Office Bearers

GS 2025 Article 126 – FRCSA (Free Reformed Churches in South Africa)

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Committee for Ecumenical Relations (CER) Report 23: Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) (8.2.10.23).

2.   Admissibility

  • 2.1    The report was declared admissible.
    • Grounds: It was mandated by the previous synod and was received on time.

3.   Observations

  • 3.1    GS 2022 (art. 147) decided:
    • [3.1]    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) with the Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) under the adopted rules;
    • [3.2]    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • [3.2.1]    To send a delegation to the next synod of the FRCSA;
      • [3.2.2]    To continue involvement in discussions regarding financial requests from the FRCSA and provide coordination assistance where possible;
      • [3.2.3]    To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next synod.
  • 3.2    From the CER report, the following:
    • 3.2.1     While the FRCSA is a relatively small federation, they have a disproportionately large number of theological students.
    • 3.2.2    The FRCSA has officially ended their relationship with the GKv and has extended ecclesiastical fellowship to the newly formed GK.
    • 3.2.3    There are various formal arrangements between our churches and their federation. This includes most notably the training of their theological students at CRTS and arranged support through the Foreign Student Bursary Fund (FSBF), the work of Rev. Ryan Kampen (Dunnville East) at the Reformational Study Centre, and the support of the Timothy Project by Lincoln (Vineyard) Canadian Reformed Church.
    • 3.2.4    There remains a need for financial support. Between theological education, local mission, needy churches, and needy students, the financial situation is tenuous.
  • 3.3    The CER recommends that synod decide:
    • 3.3.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) according to the adopted rules;
    • 3.3.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
      • 3.3.2.1   To continue involvement in discussions involving financial requests from the FRCSA and provide coordination assistance where possible;
      • 3.3.2.2   To submit its report on its activities with respect to the FRCSA to the churches 6 months prior the convening of the next general synod.

4.   Considerations

  • 4.1    The Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) continues to display the marks of true and faithful churches of Jesus Christ. Given frequent interaction and a shared recent history, a close relationship between the CanRC and FRCSA is mutually beneficial.
  • 4.2    Reduced funding from The Netherlands for missions, coupled with many opportunities for missions and the increasing financial needs of theological education warrants financial support where feasible.

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 5.1    To continue Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category A with the Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) according to the adopted rules;
  • 5.2    To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
    • 5.2.1    To continue involvement in discussions involving financial requests from the Free Reformed Churches in South Africa (FRCSA) and provide coordination assistance where possible;
    • 5.2.2    To send a delegation to meetings of the FRCSA Synod at least once every three years.
    • 5.2.3    To submit its report on its activities with respect to the FRCSA to the churches no later than six (6) months prior the convening of the next general synod.

ADOPTED