Office Bearers

GS 2025 Article 73 – CER (Ecumenical Relations): Study Mandate CO art. 50 & ER Rules

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Committee for Ecumenical Relations (CER) Report 2: Study Mandate (8.2.10.2).
  • 1.2    Letters from the churches: Barrhead (8.3.10.2), Brampton (Grace) (8.3.10.4), Burlington (Fellowship) (8.3.10.5), Calgary (8.3.10.7), Carman East (8.3.10.8), Flamborough (Redemption) (8.3.10.9), Guelph (Emmanuel) (8.3.10.11), Hamilton (Providence) (8.3.10.12), Nooksack Valley (8.3.10.13), Attercliffe (8.3.10.14), Chilliwack (8.3.10.15), Edmonton (Immanuel) (8.3.10.16), Fergus North (8.3.10.17), Grassie (Covenant) (8.3.10.18).

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 were declared admissible.
    • Grounds: They interact with a report to GS 2025 and were received on time.

3.   Observations

  • 3.1    GS 2022 (art. 108) mandated the CER:
    • [3.8]    To request the CER to further consider the mandate of GS 2019 (Art. 149 Rec. 4.1.1), specifically taking into account the input received from the churches in response to the majority and minority reports regarding the matters of:
      • [3.8.1]      Categories of Ecumenical Relationships (Recommendation 1);
      • [3.8.2]      Rules for Ecumenical Relationships (Recommendation 2);
      • [3.8.3]      Revision of Church Order Article 50 (Recommendation 3):
        • [3.8.3.1]         To consider, if a change to CO Art. 50 is deemed necessary, whether this should be initiated by a local church.
  • 3.2    From the CER report, re CO art. 50, the following:
    • 3.2.1 The Church Order currently states:
      • Article 50: Churches Abroad
        • The relation with churches abroad shall be regulated by general synod. With foreign churches of Reformed confession a sister-church relationship shall be maintained as much as possible. On minor points of Church Order and ecclesiastical practice churches abroad shall not be rejected.
      • 3.2.2    Is the ecclesiastical route required for revision of the Church Order?
        • 3.2.2.1   One purpose of the ecclesiastical route is to give local churches more opportunity to give proposed changes due attention than by way of committee report. However, roughly half the local churches will not see a proposal (overture) until it has been adopted by a regional synod and distributed no less than 5 months prior to a general synod;
        • 3.2.2.2   The CER points to a prior decision of synod (GS 2019 art. 145 cons. 4.2.7) to change a confession based on a committee report to justify its proposal to change an article of the CO.
      • 3.2.3     The expressions “churches abroad” and “foreign churches”
        • 3.2.3.1   The CER points to reports and letters from the churches to GS 2022 that answer this concern.
      • 3.2.4    The phrase “minor points of doctrine”
        • 3.2.4.1   The CER carefully weighed the concerns and determined that the confessions of the churches express the boundaries of major and minor points.
      • 3.2.5    Minor points of ecclesiastical governance and practice
        • 3.2.5.1   In keeping with BC art. 32, which speaks of “a certain order,” ecclesiastical governance covers other orders of church government, for example, Westminster Form of Government;
        • 3.2.5.2   “Ecclesiastical practice” refers to worship practices.
      • 3.2.6    “According to the rules adopted for this purpose by general synod” vs. “shall be regulated by general synod”
        • 3.2.6.1   Confusion exists regarding the meaning and role of “regulate” in relation to CO art. 50.
        • 3.2.6.2   The proposed wording maintains the principle that the churches in common determine the process for ecumenical relations while clarifying that synods and classes may participate in the execution of that process.
        • 3.2.6.3   The proposed wording clarifies, not expands, the scope of the act.
      • 3.2.7    “Should not be” or “shall not be”
        • 3.2.7.1   “Should” is rather vague;
        • 3.2.7.2   Using “shall” is consistent with its use elsewhere in the Church Order.
  • 3.3    The CER recommends:
    • 3.3.1    Changing CO art. 50 to read:
      • Article 50: Ecumenical Relationships
      • Ecumenical relationships with other churches of Reformed confession shall be entered into where feasible and be maintained according to the rules adopted for this purpose by general synod. On minor points of ecclesiastical governance and practice churches shall not be rejected.
  • 3.4    The Barrhead CanRC finds the change from “Church Order and ecclesiastical practice” to “ecclesiastical governance and practice” to be a subjective and overly broad term.
  • 3.5    From the CER Report, re Rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship, the following:
    • 3.5.1    “A survey of decisions made by past general synods will show that, as a federation, we have not always had a clear or consistent view of what we hope to achieve in and through our ecclesiastical relationships. This appears to be a consequence of the apparent tension between principled desires and practical realities.”
    • 3.5.2    “Differences in geography, language, culture, and history often prove to be significant barriers to achieving a [desired] fully integrated union between faithful federations.”
    • 3.5.3    “Our current rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship have been in place since 1992… increasingly, the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach does not mesh well with our contemporary ecclesiastical context.”
    • 3.5.4    “The practice of having varied levels and/or categories of ecumenical relationships is widely used in the Reformed/Presbyterian world.”
    • 3.5.5    “The CanRC exists in a context where confessionally faithful churches live side by side in local and regional settings. Individuals in those confessionally faithful churches quite often find themselves working collaboratively with each other in causes related to the advancement of God’s kingdom.”
    • 3.5.6    “…to fulfil our LORD’s command to seek and maintain the unity of his church, there must be acknowledgement of the possibility of the local church to interact with other faithful churches, when, in the Lord’s providence, other faithful churches are found in close proximity.”
    • 3.5.7    “To draw from the wisdom of many counsellors, local churches should ensure classis is aware of local relations. In situations where occasional pulpit fellowship would be desirable, involvement of classis and the deputies of regional synod would be required.”
    • 3.5.8    Article 32 of the Proposed Joint Church Order (PJCO), provisionally adopted by GS 2010 (Burlington), made allowance for “preaching exchange and fellowship at the Lord’s supper” by a local church in its ecumenical activities, on the condition of classical approbation.
  • 3.6       The CER recommends:
    • 3.6.1    Synod adopt rules for establishing and maintaining ecclesiastical relationships as follows:
    • Rule 1
      • Level 1 – Ecclesiastical Fellowship
