17 May GS 2001 art 85

Posted at 15:51h in CanRC, GS 2001 by

GS 2001 Article 85 – Church at Willoughby Heights: Creation issue in ecclesiastical contacts

Committee 1 presented its proposal on the request from the Church at Willoughby Heights to include the matter of the doctrine of creation in the various contacts we have with other church federations. Synod adopted the following:

1. Material 

Willoughby Heights Church: Overture Regarding the Days of Creation.

2. Admissibility

The overture is declared admissible.

3. Observations

  • 3.1. The Church at Willoughby Heights has learned from the ecclesiastical press that some of the churches with which we have contact do not show unanimity on the doctrine of creation. They are concerned that any movement away from the teaching that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them in six days of morning and evening will undermine the teachings of creation, redemption and consummation, and will take away from the greatness and majesty of God and his Word.
  • 3.2. The Church at Willoughby Heights requests Synod to mandate the committees responsible for establishing contacts with other churches to pay attention to the way the doctrine of creation is understood, so that we may be assured that eventual contact or unity will be based on a true unity of faith in the doctrines from creation through redemption to consummation.

4. Considerations

  • 4.1. Willoughby Heights’s consideration that any undermining of the doctrine of creation will also undermine the doctrines of redemption and consummation, and will detract from the greatness and majesty of God, is correct. The teaching of Scripture forms a unity.
  • 4.2. In our contacts with other churches, we need to ensure that they are faithful to their confessions with respect to every doctrine, including the doctrine of creation.
  • 4.3. Synod has confidence that our various committees ascertain whether or not the churches with which we have contact are and remain faithful to their confessional positions.

5. Recommendation

Synod decide to send considerations 4.1,2,3 to the Church at Willoughby Heights as a response to its letter.

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