16 Jul GS 2016 art 116

Posted at 17:53h in CanRC, GS 2016 by

GS 2016 Article 116 – GGRC (Calvinist Reformed Churches in Indonesia)

1. Material

  • 1.1    Report of Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section Calvinist Reformed Churches in Indonesia (GGRC) (8.2.1)
  • 1.2    Letters from the following CanRC: Glanbrook-Trinity (8.3.1.4), Flamborough (8.3.1.6)

2. Observations

  • 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 127) decided:
    • [4.1]      At this time not to offer a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship to the GGRC, but to work toward that goal;
    • [4.2]      To note with gratitude to the Lord that the work of the Canadian Reformed Churches has borne fruit, also in the reconciliation that could take place between the GGRC and the GGRM;
    • [4.3]      To mandate the CRCA:
      • [4.3.1]     To continue contact with the GGRC to encourage these churches to be faithful to the Reformed doctrine and church order;
      • [4.3.2]     When possible to send someone from or delegated by the CRCA to help and encourage these churches to grow in Reformed character, giving priority to finding out what obstacles the GGRC are experiencing in understanding and implementing the articles of the Reformed Church Order and how to help the GGRC to remedy the situation;
      • [4.3.3]     To work in consultation and cooperation with the deputies of the FRCA, with the church of Smithville and the church of Edmonton-Immanuel, and, as much as possible and desirable, with other organizations involved in the work among the Reformed churches in the province of NTT;
      • [4.3.4]     To encourage the GGRC to make use of the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by the church in Smithville) for the training for the ministry in their churches.
  • 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
    • 2.2.1     The Rev. A. Souman visited the GGRC churches in July 2015. He visited with the deputies of the GGRC and received from them the Acts of their synods.
    • 2.2.2     Contact has been maintained with Smithville regarding the development of the missions in Indonesia. Smithville has contact with the GGRC but not with the Reformed Churches in Indonesia – Nusa Tengarra Timor (GGRI-NTT). This contact is relevant for the mission churches with regard to STAKRI (Reformed Theological School in Kupang). Neither GGRI-NTT nor the GGRC have shown much interest in cooperating with STAKRI which is supported by the Smithville CanRC.
    • 2.2.3     “The present state of the GGRC leads the CRCA to the question how long we should continue pursuing a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship with the GGRC. The GGRC came with this request to the Canadian Reformed Churches in 2001. Initially the Canadian Reformed Churches didn’t know the GGRC well enough and were not ready to accept this offer. Over time, however, the Canadian Reformed Churches got to know the GGRC quite well, but in the meantime several difficulties and divisions within the GGRC made the Canadian Reformed Churches reluctant to enter into such a relationship. This situation continues and over the past three years the CRCA has not seen much positive change in this situation”.
    • 2.2.4.    “Ministers are being ordained within the GGRC who did not come from STAKRI but from other seminaries in Indonesia. The way in which they were called and ordained is not in agreement with the intention of the Church Order. The GGRC do not send their students for the ministry to STAKRI, as they had committed to during their synod in 2011 and 2012. Also the unity with the GGRI-NTT is something that seems to disappear into the background more and more.”
  • 2.3    Glanbrook-Trinity notes that the relationship that the GGRC has with the GGRI-NTT is faltering.
  • 2.4    Flamborough supports the recommendations made by the committee.
  • 2.5    The committee recommends:
    • 2.5.1     At this time not to accept the offer of the GGRC to enter into a relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship, but to work towards that goal;
    • 2.5.2     To mandate the CRCA:
      • 2.5.2.1    To continue contact with the GGRC to encourage these churches to be faithful to the Reformed doctrine and church order;
      • 2.5.2.2    To work in consultation and cooperation with the Smithville CanRC and the deputies of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA);
      • 2.5.2.3    To encourage the GGRC to make use of the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by the Smithville CanRC) for the training for the ministry in their churches.

3. Considerations

  • 3.1    The committee is thanked for doing their work diligently.
  • 3.2    From the report, it is clear that there are still too many unknowns. It would be premature to enter into Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the GGRC at this time.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1    At this time not to accept the offer of the Reformed Calvinist Churches in Indonesia (GGRC) to enter into a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF);
  • 4.2    To mandate the CRCA:
    • 4.2.1     To continue contact with the GGRC to encourage these churches to be faithful to the Reformed doctrine and church order;
    • 4.2.2     To work in consultation and cooperation with the Smithville CanRC and the deputies of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA);
    • 4.2.3     To encourage the GGRC to make use of the Reformed Theological School in Kupang (established by the Smithville CanRC) for the training for the ministry in their churches.

ADOPTED

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