Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

80 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEis almost completed and has begun meeting. A change in policyrecommended by the conference staff to the Board has been approved and isas follows:High school young people, those entering grades nine through twelve,will be housed at the conference separate from their parents.Youth of middle school age will be housed in the same suite with theirparents who will be responsible for them during the sleeping hours. This willnot preclude a network of counselors. In fact,it will make it necessary toincrease the amount of planned time that will be a part of the youthprogram.Any young person, who has not yet graduated from high school and isattending the conference without a parent must have an adult who isattending the conference agree to sponsor him/her and to act in place of theparent while at the conference.As a part of maintaining order at the conference, any disruptive highschool youth will be required to sleep in the same suite with either his/herparent or sponsor.The reason is two-fold. All rooms at Calvin consist of two-room suiteswith connecting bathroom and Calvin has offered a reduced rate for familyunits. Secondly, we have had difficulty during past conferences in controllingthe behavior of junior high school and high school age youth when housedseparately.A youth conference designed to facilitate program planning for collegeand high school programs for the 1996 International Conference is scheduledfor July I - 4, 1995 at Southside Indianapolis RP Church. One adult youthworker and up to four youth from each presbytery will meet to make plansfor the high school and college conference programs.Because of the increased work load during the conference year for theprogram coordinator, Jim Pennington, an arrangement has been worked outthat will relieve him of some preaching and pastoral duties for the AlleghenyCongregation and the cost will be borne by the Board out of funds generatedby the International Conference.The Board has been working for two years on a statement of philosophyfor denominational conferences and at our March 1995 meeting adopted thefollowing statement.Denominational conferences of the RPCNA are designed to:encourage godly and faithful livingteach and defend the Scriptures, and the subordinate standards ofthe Churchtrain against false religion and man-centered worshippray and work toward the recognition of Jesus Christ as MediatorialKing over the nationsdevelop biblical unity and fellowship with other Christiansworship and prayhave fun and recreationcall people to consecration