GS 2025 Article 161 – SCBP (Book of Praise) Report Section One, Part 7 (“Principled View”)
1. Material
- 1.1 SCBP report to GS 2025 (8.2.8.1).
- 1.2 Letters from the following churches: Attercliffe (8.3.8.1.6), Burlington Waterdown (Rehoboth) (8.3.8.1.9, 8.3.8.1.10), Caledonia (8.3.8.1.11), Calgary (8.3.8.1.12), Carman East (8.3.8.1.13), Chilliwack (8.3.8.1.14), Edmonton (Immanuel) (8.3.8.1.16), Fergus (Maranatha) (8.3.8.1.23), Grassie (Covenant) (8.3.8.1.30), Langley (8.3.8.1.35), Nooksack Valley (8.3.8.1.37), Winnipeg (Grace) (8.3.8.1.44), Willoughby Heights (8.3.8.1.46).
2. Admissibility
- 2.1 The report was declared admissible.
- Grounds: The report is from a standing synodical committee and was received on time.
- 2.2 The letters from the churches were declared admissible.
- Grounds: The letters from the churches interact with this part of the SCBP report and were received on time.
3. Observations
- 3.1 Langley suggests that Section One, Part 7 of the SCBP report titled “Proposal for a principled view of the Book of Praise” should not be received for consideration by GS 2025. Langley and Burlington Waterdown (Rehoboth) note that this part of the SCBP report does not reflect the mandate of GS 2022. Langley further argues that the SCBP should restrict their activities to their mandate and that proposals such as these must come from one or more of the churches.
- 3.2 Many other churches interacted with this part of the SCBP report.
4. Considerations
- 4.1 The SCBP has introduced a new mandate for itself beyond the one given to it by GS 2022. The SCBP should restrict itself to the mandate given.
- 4.2 Proposals like this one should come from one or more of the churches.
- 4.3 A general synod should only deal with matters that come to it legitimately.
5. Recommendations
That Synod decide:
- 5.1 Not to consider Section One, Part 7 of the Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise (SCBP) report or any parts of the letters from the churches that engage with it.
- 5.2 To remind the SCBP that it should only deal with the matters mandated to it by a general synod.