Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

12 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
The reports of the Presbyteries were taken up. The Presbytery of the
Alleghenies reported asking that Joseph Griffo be allowed to participate in
the Travel Fund. The request was granted. Following each report Synod
was led in prayer for that presbytery as follows: Roger Adams for the
Presbytery of the Alleghenies; Doug Comin for Atlantic Presbytery;
Dennis Prutow for Great - Lakes Gulf Presbytery; Jim Pennington for
Midwest Presbytery; Arthur Fawthrop for Pacific Coast Presbytery; Sidney
Van Camp for St. Lawrence Presbytery, and; Paul McCracken for the
Japan Presbytery.
Synod took a fifteen-minute recess at 3:00 p.m.
Shigeru Takiura presented a special petition from the Japan Presbytery
which was received during the Saturday evening session as Communication
97-10.
Rev. Wesley Brice, pastor of the Northland Reformed Church was
introduced to the court as the fraternal delegate from the Reformed
Church in the United States.
The reports of the Presbyteries were received and are as follows:
REPORT OF THE PRESBYTERY OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Dear Fathers and Brothers,
The Presbytery of the Alleghenies gives thanks to our Gracious God for His
many mercies. We have 14 congregations under our care. All congregations
are settled with full-time pastors, with the exception of Rimersburg. We would ask
the prayers of the church for their need of a settled pastor. Our congregations
enjoy the blessings of the gospel being preached, the instruction of the word of
God for their edification, the fellowship of the saints as well as the oversight of the
eldership of regular elders. We are thankful to our Sovereign God for these His
mercies.
This past January (the 17th) presbytery met in Washington D.C. to organize the
Anchor Fellowship as a congregation of the RPCNA. We rejoice in our God's
goodness in this and ask for the prayers of the church for Pastor Peter Smith and
this young congregation. Last year we asked for prayers for Anchor as well as
Trinity. At our spring meeting we heard of some measure of answers to those
prayers for Trinity as well. While the work isstill at a fragile stage, some new
people have been attending and the presbytery's prayeris that this will continue
and that others will likewise be drawn into the fellowship of the gospel there.
Mr. Keith Black was installed as pastor of the First Beaver Falls Congregation on
July 18th, 1996.
The Bible Study in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh has progressed during the
last year. Weekly Lord's Day evening worship services have been conducted since
last August. Two seminarians, Joe Griffo and C. ]. Williams, have shared
responsibilities with RPTS President Jerry O'Neill. There have been a number of