Synod of Greek Evangelical Church in Cyprus Holds Historic Meeting

A quarter of a century ago, the last RPCNA missionaries left Cyprus. They said farewell to a tiny band of Christians, demoralized by the Turkish invasion and cruel division of a little Mediterranean island.

In the very same building where they said their sad goodbyes, 40 or so Cypriot evangelicals met on May 11 this year—quite an occasion for those of us who remember the old days.

And there was more: this was a Synod that was constituted on the basis of a Reformed confession and a presbyterian book of government.

Drifting Away

After the invasion, the Cypriot church began to lose con­tact with its mother church­divided by the upset of war, the fact that many members of the local church were scattered, the sheer physical distance between the U.S. and Cyprus, and the growth of the church with the addition of many who had never met an RPCNA missionary. However, over the last few years, this growing body of Cypriot Christians felt the need to place their house in order, and so started a long process of revising its constitutional documents. At some point along this path, I was asked to join the three-man committee to which the revision was assigned. I was more than glad to do this.

Revision of Constitutional Documents

The RPCNA is familiar with the emerging Cypriot Confession, because it is based on the Nicene Creed and the Confession of the Greek Evangelical Church of Greece. The latter was the effort of Greek evangelicals during the 19th Century, who, with the help of Presbyterian missionaries to the Greek people, put together this historic document. Their aim was to relate the core doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith to the realities of Greek culture and history. This is the confession used by the Greek Evangelical Church of Greece, which is the Reformed and Presbyterian Church of the mainland of Greece.

The new book of government is a document which was drawn from the constitutional documents of the RPCNA, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the original book of government, on the basis of which the RPCNA granted the Cypriot church its independence. All this was related to the new realities of the Cypriot churches and is characterized by a spirit of hope in future growth. So, there is provision for the creation and functioning of presbyteries, even though there are only three congregations at present.

The Cypriot church took great pains to make sure that the revision of their constitutional documents was carried out properly and with respect towards their existing documents.

An “Inaugural” Synod

Once the Constitutional documents were in place and properly adopted, the Greek Evangelical Church of Cyprus proceeded to call the first Synod under the revised constitution. The council organizing this historical event decided to invite a representative from the RPCNA to address Synod. It was a moving providence of God that Pastor Don Piper, the last missionary to leave the island in the 1970s, is the current moderator of the RPCNA. The RPCNA Interchurch Committee was contacted, and Don Piper was asked to attend the Synod.

Don was warmly received by Synod. He opened his address in excellent Greek, before reverting to his native English for the rest of the speech. He brought greetings from the RPCNA Synod, recalled some of the old days, and encouraged the congregation to press on with Christ and the work at hand.

A message of Christian greetings was sent through Don, and thanks were given to the Lord for the dedication of RPCNA missionaries who sacrificed many years of their lives—and for some of them, their whole lives—in service here.

Fraternal Relations

During Synodical business a motion was considered that “the Executive Committee pursues the establishment of fraternal relations with the RPCNA.” The motion was passed unanimously, and subsequently a letter to that effect was sent to the lnterchurch Committee of the RPCNA requesting such. In the letter, the moderator of Synod of the Greek Evangelical Church of Cyprus (GECC), Pastor Hercules Panayiotides-Tzaferis, wrote: “We feel that ‘the years of separation’ are now past and we eagerly seek to have a close fraternal relationship with the Church who, in the Lord’s providence, He has used to bring us into being. Whereas we understand that this fraternal bond has no organizational dimension, we feel that our relationship of the past calls for a formal expression of our historical unity and the common purpose we have in our Confessions and in the service of our Sovereign Lord and Savior.”

Vision

Most members of this small body of Christians were, for the first time in their lives, experiencing the rigors of presbyterian church government. For the first time “motions to Synod” were brought, discussed, and voted.

Soon those of us who participated in other Synods noted the developing Ianguage and attention to detail, the repetitive comment, and the hyperbole—I guess Presbyterianism has to come with its full regalia!

It was very encouraging, however, to note several of the motions passed. One of them directed the executive committee to investigate ways of beginning missionary work in Paphos, a place which has been notorious for having almost no evangelical witness for generations. First to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. Just like those who crossed the Atlantic to bring the gospel to the Cypriots, now the little group is flexing its muscles and following their example. After all, it was men of Cyprus that first obeyed the command, went to Antioch and began to speak (Acts 11:20).

