MORNING SESSION - Tuesday, May 05, 1998

Article 1

Opening

On behalf of the Church at Fergus, its counsellor, Rev. J. G. Slaa, calls the meeting to order. He asks the brothers to sing from Psalm 122: 1, 2, reads from Ephesians 1, and leads in prayer. Thereafter he addresses the meeting with some fitting introductory words (as found in appendix 1).

Article 2

Examination of Credentials

The church at Fergus examines the credentials which are found to be in order. All primi delegates are present with the exception of Rev. R.J. Eikelboom who is an alternate delegate to Rev. R.A. Schouten. In attendance are:

From Regional Synod East:

Ministers: W. den Hollander, P.G. Feenstra, A.J. Pol, G.H. Visscher

Elders: L. Jagt, W. Oostdyk, J. Schouten, W. Smouter.

From Regional Synod West:

Ministers: R. Aasman, R.J. Eikelboom, J. Moesker, W.B. Slomp.

Elders: W.A. Pleiter, A. VanLeeuwen, P. Vanwoudenberg, T.M. Veenendaal

Article 3

Election of Officers

Voting for officers of Synod takes place, with the following result:

Chairman: Rev. R. Aasman

Vice-chairman: Rev. W. den Hollander

First clerk: Rev. G. H. Visscher

Second clerk: Rev. P. G. Feenstra

On behalf of the convening church, Rev. J. G. Slaa declares General Synod Fergus 1998 constituted. He invites the officers to take their places.

Article 4

Welcome

Rev. R. Aasman thanks everyone for the confidence placed in him and the other members of the executive. He expresses appreciation for the words of Rev. J. deGelder during the prayer service the previous evening and the words of Rev. J. G. Slaa this morning. Rev. R. Aasman thanks the church at Fergus for their extensive labours in preparing for this synod. He expresses words of welcome to Rev. C. Bouwman who is present as a fraternal delegate from the Free Reformed Churches of Australia. Also the schoolchildren from the Maranatha Canadian Reformed School of Fergus are welcomed, as are the members of the press. It is decided to seat the counsellor of the church at Fergus, the Rev. J. G. Slaa, as advisor to Synod. Thereafter synod takes a break in order to give the executive an opportunity to make some arrangements for the proceedings.

Article 5

Presence on The Internet

Synod meets in order to discuss some introductory matters. Synod is informed by the convening church that the possibility exists for synod to have a home page on the Internet. It is agreed that the Acts will be uploaded to this home page (index.html) as they become available.

Article 6

Privilege of the Floor to Representatives

The Executive places the following items of the provisional agenda before Synod.

The church at Ancaster requests Synod to allow representatives from the United Reformed Churches of North America to be given the privilege of the floor. It is decided that besides fraternal delegates from federations with whom the Canadian Reformed Churches have official relations, observers from ERQ, RCUS and URCNA will also be given this privilege.

Committee for Contact with Churches Abroad informs us that Rev. C. Bouwman will be present as representative of the FRCA, that that Rev. G. Syms and Elder David Stelpstra will represent the Reformed Church in the United States.

Article 7

Committees of Synod

The executive make the recommendation that the following committees be formed with material assigned to each committee as designated below.

Executive

Items II.DD, III.E, III,Z, IV.C, IV.J, for the executive

Committee I: J. Moesker (convener), G.H. Visscher, W. Oostdyk, P VanWoudenberg

OPC I.C, II.M, II.T, II.X, II.NN, II.TT, II.BBB, III.F, III.V, IV.E, IV.F, IV.L, IV.N, IV.Q, IV.S, IV.T(re OPC), IV.V(re OPC), IV.Y, II.B, III.D, III.G, III.BB, II.SS, III.X

PROLIFE II.MM

Committee II: R. Aasman, W. B.Slomp (convener) W.A. Pleiter, T. M.Veenendaal

Appeals re Dismissal of Rev. Hoogsteen III.K, III.M, III.N, III.O, III.Q, III.R

Appeal re Hofford IV.A

Appeal Burger et al III.L, III.Y

Book of Praise I.E, II.A, II.C, II.H, II.L, II.II, II.QQ, II.XX, II.YY, II.DDD, IV.B, IV.D, IV.H, IV.R, IV.T(part 3), IV.V(part 5), IV.BB

