Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA 127
THE DIVISION OF THE BOARD
We now move to the second, and very significant part of our report. Most of
our recommendations to Synod follow from the proposal which follows. Members
should read this carefully.
In 1968 the Synod took action to merge the Board of Christian Education and
the Publications Board. This merger actually took place in 1970 largely due to
what was perceived as a similarity in their main purposes. Their first responsibility,
as described in the report of the Committee to Unite the Boards of Christian
Education and Publication, was to "serve God and the Church by promoting the
Gospel of Jesus Christ through published materials and educational processes."
Ironically in the year just prior to the actual merger, the Board of Christian
Education declared their desire to implement a new focus, one of leadership
development and youth training. In their report of that year they write, "Our
major concern up to this point has been in the realm of curriculum development.
At our regular winter meeting last December, our Board went on record making
our major concern the matter of development of leadership." (1969 Minutes of
Synod, p. 16)
The responsibilities drawn up for the new E. sc P. Board were rather extensive,
taking up 6 pages of the 1970 Minutes of Synod (19-24). It is our conclusion that
the scope of the E. sc P. Board, especially when one adds the International
Conference component, is too broad.
Our current Board, attempting to implement two important but varying
emphases and seeking to give proper oversight to the Coordinator of Youth
Ministries and the staff of our Publications office, decided to divide its members
into two committees, a "youth ministries" committee and a "publication"
committee. In the last several years however, we have been frustrated by
fragmentation in the present board structure, and the resulting inefficiency in use
of time, energy and money.
Finances continue to be a significant hurdle in accomplishing our goals. For the
past several years the E. sc P. Board has had to tighten its belt. We are unsatisfied
with the salary compensation for our staff and have had to cut back the
Coordinator of Youth Ministry position to an impractical quarter-time position.
The Youth Ministries Committee met in November to discuss several options. It
was felt that this particular committee could not justify the value of our present
roles and the expense of flying to the meetings.
This committee also voiced what seems to be a growing concern that more of
the energies of the Youth Ministries side of our Board ought to go into supporting
and encouraging ministry at the presbytery level. The above concerns, coupled
with the upcoming conclusion of Jim Pennington's term as Coordinator of Youth
Ministries have led us to propose the following changes: