Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 63Committee on the Cornerstones publications for their considerationand not printed in the Minutes of Synod.REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THECORNERSTONES SEMINAR ON HEADSHIPA. THE BACKGROUND OF THE COMMITTEE'S ASSIGNMENTThe 1992 Synod appointed this committee to attend the CornerstonesII Seminar on Headship, presented by Kathryn Stegall, at the CarletonConference, and "to make appropriate comments."All the members of the Committee heard the presentation of the speakeron the subject of headship. The basic thrust of her presentation was to arguethat the biblical teaching on headship does not involve "authority over."Inasmuch as this presentation was very lengthy (about 2 hours), there wasnot adequate time for the committee to respond during the momingsession. The decision was made to adjourn for lunch and then reconvenein the afternoon. Members of Synod's committee then responded to whathad been presented. (The presentation of the speaker and the response ofthe committee are available on audio tape.)It is the judgment of the committee that the questions that have beenraised concerning headship and the role and service of women in thechurch are of such significance, and raised in so controversial a way, thatmore needs to be said for the good and peace of the church.B. SOME SIGNIFICANT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THECHURCH'S PRESENT POSITIONIn the course of our listening to the speaker's presentation and fromourreading of Cornerstones, we find some significant misconceptions whichwe must point out and clarify.THE REPORT ITSELF IS NOT THE COMPENDIUMA booklet labeled The Report of the Committee on the Role and Serviceof Women was presented to the 1990 Synod. This booklet contained boththe Report proper and also what was attached to it by way of an appendix.This appendix (called "the Compendium") consisted of a number of studypapers by Committee members which did not receive full committeeagreement. The Report proper is only found on the first seven pages of thebooklet. The remaining 108 pages is the Compendium. Only the Reportproper contains the committee's agreed-upon conclusions. And only thisportion came before Synod as the committee's set of judgments andrecommendations. It is not, therefore, competent to quote from one of the