Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

188 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
In April 1996, the house which had been rented for the Hontamo
Station became unavailable, and worship services are currently being held at a local
coffee shop.
In the fall of 1995, Pastor Takiura was the delegate to synod of the Reformed
Church of Japan. He gave greetings and reported on the formation of the Japan
Presbytery. Pastor Takiura also had the opportunity to visit the U.S. and attend
the fall meeting of the Board of Foreign Missions.
The Psalm committee continues to make progress in preparing new Psalms in
Japanese for singing. In the spring of this year a Psalter supplement containing
fifty-two new Psalm selections was published for trial use in the congregations.
The Covenanter Bookstore Board of Directors is continuing to formulate plans
for the rebuilding of the Bookstore as the "Covenanter Center Building." Funds
are being solicited from our own denomination in Japan, from other churches in
Japan, and from our churches in the U.S.
Under the direction of Pastor Takiura, a new center has been started with the
goal of preparing men to preach the word of God. In April 1996, the Kobe
Theological Hall was begun at Okamoto Keiyaku Church on an experimental basis.
Currently there are four students enrolled in courses, however there are presently
no prospective candidates for the ministry. Pastors Takiura, Sakai, Spear, and
Sterrett are sharing teaching responsibilities, and occasional lectures are to be given
by Japan Reformed Church pastors. Courses are being offered in Practical
Theology, Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Greek, and Church History.
We ask you to pray for this effort to be used by the Lord to continue to provide
for the regular preaching of the Word.
The Presbytery was also responsible for the oversight of the following activities:
1. The annual Young People's Conference was held August 14-16, 1995,
at Ayabe. Dr. Richard Ganz was the main speaker on the theme of Personal
Evangelism.
2. The annual Fall Church Conference was held on September 23, 1995, at
Shiawase no Mura. Pastor Toshio Masunaga spoke on the theme of Being
Reformed Presbyterian.
3. The Life of Christ in the Psalms was sung at the annual Psalm Program on
December 23, 1995 at the Hyogo Kyoiku Kaikan.
4. The Young People's prayer fellowship has continued on the first Lord's
Day of every month.
5. The Japan Presbytery continues to participate in the support of the
Reformation Translation Fellowship.
Officers of Presbytery for 1996 are:
Moderator: Shigeru Takiura
Treasurer: Shozo Hagiwara
Clerks: Sumito Sakai and William Sterrett
Respectfully submitted,
William ]. Sterrett, Clerk