      • At a federative level, the following shall apply by decision of General Synod:
        • Ecclesiastical Fellowship – Category A is with other churches of Reformed confession according to C.O. Art. 50. This relationship is maintained with churches with which we have intense contact. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
          • (1)    Exchange of fraternal delegates at major assemblies.
          • (2)    The exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting Christian unity.
          • (3)    Agreement to respect the procedures of discipline and pastoral concern of one another.
          • (4)    Pulpit fellowship.
          • (5)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
          • (6)    Reception of members into the local congregation, according to local regulations.
          • (7)    Consultation on issues of joint concern, particularly prior to instituting changes in doctrine, worship and governance which might affect the basis of the fellowship.
          • (8)    Joint action in areas of common responsibility.
          • (9)    Exchange of relevant ecclesiastical materials, including:
            • a.      The Minutes/Acts of major assemblies;
            • b.      Yearbooks/Directories of the churches;
            • c.      The most recently published edition of the Confessional Standards;
            • d.     The most recent published edition of the Church Order;
            • e.      The most recently published edition of an approved psalter, or psalter-hymnal.
        • Ecclesiastical Fellowship – Category B is with other churches of Reformed confession according to C.O. Art. 50. This relationship is maintained with churches with whom we have less intense contact for geographical, linguistic, or historical reasons. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
          • (1)    Welcome of fraternal observers at appropriate major assemblies.
          • (2)    Agreement to respect the procedures of discipline and pastoral concern of one another.
          • (3)    Pulpit fellowship.
          • (4)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
          • (5)    Reception of members into the local congregation, according to local regulations.
          • (6)    Communication on issues of joint concern.
          • (7)    Review relevant ecclesiastical materials and monitor faithfulness to the Reformed confessions.
      • Level 2 – Ecclesiastical Contact
      • Ecclesiastical Contact is with other churches of Reformed confession with which we do not have Ecclesiastical Fellowship. Such churches may include churches with membership in NAPARC, or the ICRC, as well as other churches as determined by general synod. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
        • (1)    Meetings, both formal and informal, of delegates to the meetings of NAPARC and the ICRC and on other occasions that may arise.
        • (2)    Mutual labours as members of NAPARC and the ICRC in the discharge of the purposes of the council/conference.
        • (3)    Welcome of fraternal observers at major assemblies.
        • (4)    Other duties as directed by general synod.
        • The Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER) shall periodically review our ecumenical relationships to ensure we are honouring our commitments to each other. Furthermore, the CER may make recommendations, without prejudice, to General Synod regarding the optimal placement of federations within these categories.
    • Rule 2
      • In circumstances where no Ecclesiastical Fellowship (Rule 1, Level 1)exists, churches may engage in ecumenical relationships with other local churches as per CO Article 50, in accordance with the following protocols:
        • (1)    Pulpit fellowship may occur with the concurring advice of classis and the deputies of regional synod. This fellowship will be implemented in a manner determined by classis.
        • (2)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
        • (3)    Reception of members into the local congregation, according to local regulations.
        • (4)    Churches shall give an account of their ecumenical activities to their respective classis.
  • 3.7    The Brampton (Grace) CanRC raises a concern over regional synod or general synod being able to override decisions at the classis level regarding a local context.
  • 3.8    The Burlington (Fellowship) CanRC requests the reference to deputies of regional synod be removed from Rule 2 (1) as CO art. 4B 1&2 does not mention deputies of regional synod nor occasional pulpit supply in the local church. Further, the inclusion of the deputies of regional synod does not correspond to the Proposed Joint Church Order (PJCO), provisionally adopted in 2010, nor the practice of the FRCA.
  • 3.9    The Nooksack Valley ARC believes it would be wise to stipulate that concurring advice of classis and regional synod be given before entering into local ecclesiastical relationships.
  • 3.10  The Attercliffe CanRC suggests several changes:
    • 3.10.1  To maintain the confessional language of BC art. 29, recommends qualifying the churches we have relations with using “other true and faithful”;
    • 3.10.2  To add “and whenever feasible striving for ecclesiastical unity” to the phrase “promoting Christian unity” in keeping with John 17;
    • 3.10.3  To attach “in compliance with the Church Order” to “local regulations” to avoid undermining the role of the Church Order;
    • 3.10.4  To move the requirement for the concurring advice of classis and the deputies of regional synod for engaging in local ecumenical relationships under Rule 2 into the introduction as the rule should control reception of members and Lord’s supper;
    • 3.10.5  To clarify that Rule 2 applies to local ecclesiastical relations with churches not covered by Rule 1 Level 1.
  • 3.11  The Chilliwack CanRC:
    • 3.11.1  Notes that Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF) Category B is missing “the exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting Christian unity”. They believe we have a responsibility of mutual concern and admonition towards all churches with whom we have EF;
    • 3.11.2  Would like Rule 2 removed in its entirety for the following reasons:
    • 3.11.2.1 Point 1 seems to conflict with CO art. 4;
      • 3.11.2.2 Point 2 seems to conflict with CO art. 61;
      • 3.11.2.3 Point 3 is completely unnecessary as churches can already receive members into their congregations from non-sister churches by way of baptism and/or profession of faith;
      • 3.11.2.4 Point 4 is unnecessary as this can already be implemented at the individual classis level.
  • 3.12  The Edmonton (Immanuel) CanRC recommends Rule 2, Point 2 read “Reception of members at the Lord’s Supper according to CO Art 61”.
  • 3.13  The Fergus North CanRC is concerned that Rule 2 will result in inconsistencies across the various classes.
  • 3.14  The Grassie CanRC recommends that Rule 2 Point 1 be revised to require the minister be “a member in good standing of an ICRC or NAPARC Church”.

4.   Considerations

  • 4.1    The CER sufficiently answered the concerns raised by the churches at GS 2022 regarding the suggested revision of CO art. 50.
  • 4.2    The Barrhead CanRC does not provide any compelling arguments that the broadness of the term is not helpful.
  • 4.3    The CER fulfilled their mandate in showing the need for new rules for Ecclesiastical Fellowship (EF).
  • 4.4    The Attercliffe CanRC and the Edmonton (Immanuel) CanRC raises valuable points about the relationship between the Church Order and local regulations.
  • 4.5    Attercliffe is correct that the Church Order governs the reception of members at the Lord’s supper and the reception of members into local congregations, but they do not demonstrate that these parts of church life should also be under the oversight of classis and the deputies of regional synod.
  • 4.6    While no churches objected to the CER recommendation to the involvement of classes in occasional pulpit fellowship, the Burlington (Fellowship) CanRC correctly observes that CO art. 4B does not require the concurring advice of the deputies of regional synod:
    • 4.6.1    According to CO art. 5 A1b, the deputies of regional synod provide concurring advice at peremptory examinations. This is because the decision affects all the churches. Rule 2 is explicitly about the local context and for that reason the role of the deputies of regional synod in Rule 2 necessarily performs a different function. The CER report does not state what that function is, nor why it is necessary.
  • 4.7    The Nooksack Valley ARC states that “it would be wise to stipulate that concurring advice of classis and the deputies of regional synod be given before entering into local ecclesiastical relationships”. However, “advice” implies prior to implementation, just as one seeks advice prior to acting in a matter of discipline.
  • 4.8    The concern from the Chilliwack CanRC for “the exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting Christian unity” is well intended but in effect it eliminates the value of the Category B relationship. The clause obligates an intense, active monitoring of the life of the federation. By contrast, without this clause the committee does not have a lack of concern for the federation, but that concern is expressed reactively.
  • 4.9    Chilliwack does not sufficiently make the case that Rule 2 should be removed.
  • 4.10  The concern from the Fergus North CanRC about inconsistencies arising fails to account for the purpose of the Rule 2 to account for differences in local context.
  • 4.11 The recommendation of the Grassie CanRC that Rule 2 only applies to churches in NAPARC and ICRC is unnecessarily restrictive. The CO already provides the safety that Grassie seeks to ensure.

5.   Recommendations

That Synod decide:

  • 5.1    To adopt the following text for CO art. 50:
    • Article 50: Ecumenical Relationships
    • Ecumenical relationships with other churches of Reformed confession shall be entered into where feasible and be maintained according to the rules adopted for this purpose by general synod. On minor points of ecclesiastical governance and practice churches shall not be rejected.
  • 5.2    To adopt the following rules:
    • Rule 1
      • Level 1 – Ecclesiastical Fellowship
      • At a federative level, the following shall apply by decision of General Synod:
      • Ecclesiastical Fellowship – Category A is with other churches of Reformed confession according to CO art. 50. This relationship is maintained with churches with which we have intense contact. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
        • (1)    Exchange of fraternal delegates at major assemblies.
        • (2)    The exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting Christian unity and whenever feasible striving for ecclesiastical unity.
        • (3)    Agreement to respect the procedures of discipline and pastoral concern of one another.
        • (4)    Pulpit fellowship.
        • (5)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
        • (6)    Reception of members into the local congregation, according to local regulations.
        • (7)    Consultation on issues of joint concern, particularly prior to instituting changes in doctrine, worship and governance which might affect the basis of the fellowship.
        • (8)    Joint action in areas of common responsibility.
        • (9)    Exchange of relevant ecclesiastical materials, including:
          • a.      The Minutes/Acts of major assemblies;
          • b.      Yearbooks/Directories of the churches;
          • c.      The most recently published edition of the Confessional Standards;
          • d.     The most recent published edition of the Church Order;
          • e.      The most recent published edition of an approved psalter, or psalter-hymnal.
      • Ecclesiastical Fellowship – Category B is with other churches of Reformed confession according to CO art. 50. This relationship is maintained with churches with whom we have less intense contact for geographical, linguistic, or historical reasons. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
        • (1)    Welcome of fraternal observers at appropriate major assemblies.
        • (2)    Agreement to respect the procedures of discipline and pastoral concern of one another.
        • (3)    Pulpit fellowship.
        • (4)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
        • (5)    Reception of members into the local congregation, according to local regulations.
        • (6)    Communication on issues of joint concern.
        • (7)    Review relevant ecclesiastical materials and monitor faithfulness to the Reformed confessions.
      • Level 2 – Ecclesiastical Contact
      • Ecclesiastical Contact is with other churches of Reformed confession with which we do not have Ecclesiastical Fellowship. Such churches may include churches with membership in NAPARC, or the ICRC, as well as other churches as determined by general synod. This relationship is to be exercised where possible and desirable by:
        • (1)    Meetings, both formal and informal, of delegates to the meetings of NAPARC and the ICRC and on other occasions that may arise.
        • (2)    Mutual labours as members of NAPARC and the ICRC in the discharge of the purposes of the council/conference.
        • (3)    Welcome of fraternal observers at major assemblies.
        • (4)    Other duties as directed by general synod.
      • The Committee on Ecumenical Relations (CER) shall periodically review our ecumenical relationships to ensure we are honouring our commitments to each other. Furthermore, the CER may make recommendations, without prejudice, to general synod regarding the optimal placement of federations within these categories.
    • Rule 2
      • In circumstances where no Ecclesiastical Fellowship (Rule 1, Level 1)exists, churches may engage in ecumenical relationships with other local churches of Reformed confession as per CO art. 50, in accordance with the following protocols:
        • (1)    Pulpit fellowship may occur with the concurring advice of classis.
        • (2)    Reception of members at the Lord’s supper according to local regulations.
        • (3)    Reception of members into the local congregation according to local regulations.
        • (4)    Churches shall give an account of their ecumenical activities to their respective classis.

ADOPTED