23 Jul GS 2013 art 55

Posted at 14:26h in CanRC, GS 2013 by

GS 2013 Article 55 – Committee for Contact with Churches in North America (CCCNA) – General

Committee 4 presented its proposal. With some minor changes, this was the result:

1.         Material:

  • 1.1.      General Report from the CCCNA (8.2.3)
  • 1.2.      Letter from the church at Abbotsford (8.3.3.4)

2.         Observations:

  • 2.1.      Synod Burlington 2010 gave the CCCNA this general mandate (Acts, Article 61, Recommendation 4.1):
  • [4.1.1.] To continue contact with all those churches in the Americas [sic.; i.e. North America] with which we have EF according to the adopted rules and in accordance with the mandates described in decisions taken by synod with respect to the churches with which we have ongoing relationships.
  • [4.1.2.] To investigate diligently all the requests received for entering into EF in the Americas [sic; i.e. North America].
  • [4.1.3.] To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend assemblies, synods, or meetings of other churches in the Americas [sic.; i.e. North America].
  • [4.1.4.] To report on its findings with suitable recommendations to the next General Synod and to present to the churches a report of its work six months prior to the convening of the next General Synod.
  • 2.2.      The CCCNA reports that it continued to function as two geographically-based subcommittees. Subcommittee West was responsible for contacts with the RCUS, RPCNA and NAPARC and has provided reports and recommendations for the same. Subcommittee East was responsible for contacts with the ERQ and OPC and has provided reports and recommendations for the same.
  • 2.3.      Abbotsford notes that synodical committee reports that concern relations with other churches often assume a knowledge of such churches that many in the CanRC are not likely to have and encourages the committees (such as the CCCNA) to provide more background information.
  • 2.4.      The CCCNA asks that Dr. R. Faber and br. J. Kuik be discharged from the committee and thanked for their years of service to the churches as members of the CCCNA. The CCCNA will suggest to Synod Carman 2013 suitable replacements for these two brothers.
  • 2.5.      The CCCNA recommends that the mandate given by Synod 2010 be renewed in 2013, until 2016.

3.         Considerations:

  • 3.1.      It is clear that the CCCNA was diligent in carrying out its mandate.
  • 3.2.      It would be beneficial for the CCCNA to provide more background information on churches with which the CanRC may be unfamiliar.
  • 3.3.      The CCCNA recommends that the mandate, as stated by Synod 2010, be continued for CCCNA until 2016.

4.         Recommendations:

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1.      To mandate the CCCNA:
    • 4.1.1.   To continue contact with all those churches in North America with which we have EF (URCNA excepted since the CCU continues that contact) according to the adopted rules and in accordance with the mandates described in decisions taken by synod with respect to the churches with which we have ongoing relationships;
    • 4.1.2.   To investigate diligently all the requests received for entering into EF in North America;
    • 4.1.3.   To respond, if possible and feasible, to specific requests made to attend assemblies, synods, or meetings of other churches in North America;
    • 4.1.4.   To report on its findings with suitable recommendations to the next general synod and to present to the churches a report of its work six months prior to the convening of the next general synod;
  • 4.2.      To discharge Dr. R. Faber and br. J. Kuik from the CCCNA and to thank them for their years of service to the churches as members of this committee.

ADOPTED

Print page