24 Jul GS 2013 art 162

Posted at 17:35h in CanRC, GS 2013 by

GS 2013 Article 162 – Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC)

Committee 3 presented its third draft. With a minor change, this was the result:

1.         Material:

Report of the CRCA (8.2.1), letter from the church at Abbotsford (8.3.1.4)

2.         Observations:

  • 2.1.      Synod Burlington 2010 decided (Acts, Article 81, Recommendation 4.2 and 3):
    • [4.2.]    To rescind the decision of Synod Smithers 2007 with respect to the (FCC) and to reinstate the relationship of EF with the FCC.;
    • [4.3.]    To provide the CRCA with the following mandate :
      • [4.3.2.]             To encourage the Free Church of Scotland (FCS) and the FCC to work earnestly at reconciliation and reunion.
      • [4.3.2. [sic]]     To send two committee members to the FCS and FCC with a view to encouraging them, also when it comes to the topic of the unity of the church.
  • 2.2       The CRCA reports the following:
    • 2.2.1.   The brothers Jake Van Laar and John Vanderstoep attended the 2012 General Assembly of the FCC in Edinburgh and addressed the assembly.
    • 2.2.2.   The schism between the FCS and the FCC continues to be a sore point. There is ongoing conflict between the two federations. The offer of the CRCA to assist was gratefully noted, but not made use of. The fact that in 2010 the FCS adopted the possibility of singing hymns and using musical accompaniment in worship services has become a further block to the FCC for reunification. The CRCA does not know how it can assist.
    • 2.2.3.   The FCC seeks to be a faithful church of the Lord Jesus Christ, abiding by the Scriptures and the adopted confessions.
  • 2.3.      The CRCA proposes the following new mandate:
    • [1.]       To continue the relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the FCC under the adopted rules;
    • [2.]       To be available to assist the FCS and FCC in any efforts at reconciliation and reunion, should that be requested;
    • [3.]       To continue personal contact with the FCC whenever that is possible or feasible (e.g. at meetings of the ICRC, mutual presence at assemblies of sister churches).
  • 2.4.      Abbotsford “finds it odd” that the CRCA report makes no mention of the FCC and the FCS congregations on the North American continent.

3.         Considerations:

  • 3.1.      The CRCA has been diligent in carrying out its mandate.
  • 3.2.      The CRCA’s proposal that its mandate be changed from encouraging the FCS and the FCC to work at reconciliation and reunion to being available to assist signals that the CRCA would rather be reactive than pro-active in this respect. This makes it less urgent to visit the FCC.
  • 3.3.      The presence of both the FCC and the FCS in North America is due to the fact that the split between the FCC and the FCS also impacts the North American scene.

4.         Recommendations:

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1.      To continue the Relationship of EF with the FCC under the adopted rules;
  • 4.2.      To mandate the CRCA:
    • 4.2.1.   To be available to assist the FCC and FCS in any efforts at reconciliation and reunion, should that be requested;
    • 4.2.2.   To continue personal contact with the FCC whenever that is feasible (e.g. at meetings of the ICRC, mutual presence at assemblies of sister churches) and to leave it in the freedom of the CRCA to send delegates to their assemblies;
    • 4.2.3.   To encourage the congregations to seek out and strengthen ties with local FCC congregations in North America.

ADOPTED

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