Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

Recommendations of SynodSTEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE1. That the budget be set withinpossible attainment.2. That the Coordinating Committeeconsider the requests that are presentedand adopt a budget within the means ofthe church in a business-like way.3. That the decrease in membershipbe given consideration when making upthe budget.4. That tithing, not in itself, but inwhat it does for the giver as well as thereceiver, be presented to each congregation twice a year.5. That continued educational workconcerning giving be carried on by adefinite program to inform the entiremembershipchurch.of all of the work of the6. That presbyterial young people'ssecretaries make discussions of tithinga part of the program of their annualgatherings.COMMITTEE ON PRACTICAL STEPS TOWARD AN IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 4 OF THE COVENANT OF 18711. That negotiations as specified in thereport of this committee with a viewto church union be begun before nextSynod with the following bodies: TheSynod of the Associate PresbyterianChurch. The General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,The General Assembly of the OrthodoxPresbyterian Church, The Synod of theBible Presbyterian Church, The Synodof the Christian Reformed Church, TheGeneral Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, andothers as the committee sees fit.TEMPERANCE COMMITTEE1. That the issuing of a Total Abstinence number of the Covenanter Witness be repeated in 1955. In the sameconnection that a Commitment Day beobserved in our churches.2. That the Sabbath Schools accept ourgratitude for their generous support thispast year, and that they be requestedto devote the offering on the fourthSabbath of October to the work of thecommittee.BIBLE READING COMMITTEEThat the attention of congregationsbe called to the recommendation ofthe Synod of 1952 regarding the appointment of some one in each congregation to care for the ordering anddistribution of the Readers among themembership.August 25, 1954COORDINATING COMMITTEEThat the budget for the coming yearbe set at $110,815.CHRISTIAN EDUCATION1. That leadership trainingclasses forBible teachers be stressed this year.2. That presbyteries set up committees on Christian Education to promotethe work in each presbytery.3. That congregations doing specialwork in Christian education report thesame in the Covenanter Witness.WITNESS COMMITTEE1. That pastors, sessions, congregations and all members be urged to usethe Witness Committee tracts and sendthem out as widely as possible.2. That our people continue to praydaily and at Sabbath services for theChristian Amendment Movement.3. That congregations work definitelyfor a wider circulation of the ChristianPatriot.ELDERS'CONFERENCE1. That the clerks of presbyteries andclerks of sessions be requested to keeptheir records more carefully and forward their statistical reports morepromptly.2. That congregational treasurers becommended for sending in contributionsto Synod's budget monthly or quarterly,and that they be requested to continuedoing so.4. That the pastor's minimum annualsalary be set at $2,700, with a manse,or $600 additional as its equivalent.5. That the session of each congregation, in cooperation with the board ofdeacons, review the adequacy of theirpastor's salary.6. That the session of each congregation be encouraged to meet with thepastor before the Sabbath morning service to pray for the Holy Spirit's blessing.HOME MISSION BOARDThat self-supporting congregations beurged to observe the minimum salaryset by this Synod ($2700) and if unableto assume the added responsibility, toapply through their presbyteries fornecessary assistance fromMission Board.the Home2. That the Home Mission Board pay$200 of the $300 increase in the minimum salary for the aid receiving congregations this year, and that the congregations be asked to make specialeffort to raise the additional $100 thisyear; and that this increase be effectiveJune 1, 1954.HOME MISSION SECRETARY1. That Synod commend New YorkPresbytery in its efforts to open a newfield.2. That with twelve organized congregations without pastors, with older ministers retiring year after year, and withother work of the church to which ministers are likely to be chosen, Synodrenew its call to the young men of theChurch to give themselves to the greattask of the Gospel ministry, and thatwe state as our need, a minimum of fifteen additional seminary students.NATIONAL REFORM ASSOCIATION1. That pastors, officers and membersof the church be encouraged to assistthe National Reform Association in thedistribution of its literature and in thepromoting of its program locally.2. That each congregation be urgedto name a representative from amongits members to serve as an agent of theNational Reform Association in securingsubscriptions to the Christian Statesman and to handle the distribution of itsliterature locally.3. That pastors or congregationalagents be urged to place copies of Dr.Elliott's Daily Bible Readings in thehands of teachers of the local schools.Also copies of our latest Facts AboutIntoxicating Liquors.4. That pastors, sessions, SabbathSchool superintendents and teachers beurged to participate actively in the Crusade Against Liquor Advertising,and toenlist others in their respective communities in this Crusade.5. That congregations be commendedfor their support of the N.R.A. in thepast and that pastors and sessions berequested to keep open their pulpitsto representatives of the Associationand to assist in arranging openings forits speakers in their communities.6. That the first Sabbath of Novemberbe designated for taking the NationalReform annual offering, that $10,000 beset as the goal to be reached by thechurch and that its pastors deliver aNational Reform message to their people preparatory to taking the offering.Also that names and addresses of allcontributors and that amounts contributed be sent to the Association headquarters 501 Publication Bldg., 209Ninth St., Pittsburgh 22, Pa., so that(Continued on page 122)119