In the final joint session of these concurrent synods, Pastor Shawn Anderson (Sycamore [Kokomo, Ind.] RPC) preached on John 17:1-5 and the manner of the King’s reign, the mission of the King’s reign, and 3) the motivation of the King’s reign.
It was announced that this is the 50th anniversary of the receiving of the Associate Presbyterian Church into the RPCNA.
The business of the week was again taken up with a few communications.
Communications 19-4 and 19-5 came from Rev. Bill Edgar with Atlantic Presbytery’s endorsement. The first one requested that board minutes be reviewed at each Synod. This passed. The second communication, directing that all board employees’ salaries be made public, was debated and then referred back to the presbytery for clarification.
Communication 19-7 from Pacific Coast Presbytery requests a small change in the Constitution from “English Bible” exam to “Bible Knowledge” exam to accommodate ministerial candidates who are being trained for work in non-English-speaking contexts. This passed.
The Vital Churches Committee will fund the entirety of the Atlantic Presbytery pastors and wives retreat to be held at White Lake Camp July 9-11. There is a grant in conjunction with the RP Seminary for a pastoral refresher in an academic setting for two pastors and their wives. More info is available at http://rpts.edu/pdf/Pastoral_Refreshment_Program.pdf.
The Graduate Study Fund expressed thanks that the Lord provided funds to support the largest number of advanced-degree candidates in the committee’s history.
The Youth Ministries Committee of Synod highlighted, with thanks to God, the youth work going on in the North American presbyteries. They gave thanks for a strong Youth Leadership Conference last summer at Geneva College, attended by 30 youth, and they look forward to another on July 4-8 with Dr. Barry York leading.
The RP Global Alliance is requesting an RP International Day of Prayer for Ministers this Oct. 6. The Synod approved this.
The Church History Committee is looking for help with archiving for the denominational archives.
The International Conference Advisory Committee directed people to its web site, rpic2020.org, for details about the next RP International Conference, just 13 months away. It will be held Wednesday, July 29, to Monday evening, Aug. 3, 2020, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Keynote speaker Warren Peel, pastor of Trinity (Belfast, N. Ireland), will expound the book of Daniel on the theme, “Glorifying God in Babylon.” The conference psalm will be Psalm 84B. Conference rates are to be published by the end of August.
Reformation Translation Fellowship reports that it is printing about 20,000 copies each of 5-7 titles per year in the Chinese language and is adding about 10 titles per year to its web site.
Membership in the RPCNA grew by 3.4 percent in the past year, and worship attendance increased 3 percent, reported the stated clerk. This is the largest gain in the denomination since the 19th Century and the largest total membership since the 1940s. The denomination had a net increase of 1 congregation to 91 total and a net increase of 4 mission churches to 13 total. Six congregations or mission churches were received in 2019 from other denominations: Coram Deo Mission (Squamish, B.C.), Great Basin RP Mission (Reno, Nev.), Grace Reformed Mission (Columbia, Mo.), Birmingham RP Mission Church (Birmingham, Ala.), San Antonio Mission Church (San Antonio, Tex.), and Christ Presbyterian Church (Grandview, Mo.). The Synod rose to give thanks to God in prayer.
The Judicial Committee reported to Synod in response to an appeal from Rev. Jeff Yelton regarding actions of Midwest Presbytery and Shawnee RPC in connection with statements he published on wine in the Lord’s supper. Synod, at the recommendation of the Judicial Committee, decided not to take up the appeal. In accordance with the RPCNA Constitution, specific reasons for not taking further action on the appeal were provided by the Synod. The decisions of the lower courts therefore stand.
The RP Woman’s Association through the RP Home, which it oversees, is providing care for 22 members of the RPCNA among its residents and patients. The Home gave out a total of $2 million in benevolent and uncompensated care in 2018. There have been many big needs, such as a new roof on one of the buildings, but God has provided through contributions and bequests. Due to a nursing shortage, the Home has had to hire some agency help but hopes to eventually have all its own nurses. Under the auspices of the Woman’s Association, the RPCNA Disability Ministry has been reorganized.
The Geneva Board of Corporators reported. Geneva College hosted the concurrent ARP/RPCNA synods, and recently received the John Gerstner collection for its library. The college reported that it has had to deal with significant projected budget deficits and has adopted a course of action to address this. The chaplain position will be eliminated for the foreseeable future, but former chaplain Rut Etheridge has been hired as a Bible professor and the format of chapel will not be changed. College president Calvin Troup addressed the Synod, emphasizing that the college seeks to provide full-service discipleship to students as a part of their learning. A standing ovation was given to the college and its staff for hosting these concurrent synods.