Committee III: W. DenHollander (convener), P.G. Feenstra, W. Smouter, A. VanLeeuwen

Appeals re Denver II.D, III.C, III.I

RCUS I.D(re RCUS), II.GG, II.HH

L'ERQ I.A, II.J, II.K, II.N, II.Q, II.R, II.V(part 2), II.Y, II.AA, II.JJ, II.LL, II.OO, II.VV, II.WW, II.ZZ, II.AAA, II.CC, IV.G, IV.T(part 1), IV.V(part 6)

FRC II.G, II.V(part 3), IV.V(part 6)

FCS I.D(re FCS), III.S, III.T, III.U, III.X

PCK I.D(re PCK), III.W, III.X

ICRC I.D(re ICRC), II.O

CRCA I.D, II.S, II.V(part 1), II.W, II.CC, II.FF, II UU, IV M, IV T (part 4), IV.V(part 3), IV.W, III H

Appeal W Heights III.A

Committee IV: R.J. Eikelboom, A.J. Pol (convener), L. Jagt, J. Schouten

General Fund I.H

Archives I.I

Inspect Archives I.J

Audit Finances I.K

Theological College I.B, II.Z, II.BB, II.KK, IV.K, IV.O, IV.U, IV.V(part 1), IV.Z

Women's Vote II.C, (II.F), II.I, II.RR, (III.B), III.P

Bible Translation I.G, III.J, III.AA, IV.V(part 4), IV.X

URCNA &Deputies I.F, II.P, II.V(part 1), II.EE, IV.I, IV.J, IV.P, IV.V(part 6) IV.AA

Mexico II.PP

Appeal Vandermeulen II.U

Article 8

Time Schedule and Procedures

The Executive made the following recommendations:

1. The time schedule will be: Monday* to Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m.
2. Saturdays will be optional.
3. Synod plans to meet on the holiday, May 18.
4. Upon request of the Foundation for Superannuation, Synod will not convene on Saturday, May 9, 1998.
5. Synod shall begin and close each day with prayer and thanksgiving in plenary sessions.
6. Press Release will not be published until after Synod has been closed.
7. Advisory committees shall provide each delegate with a copy of their report, plus three copies for the first clerk, before it is dealt with in plenary sessions.
8. Copies of documents are available only to members of Synod, and fraternal delegates.
9. For all procedures the Guidelines as adopted by the General Synod of Cloverdale 1983, Acts, Article 45 (and as amended by following synods) will apply.
10. The chairman confirms that those who have expenses related to travelling to Synod may submit them at any time to sr. T. Swaving. Mileage is set at twenty-five cents per kilometre.

ADOPTED.

Article 9

Presentation to chairman

Br H. Bouwman of the church at Fergus presents the chairman with a gavel for his labours here and his possession later as a memoir. The chairman expresses great appreciation for the labours of br H. Bouwman and other members of the church at Fergus.

At noon, after singing from Psalm 121: 1, 4 synod adjourns for lunch. Thereafter committees will meet until the next plenary session.

AFTERNOON SESSION - MAY 05,1998

Article 10

Reopening

At 3:00 pm, the chairman, Rev. R. Aasman reopens plenary session.

Article 11

Late material

It is noted that the Guidelines for Synod (published by the convening church) state that "All material for Synod should be received by the convening Church (in twenty-two) copies no later than six weeks prior to the convocation date of General Synod. Material received after this date shall ordinarily not be added to the agenda unless Synod is satisfied that the reasons given for later arrival are reasonable"(see Appendix II Acts of Synod Abbotsford 1995, p.103; cf. Article 110 and 111 of the same). In this instance the date six weeks prior to convocation date was March 24, 1998.

With this rule in mind, synod considers whether to add the following material to the agenda.

