19 Sep GS 2007 art 132

Posted at 14:42h in CanRC, GS 2007 by

GS 2007 Article 132 – The International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC)

The advisory committee presented its proposal:

1.      Material

  • 1.1     CRCA Report 6
  • 1.2-3 Letters from Smithers and Yarrow

2.      Observations

  • 2.1     Section 6 of the report of the CRCA, which is included in the Appendices of the Acts, serves as Observations.
  • 2.2     The CRCA recommends in 6.5 that:
    • 2.2.1    [6.5.1] Synod reiterate the decision on the proposed change to Art. IV.1.a of the Constitution of the ICRC (Acts Chatham 2004, Art. 52, Recommendation 5.3.2, p. 48). 2.2.2 [6.5.2]  Synod decide to mandate the CRCA:
      • 2.2.2.1  [6.5.2.1] To continue the participation of the Canadian Reformed Churches in the ICRC and send a two-man delegation to New Zealand in 2009.
      • 2.2.2.2  [6.5.2.2] To convey Synod’s decision on Art. IV.1.a. of the Constitution to the corresponding secretary of the ICRC.
      • 2.2.2.3  [6.5.2.3] To use the opportunities presented at the conference to interact with and gather information from delegates of other denominations and federations.
      • 2.2.2.4  [6.5.2.4] To submit a report of the 2009 ICRC to the next Synod with an evaluation and recommendations.
  • 2.3     With respect to the size of the delegation to meetings of the ICRC, Smithers recommends “that the Canadian Reformed Churches send a proper amount of representatives to future meetings and that the costs associated with this be accepted.”
  • 2.4     Yarrow disagrees with the CRCA’s comment that “the need to discuss these (divergent approach to certain matters) has become a moot point.” Yarrow trusts “that Synod Smithers will decide otherwise.”

3.      Considerations

  • 3.1     Smithers supports a suggestion by the committee to send a delegation of adequate representation. As members of the ICRC we have the obligation to send a proper delegation. The CRCA should delegate representatives of the committee and not ask officers of the ICRC to do double duty.
  • 3.2     The ICRC is a forum for mutual encouragement and may well provide opportunities to discuss divergent approaches to certain matters..

4.      Recommendation

Synod decide:

  • 4.1     To thank the committee for the work done.
  • 4.2     To reiterate the decision on the proposed change to Art. IV.1.a of the Constitution of the ICRC (Acts Chatham 2004, Art. 52, Rec. 5.3.2, p. 48).
  • 4.3     To mandate the CRCA:
    • 4.3.1    To continue the participation of the Canadian Reformed Churches in the ICRC and send two voting members and two advisory members to New Zealand in 2009..
    • 4.3.2    To convey synod’s decision on Art. IV.1.a. of the Constitution to the corresponding secretary of the ICRC.
    • 4.3.3    To use the opportunities presented at the conference to interact with and gather information from delegates of other churches.
    • 4.3.4    To submit a report of the 2009 ICRC to the next synod with an evaluation and recommendations.

ADOPTED

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