16 Jul GS 2016 art 115

Posted at 17:51h in CanRC, GS 2016 by

GS 2016 Article 115 – GGRI-NTT (Reformed Churches in Indonesia – Nusa Tengarra Timor)

1. Material

  • 1.1    Report of Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section Reformed Churches in Indonesia – Nusa Tengarra Timor (GGRI-NTT) (8.2.1)
  • 1.2    Letters from the following CanRC: Glanbrook-Trinity (8.3.1.4), Flamborough (8.3.1.6), and Toronto-Bethel (8.3.1.8)

2. Observations

  • 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 126) decided:
    • [4.1]      To accept the apologies of the GGRI for not having invited us to their first National Synod;
    • [4.2]      To continue the relationship of EF with the GGRI-NTT under the adopted rules;
    • [4.3]      To mandate the CRCA:
      • [4.3.1]     To discuss our rules for EF with the Committee on Relations of the GGRI and to gather as much information as is needed to come to a good recommendation to General Synod 2016 regarding a relationship of EF with the GGRI;
      • [4.3.2]     To gather and evaluate information regarding the GGRI-KalBar and the GGRI-Papua in order to prepare a proposal as to how to deal with the GGRI as a national federation instead of dealing exclusively with the GGRI-NTT, which has become part of this larger federation of churches;
      • [4.3.3]     To request input from the FRCA and the RCN;
      • [4.3.4]     To try to ensure that a delegation of two brothers is sent to Indonesia to represent the CanRC at a synod of the GGRI-NTT;
      • [4.3.5]     To work in consultation and cooperation with the deputies of the FRCA, with Smithville and Edmonton-Immanuel and as much as possible and desirable with other organizations involved in the work among the GGRI, to encourage and support these churches in their efforts to grow in the Reformed doctrine and church polity;
      • [4.3.6]     To encourage the GGRI-NTT to seek cooperation with the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by Smithville);
      • [4.3.7]     To encourage the GGRI-NTT to seek close contact and cooperation with the GGRC and to monitor the progress of the dialogue between the GGRI-NTT and the GGRC.
  • 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
    • 2.2.1     The decisions of GS 2013, including the rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF), were passed on to the deputies of the GGRI-NTT.
    • 2.2.2     In July 2013, the Revs. A.J. Pol and E. Dethan attended the synod of the GGRI-NTT on behalf of the CanRC.
    • 2.2.3     In July 2015, the Revs. A. Souman and E. Dethan met with the deputies of the GGRI-NTT. Several significant items were noted from this visit:
      • 2.2.3.1    The GGRI-NTT has a seminary at Sumba. The CRCA has encouraged this non-accredited seminary to continue to pursue cooperation with the accredited STAKRI (Theological School in Kupang) which is supported by the church at Smithville.
      • 2.2.3.2    The Reformed churches in The Netherlands (GKv) are reducing their financial support to the GGRI-NTT significantly and are planning to phase out all financial support by 2020. The Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) are increasing financial support in response and the GGRI-NTT is also requesting support from the CanRC.         
      • 2.2.3.3    There is some contact between the churches in the three geographical areas, Nusa Tengarra Timor (NTT), Kalimantan-Barat (KalBar), and Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya). It is estimated that the GGRI-Papua consist of 50 churches, 40 mission posts, 16,412 members, 15 active ministers, and 65 evangelists. The GGRI-KalBar have 35 churches, 5878 members and a total of 35 active ministers and evangelists. The GGRI-NTT have a total of 75 churches and mission posts (of which 20 are instituted churches), and around 7,000 members. The GGRI-NTT shared with the CRCA some concerns that they have about the GGRI-Papua and GGRI-KalBar. These concerns will be discussed at the upcoming National Synod 2016.
      • 2.2.3.4    There is no progress in the process of closer unity with the GGRC. Both the CRCA and the corresponding deputies of the FRCA have continued to encourage the GGRI-NTT and the GGRC to work together and seek ecclesiastical unity.
  • 2.3    Glanbrook-Trinity notes that we have historical missionary ties with the KalBar and Papua parts of the GGRI, which have now federated with GGRI-NTT. They also note that the GGRI-NTT exists in a confusing ecclesiastical context, especially when considering its faltering relationship with the GGRC and the yet non-affiliated Smithville mission churches in Timor. Glanbrook-Trinity makes some suggestions for how to improve the familiarity with our sister-churches.
  • 2.4    Flamborough supports the recommendations made by the committee.
  • 2.5    Toronto-Bethel notes that the incomplete information and lack of familiarity with the complex inter-church relationships in Indonesia are hampering the development of our relationship with the GGRI. Toronto-Bethel pleads for the seminary in Sumba to remain as a viable option for the training for the ministry. Toronto-Bethel recommends that the committee engage and make use of the experience and relationships which the Rev. Versteeg has with the Indonesian churches.
  • 2.6    The committee recommends:
    • 2.6.1     To continue the relationship of EF with the GGRI-NTT under the adopted rules;
    • 2.6.2     To mandate the CRCA:
      • 2.6.2.1    To discuss our rules for EF with the Committee on Relations of the GGRI and to gather as much information as is needed to come to a good recommendation to General Synod 2019 regarding a relationship of EF with the GGRI;
      • 2.6.2.2    To gather and evaluate information regarding the GGRI-KalBar and the GGRI-Papua in order to prepare a proposal as to how to deal with the GGRI as a national federation instead of dealing exclusively with the GGRI-NTT, which has become part of this larger federation of churches;
      • 2.6.2.3    To try to ensure that a delegation of two brothers is sent to Indonesia to represent the CanRC at a synod of the GGRI;
      • 2.6.2.4    To work in consultation and cooperation with the deputies of the FRCA to encourage and support the churches of the GGRI in their efforts to grow in the Reformed doctrine and church polity;
      • 2.6.2.5    To encourage the GGRI to seek cooperation with the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by the Smithville CanRC);
      • 2.3.2.6    To encourage the GGRI to seek closer contact and cooperation with the Reformed Calvinist Churches in Indonesia (GGRC) and to monitor the progress of the dialogue between the GGRI and the GGRC.

