10 Jul GS 2016 art 45

Posted at 16:30h in CanRC, GS 2016 by

GS 2016 Article 45 – FCC (Free Church of Scotland Continuing)

1. Material

  • 1.1    Report of Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section Free Church Continuing (FCC) (8.2.1)
  • 1.2    Letters from the following CanRC: Abbotsford (8.3.1.1.13), Flamborough (8.3.1.6), Smithville (8.3.1.3)

2. Observations

  • 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 162) decided:
    • [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.
  • 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
    • 2.2.1     Communication was maintained with the FCC via electronic mail;
    • 2.2.2     There are a number of congregations in the USA and the church at Ottawa has contact with a very small FCC church in Smith Falls, ON;
    • 2.2.3     The CRCA reports that as far as it can judge, the FCC is a church federation which is faithful to the Word of God.
  • 2.3    The committee recommends:
    • 2.3.1     To continue the relationship of EF with the FCC under the adopted rules;
    • 2.3.2     To mandate the CRCA:
      • 2.5.2.1    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;
      • 2.5.2.2    To encourage the congregations to seek out and strengthen ties with local FCC congregations in North America.
  • 2.4    Reactions from the churches:
    • 2.4.1     Abbotsford wonders if the church relationship with the FCC and Free Church of Scotland (FCS) can be meaningful if you do not visit within a three-year period;
    • 2.4.2     Smithville requests to include a review of the annual reports of the Scottish Synods in the committee mandate.

3. Considerations

  • 3.1    From the CRCA report it is evident that as far as they can judge, the FCC are faithful churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 3.2    EF should include review of the proceedings of the FCC General Assemblies and, if possible, visits. It is regrettable that the report to this Synod does not give evidence that the proceedings were reviewed.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC) under the adopted rules;
  • 4.2    To mandate the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA):
    • 4.2.1    To continue personal contact with the FCC whenever that is feasible (e.g., at meetings of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC), mutual presence at assemblies of sister-churches) and to send a delegation to their assemblies at least once every three years;
    • 4.2.2    To encourage the congregations to seek out and strengthen ties with local FCC congregations in North America.

ADOPTED

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