Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

148 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
instruction which the congregations and presbyteries will take to heart so as to
repent where there is sin, learn where there is ignorance, and grow where there is
yet life and hope. We pray, "Revive us O Lord. O Lord, have mercy upon us!"
We pray that we may build upon a firm foundation for the future in both old and
new works.
There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor
can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that antichrist,
that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church
against Christ, and all that is called God. (Westminster Confession of Faith
XXV:6)
Jesus, and He alone, is Lord. We pray that none of us would usurp His
prerogatives as the divine law-giver, king and judge. We thank the Lord for His
wonderful provision for our needs in terms of the financial reports which were
pure joy this year. We pray that the future of the market would not be our
security, but only Jesus Himself. We remember with gratitude the gracious
foresight of many in years past who devoted a portion of their estates as bequests
to the Church, as well as for the gracious giving of the faithful in the congregations.
Due to these positive developments we are able to speak of our Pension programs
with thanks to the Lord for the ability to increase the funding of the retirement
plan so as to better provide for those who have labored in the vineyard in the heat
of the day. As we look to the future, we also rejoice to remember the past. We
are grateful that the Lord Jesus Christ raised up the ministry of the RP Home 100
years ago, and has been pleased to bless the ministry of the RP Women's
Association. We pray that the Disability Committee will be used to keep us aware
of those with special needs. We praise God for our brothers and sisters with
disabilities, and pray that we would learn to be more effective in our ability to
meet their needs.
We are thankful to hear that, as other sister churches look upon us, they see a
community which shows love and concern for one another. We share for our
common prayer the concern which was expressed in various ways this Synod about
the potential danger of becoming too top heavy. Yet, we also are thankful that no
one expressed the sense that this was anyone's intention.
Concern for justice and the health of the Church led the Judicial Committee,
and Synod as she deliberated, to come to a decision to send our present vows
down to the sessions in overture, so as to make them a part of the Constitution
which cannot be amended by a simple majority vote of Synod. Aspects of this
issue divide the denomination, yet we are all concerned for the consciences of our
brethren on both sides of the issue concerning the abstinance requirements of
query #8. We pray that the Lord will guide the Sessions to adopt the best version
of Query #8 in this coming year. We also pray that we come to some further
unity of mind regarding the worship so as to protect the liberty of conscience of all
worshippers in our churches.