.1.    General
          • 8.2.2.1.1. Church at Aldergrove – pursuant to ecclesiastical unity.
        • 8.2.2.2.    United Reformed Churches
          • 8.2.2.2.1. Church at London – Concerns or questions with the suggested strategy for union with the URCNA.
          • 8.2.2.2.2. Church at Burlington – Waterdown – concur with the findings that we are at a stage of being able to develop a closer contact at phase 2.
          • 8.2.2.2.3. Church at Willoughby Heights – agreement with course set out for unity.
          • 8.2.2.2.4. Church at Winnipeg-Grace – agreement with course set out for unity.
          • 8.2.2.2.5. Church at Coaldale – endorse recommendation of report.
          • 8.2.2.2.6. Church at Lincoln – moving to phase 2.
          • 8.2.2.2.7. Church at Houston – contact with URCNA.
          • 8.2.2.2.8. Br. D. Teitsma – Statements of Agreement.
          • 8.2.2.2.9. Church at Orangeville – concerns about URC raised by OCRC were not really addressed.
        • 8.2.2.3.    Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches
        • 8.2.2.4.    Free Reformed Churches
      • 8.2.3.    Report on the Committee on Relations with Churches Abroad of the Canadian Reformed Churches (CRCA)
        • 8.2.3.1.    General
          • 8.2.3.1.1. Church at Burlington-Ebenezer – commenting on various church relations.
        • 8.2.3.2.    The Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA)
        • 8.2.3.3.    The Free Church of Scotland (FCS)
          • 8.2.3.3.1. Church at Lincoln – concerns with recommendations 3.6 and 5.6 (also applies to GKN).
          • 8.2.3.3.2. Church at London – Appeal – Art. 119, IV.C, Synod Fergus 1998.
        • 8.2.3.4.    The Free Reformed Churches of South Africa (FRCSA)
        • 8.2.3.5.    Gereformeerde Kerken Nederland (GKN)
          • 8.2.3.5.1. Church at London – reaction to several items dealt with in the report of the committee.
          • 8.2.3.5.2. Church of Owen Sound – concerns arising out of the report of the CRCA.
          • 8.2.3.5.3. Church at Elora  concerns with regards to direction.
          • 8.2.3.5.4. Church at Willoughby Heights – instruct CRCA to communicate disappointment that rule 3 is not adhered to by the GKN.
          • 8.2.3.5.5. Church at Brampton – to exhort GKN and restore them to the right path.
          • 8.2.3.5.6. Church at Fergus – raise points with GKN.
          • 8.2.3.5.7. Church at Orangeville – address GKN on all points raised.
          • 8.2.3.5.8. Church at Lincoln see 8.2.3.3.1.
        • 8.2.3.6.    Presbyterian Church of Korea
          • 8.2.3.6.1. Church at Burlington–Ebenezer – mandate of the CRCA (Page 19,Art 120 V,a).
          • 8.2.3.6.2. Church at Willoughby Heights – that synod include contact with Korean Presbyterian Church in North America in the new mandate for the CCCA.
          • 8.2.3.6.3. Church at Willoughby Heights – lack of communication from PCK.
        • 8.2.3.7.    International Council of Reformed Churches
          • 8.2.3.7.1.    Church at Barrhead – Acts of Synod Fergus Article 52 – to mandate the CRCA to make and support membership recommendations at ICRC of those churches only with which we have official sister-church relations.
  • 8.3.    Book of Praise
    • 8.3.1.    General
      • 8.3.1.1.    Regional Synod East – Mandate for the Standing Committee on the Book of Praise – the task of evaluating hymns submitted by the churches for inclusion in the Book of Praise.
      • 8.3.1.2.    Church at Abbotsford – Book of Praise.
      • 8.3.1.3.    Br. D. Teitsma – to make available to the churches an English version of the Report on the Psalter by Deputies to Synod Homewood-Carman, 1958, entitled “Op weg naar een Engelse Reformatorishe Psalmbundel” 
      • 8.3.1.4.    Church at London – Not to accede to the request to broaden the mandate of the Standing Committee.
      • 8.3.1.5.    Br. D. Teitsma – In response to the overture of the Church at Abbotsford.
      • 8.3.1.6.    Br. D. Teitsma – see above.
      • 8.3.1.7.    Church at Langley – suggestions and concerns regarding the Book of Praise.
      • 8.3.1.8.    Church at London – agreement with the sister churches in Australia re: Deacons.
