Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

14 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
REPORT OF ATLANTIC PRESBYTERY
The Atlantic Presbytery met on two occasions since last year's report to Synod,
on October 11, 1996 at Hazleton, Pennsylvania for the organization of Hazleton
Area Reformed Presbyterian Church, and on March 13-14, 1997 at Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
We give special praise to our sovereign Lord for building and blessing His church
over the past year, with the addition of a seventh organized congregation to our
Presbytery.
Of the seven established congregations and two mission churches in Atlantic
Presbytery, four congregations are currently served by ministers: Broomall, PA;
Coldenham-Newburgh, NY; Elkins Park, PA; and White Lake, NY. Ridgefield
Park, NJ anticipates the arrival of its new pastor, Rev. J. Bruce Martin, at the end
of this month. The Cambridge pulpit is declared vacant as of March 16. Hazleton
Area RPC does not yet have a settled pastor. Lancaster Area RP (Mission) Church,
Lancaster, PA welcomed Rev. Mark England as church planting pastor on
November 16, 1996. Grace RP (Mission) Church in Middletown, NY continues
to be served by the Rev. H. Leverne Rosenberger, church planter.
The Broomall congregation continues to be served by Dr. William J. Edgar. In
addition to his local pastoral duties, Dr. Edgar is active on the Presbytery and
Synod levels of the Church. He also continues his full time teaching work at a local
high school. The weekly schedule remains asit has been, with morning and
afternoon services on Sabbath and the Wednesday prayer meeting. The
congregation has been pleased by the attendance of several adherents during the
past year and is anticipating several of them becoming members. In 1996,
Michael Lydon was ordained and installed in the office of ruling elder.
Improvements to the Church property included new roofs on the church building
and on the parsonage, and a new carpet in the sanctuary. Broomall has continued
its support of the Lancaster work with families worshipping with them week by
week.
The Cambridge congregation is without a pastor, as Pastor James Kern resigned
from its pulpit in March. Jim's faithful labors have been greatly appreciated by all,
and they are glad that the Kerns plan to remain in their midst. The congregation
has been privileged to minister to several families who came to the Boston area for
short-term work situations over the past year. There is a strong desire to have a
more fruitful outreach to unconverted friends and family members. Reshingling of
the front of the church building was completed in the fall.
The Coldenham-Newburgh congregation is shepherded by Pastor Charles Leach.
Communicant membership increased by four in 1996, for which they thank God.
1996 was also a year for births, with the baptism of five babies! Death has also
visited the congregation, with two members being called home in the fall of 1996
and another member this spring. The session realizes the critical need for
faithfulness to Christ, and prays for diligence and positive results in addressing the