3. Considerations

  • 3.1    The CRCA has attempted to fulfill its mandate with regard to the GGRI-NTT.
  • 3.2    Even though the GGRI-NTT has federated with the GGRI-Papua and GGRI-KalBar, it must be noted that we have incomplete information about the workings of the federation and the Reformed character of GGRI-Papua and GGRI-KalBar. We currently have EF only with the GGRI-NTT.
  • 3.3    The recommendations from Toronto-Bethel have merit.
  • 3.4    The suggestions of Glanbrook-Trinity to improve familiarity with our sister-churches could be beneficial to our CRCA.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1    To continue the relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Reformed Churches in Indonesia – Nusa Tengarra Timor (GGRI-NTT) under the adopted rules;
  • 4.2    To mandate the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA):
    • 4.2.1     To discuss our rules for EF with the Committee on Relations of the GGRI and to gather as much information as is needed to come to a good recommendation to General Synod 2019 regarding a relationship of EF with the GGRI;
    • 4.2.2     To gather and evaluate information regarding the GGRI-KalBar and the GGRI-Papua in order to prepare a proposal as to how to deal with the GGRI as a national federation instead of dealing exclusively with the GGRI-NTT, which has become part of this larger federation of churches;
    • 4.2.3     To try to ensure that a delegation of two brothers is sent to Indonesia to represent the CanRC at a synod of the GGRI;
    • 4.2.4     To work in consultation and cooperation with the deputies of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) to encourage and support the churches of the GGRI in their efforts to grow in the Reformed doctrine and church polity;
    • 4.2.5     To encourage the GGRI to seek cooperation with the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by Smithville);
    • 4.2.6     To encourage the GGRI to seek closer contact and cooperation with the Calvinist Reformed Churches (GGRC) and to monitor the progress of the dialogue between the GGRI and the GGRC.
  • 4.3    To pass on the letter of the Toronto-Bethel CanRC to the CRCA for consideration.

ADOPTED

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