Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1961 - Rparchives.org

92 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THE
COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF A
NEW EXPLANATORY
DECLARATION
Your committee to study the possibility of an Explanatory
Declaration that would explain our objection to taking an unqualified
oath of allegiance, and at the same time witness to the
Crown Rights of Jesus Christ, has drawn up the following as our
proposed statement:
"I take this oath, pledging my loyalty and allegiance to my
country; but declaring my supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus
Christ Whom Almighty God has appointed Ruler of Nations, and
expressing my dissent from the Constitution's failure to recognize
and to acknowledge the Divine Institution of Civil Government."
We recommend:
1. That the Synod recommend the use of this Explanatory
Declaration as an alternative to the former Explanatory Declaration,
whenever the oathtaker desires to use it.
2. That we attempt to secure legislation permitting the taking
of the oath to the Constitution with this Explanatory Declaration,
whenever an oath is required.
3. That the implementation of Item No. 2 be referred to the
Oath Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul E. Faris, Chairman
R. W. Caskey
Willis M. Edgar
R. Paul Wright, M.D.
G. M. Robb
The report of the Committee to interview E. C. Copeland
reported that the position of seminary professor was being accepted
to begin in the fall of 1962. The Seminary Board reported that
it had secured the services of C. E. Caskey as a part-time instructor
in Greek for the coming year.
The report of the Finance Committee was read and taken up
item by item. Item 1 was adopted with the understanding that it
supercede the similar item passed by the Elders' Conference.
Item 2 was adopted. Items 3 and 4 were amended and adopted.
Item 5 was adopted. Item 6 was adopted and referred to the
Special Committee to Study the Financial Structure of the Synod
and Congregations. Item 7 was stricken out. Item 8 was adopted.
The report as a whole was adopted and is as follows:
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The following financial reports, which have been audited,
have been referred to the Finance Committee: Women's Synodical