Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 117indicate that "to divide the question" is a form of amendment and ththe request to divide the question was out of order after the motion for the"previous question" had passed.The value of parliamentary procedures is to help us deal with discussionand debate in an orderly fashion and should always be regarded as ourservant and not our master. In the spirit of seeking to move the Synod onto the important discussion on this question, we propose the following,even though we recognize that the recommendation is not without itsdifficulties:The parliamentarians take the responsibility for giving a faulty rulingand allowing the division of the substitute motion and would recommendthat to correct the situation, Synod rescindthe votes on the three parts ofthe substitute motion and proceed to vote on the substitute motion in itsentirety.This ruling can be challenged by the court, but it would appear to theparliamentarians that would result in endless and fruitless debate.If not challenged, the Moderator should give opportunity for thesubstitute motion to be read and then proceed to vote without debate sincethe motion for the previous question passed.The decision of the parliamentarians was upheld. The substitutemotion was lost.The Committee presented its own substitute to Items 2-4 of itsreport. It was moved, seconded and carried that the substitute motionbe taken up.Wayne Duffield led in prayer as Synod recessed for fifteen minutesat 2:50 p.m.Synod sang Psalm 84B and was led in prayer by Ray Joseph.Item 2 as substituted by the Committee was adopted. It was moved,seconded and carried that the good committee declare the nature ofthe necessity that warrants this directive binding the behavior ofChrist's people with the request that Acts 15:1 and 28 be cited andreluctance be expressed in this matter. Item 3 was adopted; in keepingwith this item, Kenneth Smith led Synod in prayer.The time for the afternoon session was extended to 4:30 p.m.Paul McCracken led in prayer before taking the vote on Item 4.Item 4 was adopted by more than a 2/3 vote (78 aye; 17 no). WilburCopeland, James Morton, Dale Musselman, Darrell R. Parnell, R.Bruce Parnell, Webster L. Fields, Harold Faris, Karl E. Meeker,Brent Wells, Darrell Powell, Robert H. McFarland, Howard Elliott,Roy Adams, Samuel E. Boyle and Glenn McFarland asked that theirdissent to this action be recorded.