The Home Mission Board recounted that “in 2005, with 77 congregations/missions, HMB proposed the 20/20 Vision which sought 100 RPCNA congregations/missions by the year 2020. Standing at 104 congregations /missions, we’ve seen an increase of 35% since 2005.” The board has “clearly seen that being a church planting denomination is becoming…part of the DNA of the RP Church. All glory goes to God for that which He has accomplished.” The HMB also noted the existence of more church planters and more bi-vocational ministers. The board noted that presbyteries are typically waiting for plants to become more established before requesting denominational aid. Bryan, Tex., Casper, Wyo., and Harrisonburg, Va., are receiving aid through the HMB’s reducing-aid program. A grant was made for exploratory work in San Antonio, Tex. Two church-planting residents in training are being supported. Twelve lessons/tips for church plants from Christ RPC were documented in the board’s report. Some longtime church-planting mentors were thanked by the Synod.
Global Missions—Rev. Charles and Susan Leach have returned to the U.S. after his pastorate in Kobe, Japan, since 2011. He thanked the RPGM for the opportunity to serve in Japan for 18 years total and encouraged others of retirement age to consider service in Japan.
In South Sudan, a time of transition has led to “Cush4Christ 2.0” with a heavy emphasis on raising up church leadership and indigenous trainers. Also, Zach and Beth Smith have accepted the missionary call to South Sudan. Cush Christian School continues to grow and has completed an addition, and the radio station continues to minister in conjunction with Every Village ministry.
Missions, congregations, and presbyteries in several fields in South Asia continue to show very encouraging growth, although not without persecution. RP Missions continues to send out many teams each year, with 17 locations identified for 2020. RP Missions is thankful for interest in longer-term service as well.
RP Global Missions will continue to collaborate with 2nd RPC (Indianapolis, Ind.) on its work in Liberia while not adopting it as an RP Global mission field. Each congregation was encouraged to contact RP Global if they don’t already have a congregational missions advocate.
An HMB/RPGM joint recommendation regarding Japan Presbytery that was taken up from last year failed; more work on this matter is in process.
The Central and South America Committee has reached the milestone of having the entire RPCNA Constitution translated into Spanish. The committee hopes to see a work established in Santiago, Chile, by the end of this year. The committee has also found fertile ground with contacts and churches in Bolivia, Brazil, and other countries. Bolivia is experiencing a resurgence of Christian persecution.
Delegates had an opportunity to listen to a sermon preached by Pastor Jeff Stivason, nominee for professor of New Testament at the RP Seminary, during the evening break.
Next year’s Synod had already been scheduled for June 23-26, 2020, at Indiana Wesleyan University (the RP International Conference will be held at the same location in late July of that year). The Business of Synod Committee recommended that the 2021 Synod be held at Indiana Wesleyan June 15-18. As last year’s Synod had requested, the committee provided research with pros and cons of Synod electing its officers a year in advance. The committee will report next year on its assignment to consider practical ways to utilize electronic voting at Synod.
The Board of Trustees of Synod gave thanks that the contribution goal for Reformed Presbyterian Missions & Ministries (RPM&M) was surpassed in 2018. The goal was $440,000 and receipts were $552,000, in part because of two exceptional contributions as well as more congregations giving to RPM&M. Two new building loans were made to congregations in 2018.
The Finance Committee is made up of ministers, elders, and deacons appointed by each presbytery and the Synod and “seeks to balance the needs of the RPCNA, considering the individual fundraising of boards and agencies that far outstrips the fundraising of RPM&M…by proposing an allocation of Synod’s available funds to the various boards, agencies, institutions, and missions of the RPCNA.” The giving goal for RPM&M in 2020 is $475,000. Of funds received above that amount, a greater percentage (50%) would go to home and global missions, as has happened in previous years.
The Board of Education & Publication reported its recent and imminent book releases: Westminster Larger Catechism (special pocket edition), the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, 1871–1920 (by William Edgar), The Book of Books (second edition, John White, editor), God Breathed (Rutledge Etheridge), Glory (psalms album), and Timothy, Titus, and You (George Scipione). Five books are currently being written for a new series with Crown & Covenant’s new imprint, Grassmarket Press, which will focus on aspects of Presbyterian & Reformed life for laypeople.
A proposed addition to ordination queries to bring greater consistency in the language of the queries was passed by the 2018 Synod and sent down in overture to congregations. It was announced that the measure passed with a 68-5 vote by sessions and a 279-19 vote by elders, thus effecting the change.
With all reports completed except the Nominating Committee report of the Synod election, Synod extended the time to complete its business. Pastor Lucas Hanna preached the closing sermon regarding King Jesus from Psalm 20. In the prosperity of the King, we rejoice and are secure.
When the Nominating Committee still wasn’t ready, the court sang several psalms. Then the election results were announced, including that Pastor Jeff Stivason had been elected to the New Testament professor position at the RP Seminary.
The 188th Synod adjourned with the singing of Psalm 133. The ARP Synod had completed its business earlier that day.
–Drew Gordon, editor
Reformed Presbyterian Witness