10 Jul GS 2016 art 47

GS 2016 Article 47 – FRCSA (Free Reformed Churches of South Africa)

1. Material

• 1.1    Report of Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) (8.2.1)
• 1.2    Letter from the Flamborough CanRC (8.3.1.6)

2. Observations

• 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 132) decided:
  • [4.1]      To continue the relationship of EF with the FRCSA under the adopted rules;
  • [4.2]      To recommend the FRCSA to the churches as worthy of continued financial assistance, to help them support the needy churches in the federation and to assist them with their extensive mission work and relief efforts among the disadvantaged and sick in South Africa;
  • [4.3]      To mandate the Board of Governors of our Theological College to investigate together with the FRCSA if there are possibilities to set up a form of long distance learning for the first year of theological training, with the use of facilitators in South Africa;
  • [4.4]      To send a delegation to the next synod of the FRCSA if possible.
• 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
  • 2.2.1     Synod-FRCSA 2014 decided to send a letter to the Synod of the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (GKv) to encourage them to remain faithful to the reformed teaching;
  • 2.2.2     The same synod decided not to establish sister church relationship with the DGK (The Reformed Churches [in The Netherlands]);
  • 2.2.3     The synod also decided to establish clear admission guidelines for new theological students;
  • 2.2.4     Even though the FRCSA mission church plants require significant support, the FRCSA has asked the CanRC to scale back the contributions in an effort to become more independently sustainable;
  • 2.2.5     The FRCSA propose that the debate on reformed hermeneutics be continued between themselves and the CanRC with a view to coming to a clear mutual statement.
• 2.3    The committee recommends:
  • 2.3.1     To continue the relationship of EF with the FRCSA;
  • 2.3.2     To mandate the CRCA to send a delegation to the next synod of the FRCSA if possible.
• 2.4    Flamborough suggests to specify that the delegation be one person only.

3. Considerations

• 3.1    It is evident that the FRCSA continue to be a faithful church of our Lord Jesus Christ in accordance with the rules for EF.
• 3.2    The establishing of guidelines for admission of new theological students is evidence of the FRCSA’s attention to the training for the ministry.
• 3.3    We are thankful that under the new admission requirements FRCSA students will be expected to attend the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary (CRTS).
• 3.4    With thankfulness it is noted that the FRCSA mission church plants are trying to become more independently sustainable, and therefore the CanRC contribution can be scaled back.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

• 4.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Free Reformed Churches of South Africa (FRCSA);
• 4.2    To mandate the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) to send a delegation to the next synod of the FRCSA;
• 4.3    To encourage the CRTS to support the FRCSA in the training of their theological students, because of the unique circumstances of the FRCSA theological training program.

ADOPTED