Rev. G. Syms, representing the Reformed Churches of the United States, addressed the delegates with the following words:

Esteemed Brothers:

It is truly our joy to address you who are delegates to this General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches, and we bring greetings to you from the Reformed Church in the United States. Elder Stelpstra and I are blessed to have been requested by our Synod's Committee on Interchurch Relations to come as observers in your midst. We thank you for your hospitality and kindness to us in the Lord, and for the kindness and care of our host families.

We are thankful to God for the seriousness and thoroughness with which the Canadian Reformed Churches approach the things of our Sovereign Lord. We also him for the Reformed heritage to which you have remained covenantally faithful, for your unequivocal commitment to the Three Forms of Unity. It seems a rare thing indeed, to find churches such as the Canadian Reformed, that unashamedly proclaim the infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of the Living God. We do indeed, "thank God, upon every remembrance of you."

We are grateful that in the Providence of God, after many years of discussions, visits, and study, our Synod voted to extend to the Canadian Reformed Churches an invitation to enter into ecclesiastical fellowship. While we have something of a different ethnic and cultural background, we recognize in your churches a common commitment to the historic Reformed faith as confessed in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort. We have, in a sense, found each other in day when much confusion abounds as to the truth of God's Word. Subjectivism and worldly success are the distinctive marks of modernity which is making inroads even into churches professing the Reformed Faith. We also recognize that few churches today bear all three marks of the true church. In the midst of this present religious scene, we are encouraged by your zeal to maintain the purity of doctrine, both in proclamation and instruction, the administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of church discipline . We must include the fact that the articles, books, and other materials produced by your ministers and professors have been extremely helpful to us in the ministry of the Word. May God continue to bless your labors in making known his truth.

It is our desire as well to report to you some of the developments in the RCUS which may be of interest to your churches.

All four of the Classes have ratified the new Directories of Worship, one in Old English, and the other in Modern English. The Vows for office bearers and members have now been strengthened in binding all to the confessions of the church. These also were ratified by each of the Classes at their Spring meetings this year. These matters will be finalized, D. V., at the meeting of our Synod, Garner, Iowa, May 18-21, 1998.

In the land of Kenya, our Synod's Foreign Ministries Committee was instrumental in the establishment of the Free Reformed Church of Kenya. The Reverend Misters R. Grossmann and H. Opp administered the first adult and infant baptisms. They also ordained two men to the pastoral ministry, and provided training and instruction in doctrine and polity to congregations there.

The RCUS continues to work co-operatively with the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland, Vrijgemaakt, through the committees which oversee the assistance given to the Reformed Confessing Church of the Congo. It is our prayer that God will bless the labors of faithful ministers and also the missionaries of our Dutch brethren in his church-gathering work in that nation, to the glory of his name.

At home in the U.S.A., we are now very hopeful for the establishment of a new church at Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are also investigating the possibilities of beginning such a work in Fargo, North Dakota. Brothers, we ask that you will pray for these efforts, that God would be pleased to grant an open door for his Word. We also kindly request of you any names of contacts that you may have in these areas, in order that we may initiate correspondence regarding these mission endeavours.

Another opportunity that we hope the Canadian Reformed Churches will consider, is that of an international, Reformed Radio ministry. We are aware that you have much experience in this area, and are anxious for you to contribute your leadership and wisdom to what appears to be a viable opportunity for a faithful proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. It is perhaps one of the first missions to the nations of the world, where churches of the ICRC may labor together in proclaiming the Reformed and Biblical faith. The possibilities for expansion into many languages seem to be good. Of course, the foundations must be laid well, and the course well charted before such a work is undertaken. I am not ashamed to say, that faithful Reformed Churches need and desire the help of the Canadian Reformed Churches.

There are two theological matters that are of particular concern to us at present, especially in light of the pervasive effort in our society to overturn the created order. The first is that of maintaining the covenantal practice of voting by men only in the meetings of the congregation. The impact of humanism and feminism on our culture is obvious. Many in the churches are unaware that they are being subtly influenced by that same culture. We are convinced that we must maintain the antithesis in our thinking and practice, and that we must persevere in teaching the same.

The other matter of serious concern is what we perceive to be a frontal attack on the historic Reformed interpretation regarding the days of creation. Those that presently hold to a literal-six-day creation are pejoratively dubbed "fundamentalists" and the like. The name-calling is the least of our worries, but our real concern is the undermining of a consistently Reformed hermeneutic. If the creation account is simply a literary or poetic device, could not the account of the resurrection of our Lord be the same? The framework hypothesis is in our opinion a dangerous tampering with the doctrine of creation, and will inevitably lead to the the undoing of historic Reformed orthodoxy. We do trust that we may further discuss these important matters together, as the issue is very much alive in the seminaries and churches in the United States.

I do appreciate the time and attention you have given to your servant, and it has especially been a personal delight to address you on behalf of the Reformed Church in the United States. We have been made aware of the need to clarify terms, to address some of your concerns, as well as your willingness to continue to speak together on these matters. We believe that you are true churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, and trust that someday soon we may join hands in ecclesiastical fellowship as we labor for our Master in our respective nations. In days like these, we need each other.

Indeed, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Brothers, may God bless the Canadian Reformed Churches and the work of your General Synod, as you labor for his Kingdom and glory.

T. M. Veenendaal responded to Rev. G. Syms' address on behalf of the RCUS with the following words:

Mr Chairman,

I feel very privileged and honoured to reply on behalf of General Synod to the kind words addressed to us by the representatives of the Reformed Church in the United States. Rev. Syms, we very much appreciate the fact that we have you and elder David Stelpstra in our midst. Your presence here indicates to us that the RCUS has a deep interest in the Canadian Reformed Churches. I hope that you will find your time spent here interesting.

My interest in the RCUS is partly personal, because I am a member of the church at Carman, Manitoba. Our Carman church has had contact with your churches since 1986, and we are, as Rev. Syms mentioned to me yesterday, your closest neighbour. I was privileged to visit many of your pastors a number of years ago, and the church at Carman shares with a good number of your congregations the great North American plains.

I believe very strongly that my personal interest in the RCUS is shared by the members of this assembly and, indeed, with many other members of the Canadian Reformed Churches. This is due, for a very large part, to the fact that we share with you the very same doctrinal confessions, namely the three Forms of Unity.

The fact that your churches have, besides the Heidelberg Catechism again readopted the Canons of Dort and the Belgic Confession would indicate to us that your church-federation is moving in a very positive direction.

It is my wish that the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Reformed Churches in the United States will make every effort to become more acquainted with each other. For many years I have subscribed to your official church paper, 'The Reformed Herald' , which in my opinion promotes good reformed leadership and direction. Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, you will allow me to insert a commercial here, encouraging the members of this assembly to subscribe to 'The Reformed Herald.' Such a subscription will definitely be a positive move to further acquaint ourselves with the RCUS.

I sincerely hope and pray that by the grace of our heavenly Father we may continue and increase our understanding and appreciation of each other's church federations, so that in time, and via an orderly way we may come to realize church unity. The basics are in place in our common confessional statements.

Reverend Syms, and brother Stelpstra: thank you for representing your churches at our synod by your presence. Please pass on to all your church members our thanks and best wishes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me the privilege of addressing the official delegation of the Reformed Church in the United States to the 1998 synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches.