Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 75There was concern expressed that a small denomination such as the RCUShad the same voice as a larger denomination such as the PCA on theCouncU. The Interim Committee is to study the issue of representation inNAPARC and report to the next meeting of the Council.The CouncU is proceeding with plans for a celebration of the 350thanniversary of the seating of the Westminster Assembly. It is to be held inLondon, England, September 23-25, 1993. For some of this celebration,the committee has been given the use of the Jemsalem Chamber, where theAssembly met. There will be some recommendations which come to usfrom the Council at the end of this report.The Committee asks that the Synod give the Committee permission toapply for observer status for the denomination with the InternationalConference of Reformed Churches. This organization is made up ofReformed churches from around the world. The purposes are stated in theConstitution of the conference and are as follows:1. To express and promote the unity of faith that the member churcheshave in Christ;2. To encourage the fullest ecclesiastical fellowship among the memberchurches;3. To encourage cooperation among the member churches on thefulfillment of the missionary and other mandates;4. To study common problems and issues that confront the memberchurches and to aim for recommendation with respect to thesematters;5. To present a Reformed testimony to the world.The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland as well as the OrthodoxPresbyterian Church are members of the ICRC. We have sent representativesto their meeting in the past but only to see what was going on in theConference, with no official capacity in the Conference. This year,Thomas Reid has been appointed as representative to the meeting of theConference. He will be doing this in conjunction with his participation inthe Westminster celebration in September.The denomination has been invited to join the World Presbyterian andReformed Fellowship. This is an organization that is under the umbrella ofthe National Association of Evangelicals. We are not making any recommendationregarding this at this time.In further report concerning the NAE, the Committee through thedelegate from the RPCNA expressed our protest concerning the NAE'suse of the Sabbath Day. They had a Lord's Day worship as an Associationrather than participating in the worship of the congregations of the Orlandoarea where they were meeting. The Lord's Day was used for regular