Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

More documents

Recommendations

Info

234 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE CHAPTER 5 OTHER CORPORATE ACTIVITIES 1. The congregation may often be involved in colleaive activities which are not services of worship, but which may employ one or more of the elements of worship. In such settings, whether weddings, funerals, musical concerts or social gatherings, there is freedom to employ all appropriate froms of musical expression, secular or religious, and it is not improper for the Psalms to be sung with instrumental accompaniment, provided they are used reverently. The Solemnization of Marriage 2. Marriage is a creation ordinance of God, adapted to the nature of human beings and their societies. It is designed for the welfare and happiness of men and women, the procreation of legitimate issue, and, in the case of the church, a holy seed in the line of the generations of God's covenant people. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman, who covenant to live together and to perform faithfully the duties of husband and wife. 3. Marriage is neither a sacrament nor something peculiar to Christians or the church, but is common to mankind and important to every society and nation. Nevertheless, because believers are to marry in the Lord, and have special need of instruction from the Word of God when they enter into the marriage relationship, we believe it is important that marriage be solemnized by a minister of the gospel, so that he may counsel them and pray for the blessing of God upon them in their life together. The state recognizes the role of ministers in solemnizing marriages. They should therefore be careful to comply with the appropriate civil regulations of the state or province within which the marriage is to. Ministers are to make certain beforehand that the proper marriage license has been secured, and, afterward, to take care to complete the marriage license, return any required certificate to the issuing office, and keep a record of the marriage with the church. 4. The parties to the marriage are to be of years of discretion, fitto make their own choice and, upon good grounds, to give their mutual consent. The church forbids the marriage of persons who are within degrees of consanguinity or affinity prohibited by the Word of God, and of a person who has been divorced on unscriptural grounds or has been the guilty party in a Scriptural divorce (Testimony, 24:4,5). Christians should marry only in the Lord and their marriage should be solemnized by an ordained minister of the gospel. 5. The marriage ceremony may appropriately be celebrated in the place appointed for public worship, before a competent number of credible witnesses, at some convenient hour of the day, at any time of the year, except on the Lord's Day.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA 235 6. A marriage should be a joyous, festive occasion. The bride and groom m desire to frame their own vows and make suggestions regarding the content of the ceremony. Nevertheless, the final decision about the content and conduct of the ceremony shall be at the discretion of the officiating minister(s). We suggest the following general pattern: 6.1 Introduaion. When the parties to the marriage are before the minister, he may say, "We are gathered in the presence of God and of this company, to join this man and this woman in the holy estate of marriage. Marriage was instituted by God from the beginning. God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help suitable for him" (Gen. 2:18). God then created woman of man's own substance and brought her to him. The Lord Jesus Christ honored marriage by his presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and confirmedit as a divine ordinance and a union not to be severed, when he declared, "What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matt. 19:6). Furthermore, the apostle Paul set forth the sacred nature of the marriage relationship when, in Ephesians 5:22-33, he compared it by analogy to the spiritual union between Christ and his church. The purpose of marriage, then,is the enrichment of the lives of those entering into this relationship, the nurture of a new generation, and the extension of Christ's church, to the glory of our covenant God." 6.2 Prayer. The minister should then pray for a blessing upon the union about to be effeaed. 6.3 The reading of Scripture. Appropriate passages of Scripture may be read, such as Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-6; Proverbs 31; Isaiah 32:2; 1 John 4:12-21; Ephesians 5; and 1 Corinthians 13. 6.4 Charge to the couple. The minister may then give a brief address, out of the Scripture, showing the institution, use, and goals of marriage. He should exhort them to study the word of God that they may learn to live by faith and be content in the midst of all the cares and challenges of marriage. He should also urge them to pray with and for one another, to watch over and encourage one another to love and good works, and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life. 6.5 Giving away of the bride. The minister may then ask "Who gives this woman to be married to this man" and her parent(s) will answer, "l/we do." 6.6 Exchange of vows. (a) The minister shall next ask the parties to join their right hands and give assent to the marriage vows. To the man, he shall say:
Page 1:
M I N U T E S O F T H E S Y N O D a
Page 4 and 5:
MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE Ro
Page 6 and 7:
Hemphill, Robert L., Westminster He
Page 8 and 9:
6 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57:
Page 58 and 59:
Page 60 and 61:
Page 62 and 63:
Page 64 and 65:
Page 66 and 67:
Page 68 and 69:
Page 70 and 71:
Page 72 and 73:
Page 74 and 75:
Page 76 and 77:
Page 78 and 79:
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
»00 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF T
Page 104 and 105:
102 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF TH
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
f 64 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF T
Page 168 and 169:
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
f 82 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF T
Page 186 and 187: 184 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF TH
Page 286 and 287:
Page 288 and 289:
Page 290 and 291:
Page 292 and 293:
Page 294 and 295:
Page 296 and 297:
Page 298 and 299:
Page 300 and 301:
Page 302 and 303:
Page 304 and 305:
Page 306 and 307:
Page 308 and 309:
Page 310 and 311:
Page 312 and 313:
Page 314 and 315:
Page 316 and 317:
Page 318 and 319:
Page 320 and 321:
Page 322 and 323:
Page 324 and 325:
Page 326 and 327:
Page 328 and 329:
Page 330 and 331:
Page 332 and 333:
Page 334 and 335:
Page 336 and 337:
Page 338 and 339:
Page 340 and 341:
Page 342 and 343:
Page 344 and 345:
Page 346 and 347:
Page 348 and 349:
Page 350 and 351:
Page 352 and 353:
Page 354:
show all

Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?