2013 Synod Preview

The 182nd Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) is scheduled to meet at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., beginning Monday, June 24, at 6:30 p.m. Scheduled adjournment is June 28 at noon.

Along with the reports of agencies and administrative business, there will be deliberations on several matters carried over from last year’s Synod:

1) Are constitutional changes needed in light of the increasing presence of multiple-pastor congregations in the RPCNA? Synod responded to a paper last year by appointing a study committee on that topic. The committee is recommending that some minor changes be made to clarify the status and relationships in a multiple-pastor church.

2) Synod also formed a committee to look anew at the relationship between the Reformed Presbyterian Woman’s Assocation (which controls the RP Home) and the Synod. The committee report contains substantive reflections but does not recommend any significant changes in practice. The committee does recommend that Synod appoint a committee to explore the feasibility of a diaconal ministry associated with the courts of the church.

3) Changes could be coming for Midwest Presbytery and Pacific Coast Presbytery, if the Presbytery Realignment Committee’s recommendation is approved by Synod. That committee was formed in response to a Home Mission Board overture last year. The committee is recommending that the Colorado and Wyoming churches and mission works be transferred from Midwest to Pacific Coast Presbytery and that the latter presbytery be renamed Western Presbytery. A big reason for this proposal is that the Pacific Coast congregations are few and yet have several new works they are supporting.

For the 2013 Synod, only one paper—on collection of tithes and offerings—has been received thus far. The original paper, from Trinity (Beltsville, Md.) RPC to Alleghenies Presbytery, recommended that the section of the RP Testimony be removed that states: “The presentation of tithes and offerings is warranted as part of worship.” Presbytery forwarded the paper, believing that the subject merits further study.

The devotional theme for the 2013 Synod is “Enduring Suffering.” Speakers will include retiring moderator Dave Long (Lafayette, Ind., RPC) and Pastor Dave Karoon from the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

—Drew Gordon