GS 2025 Article 127 – RPCNA (Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America)
1. Material
- 1.1 Committee for Ecumenical Relations (CER) Report 10: Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) (8.2.10.10).
- 1.2 Letters from the following churches: Fergus (Maranatha) (8.3.10.22), Grand Rapids (8.3.10.10).
2. Admissibility
- 2.1 The report was declared admissible.
- Grounds: It was mandated by the previous synod and was received on time.
- 2.2 The letters from the churches were declared admissible.
- Grounds: They interact with a report to GS 2025 and were received on time.
3. Observations
- 3.1 GS 2022 (art. 166) decided:
- [3.1] To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
- [3.1.1] To engage in continued dialogue and contact with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA), particularly at meetings of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC), and when appropriate, to discuss the matters that hinder Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF);
- [3.1.2] To take up dialogue and contact with the new Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada (RPCC) once it is formed;
- [3.1.3] To submit its report to the churches six months prior to the convening of the next general synod.
- [4.1] Re 3.1.1:
- [4.1.1] While GS 2016 (Art. 90) acknowledged that the RPCNA can be recognized for their faithfulness to the Word of God and their strong Reformed convictions, it also noted that their practice and exegetical defense of ordaining female deacons, as well as GS 2016’s reservations about the place and function of The Testimony, hinders the establishment of EF.
- [3.1] To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
- 3.2 From the CER report, the following:
- 3.2.1 Continued contact with the RPCNA, including attendance at its Synod.
- 3.2.2 Appreciation for the RPCNA’s confessional integrity and commitment to Reformed doctrine.
- 3.2.3 Notable distinctives in worship and practice, including exclusive psalmody and head coverings, which are not considered obstacles to fellowship.
- 3.2.4 “At NAPARC 2023, the CER sought clarity about what category of EF the RPCNA had offered the CanRC. The CER learned it was not our understanding of Ecclesiastical Fellowship (as reported to GS 2016 by the CCCNA) but of contact, with elements from both our Ecclesiastical Fellowship Category B and our proposed Ecclesiastical Contact.”
- 3.2.5 “In its report to GS 2022, the CCCNA published the observation that the RPCNA has historically allowed for women deacons, but their trend has been to distance themselves from this practice.”
- 3.3 The CER recommends that synod decide:
- 3.3.1 To continue Ecclesiastical Contact with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA) according to the adopted rules;
- 3.3.2 To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
- 3.3.2.1 To engage in continued dialogue and contact with the RPCNA, particularly at NAPARC;
- 3.3.2.2 To submit its report on its activities with respect to the RPCNA to the churches 6 months prior the convening of the next general synod.
- 3.4 The Fergus (Maranatha) CanRC asks that the CER be mandated to engage in continued dialogue with the RPCNA on the issues of women deacons and the place and function of The Testimony, and to seek resolution on both.
- 3.5 The Grand Rapids CanRC raises concerns about The Testimony and whether it is consonant with the Three Forms of Unity.
4. Considerations
- 4.1 The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) is a true and faithful church of Jesus Christ.
- 4.2 The RPCNA is receptive to dialogue and discussion with the CanRC and have requested that the CanRC reopen consideration about entering into fraternal relations. Both Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) and Ecclesiastical Contact contain elements of what the RPCNA requested. Ecclesiastical Contact is consistent with the decision taken by GS 2016 (art. 90).
- 4.3 The RPCNA is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) and the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC).
- 4.4 The Testimony was identified by GS 2022 as a hindrance to the establishing EF.
- 4.4.1 The CER has not addressed whether it remains a hindrance to EF.
- 4.5 The ordination of women deacons was identified by GS 2022 as a hindrance to establishing EF.
- 4.4.1 The CER has not addressed whether it remains a hindrance to EF.
- 4.4.2 For GS 2016, the CCCNA (now the CER) investigated in detail the matter of women’s deacons within the RPCNA and concluded the RPCNA does not consider deacons to have ruling authority within the church. This view is the same as the Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) with whom it was not an impediment to entering EF (cf. GS 2016 art. 59 cons. 3.4). Within the RPCNA, the office of deacon is necessarily different in nature and essence from the office of deacon within the CanRC, contra GS 2016 art. 90 cons. 3.2.3.
- 4.4.2.1 The CER report notes that “In its report to GS 2022, the CCCNA published the observation that the RPCNA has historically allowed for women deacons, but their trend has been to distance themselves from this practice”. The fraternal observer from the RPCNA confirmed this and noted that it will be discussed at their next synod.
5. Recommendations
That Synod decide:
- 5.1 To continue Ecclesiastical Contact with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA) according to the adopted rules;
- 5.2 To mandate the Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER):
- 5.2.1 To engage in continued dialogue and contact with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA), particularly at the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC);
- 5.2.2 To work towards entering into Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category B with the RPCNA by resolving outstanding issues identified by GS 2022 and by creating more awareness within the CanRC about the RPCNA practices (e.g. the nature and ordination of deacons within the RPCNA);
- 5.2.3 To submit its report on its activities with respect to the RPCNA to the churches no later than six (6) months prior the convening of the next general synod.