Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

152 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEnot trouble his conscience, and until such time as the congregation shcall him to serve again as deacon."4. That we inform the presbytery and Synod's special committee ofour actions and that we encourage the Oswego session to follow suit."5. That we publicly repent in writing before the presbytery and beforethe Synod, by means of the special committee, asking the Lord of theChurch to bring heaUng, unity, and strength to this church."6. That we continue to pursue the modification of vow #8 to make itmore in keeping with biblical teaching through aU the legal and nondivisiveavenues we have within the Church."On March 7,1993, (the) Deacon... of Smiths Falls congregation tookVow #8 with the abstinence clause before the session. At that time he reada statement in which he affirmed his conviction that this clause is anunbiblical requirement, and that he was promising to be bound in hisbehavior, but not in his conscience, on the basis of Vow #9. This action and(the deacon's) statement were read to the St. Lawrence Presbytery onMarch 10, 1993.CLARIFICATIONIn bringing this report to a close, your committee is united in wishingnot to be misunderstood. We continue to believe that abuse of alcohol andother drags is rebellion against God, and is sinful. It has been the sourceof immeasurable suffering and destruction. In recommending a change inthe query, we remind you of the following passages: "So then each one ofus shall give account of himself to God. . . .for if because of food yourbrother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroywith your food him for whom Christ died... .do not tear down the workof God for the sake of food... .it is good not to eat meat or to drink wine,or to do anything by which your brother stumbles" (Romans14:12,15,20,21); "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as acovering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God" (1 Peter 2:16). Weremind the courts of the Church that they may not shrink from their dutyof church discipline in the case of the abuse of alcohol or other drags,whether it involves members of the Church or its officers.FINAL COMMITTEE APPEALWe appeal to you that, as you consider the following recommendations,you do so prayerfully, and that you eamestiy seek the unity of the body ofChrist and the welfare of your brothers and sisters in this branch of Hisbody. We are most desirous that in our body' s faith-commitments our dailybehavior be in harmony with them. That is our goal. May the God of allgrace enable us to be submitted to His will in this difficult matter.