Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

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142 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEcongregations within them, and related conespondence from two elderswho were members of one or the other of the two presbyteries. Thechairman prepared and sent out an "Initial Approach and Proposal"statement, which contained a bibliography of Confession and Testimonystatements and recent actions recorded in several of Synod's Minutes.Most importantly, the committee was charged with the responsibility forearnest prayer that in the face of what has appeared to be an insolubledilemma, God would use our work to lead Synod and the Church to asolution which will bring unity, direction and joy, and will allow ourbeloved Church to move on to vital denominational concerns needing itsearnest attention.The committee held its one on-site meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo.,on March 22-23,1993, during which time all fiveappointees were present.Attached to this report, the committee is presenting, unanimously, one setof recommendations. In discussing the doctrinal controversies involved,we discovered two procedural questions, especially revolving around:1. The question of whether the ordination vows are part of the "fundamentallaw" of the Church, or whether they are attached to it. (See theConstitution, Title Page, where the "Standards subordinate to the Word ofGod, the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Snorter Catechisms, theTestimony, the Directory for Church Government, the Book ofDiscipline,and the Directory for the Worship of God' are listed, and then these wordsare added, "Together with Official Vows and Forms"). Your committee,on the basis of precedence (see 7959 Minutes, p. 119, Para. 1) proceededon the assumption that ordination vows are indeed a part of the "fundamentallaw." We address this matter no further. 2. The question of who votesin overtures. Our investigation indicated that there remains some confusionon this matter (though Synod has approved certain policies in the past[7975 Minutes, pp. 84-85]). We are bringing a recommendation regardingovertures to try to remove any confusion and clarify the procedure.HISTORICAL REVIEWSynod should be reminded of the amazing amount of time,energy, andcost which the question of total abstinence, applied to the whole membershipof the denomination, or applied to its ordained officers only, hasrequired of the church courts. A brief historical review of the earlier periodin the Church is noted below. In the last twenty years the debate hasintensified. In addition to the papers presented, investment of committeestudy, reports written, and overtures sent down, one congregation left thedenomination in part over these issues. Members of Synod may study thesereferences in recent Synod Minutes and in the Confession and Testimonylisted in the bibliography at the end of this report.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1431836—Synod recommends to its members that they refrain frombuying and selling "ardent spirits." Report of Committee onTemperance, Minutes of Synod, 1882.1840—Motion entertained re "trafficking in ardent spirits" at thevery end of Synod that "all such traffic... is hereby prohibited inthis church."1841—Southern Presbytery (Albany and Newburgh, NY; Philadelphia)requests that "something be done" about trafficking inardent spirits; Synod concurs unanimously that the members of theRPCNA should not be involved in the alcoholic beverage business.1853—New York Presbytery requests counsel from Synod concerningparticipation in civil government in cases where civilgovernment is moving to prohibit or restrain trade in alcoholicbeverages.1857—Synod makes the sale and use of intoxicating drinks, as abeverage, an offence deserving church discipline.1882—Temperance Committee reportstates that the Synod shouldhave the Church include in its Testimony an article "foreverprohibiting the manufacture, sale and use of intoxicating liquors asa beverage;" licensure should be refused to any candidate who isin the habit of indulging.1883—Synod passes a paragraph in its Testimony upholding totalabstinence as a standard for its members.1937—J. G. Vos queries the scriptural validity of the Testimony.1938—New Terms of Communion and a Covenant of ChurchMembership are adopted. Neither mention total abstinence, butsubscription to the content is required of every communicantmember, unlike our present separation of the membership from theordained office-bearers. A committee is formed to revise thequeries "in order to make them conform with the new Terms ofCommunion."1939—Cunent vows, including Vow # 8, are adopted, but not sentdown in sessional overture.RELATED BIBLICAL PRINCIPLESBelief in and practice of several Biblical principles seem to be involvedin this impasse:a. The Church is called to be the "pillar and support of the tmth" (1Timothy 3:15), and its officers are to take the lead in their whole-heartedcommitment to that tmth (Titus 1:9,1 Tim. 2:8-9).b. Within those parameters, the Church is to pursue unity among allChristians with determination, but especially and foundationally within its
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Totak.Allantk64.82924,0003123598433
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STATISTICAL REPORT. FINANCESr31,199
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Total Balance Other Pastor'sDisb. 1
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Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

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