15 Jul GS 2016 art 81

GS 2016 Article 81 – KPCK (Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea)

1. Material

• 1.1    Report from the Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (CRCA) – section on the Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea (KPCK) (8.2.1)
• 1.2    Letter from the following CanRC: Flamborough (8.3.1.6)

2. Observations

• 2.1    GS 2013 (Art. 155) decided:
  • [4.1]      To continue the relationship of EF with the KPCK under the adopted rules;
  • [4.2]      To mandate the CRCA:
    • [4.2.1]     To continue to discuss with the KPCK its relationship with the IRCK and the RCK, with the goal of seeking further insight into these two federations;
    • [4.2.2]     To continue to work cooperatively with the GKv and the FRCA in exercising our relationship with the KPCK in meaningful ways, such as by regular communication, by visiting the General Assembly of the KPCK, and by meeting and interacting with their delegates at the 2013 ICRC.
• 2.2    From the CRCA report, the following:
  • 2.2.1     The Rev. A. Souman and br. J. Vanderstoep attended the 2014 General Assembly.
  • 2.2.2     There were multiple contacts with the Fraternal Relations Committee.
  • 2.2.3     The CRCA received reports by the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (GKv) deputies of their visit in 2012 and the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) of their visit in 2013. These reports are consistent with the observations of the CRCA delegate visits.
  • 2.2.4     There has been limited contact between the Independent Reformed Church in Korea (IRCK) and the KPCK, and no contact between the KPCK and the Reformed Churches of Korea (RCK).
  • 2.2.5     The 2014 General Assembly decided to not participate in the Faith and Order Conference for Unity in which the Roman Catholic Church and the Korean National Council of Churches were to participate.
• 2.3    The committee recommends:
  • 2.3.1     To continue the relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the KPCK under the adopted rules;
  • 2.3.2     To continue to encourage the KPCK to further their relationship with the RCK and support us with information and understanding;
  • 2.3.3     To continue to work cooperatively with the GKv and the FRCA in exercising our relationship with the KPCK in meaningful ways and continue to visit the annual general assembly in turn; to also maintain regular communication with the KPCK as well as meet with their delegates at the 2017 International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC).
• 2.4    Flamborough suggests for the CRCA to cooperate with the FRCA and to limit the delegation to one person.

3. Considerations

• 3.1    The CRCA continues to have good contact with the KPCK by various means.
• 3.2    The visit to Korea by the Rev. A. Souman and br. J. Vanderstoep appears to have been fruitful in terms of maintaining EF.
• 3.3    We are thankful that there is consistency between the positive reports of the FRCA, the GKv, and the CRCA.
• 3.4    There is no meaningful contact between KPCK and RCK, and resolution seems unlikely.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

• 4.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea (KPCK) under the adopted rules;
• 4.2    To continue to work cooperatively with the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (GKv) and the Free Reformed Churches of Australia (FRCA) in exercising our relationship with the KPCK in meaningful ways and continue to visit the annual General Assembly in turn;
• 4.3    To maintain regular communication with the KPCK as well as meet with their delegates at the 2017 International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC).

ADOPTED