10 Jul GS 2016 art 21

Posted at 14:31h in CanRC, GS 2016 by

GS 2016 Article 21 – FRCA (Free Reformed Churches of Australia)

1. Material

  • 1.1    Report of Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section on the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) (8.2.1)
  • 1.2    CRCA addition to report 2016 re: FRCA recommendation 3c (8.2.2)
  • 1.3    Letter from the Flamborough CanRC (8.3.1.6)

2. Observations

  • 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 123) decided:
    • [4.1]      To continue the relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship with the FRCA under the adopted rules;
    • [4.2]      To express thankfulness and appreciation for the FRCA’s ongoing support for and interest in the Theological Seminary, including their generous financial support;
    • [4.3]      To assure the FRCA of our continued attention to the nature and direction of the relationship of the RCNZ with the CRCAus;
    • [4.4]      To maintain close contact with the various deputyships of the FRCA in matters of relations with sister-churches abroad and informing the FRCA of changes or developments in third party relationships;
    • [4.5]      To invite the various deputyships of the FRCA to seek direct contact with the corresponding CanRC committees (e.g., our SCBP, sub-committee GKv, our committee in charge of reviewing the liturgical forms, Committee on Bible Translations, and perhaps others) in areas of mutual interest where the CRCA’s mandate does not apply;
    • [4.6]      To send a delegation to the next synod of the FRCA in 2015.
  • 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
    • 2.2.1     Br. O. Bouwman and br. J. Van Laar attended Synod Baldivis 2015.
    • 2.2.2     Synod Baldivis decided to accept the request of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand to be sister-churches.
    • 2.2.3     Synod Baldivis decided to suspend the relationship with the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (GKv), while still maintaining contact.
    • 2.2.4     Synod Baldivis offered a sister-church relationship to the First Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore (FERC), which has been accepted.
    • 2.2.5     The FRCA mandated their deputies to develop an Australian version of the Canadian Book of Praise and present it to their next synod.
    • 2.2.6     The FRCA continue to support the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary (CRTS). Deputies have been tasked with investigating the feasibility of establishing a FRCA theological seminary at some point in the future.
  • 2.3    The CRCA recommends that Synod decide:
    • 2.3.1     To continue the relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the FRCA under the adopted rules;
    • 2.3.2     To express thankfulness and appreciation for the FRCA’s ongoing support for and interest in the CRTS, including their financial support.
    • 2.3.3     To mandate the CRCA
      • 2.3.3.1    To maintain close contact with the various deputyships of the FRCA in matters of relations with sister-churches abroad and informing the FRCA of changes or developments in third party relationships;
      • 2.3.3.2    To invite the various deputyships of the FRCA to seek direct contact with the corresponding CanRC committees (e.g., our SCBP, subcommittee GKv, our committee in charge of reviewing the liturgical forms, Committee on Bible Translations, and perhaps others) in areas of mutual interest where the CRCA’s mandate does not reach;
      • 2.3.3.3    To send a delegation to the next FRCA Synod in 2018.
  • 2.4    Flamborough suggests to inquire of the FRCA about further contact with the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Australia (PRCA).

3. Considerations

  • 3.1.   From the CRCA report it is evident that the FRCA remain true and faithful churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 3.2.   The CanRC also value the bond with the FRCA.
  • 3.3.   Synod should indeed express thankfulness for the continued support of the CRTS.
  • 3.4    Synod notes the suggestion of Flamborough and passes it on to the CRCA for their consideration.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1    To continue the relationship of ecclesiastical fellowship with the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) under the adopted rules;
  • 4.2    To express thankfulness and appreciation for the FRCA’s ongoing support for and interest in the Theological Seminary, including their financial support;
  • 4.3.   To mandate the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA)
    • 4.3.1     To maintain close contact with the various deputyships of the FRCA in matters of relations with sister-churches abroad and informing the FRCA of changes or developments in third party relationships;
    • 4.3.2     To invite the various deputyships of the FRCA to seek direct contact with the corresponding CanRC committees (e.g., our Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise (SCBP), the Subcommittee for Reformed churches in The Netherlands of the CRCA (CRCA-SRN), our committee in charge of reviewing the liturgical forms, Committee on Bible Translations, and perhaps others) in areas of mutual interest where the CRCA’s mandate does not reach;
    • 4.3.3     To send a delegation to the next FRCA synod in 2018.

ADOPTED

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