17 May GS 2001 art 95

Posted at 16:16h in CanRC, GS 2001 by

GS 2001 Article 95 – Committee for Promotion of Ecclesiastical Unity: Mandate

Committee 4 presented its proposal regarding the mandate of the CPEU. The following was adopted:

1. Recommendations

Synod decide:

  • 1.1. To thank the committee for all the work it has done.
  • 1.2. To reappoint the Committee for Promotion with Ecclesiastical Unity with the following mandate:
  • Re: URCNA
    • 1.2.1. To pursue continued fraternal dialogue with the URCNA with a view towards entering the final phase of federative unity;
    • 1.2.2. To work closely with the Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity of the URCNA;
    • 1.2.3. To work closely with the ad-hoc committees re church order and theological education, as well as the Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise, consulting with them concerning the progress made;
    • 1.2.4. To maintain the rules of Phase Two, as much as it concerns the churches in common (see Art.73,Consideration 4.6);
    • 1.2.5. To make themselves available upon request of Canadian Reformed Churches for advice on local developments with the URNCA;
    • 1.2.6. To provide information to the churches at regular intervals;
    • 1.2.7. To serve Synod 2004 with a single, comprehensive report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod. This report should be prepared jointly with the Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Unity of the URCNA. This report must also readdress the matter of the definite time frame for federative unity with 2007 as a possible target date;
  • Re: FRCNA and OCRC
    • 1.2.8. To continue dialogue with the FRCNA with a view to promoting federative unity, discussing whatever obstacles there may be with the FRCNA on this path;
    • 1.2.9. To represent the Canadian Reformed Churches (when invited) at meetings of the OCRC, with a view to promoting greater understanding and exploring the possibilities of federative unity;
    • 1.2.10. To develop a more concrete proposal toward establishing talks with the OCRC;
    • 1.2.11. To write a formal letter to the OCRC with a view to pursuing more official talks on the federative level;
    • 1.2.12. To make themselves available upon request of Canadian Reformed Churches for advice on local developments with the FRCNA and OCRC;
    • 1.2.13. To serve Synod 2004 with a report to be sent to the churches at least six months prior to the beginning of Synod.
  • 1.3. To give the Committee re: Church Order the following mandate:
    • 1.3.1. To work closely with the committee re: church order appointed by the URCNA synod;
    • 1.3.2. To evaluate the differences between the current church orders of the federations in the light of the Scriptural and Confessional principles and patterns of church government of the Church Order of Dort;
    • 1.3.3. To propose a common church order in the line of the Church Order of Dort.
    • 1.3.4. To keep the CPEU updated on the progress;
    • 1.3.5. To provide the CPEU with a report in sufficient time for them to produce the comprehensive report for Synod in a timely fashion.
  • 1.4. To give the Committee re: Theological Education the following mandate:
    • 1.4.1. To work closely with the committee re: theological education appointed by the URCNA synod;
    • 1.4.2. To evaluate the current situation as to theological education within the CanRC and URCNA;
    • 1.4.3. To develop a proposal concerning theological education within the new federation keeping in mind that:
      • 1.4.3.1. The new federation should retain at least one federational theological school at which the board of governors, the professors and teaching staff are appointed by synod;
      • 1.4.3.2. Attention should be given as to what to do in the case of an aspiring candidate to the ministry who does not have adequate instruction in significant courses in Reformed Doctrine, in Reformed Church Polity, or in Reformed Church History.
    • 1.4.4. To keep the CPEU updated on the progress;
    • 1.4.5. To provide the CPEU with a report in sufficient time for them to produce the comprehensive report for Synod in a timely fashion.
  • 1.5. To give the Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise the following mandate:
    • 1.5.1. To work closely with the committee re: songbook appointed by the URCNA Synod;
    • 1.5.2. To produce a songbook that contains the complete Anglo-Genevan Psalter and other suitable metrical versions, while including hymns that also meet the standard of faithfulness to the Scriptures and the Reformed Confessions;
    • 1.5.3. To keep the CPEU updated on the progress;
    • 1.5.4. To provide the CPEU with a report in sufficient time for them to produce the comprehensive report for Synod in a timely fashion.

Important note: in accordance with Art. 73 Consideration 4.9, the mandates listed in 1.31.5 will only be activated if the URCNA decide at Synod Escondido 2001 to commit themselves to working towards federative unity with the CanRC.

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