GS 2019 art 86

GS 2019 Article 86 – OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church)

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Report of the Committee for Contact with Churches in North America (CCCNA) regarding the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) (8.2.3.1)
  • 1.2    Letter from the following church: Attercliffe (8.3.2.6)

2.   Observations

  • 2.1    GS 2016 (Art. 61) decided:
    • [4.1]    To thank the LORD for the way in which the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) actively provides a faithful Reformed witness to the gospel;
    • [4.2]    To mandate the Committee for Contact with Churches in North America (CCCNA) to continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the OPC under the adopted rules.
  • 2.2    In 2016 and 2018, committee members attended the General Assembly of the OPC (GA-OPC) and brought fraternal greetings. A fraternal greeting was sent by letter in 2017. A meeting with the CEIR was held in 2016.
  • 2.3    At the meeting with the CEIR at NAPARC 2016 the CanRC highlighted the decisions of the GS-CanRC 2016. A discussion took place on the Synod’s decision not to enter into EF with the RPCNA. The OPC brothers informed the CCCNA that they are eager to identify a missionary doctor who would be able to labour in Uganda. They also inquired as to what oversight in the mission work in Papua New Guinea looks like.
  • 2.4    At the meeting with the CEIR at NAPARC 2017 a substantive discussion took place on the following items:
    • 2.4.1    The CanRC mentioned that they have encouraged awareness of the Grand Forks OPC, ND that the Bismarck OPC, ND is overseeing.
    • 2.4.2    The dismissal of a member of the ICRC can only be initiated by a member church of ICRC based on a decision by their major assembly. The OPC brought this motion during the ICRC 2017. The CanRC expressed thanks for the work of the OPC at the ICRC, while the OPC expressed thanks for CanRC work on the matter and for supporting their motion at ICRC.
    • 2.4.3    The OPC asked if the CanRC could cross-pollinate their inter-church relations committees (CRCA and CCCNA) to make it easier for our inter-church relations committees to function together.
    • 2.4.4    The Canadian churches in the OPC are expected to form a presbytery in the near future.
    • 2.4.5    The OPC are in the process of updating their rules for EF so that in situations of non-contact they can scale back a relationship from EF to corresponding relationships.
  • 2.5    The OPC informed the CCCNA via a letter in January of 2018 that they had updated their rules for EF.
  • 2.6    The OPC informed the CCCNA via a letter in August of 2018 that their 85th General Assembly had decided to elect a committee to propose specific linguistic changes to the doctrinal standards of the OPC.
  • 2.7    The Attercliffe CanRC wishes to stress that the CCCNA should continue discussions on points of doctrine where we continue to differ on, and continue to build each other up.

3. Considerations

  • 3.1    The CCCNA has fulfilled it mandate regarding the OPC.
  • 3.2    The actions taken by the OPC confirm their allegiance to the Word of God and the Reformed confessions.
  • 3.3    The presence of an OPC presbytery in Canada could give opportunity for our classes to send delegates to their meetings.
  • 3.4    The CCCNA has already interacted with the OPC on the matters raised by the church at Attercliffe. GS 2016 Art. 59 Cons. 3.4 should also be kept in mind.

4. Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 4.1    To continue ecclesiastical fellowship (EF) with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) under the adopted rules.
  • 4.2    To mandate the Committee for Contact with Churches in North America (CCCNA):
    • 4.2.1    To send a delegation to the general assemblies of the OPC at least once every three years;
    • 4.2.2    To encourage neighbouring classes to interact with the new presbytery in Canada when it is formed;
    • 4.2.3    To submit its report to the churches 5 months prior to the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED