Wednesday P.M.--Legacy and Unity

The unfinished debate of Tuesday’s report on Understanding the Times was completed this afternoon. A thread in many of the comments was a desire that Reformed Presbyterians in Canada and Japan provide input to the report, since it typically addresses international matters. A member of the nominating committee informed delegates that there would be a Canadian delegate and a Japanese delegate on tomorrow’s ballot for the committee. A motion to permanently eliminate the Synod committee failed. A motion to receive this year’s Understanding the Times report, rather than to approve it as would typically be done, passed.

Mrs. Faith Martin, executive director of the RP Woman’s Association, reported on the Reformed Presbyterian Home and related ministries. A great joy recently was the groundbreaking of the Upper Rooms project, which will provide apartments for senior living adjacent to the current RP Home. Mrs. Martin is in the process of visiting each RP congregation to talk about the ministries of the Woman’s Association.

The History Committee announced a project to begin digitizing a great deal of material in the Reformed Presbyterian archives. The committee also sought Synod’s desire on planning a bicentennial celebration in Philadelphia in 2009, but a motion to research that possibility failed.

Casual acknowledgment of the existence of other Reformed and Presbyterian denominations was clearly not the tack taken by speakers tonight, as the Synod devoted the evening to interchurch relationships.

Speakers included not only members of the RPCNA’s Interchurch Committee, but also delegates from other denominations to this Synod. Each fraternal delegate was given five minutes to address the Synod: delegates from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Korean American Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Reformed Church in the U.S., and the United Reformed Churches, as well as an observer from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

There are hopes for strengthening ties with sister Reformed Presbyterian denominations as well. The Interchurch Committee recommended, and Synod approved, a proposal to bring delegates from all Reformed Presbyterian denominations together to see how we might strengthen cooperative ties. Pastor Andrew Quigley of Airdrie, Scotland, RPC, addressed the Synod about the vision for faithfulness and fruitfulness in those two Scottish congregations. Pastor William Sterrett spoke on behalf of Trinity Christian Community Fellowship, a congregation in Cyprus whose constitution is based on the RPCNA Constitution.

Tomorrow the devotional speaker is an invited guest from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He will also be sharing about the ministry of mercy in the ARP. Synod approved the Interchurch Committee proposal for a similar arrangement at next year’s Synod.

While Synod is a bit ahead of schedule with just a day and a half left, there are several weighty reports yet to be considered. They include reports from the Committee to Revise the Directory for Worship, the Psalter Revision Committee, as well as judicial committees.

Wednesday Morning–Education and Mercy

The tremendous value of the truth God has entrusted to us was in sharp focus this morning, as well as the responsibility of sharing that truth with others who need to know.

Pastor Jon Maginn (Phoenix, Ariz., RPC) began by delivering a devotional message based on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch seeking scriptural answers from Philip in Acts 8. Pastor Maginn challenged everyone to spend time with people outside the Christian community who may be Christians but who need to be discipled in the doctrines of grace. He emphasized that that is, in fact, one ministry of mercy—to share these precious truths and bring light to families.

Educational ministries reported to the Synod this morning. The Board of Education & Publication highlighted web site development, including a new blog site on the mediatorial kingship of Christ, a dedicated site for RP Synod news, and sites in progress including one devoted to J. G. Vos and one for RPCNA media.

Geneva College reports to Synod through the college Board of Corporators elected by the Synod. Committee chairman Paul Finley and President Kenneth A. Smith talked about progress in academics under the leadership of Vice President Ken Carson and others. Two recent faculty hired are Reformed Presbyterians, and the college would like to see a higher percentage of RP faculty in the future. The chapel program of the college will again be mandatory for students. There was some discussion from delegates about whether chapel at the college should be conducted according to the regulative principle of worship, as would the worship of an RP congregation under its session; but no motion was made.

The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary expressed thanks to have completed a year of transition, including significant faculty transition. A professor of New Testament is being sought for 2007, and the soliciting of nominations is beginning. The board recently approved plans to offer a doctor of ministry degree. The student full-time equivalent ratio rose in the past year by 25 percent.

There was a time of prayer for education in the church. There was also special prayer for a young man in the State College, Pa., RPC, Andrew McHenry, who had a severe allergic reaction today and was in a coma. Several hours later the Synod gave thanks to God to hear that Andrew had recovered remarkably.