Thursday (cont.)--Worship Discussion

Discussion of the report of the Committee to Revise the Directory for Worship spanned all three sessions of Synod today. The committee report listed 11 directives that it had agreed upon to guide its work, as well as a draft of a new worship directory. They said they desired that this directory would be based on the worship committee position paper that Synod adopted a few years ago.

The committee requested that 30 minutes be devoted to hearing “questions, reflections and comments from the members of Synod regarding the partial and preliminary draft submitted with this report.” The time period was extended twice due to the number of people seeking to give input, and to the lengthiness of their comments. There was high praise for the committee as well as minor suggestions and significant disagreement.

Questions and comments included the use of the term “teaching elder” over “minister,” the meaning of the Sabbath morning service being a “covenant renewal service,” the differences between morning and evening services, and whether suggested orders of service should be included. There was a request that this draft be based upon or compared to the current Directory for Worship, and a question about how carefully churches follow the directory they have.

No further action was taken on this report; so the committee will continue its work toward the goal of a proposed Directory for Worship.

The State of the Church report, which draws from presbytery reports to the Synod, drew an unusually high degree of debate for this annual report. Some who called the report and the debate valuable and stimulating also expressed that it did not accurately reflect or represent the denomination. Synod voted not to receive the report.

Two committees Synod had appointed earlier in the week reported back. In response to Communication 2006-01, the committee expressed its deep concern that a small congregation be heard in its request for aid to purchase a building; however, it did not think it feasible that any one agency could provide such a large sum, or that Synod was equipped better than its agencies to make this type of decision. The matter was referred to the congregation’s presbytery for further coordination in seeking a solution.

The other committee, a special judicial committee responding to communication 2006-04, made a final judgment on the case and commended the parties for their diligence in trying to reach a fully satisfactory conclusion.

Just a few reports remain for the final session of this Synod on Friday morning. One of those reports is the report of election results for boards, committees, and other positions.

Thursday (cont.)--Major Reports Completed, Others Near Completion

“Miraculous healing” was the title of the Thursday devotional message. Rev. Frank van Dalen, executive director of World Witness for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP), delivered the message. A representative of the ARP had been invited to give one of the devotional messages this year. In addition, Rev. van Dalen gave a presentation on ARP mercy ministry later in the day.

Rev. van Dalen said in the devotional that the purposes of healing are to fulfill prophecies, to be a visible sign of Jesus as the Messiah, to be a sign of the coming of Christ’s kingdom, and to show the glories of heaven. With some of those aspects having been completed through Christ and with the foundation of the church being laid through the apostles, there is no longer a need for individual healers, he said. But God does still do miraculous healing, and integral to that healing is usually sincere prayer.

A communication dealt with by the Judicial Committee, Communication 2006-07, was an appeal by a member and forwarded by the Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery. Though the committee found no specific statement of grounds for the appeal, they believed the intent was that a Synod study committee be formed to study “what the Bible requires for church membership.” The committee found no need for such a committee on the grounds that “the Synod has already engaged in extensive studies to determine the basis for church membership vows; the necessity for a new study is not demonstrated; and the committee denies that the present membership vows go beyond the requirement of Scripture.” The Judicial Committee affirmed the actions of the session and presbytery involved.

It was announced that Titus Martin had passed his exams by Presbytery of the Alleghenies in conjunction with this Synod meeting and will be ordained and installed as associate pastor at College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC in August.

The Finance Committee report, a long report with 16 recommendations, was approved with minimal discussion. Elder Steve McMahan, chairman, gave thanks for increased congregational giving to Reformed Presbyterian Mission & Ministry (RPM&M) and for the stewardship and generosity of some whose estates had provided gifts to the denomination in the past year.

While Synod is ahead of schedule, several reports still remain to be completed before adjournment. The scheduled adjournment is 12:15 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).

Thursday Morning--Revisions

Many eyes have been watching the progress of the Psalter Revision Committee to see how the new book will differ from the current Book of Psalms for Singing, first printed in 1973. The committee appeared before Synod today with the hope of having its plan approved for finalizing the psalter.

The committee’s primary recommendation was approved overwhelmingly, and with little discussion. The recommendation was that “as directed by [a previous] Synod, the Psalter Revision Committee continue its work to 'prepare and publish the next Book of Psalms for Singing’ according to past custom." The committee plan would place a near-final version before Synod next year, with publication in the following year.

Though there was little discussion on that recommendation, there was a long discussion of the revision in general, with dozens of delegates speaking to various issues. Many of the comments addressed tunes being used, and how “singable” they would be for congregations. There was little discussion of the texts themselves, with the texts and principles of translation having been discussed at length in earlier Synods.

The Synod also took up this morning a draft of a new Directory for Worship. Discussion of this, too, was brisk. This being the first year for the committee, they brought in a draft for input rather than a proposal for approval. The report was not completed prior to the lunch break.

A Step Toward the Future

In an effort to promote and more actively engage the denomination as a whole, the RP Witness this year is videotaping the devotional messages of Synod. Our first video comes from Pastor Bob Hemphill of Westminster, Colo. In his message on Luke 10 he examines Christ's portrayal of a charitable neighbor.