27 Oct GS 2007 art 165

Posted at 15:50h in CanRC, GS 2007 by

GS 2007 Article 165 – SCBP – General Items

The advisory committee presented its proposal:

1.      Material

  • 1.1     SCBP Report 1-6
  • 1.2     Letter from Orangeville

2.      Observations

  • 2.1     The committee report (1.0 – 6.0) serves as observations.
  • 2.2     Synod Chatham mandated the committee:
    • 2.2.1    To authorize the committee to renew the contract for the printing of the Book of Praise in 2006.
    • 2.2.2    To authorize the committee to continue to foster an increased awareness of the existence of the Book of Praise and to promote its availability.
    • 2.2.3    To encourage the committee to welcome input from the Australian sister churches.
    • 2.2.4    To maintain the corporate status of the committee.
    • 2.2.5    To continue to have the committee as the address to which any correspondence regarding the Book of Praise can be directed.
  • 2.3     The committee met 22 times (not including meetings with the URCNA counterparts) since Synod Chatham.
  • 2.4     Printing and Distribution
    • 2.4.1    The committee operated under a contractual relationship with Premier Printing Ltd., Winnipeg, MB. In 2006 the contract was extended for five years to February 28, 2012.
    • 2.4.2    From May 16, 2003 – July 3, 2006, 7601 books were printed. After July 3, 2006, 4200 additional books were to be printed: this should be sufficient until 2008. With this latest printing run the retail price increased to $22.00.
    • 2.4.3    In the past 3 years 6751 copies were sold in Canada, 318 in the United States, 496 internationally.
  • 2.5     Fostering Awareness
    • 2.5.1    In the past three years the committee responded to various requests for information and approximately a dozen requests to copy the whole or parts of the Book of Praise. Considerable interest from at home and abroad in the Anglo Genevan Psalter remains. Of special note given the original Genevan Psalter was published in French, an ERQ brother made a request regarding copyright since there is interest in developing a French Book of Praise.
    • 2.5.2    The committee continued to protect the copyright of the Book of Praise. Those granted permission to copy material had to ensure that all copies clearly state that copyright rests with the Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise. No written documentation exists with respect to copyrights assigned to the committee by the authors. The process to obtain formal assignments was initiated.
    • 2.5.3    Some requests were received to make the Book of Praise material available electronically via links to websites. Where permission is granted the committee insists that a link to the churches’ official website at www.canrc.org be provided. One such effort seeks to publish all 150 Genevan Psalms of the Book of Praise in 4-part harmony on a website.
    • 2.5.4    A brother in Coaldale, AB published the music of all the psalms and hymns on a CD sixpack called “Daily Will I Praise You.”
  • 2.6     Input from the Australian Sister Churches
    • 2.6.1    Since granting the Free Reformed Churches of Australia permission to use Book of Praise material for eventual publishing of their own Book of Praise (with the proviso that a different name be chosen and the copyright to all parts of the Book of Praise be acknowledged and maintained), official communication has taken place. Advice regarding various subjects was sought and received from Rev. G. VanRongen and Dr. J. Smith.
  • 2.7     Corporate Status
    • 2.7.1    Corporate status has been properly maintained.
  • 2.8     Committee Address
    • 2.8.1    The mailing address is: Standing Committee for the Book of Praise (SCBP), c/o Theological College, 110 West 27th Street, Hamilton, ON, L9C 5A1.
    • 2.8.2    The email address is: [email protected]
  • 2.9     Archives
    • 2.9.1    An effort was made to collect as much historical information as possible about the work of the SCBP. Much was found and official archives were established at the Theological College. Rev. C. Bosch was appointed as the archivist.
  • 2.10   Orangeville notes that while the committee refers to an email address for the committee, it does not publish the actual address.

3.      Considerations

  • 3.1     Synod notes with thankfulness:
    • 3.1.1    all the work of the committee.
    • 3.1.2    the continued interest, at home and abroad, in the Book of Praise.
    • 3.1.3    the setting up of archives.
  • 3.2     Synod encourages input from the Free Reformed Churches of Australia since the Book of Praise is in common use in those churches.

4.      Recommendation

Synod decide:

  • 4.1     To express gratitude to the committee for all its work.
  • 4.2     To authorize the committee to continue to foster an increased awareness of the existence of the Book of Praise and to promote its availability.
  • 4.3     To encourage the committee to welcome input from the Free Reformed Churches of Australia.
  • 4.4     To maintain the corporate status of the committee.
  • 4.5     To continue to have the committee as the address to which any correspondence regarding the Book of Praise can be directed.

ADOPTED

Print page