Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

230 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
4.4 The Session should keep an accurate record of all persons baptized, with the
date, and, in the case of a child, with the names of the parents and the date of
birth. A certificate of baptism should be provided for each person baptized.
The Lord's Supper
5. The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is given to the church as a perpetual
remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ in his death. It signifies the sealing of the
benefits of that death to true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth, and
their commitment to faithful discipleship in Christ. It is also given to be a covenant
and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other, as members of His
body, the church.
6. The Lord's Supper is to be observed frequently, as determined by the
Session, in keeping with the reverence enjoined in 1 Corinthians 11. It should be
administered following the preaching of the Word. The symbols of the Lord's
Supper are bread and wine.
7. Only those who have been baptized and are communicant members in good
standing are to be admitted to the Lord's Table. Persons whose manner of life is
notably inconsistent with their Christian profession or who are unknown to the
Session in charge of the Table, are not to be admitted. The Session should attend
to the faithful administration of the sacrament and exercise diligent and continual
oversight of those under its care. Those who desire to commune but are not
under the care of the Session are to be interviewed as to their personal
commitment to Christ, their church membership and their baptism.
8. It is the privilege and duty of every member to observe the Lord's Supper
regularly and with careful preparation. The congregation should be notified at least
a week in advance of the celebration of the Supper. The Session may appoint one
or more preparatory services, at times convenient for the congregation. Such
"communion seasons" are appropriately occasions for guest ministers to assist in
the preaching of the Word. The Covenant of Church Membership should be read
and be explained at one of the preparatory services.
9. Before the administration of the Lord's Supper, the minister should read the
Scriptural basis for the sacrament from one of the Gospels or from 1 Corinthians
11. He should follow the general pattern described in the following sections,
although he may employ different language, using his own liberty and godly
wisdom as the edification of the congregation shall require.
9.1 The minister shall give instruction as to the institution and nature of the
Lord's Supper, drawing attention to the words of institution in 1 Corinthians
11:23-26.
"The Lord's Supper is an ordinance instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Until His coming again, it is to be observed in perpetual remembrance of
the sacrifice of Himself in His death. The physical elements, representing
the broken body and the shed blood of the Savior, are received by true
believers as signs and seals of all the benefits of His sacrifice upon the