MORNING SESSION - THURSDAY MAY 14, 1998

Article 63

Reopening

The chairman requests that Ps. 78: 1, 2, 3 be sung, leads in prayer, reads from 1 John 4:7-21. It is noted that the Deputies for Ecclesiastical Unity of the United Reformed Churches of North America, the Rev. R. Stienstra, and Rev. P. Vellenga, as well as Rev.R. Sikkema of the same federation, are present. They are welcomed.

Article 64

Adoption of the Acts

Articles 54 - 62 of the Acts pertaining to Thursday, May 14 are adopted.

Articles 65 - 67 were in closed session.

Article 68

Adjournment

Synod adjourns for committee work until the evening.

EVENING SESSION - THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1998

Article 69

Reopening

The chairman asks that Hymn 46: 1, 2 be sung. He welcomes the guests among us, also the young people and the children.

Article 70

Address of Rev. Bedard

Rev. Paulin Bedard then addresses the synod and the audience with the words found in Appendix 1. Rev. G. H. Visscher responds with words that can be found in the same appendix.

Article 71

Address of Rev. R. Stienstra

Rev. Richard Stienstra prefaces his address with some personal reflections on what he has seen during the day's visit to Synod, expressing appreciation. He then addresses synod with the words found in the appendix. Thereafter Rev. W. B. Slomp responds with suitable words, as found in the appendix.

Article 72

Committee for Contact with Churches Abroad

Committee III makes their proposal.

Committee III presents Items ID, IIFF, IIW, IV T, IV V, IV W,

1. MATERIAL

   1. The Report of the CRCA

   2. Letters from the churches at Aldergrove, Elora, Orangeville, Taber, Yarrow

2. OBSERVATIONS

   1. The CRCA has been having internal discussions on the matter of how best to deal with requests to enter into new relationships with churches in different parts of the world (eg. Lanka Reformed Church).

   2. The CRCA has also been led to question whether it is possible for a small church federation such as ours to do justice to an ever-increasing number of relationships (via establishing ecclesiastical Fellowship with churches in different parts of the world, or via the ICRC).

   3. The CRCA observes that the sister churches in the Netherlands have pursued many relations around the world, also in North America. This makes for a more complicated, even confusing ecclesiastical scene. The CRCA observes that "it would seem more realistic and responsible for the RCN to concentrate its efforts on establishing relations with faithful Reformed churches in its part of the world and for the CanRC to do the same in North and South America.

   4. The Committee considers that this may give a more focused approach, which will enable them to do greater justice to present and future relations, make better use of manpower and resources, and prevent overlap and possible disagreement between sister churches.

   5. The CRCA recommends that Synod mandate the Committee as follows:

      1. Whenever the CanRC receives new requests for entering into Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the CanRC priority will be given to churches located in the Americas, that is North and South America;

      2. Whenever the CRCA receives a new request from a church located in Africa, Asia or Europe to enter into Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the CanRC, it shall direct that church to take up contact with one of the sister churches in that part of the world;

      3. Discussions be entered into with those churches with which we currently maintain Ecclesiastical Fellowship with a view to the merits of this strategy and to ask them to give serious consideration to adopting the same.

   6. The church at Aldergrove considers that CRCA does not substantiate why the RCN's large number of contacts abroad might make meaningful relations with those churches impossible. The CRCA fails to argue why the size of our federation makes contact with churches beyond the Americas irresponsible.

   7. The churches at Elora and Taber fully endorse the recommendations of the CRCA.

   8. The church at Orangeville support the recommendation of the Committee to give priority to establishing relationships with churches in our immediate geographical area (North and South America). To facilitate the implementation of the proposal of the Committee Orangeville suggests a restructuring of the Committees appointed for contact with other churches.

   9. The church at Yarrow overtures Synod to mandate the CRCA

      1. Whenever the CanRCs receive new requests for entering into Ecclesiastical Fellowship with the CanRCs priority will be given to churches located in the Americas, that is, North and South America;

      2. Discussions be undertaken with the current sister churches on the advantages and disadvantages of the 'regionalized' approach (as proposed by the CRCA) and a full report be provided six months prior to Synod 2001.

3. CONSIDERATIONS

   1. The reports and actions of the CRCA make clear that the time has come for reviewing the manner in which we maintain and establish our international contacts.

   2. The CRCA is correct when it suggests that it would seem more realistic and responsible for our sister churches to concentrate their efforts on establishing relations with faithful Reformed churches in their parts of the world and for the Canadian Reformed Churches to do the same in North and South America.

   3. Restructuring the work of CRCA should not detract from our ecumenical calling. Therefore Synod upholds the consideration of Synod Lincoln 1992, Article 128 III D, namely that "a regional approach towards contact with other churches does not exclude the worldwide calling, and cannot avoid worldwide contacts, although by reason of proximity, resources and other practical factors, priority should be given to the ecumenical calling in the church's home environment."

   4. The proposal of the church at Orangeville facilitates a restructuring of the Committees for contact with other churches. With this approach Synod addresses the concerns of the CRCA in the following manner:

      1. Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad

         1. This Committee will continue functioning as the present Committee for Relations with Churches Abroad (that is those outside of North and South America) with whom we presently have a relationship of Ecclesiastical Fellowship.

         2. A request for contact will be followed up in consultation with a sister-church in the part of the world from which the request originates.

      2. Committee for Contact with Churches in the Americas.

         This Committee will take over the mandate of the CRCA in as far as it relates to the Americas by establishing and maintaining relationships of ecclesiastical fellowship with churches located in North and South America.

   5. By this approach the need for prior consultation with sister-churches abroad is obviated and the points raised by the church at Aldergrove and Yarrow are addressed.

