Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA 215
previously known of the National Reform Association. Audio tapes of al
speakers since 1990 are available through the Christian Statesman, and the NRA
web site.
In January, 1997, Dr. Jack Perry was a featured guest on the Randall Terry Live
radio show. Response to his appearance on the show was excellent, with many
inquirers from churches where the NRA was previously unknown.
To the extent that anybody has heard of us, response to the NRA from the
larger Christian community has been excellent. There appears to be an Increasing
thirst for our message. The increasingly aggressive godlessness of the present civil
government has continued to push Christians from pietism to activism, and the
disappointing results of religious right aaivism is moving them to reconsider the
theological foundations of political involvement.
The message of the Christ's Lordship of civil government has found an very
favorable reception in an unlikely corner. The government of Zambia has
amended its Constitution to proclaim itself a Christian Nation, and the president of
that country included a confession of national sin in his inaugural address. NRA
President Andrew Sandlin was invited to go to Zambia this summer to preach
about biblical principles of civil government to the president, parliament, and
cabinet there.
Appreciation for Service
We wish to recognize those who have served us. Six Board members have
retired in the last two years, including Tom Houston, Barry Long, Robert Dalbey,
Bill Edgar, Randy Toman, and Daniel Stine. Also, Jack Perry stepped down as
Executive Direaor. Rev. Mel Martin has retired from being Treasurer, although he
remains on the board as Assistant Treasurer. 1995-1997 saw the conclusion of
the services of Niles Campbell and Jack Perry as editors, and of Shannon
Hostetter as financialsecretary.
We also saw the conclusion of Linda Au's service as typesetter. We would like
this occasion to specially commend Linda Au for her work at a time that was both
a personal crisis for her and an institutional crisis for the NRA. Notwithstanding
her own affliaion, she stood in the gap for us then. The fact that we are no longer
in a crisisis in no small measure due to her service.
Aaions of the Board
At our 1995 and 1996 board meetings, we examined our statement of purpose
and our constitution. The result was that we renewed our original statement of
purpose from the 1870's.
The mission of the National Reform Associationis to maintain and promote in
our national life the Christian principles of civil government, which include, but are
not limited to, the following:
1. Jesus Christ is Lord inall aspects of life, including civil government.
Jesus Christ is, therefore, the Ruler of Nations, and should be explicitly
confessed as such in any constitutional documents.