Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 157Glenn McFarland registered the following dissent to the action tochange Ordination Query #8:Again this year I must protest an action of Synod which I believe isunscriptural. I believe the Synod has chosen a false form of unity inpreference to righteousnessin its requirements for the ordained officers ofthe RP Church. God's Word asks us as Christians to "come out fromamong them and be ye separate (holy)", but this Synod has violated thiscommand in its action. Because of the "impasse" of several sessionsrefusing to conform to the past law of the church, the law has been changedto accommodate them. This unscriptural action I must protestGlenn E. McFarlandWilbur Copeland registered the following dissent to the action tochange Ordination Query #8:I voted against the lowering of our requirement of "total abstinence" felders of the RPCNA for the following reasons:When God created the formula for beverage alcohol He made it to bean addictive substance. He also said drunkenness is sin and that nodrunkard has eternal life. He also indicated it is very bad to cause a weakerbrother to stumble. There is no way an elder can encourage the antidrunkennessstance and use beverage alcohol himself. He is not at libertyto say, "Do as I say; don't do as I do." He does not have that Uberty.My personality and character traits are such that I want to continuedoing whatever I'm doing and from which I'm getting pleasure. I am aworkaholic. I want to keep on working when I get started. When I playI want to keep on playing. I once started to play golf and I had to quit whileI still could do so. I could not afford the time and money to be a golf addict.If I were to start on beverage alcohol the addiction would be even worsebecause alcohol is an addictive substance. It is only with great effort thatI can control eating. Gluttony is a serious battle for me.I was in the army 44 months. I spent 16 years as a traveling salesman(away from home at least 4 nights and 5 days per week, approximately 50weeks per year). I was a frequent traveler in sales and management for 11years. I am cunendy involved in trying to help a fellow Christian, who isan alcoholic, to get his life back in order. I have been exposed to the effectsof beverage alcohol for many years. I have been in very close contact withhundreds, if not thousands, people afflicted with a drinking habit. Veryfew if any of them deliberately set out to be come alcohol dependents, butthey failed to remember that they are dealing with an addictive substance,until after they became addicted.