      • 8.3.1.9.    Regional Synod West  re: Form for Ordination (answer: I do).
    • 8.3.2.    Church Order
      • 8.3.2.1.    Regional Synod East – to change CO Article 4B2.
      • 8.3.2.2.    Church at Ottawa – ambiguity of the above – insert the word “carefully”.
      • 8.3.2.3.    Regional Synod West – each regional Synod shall delegate six ministers and six elders.
    • 8.3.3.    Heidelberg Catechism
      • 8.3.3.1.    Regional Synod West – to make changes to a number of questions to bring them in harmony with the original German and other translations used by Reformed Churches.
    • 8.3.4.    Appeals
      • 8.3.4.1.    Church at Owen Sound – appeal – Art. 140, Item IV, c, Synod Fergus 1998; not to implement the decision “to prepare the prose section of the Book of Praise with NIV Bible references.”
  • 8.4.    Subscription Form
    • 8.4.1.1.   Regional Synod East – To establish a committee to propose standardized subscription forms for the minor and major assemblies, as well as for the professors of theology.
    • 8.4.1.2.  Regional Synod West – to adopt a standardized subscription form.
  • 8.5.    Theological College
    • 8.5.1.    Reports
      • 8.5.1.1.    Regional Synod East – Nominations for Governors of the Theological College.
      • 8.5.1.2.    Regional Synod West – Nominations for Governors of the Theological College.
      • 8.5.1.3.    Report of Board of Governors.
      • 8.5.1.4.    Recommendation new professor.
    • 8.5.2.    Submissions from the Churches
      • 8.5.2.1.    Church at Burlington-Ebenezer – comments on the Report of the Board of Governors.
      • 8.5.2.2.    Church at Winnipeg-Grace – visits by professor.
      • 8.5.2.3.    Redeemer Church at Winnipeg – various points about work of Theological College.
  • 8.6.    Women’s Voting
    • 8.6.1.    Overtures
      • 8.6.1.1.    Regional Synod East – to appoint a committee regarding allowing all communicant members to vote.
      • 8.6.1.2.    Church at London – to deny the request of Regional Synod to appoint a committee to revisit the matter of women’s voting rights.
      • 8.6.1.3.    Church at Elora – that Synod Neerlandia declare the recommendation of Regional Synod East inadmissible based on Art.33 C.O.
      • 8.6.1.4.    Church at Langley – appoint a committee to study the matter.
      • 8.6.1.5.    Br. N. VanWeerden – concern for nature of discussion presented.
      • 8.6.1.6.    Church at Lincoln – Synod should not accede to request to appoint a new committee.
      • 8.6.1.7.    Church at Orangeville – matters should not be proposed again unless new grounds substantiate them.
  • 8.7.    Bible Translations
    • 8.7.1.    Report of Committee on Bible Translation.
    • 8.7.2.    Church at Owen Sound – decided to use the New King James Version.
    • 8.7.3.    Church at Burlington-Ebenezer – not to dissolve this committee.
  • 8.8.    Website
    • 8.8.1.    Report
    • 8.8.2.    Appendix: Suggested names
  • 8.9.    Other Appeals
    • 8.9.1.    Br. S. and sr. C. Hofford et al– appealing decision of Regional Synod East of November 10-12,1999 – Article 25.
    • 8.9.2.    Br. and sr. B. Van de Burgt – appealing Regional Synod West decision regarding appeal on the wine element of Lord’s supper.
  • 8.10.    Miscellaneous
    • 8.10.1.    Letters received by the Church at Burlington–Ebenezer (Contact church for the Canadian Reformed Churches).
    • 8.10.2.    M. Noort of Berkel en Rodenrijs, expressing concern on decisions made by the Generale Synode van de Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland – Leusden 1999.
    • 8.10.3.    Request by Hekman Library/Calvin College, Grand Rapids, re: purchase of Synodical Reports from the Canadian/American Reformed Churches dating back to 1950.
    • 8.10.4.    Request by the Christian Info Society for information on our federation of churches, ministries and organizations across Canada to be placed on a web site.
    • 8.10.5.    Church at Burlington Waterdown re: Archives.
  • 9.     Appointments
  • 10.   Censure ad Art.44 C.O.
  • 11.   Publication of the Acts
  • 12.   Financial Matters
  • 13.   Preparation next General Synod
  • 14.   Adoption of the Acts
  • 15.   Approval of Press Release
  • 16.   Closing