Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

74 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEJohn Morrow, pastor of the American Presbyterian Church inWestminster, Maryland, brought greetings from the AmericanPresbyterian Church. Christopher Wright led in prayer for theAmerican Presbyterian Church.Ray McCracken reported on his visit in behalf of Synod to theannual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals. RayMorton led in prayer for the NAE.The report of the Interchurch Committee was taken up. Item 1 wasreferred to the Nominating Committee. Items 2-5 were adopted. Thereport as a whole was approved and is as follows:REPORT OF THE INTERCHURCH COMMITTEEThe Interchurch Committee met in conjunction with the meeting of theNorth American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) in Bondarken, Flat Rock, North Carolina, October 29-30,1992.Because the Ecumenicity Committee of the Orthodox PresbyterianChurch did not send their committee to the meetings of NAPARC we hadno meetings with them this year. Because of the expenses involved in travelwe have not allowed for extra meetings of the committee during the year.There were a couple of matters from the NAPARC meetings to drawto your attention. For the past two years the Council has asked the ChristianReformed Church not to proceed with the ordination of women to theoffice of teaching and mling elder. The 1992 Synod of the ChristianReformed Church voted not to open the office of elder to women. Theiraction of Synod had a second part which encouraged use of the gifts ofwomen in the congregations. The Council acted to "send a letter to theSynod of the Christian Reformed Church expressing our thanksgiving toGod that the Synod of the CRC in 1992 refused to ratify the change in theChurch Order Article 3 that would have opened the office of the minister,elder and evangelist to women, and assures the CRC of the continuingprayer of the Churches of NAPARC." The action refened only to theiraction of not opening the office to women. It did not make a commentregarding the further action of the Synod. There was some discussionabout the further action and to its implications but the Council made nofurther comment.The Reformed Church in the United States has appUed for membershipin the NAPARC. The Interim Committee recommended their membershipbut the Council after discussion voted to postpone action on the request.Your representatives voted no in regard to the postponement, we wouldhave favored immediate inclusion of this denomination in the Council.