Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

72 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEpeople to enter into God's presence and experience His blessing, thislead to more spontaneity and/or flexibility in the form of worship, beingcareful to maintain harmony with what God commands in His word."Others have expressed the need for a clear explanation of whatconstitutes worship or non-worship situations or activities in the use of thePsalms" (7992 Minutes of Synod, p. 84.). We have not attempted to bringthe basic argumentation for the approach of the Scriptures to worship. Thisis clearly set forth in the Westminster Standards and the Testimony of theReformedPresbyterian Church. ThcDirectory seeks to help with practicalunderstanding and implementation of the basic principles of Scripture.(Please note the proposed Chapter 1, paragraph 1.)You will want to compare the present Directory, the proposed revisionprinted in the 7997 Minutes (pp. 162-177), and the new revision. For helpin assessing the changes in this proposed revision from the revisionpresented to the 1991 Synod, note the following:Chapter 1: paragraphs 1-5 revised and changed in order, paragraph 6is transferred to Chapter 2.Chapter 2: begins with paragraph 1 of Chapter 1; paragraph 9 onalternatives to the Psalm Explanation is replaced by a paragraph onResponses of God's People; reference to the deacon in paragraph 13 istransfened to paragraph 15 of the new proposal; in paragraph 18 the words"or passages" are added to "passage" in line 1; new paragraphs 21 and 22have been added.Chapter 3: paragraphs 3 and 4 have been rearranged somewhat todistinguish more clearly between procedures for adult and infant baptism;other minor changes.Chapter 4: an introductory paragraph has been added.Chapter 5: no changes have been made, but there was considerationof incorporating this into Chapter 1.Chapter 6: several introductory paragraphs have been added whichinclude actions of the 1972 Synod regarding situations in which theregulative principle of worship does and does not apply; paragraphs 1-7have been deleted as being more appropriate for the Directory for ChurchGovernment; paragraph 8 has been included in the section on the FuneralService; other minor changes. Please come to Synod prepared to discussthe approach to the Directory, and to make suggestions in writing whichwe can consider in proposing the revised Directory for adoption in 1994.