Shared History

The RPCNA has a shared history with this band of Christians. It has faithfully prayed and supported them over decades.

I believe that now that the Lord has given growth, its responsibility continues. Trinity Christian Community Fellowship, Cyprus, an English-speaking Reformed Presbyterian congregation, is greatly encouraged by the Lord’s doing as it watches these developments and encourages and supports them.

—Adam Mastris, ruling elder, Trinity Christian Community Fellowship

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Hebron (Clay Center, Kan.) RPC

Ron Graham, pastor

On Jan. 13, John & Cathy Rug, missionaries from Chile, spoke about their work. On Mar. 24, Steve Kmetz from the Salina Rescue Mission spoke about his work with homeless men.

The congregation’s community outreach project is the Heartland Share Program. The distribution site is at the church building the third Friday of each month.

The Midwest Presbyterial was held at the Sterling RPC Apr. 18-19. The theme was “Pioneer Women in the Modern-Day Church.” Those attending from Hebron were Edna Hatfield, Sheryl McMahan, Gay Graham, and Bessie Van Kirk.

Harold Milligan is recovering well after surgery.

Matthew McMahan has recently joined as a new partner in the family business at Central Office Service & Supply.

—Mae Henderson, correspondent

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College Hill (Beaver Falls. Pa.) RPC

Anthony Selvaggio, pastor

The evening of Feb. 16 found a lively assembly of College Hill folks in the Herb McCracken home. It was another of the McFun evenings—this time an ice cream social. The entertainment was provided courtesy of the International Olympic Committee. Between 50 and 60 members of the congregation crowded around the TV sets to watch the program. Four individuals provided four varieties of homemade ice cream. The highlight of the evening was the freestyle skiing. The introduction to the program caused more than one jaw to drop, and even a few eyes were covered as the skiers performed their daring maneuvers. The program itself was equally thrilling but with fewer spills.

By this time the assembled number were sufficiently relaxed to enjoy another evening of fun and fellowship.

On Mar. 30 another McFun evening took place. This time the entertainment was basketball and the food nachos and cookies. Donations were assigned to the Laurelville family conference fund.

The College Hill Young At Heart continue their monthly meetings. Recent meetings included a luncheon at a nearby restaurant when Dr. William Russell shared with the members the “Castles and Battlefields” trip he and Mrs. Russell took through the South; a luncheon with Dr. Stewart and Ann Lee at their new home in the Sherwood Oaks Retirement Center in Cranberry Township; and a tour of the Wendell August Forge in Grove City.

The monthly student dinners following the morning worship service continued to the end of the current college semester.

—Norman Carson, correspondent

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Sharon (Morning Sun, Iowa) RPC

Ron Good, pastor

Pastor Ron Good has recently completed a sermon series on eternity. Recent speakers to the congregation included Gene and Ruth Spear, who reported on current missionary work in Japan; and Richard Shaw, a World War II veteran, who addressed the women’s presbyterial.

Social events have included the annual Sabbath school picnic, with grilled pork chops and homemade salads and desserts. The Christmas dinner and program was, “Holiday Legends, Traditions, and Remembrances.” The New Year’s Eve game and fellowship night was held at the parsonage.

The annual congregational soup supper was held in February preceding the annual congregational meeting. Elected as chairman and secretary were Jay Hutchcson and Sharon Pilling.

The session held a pancake supper in March, with Maurice and Mac McDonald providing a Hawaiian slide show.

The 2002 graduates dinner was held in May, acknowledging graduates from the eighth grade, high school, community college, college, and graduate school. The Washington, Iowa, RPC will again join this congregation for monthly Psalm sings throughout the summer.

Pastor Robert LaMay assisted with the Lord’s supper in April. Joe Baird and Kim Robb were elected and installed to the office of deacon in January. The congregation welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Northfield, along with their four children, as members of the congregation.

A summer project at the church building includes restoring the hardwood flooring in the sanctuary and replacing the carpet in the aisles.

—Terri Hutcheson, correspondent