1. CCOPC, recommending that synod appoint representative to next meeting of General Assembly of the OPC. Received March 30, 1998. Declared admissible.
2. Abbotsford re OPC, CRCA and ERQ. Received April 1. Declared inadmissible.
3. Langley re women's voting. Received March 28. Declared inadmissible.
4. Smithers, re ERQ, Governors, OPC, CRCA, Bible Translations. Received March 28. Declared inadmissible.
5. Chilliwack: re ERQ. Received March 31. Declared inadmissible.
6. Owen Sound, re ERQ. Received March 25. Declared inadmissible.
7. Owen Sound, re Standing Committee for Book of Praise. Received March 25. Declared admissible.
8. Houston, re first rule for ecclesiastical fellowship. Received March 28. Declared inadmissible.
9. London, re Standing Committee for Book of Praise. Received March 31. Declared inadmissible.
10. Ebenezer Burlington, report of the CRCA. Received April 2. Declared inadmissible.
11. Grace Winnipeg, re URCNA. Received April 6. Declared inadmissible.
12. Brampton, re OPC, ERQ, CRCA. Received April 6. Declared inadmissible.
13. Smithville, re Pastoral Proficiency Program, and ERQ. Received April 6. Declared inadmissible.
14. Brampton, re CRCA and Pastoral Proficiency Program. Received April 7. Declared inadmissible.
15. Smithville, re CCOPC. Received April 10. Declared inadmissible.
16. Hamilton, re ERQ and the Pastoral Proficiency Program. Received April 3. Declared inadmissible.
17. Grand Valley, re CRCA. Received April 14. Declared inadmissible.
18. Financial Statements for Theological College, replacement copies of previous report with some corrections. Declared admissible.
19. Denver, re CCOPC. Received April 15. Declared inadmissible.
20. Aldergrove re Surrey's proposal. Received April 16. Declared inadmissible.
21. Willoughby Heights re Standing Committee for Book of Praise. Received April 16. Declared admissible.
22. Ebenezer Burlington, report as Address Church. Received April 18. Declared admissible.
23. Watford, re CRCA. Received April 18. Declared inadmissible.
24. Br. Bill VanderVeen of Carman, re Nicene Creed. Received April 28. Declared inadmissible.
25. Redeemer Winnipeg, re endorsement of Grace Winnipeg. Received April 28. Declared inadmissible.
26. Rockway, re CRCA. Received April 28. Declared inadmissible.
27. Standing Committee for Book of Praise, reacting to comments received on Nicene Creed. Received May 1. Declared admissible.
28. T. Kingma, edited copies of his earlier submissions. Received May 4. Declared inadmissible.
29. Burlington-Waterdown, re Inspection of the Archives. Received May 5. Declared admissible.
30. CRCA re appointments and retirements. Declared admissible.
31. Rockway, re the meeting on Saturday May 9 1998 where Dr. J. Faber and Dr. P.Y. DeJong will speak. Received for information.

The items declared admissible above will be added to the agenda of Synod (see Article 13 below. These items are designated as L plus the number given above)

Synod adjourns for supper.

EVENING SESSION - Tuesday, May 05, 1998

Article 12

Reopening

Synod meets in plenary session.

Article 13

Rockway's Request re Procedure ad Article 32, C.O.

The Executive presents:

Material

Agenda Material II-DD

Observations:

With a view to their concerns about the appeals relating to their church and the Rev. T. Hoogsteen, the church at Rockway asks:

1. In the event that a delegate to General Synod has participated as a delegate to a minor assembly in a decision of that assembly pertaining specifically to a person, such a delegate shall not:

1. serve on the advisory committee appointed with respect to such matter; and
2. vote in the disposition of an appeal of that decision by that person to General Synod.

Considerations

1. Rockway's interpretation of article 32 is contrary to the intent of this article. Article 32 pertains to matters in which a delegate would judge in his own case (personal or local church).
2. Whether delegates abstain from voting on matters which they needed to make a decision about before depends upon their own personal discretion and judgement.
3. Synod has already taken into consideration the concerns of Rockway in that it has given the matters pertaining to Rockway and Rev. Hoogsteen to a committee composed entirely of delegates from the west. This is also a standing practice of general synods.

Recommendation

That synod not accede to Rockway's request.

ADOPTED

Article 14

Late Information re VanAndel Appeal

A letter is received from C. & A. VanAndel appellant indicating support of other brothers and sisters re their appeal. Declared inadmissible.

Article 15

Adjournment

Rev. A.J. Pol requests that H. 47: 1, 2, 3 be sung whereafter he leads in prayer.