Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 93The following special resolution was introduced by more than atwo-thirds vote and referred to the Business of Synod Committee:That Synod establish a permanent committee to consist of six (6)members with two members being elected each year to serve terms of threeyears, to be gathering and/or composing tunes for use by1. the Psalm Translation Committee,2. local congregations, and,3. for the creation of more Psalter Supplements.The report of the Temperance Committee was taken up, approvedand is as follows:REPORT OF THE TEMPERANCE COMMITTEEThis was an interesting year for the Temperance Committee. 500newsletters and 250 booklets were mailed to pastors, clerks of sessions,Sabbath school superintendents, or Christian education directors. The"Temperance Tempo" newsletter included articles about temperanceactivities in the public schools, reasons why our church should maintain atestimony in this area, some facts about the consequences of alcohol abuseand use, and an offer of help to any straggling with drag use or addiction.The booklet (Dear Elder, An Open Letter on Alcohol and Abstinence)contained many reasons (biblical, biological, societal) why some feel thatthe church should maintain/go back to a strong stand against beveragealcohol use. While conespondence from the recipients of this booklet wasnot a primary goal, letters and phone calls received from elders werehelpful. The vast majority of responses were positive regarding both thevisual quality and the content of the mailings.Our work this year and some of the responses to it have raised seriousquestions that will affect the future of this committee.1. Since the secular western culture is growing increasingly aware ofthe dangers of drag abuse, and is revealing that awareness throughsomewhat effective educational efforts (the Surgeon General just gave areport card "D" on the drag education effort directed toward youth), whatis the justification for having a tiny, modestly funded, RP TemperanceCommittee that can only hope to duplicate efforts of groups like MADD,SADD, PAL, PANDAA, etc.? EUminating this committee could saveSynod from $ 100 to $500 per year, not to mention one page in the Docketand 15 minutes at Synod meetings. "Temperance Tempo" Issue 1 aimed