4. RECOMMENDATION

   Synod decide:

   1. To restructure the committees for contact with other churches into two Committees known as the Committee for Relation with Churches Abroad (CRCA) and the Committee for Contact with Churches in the Americas (CCCA).

   2. To take this into consideration when formulating the mandate of the CRCA and the CCCA and when making Committee appointments.

ADOPTED

Article 73

Mexico

Committee IV presents:

Agenda item II.PP

1. MATERIAL:

   Overture from Bethel Canadian Reformed Church in Toronto regarding the Independent Presbyterian Church of Mexico.

2. ADMISSIBILITY:

   This overture comes from a local church and is presented to General Synod as a new matter. Neither Classis Ontario-North nor Regional Synod-East have dealt with this matter. According to Article 30 CO "a new matter which has not previously been presented to that major assembly may be put on the agenda only when the minor assembly has dealt with it."

3. RECOMMENDATION:

   Synod declares this matter inadmissible.

   ADOPTED

Article 74

Inspection of the Archives

Committee IV presents:

Agenda item I.J (L.29)

1. MATERIAL

   Letter from the church at Burlington-Waterdown re: inspection of the General Archives.

2. OBSERVATION

   The church at Burlington-Waterdown informs Synod that the archives of General Synod Abbotsford 1995 were inspected by two members of their consistory and found to be in good order.

3. RECOMMENDATION

   Synod decide to thank the church at Burlington-Waterdown for examining the archives and reporting to Synod.

ADOPTED

It is noted that while the Church at Burlington West was appointed for this purpose, the Church at Burlington/Waterdown reported because the Church at Burlington West split into two churches: Burlington/Waterdown and Flamborough.

Article 75

Address Church

Committee IV presents:

Agenda item L.22

1. MATERIAL

   Report from the address church, the Ebenezer Canadian Reformed Church at Burlington-East.

2. OBSERVATIONS

   1. The church at Burlington-East reports on its correspondence as address church.

   2. The church at Grand Rapids, which is our address church in the United States of America, has not submitted a report.

3. CONSIDERATION

   The church at Burlington East has fulfilled its mandate as address church.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

   Synod decide:

   1. To thank the church at Burlington-East for the work done as address church.

   2. To reappoint the church at Burlington-East as address church in Canada, and church at Grand Rapids as address church in the United States of America.

   3. To instruct these address churches to report to the next General Synod.

ADOPTED

Article 76

Finances of Synod

Committee IV presents

Agenda Item I.K

1. MATERIAL

   1. Statement of income and expenses from the Finance Committee of General Synod 1995.

   2. Audit report by the church at Yarrow, BC concerning the books of the treasurer of the Finance Committee appointed by Synod Abbotsford, 1995.

2. OBSERVATIONS

   1. General Synod Abbotsford appointed the church at Yarrow to audit the books of the finances of General Synod 1995.

   2. The financial statement discloses the following expenses:

      Stationery $1340.41

      Telephone $129.67

      Postage $505.66

      Travel (delegates Regional Synod West) $1336.07

      Travel (delegates Regional Synod East) $6200.34

      Food $2164.76

      Equipment & rentals $2210.46

      Printing $13936.48

      Miscellaneous $333.77

      TOTAL: $28157.62

   3. The church at Yarrow has audited the books of the finances of General Synod 1995, and reports that they were found to be decent and in good order.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS:

   Synod decide:

   1. To express appreciation of the work done by the Finance Committee of General Synod 1995 and by the auditing church;

   2. To discharge the Finance Committee for General Synod 1995 on the basis of the auditors' report of the church at Yarrow;

   3. To appoint a Finance Committee which will pay the expenses incurred by General Synod 1998, using funds submitted by the churches in each Regional Synod. This committee will forward any balance of funds to the convening church of the next General Synod. They will also submit a financial statement to the next General Synod, audited by the church at Guelph.

   4. To appoint as Finance Committee of General Synod 1998: sister T. Swaving and brother H. Bouwman.

   5. To appoint the church at Guelph to audit the books of the finances of General Synod 1998 and report to the next General Synod.

ADOPTED

Article 77

General Fund

Committee IV presents:

Agenda Item I.H

1. MATERIAL:

   Report from the church at Carman re: General Fund

2. OBSERVATIONS:

   1. The church at Carman, MB, submits a financial report of the General Fund for the period from February 6, 1995 to January 20, 1998. The income was $29,505.86. The disbursements were $24 801.13. The final balance was $4 704.73.

   2. The books were audited by two office bearers of the church at Carman and found to be in good order.

   3. The church at Carman notes that the churches have already been assessed 2 times $2 per confessing member to cover the costs of the General Fund.

   4. The church at Carman requests Synod to thank br. G. Vandersluis who has taken care of the books for the General Fund.

3. CONSIDERATIONS:

   It is within the mandate of the church at Carman to request funding as required.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS:

   Synod decide:

   1. To express gratitude to the church at Carman for the administration of the General Fund, to the office bearers who audited the books, and to brother G. Vandersluis for keeping the books.

   2. To authorize the church at Carman to collect fund from the churches as required.

   3. To discharge the church at Carman of duties completed during the period of February 6, 1995, to January 20, 1998, and reappoint the church at Carman for the General Fund.

ADOPTED

Article 78

Adjournment

The chairman speaks some farewell words to the fraternal delegates who are leaving soon. He thanks them for their participation and wishes them the Lord's blessing. He also thanks br and sr John Hutten for all the work they did with respect to the mail and the provisional agenda for Synod Fergus 98.

Thereafter Rev. G. H. Visscher asks that Hymn 40 1, 2, 5 be sung, and leads in prayer.