Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHChurch of the Twenty-first Century in a way which will be in harmony withwhat God commands in His Word. We feel that the Revision presented in1994 is a great improvement on the present Directory; there still may beportions which Synod may want to amend. (This proposed Revision isreproduced in the 1995 Docket and Digest of Synod. The only change thatwas made in the 1994 Revision was the deletion of "and the state" fromChapter 1, paragraph I, line 2.)We also were sent a proposed Replacement for the entire Directorywhich is based on the historical Westminster Directory for Worship. Whileyour Committee may not approve of all of it, we acknowledge that it hasmuch to commend it. (This proposed replacement has been printed in theSpring 1995 issue of Semper Reformanda, and we arranged with theeditors to make copies available for all of the delegates of Synod.)Recognizing that synod will not be meeting in 1996, we recommend thatSynod decide to choose one of two options for action at this meeting ofSynod:(1) Proceed to discuss and adopt the 1994 proposed revision withpossible amendments.(2) Proceed to discuss and adopt the proposed substitute Replacementdocument with possible amendments.We recommend the following procedure:1. That following the precedent in handling the Revision of theTestimony and the Revision of the Form of Church Government, that 15minutes be allotted for floor discussion and debate on each chapter of theproposed Directory for Worship, and that individual speakers be limited tothree minutes. No amendments shall be allowed from the floor. Eachchapter will be voted on in its entirety; approval requires a two-thirds vote.2. That failure to achieve a two thirds vote on any chapter will have theeffect of returning that chapter to the Committee for revision in light of thefloor discussion.3. That when each chapter has received the necessary two-thirds vote ofthe Synod, the entire Directory for Worship be submitted to the Sessions inoverture, and that the Sessions be asked to vote on each chapter separately,thereby allowing Sessions, if in disagreement with a portion of the Directory,to vote in favor of chapters with which they stand in agreement.4. That any chapter not approved in overture be returned to theCommittee for revision and resubmission to the Synod and the Sessions.5. That the revised Directory for Worship replace the present Directoryfor Worship only upon approval of all the chapters and the declaration bySynod of their adoption.Respectfully submitted,Robert CopelandRaymond JosephJerry MilroyWilliam RussellBruce Stewart, ChairmanIU