Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1961 - Rparchives.org

140 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THE
John Coleman
Robert B. Tweed
Item 11 of Unfinished Business, the report of the Committee
to Review the Minutes of the Judicial Commission of the Synod
of 1960 was presented as attended to.
Item 14 of Unfinished Business, the report of the delegate
to the NAE Convention was read, adopted and is as follows:
REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE N.A.E. CONVENTION
At the Synod of 1960 Harold F. Thompson was appointed as
Synod's delegate to the 1961 N.A.E. Convention in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. When it developed that Mr. Thompson would be unable
to attend, the Moderator appointed me to take his place.
The Church was represented at the Convention by four men:
D. Howard Elliott officially represents the Church on the Board
of Directors; S. Bruce Willson attended at the request of the Seminary
Board; Kenneth G. Smith represented the Board of Christian
Education; before being made Synod's delegate I had already
planned to attend as a representative of the College.
In many respects the convention proved to be a stimulus and
source of encouragement. Strong leadership was represented by
some of those in positions of prominence. Perhaps the two outstanding
speakers at this year's convention were Dr. Harold J.
Ockenga, pastor of the Park Street Congregational Church in
Boston, and Dr. Carl F. H. Henry, editor of Christianity Today,
These, along with numerous others on the program, spoke intelligently
on live issues.
The N.A.E. tends to be dominated by churches of fundamentalist
persuasion, but much of the program can be heartily supported
by our Church, and the voice being raised in behalf of many
of the fundamentals of the faith is articulating a position which
is consistent with the Scriptures. It is encouraging to know that
the Christian Reformed Synod is considering, at its meeting just
beginning, re-affiliating with the N.A.E.
In the two resolutions dealing with the issue of communism
the position was taken that "the N.A.E. should make a positive
approach to the problem of Communism with a dynamic presentation
of the Gospel rather than engage in the investigation and
exposure of individual Communists." In addition to this, however,
the Convention affirmed its support of governmental investigatory
functions necessary for national security, as long as individual
rights are safeguarded.
An important program which should aid in combating communism
and other "isms" and in furthering the spread of the gospel
is designed to help "return the Bible to the Heart of the Nation."
An effort to stimulate public and private reading of the Scriptures