Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

PRE-SYNODIC CONFERENCEFor Reformed PresbyterianMinisters and EldersTHEME: "The Kingdom of God"June 10-12,1971GENEVA COLLEGEHousing in air-conditioned apartments,with swimming pool. Time for informaldiscussion, relaxation and recreation.Sponsored by the Bible Department ofGeneva CollegePLAN NOW TO ATTEND!contributed to Synod's Budget which Iassumed were to be printed in statisticalreports in the Minutes of Synod. Due to amisunderstanding, I used a list of theactual amounts given to Synod's Budgetprepared especially for this analysis.When I sent the letter to the editor, I stilldid not have a copy of the 1970 Minutes ofSynod against which to check my figures.As a consequence, many amounts aredifferent from what was reported.(2) Even though the figures which Ireceived and submitted were to be theactual amounts donated, errors unfortunatelywere present. Bloomington,for example, gave $5,000; not $3,500 aslisted. Broomall, for another example,gave $5,654.50; not $11,300.85. There wereother errors, too, but not so significant. Iwish to offer an apology to thesecongregations for misinforming thechurch regarding their support of Synod'sBudget.(3) My letter was intended to bewritten by a person who could usepublished information and was not intendedto be an official letter from Synod'sBoard of Trustees. I think that the editorialdiscretion of the editor erroneously gavethe impression to the readers that theletter was official. In fact, it was not.The differences, beside errors, betweenthe amounts recorded in the church officeand the amounts reported in the Minutesprobably fall into one of the followingcategories :(a) Contributions received after thebooks are closed are recorded in the newyear while the congregation records themin the previous year.(b) Difficulties arise in determiningwhether items should be counted ascontributions towards departments includedin Synod's Budget.(c) Contributions received from theSabbath School or Young People arecounted as coming from a congregation.(d) Individuals sometimes make acontribution desiring that credit be givento a particular congregation with theirnames to be kept anonymous, but thecongregations, of course, do not reportthese.In order to facilitate the recording andaccumulation of amounts received forSynod's Budget from congregations in thefuture, the records in the Church Officeand receipts for contributions have beenredesigned.I hope that despite the error theanalysis has an impact which will help toraise Synod's Budget in full in the future.Sincerely,John M. Mitchell, PresidentSynod's Board of TrusteesBOOKSVoices Above The Crowd by Daniel R.Taylor. 96 pages. $2.95. Word Books, Waco,Texas.This is a book of testimonials byfifteen outstanding Americans: PatBoone, J. C. Penney, Norman Rockwell,Charles M. Schultz, and Eugenia Priceamong them. The testimonials cover suchtopics as Priority, Discouragement, God,Prayer, The Bible, The Church.To read the convictions of such peopleis most encouraging in a time when onehears so much of adverse criticism.M.W.D.Life's Greatest Trip by Arthur Blessit. 92pages. $2.95. Word Books, Waco, Texas.The author is a minister of SunsetStrip and he maintains a center known as"His Place" where he ministers to hippies.This challenging book sets forth theuniqueness of this ministry in drawing the"outs" "in."M.W.D.Great Preaching edited by Sherwood Wirtand Viola Blake of the editorial staff ofDecision magazine. 172 pages. $4.00. WordBooks, Waco, Texas.This is a compilation of twenty-twosermons by as many authors, largely ofevangelical persuasion.M.W.D.THE KANSAS AND COLORADOWOMEN'S PRESBYTERIALwill meet at the Quinter R.P. Church onApril 6 and 7, 1971.Convention Theme: Jehovah, OurCovenant God.Convention Psalm: Psalm 25:7-12Roll Call: A Bible verse on Covenants.Mrs. Waldo Stevenson,Presbyterial PresidentMention (ieneva and the travelerrecalls water gushing from thefountain in Lake (ieneva or themagnificent Swiss Alps whichenvelop the city of the reformation.There is another (ieneva with abeauts all its own nestled in theBeaver Valley of western Pennsylvania..C.eneva College. We inviteyou to discover this Geneva, a fullyaccredited Christian liberal artscollege with majors in the variousarts and sciences as well as engineering,all integrated around theWord of God.To make this dis