GS 2022 art 145

GS 2022 Article 145 – ICRC (International Conference of Reformed Churches)

1.   Material

  • 1.1    CRCA Report 10: ICRC (8.2.1.10).
  •          Note: as GS 2019 neglected to make a decision on the ICRC, the CRCA resubmitted to GS 2022 the report it submitted to GS 2019 with additional material.

2.   Admissibility

  • 2.1    The report was declared admissible.

3.   Decisions

Synod decided:

  • 3.1    To continue the membership of the CanRC in the ICRC;
  • 3.2    Regarding membership of the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (Liberated) (GKv) in the ICRC:
    • 3.2.1   To propose to the tenth ICRC to be held, the Lord willing, in Windhoek, Namibia during October 2022, that the membership of the GKv be terminated, as its decision on women in office no longer qualifies it for membership in the ICRC;
    • 3.2.2   To express agreement with a similar proposal decided to by the 87th (2021) General Assembly (GA) of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC);
    • 3.2.3   To convey this proposal by means of a letter from General Synod 2022 via the second clerk to the ICRC as soon as possible; 
  • 3.3    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • 3.3.1   To ensure appropriate CanRC participation in ICRC activities;
    • 3.3.2   To attend the next ICRC with a delegation of two voting members and two advisory members.

4.   Grounds

  • 4.1    The CRCA has acted correctly in considering the mandate of GS 2016 as its mandate after GS 2019.
  • 4.2    With thankfulness to the Lord, the ICRC continues to be a useful forum to promote harmony and unity among Reformed and Presbyterian churches worldwide.
  • 4.3    The CRCA acted properly and appropriately in seconding the proposal of the OPC to suspend the membership on the GKv in the ICRC. The correctness of this action was confirmed by the decision of GS 2019 (Art. 41) to terminate EF with the GKv.
  • 4.4    Regarding the membership of the GKv in the ICRC:
    • 4.4.1   The CanRC have had very close ties with the GKv and have spent much time and effort in communicating with the GKv about matters of concern and reprimanding them with great intensity for the course they are on. It is appropriate for the CanRC to initiate action that removes the GKv from the ICRC (analogous to Deut. 13:6-11).
    • 4.4.2   Just as the termination of EF with the GKv in 2019 clearly expressed where the CanRC stand with respect to the issues at stake, so will a proposal to terminate the membership of the GKv in the ICRC. This will unequivocally communicate to the ICRC member churches that we are sorely grieved by decisions of the GKv and were in earnest about our past letters and words of admonition (cf. GS 2019 Art. 41 Cons. 3.4).
    • 4.4.3   GS-GKv 2020 (Art. 19 Dec. 3) maintained the decision of GS-GKv 2017 (Art. 18 Dec. 5&6) to allow women to serve in the offices of minister and elder. This puts the GKv at odds with the ICRC Constitution IV.4.
    • 4.4.4   The ICRC Constitution (Art. IV.4) requires that a proposal to terminate membership in the ICRC be made by a decision of the major assembly of a member church.
    • 4.4.5   Given the seriousness of this matter, it would be proper and appropriate for GS 2022 itself to send a letter to the ICRC. GS 2019 (Art. 41 Rec. 4.3, Art. 104) took it upon itself to send a letter to the GKv, rather than instructing the CRCA to do so.
    • 4.4.6   The 87th (2021) GA of the OPC adopted an action to terminate the membership of the GKv in the ICRC. Past synods instructed the CRCA-SRN to work together with sister churches. It is appropriate for the CanRC to express agreement with the proposal of the OPC.