Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

22 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
Tom Gray, who is a theological student under the care of the Presbytery of the
Alleghenies, arrived in Japan on June 4, 1997 and is serving as a summer intern.
We pray that this will be for the blessing of both Tom and the Japanese Church.
The Presbytery regrets to report that in April 1996 a trial was held to bring
charges of contempt for the Church Court against former pastor Samuel Youn.
Mr. Youn had previously confessed to charges of breaking the seventh
commandment, false teaching, and false witness. Later it was found that he had
publicly denied his confession and displayed contempt for the court. The
Presbytery summoned Mr. Youn twice, but he did not respond to the summonses.
The trial was held in his absence. He was found guilty as charged, and the results
of the trial were sent in a certified letter to him which he refused to accept. After
the trial, the summons letter was returned unopened, so it was decided to set
another trial date in July and send a summons letter which would require proof of
Mr. Youn's having read it. Mr. Youn again failed to respond to the summons, so
the Presbytery reconfirmed its original verdict. On July 8, 1996 Samuel Youn was
pronounced deposed from the office of minister of the gospel and was
excommunicated by the court of the Japan Presbytery. We continue to pray for
Mr. Youn's repentance.
New officers have been elected for the Religious Bodies Organization
(Shukyohojin). Pastor Takiura has replaced Pastor Spear as the representative
officer. Pastor Sakai and Elder Kazuo Ishii were elected as officers.
The Covenanter Bookstore Board of Directors is in the process of making final
plans for the rebuilding of the Bookstore as the "Covenanter Center Building."
Contributions continue to be received from our own denomination in Japan, from
other churches in Japan, and from our churches in the U.S. The congregations in
Japan have each pledged to contribute funds over a maximum ten-year period.
At the end of August 1996, Elder Shozo Hagiwara accepted the position of
Manager of the Covenanter Bookstore. Under his leadership, book sales are
gradually returning to their pre-earthquake levels.
In August we were pleased that several members of the Japan R.P. Church were
able to attend the international conference at Calvin College. At the conference
an appeal was made on behalf of the Covenanter Bookstore building fund. An
appeal was also made for the sending of more missionaries to Japan.
After an experimental session in the spring of 1996, The Kobe Theological Hall
began regular classes on September 12, 1996 under the direction of Pastor
Takiura. There are currently seven students enrolled in evening classes. Courses
are offered in Practical Theology, Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Greek,
and Church History. KTH was pleased to have Tom Reid and Ed Robson as guest
lecturers from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1997.
The Psalm committee continues to make progress in preparing new Psalms in
Japanese for singing. An enlarged edition of the Japanese Psalter is being
prepared and will soon be ready for publication.