When retiring moderator (and recently retired pastor) Bruce Martin dropped the gavel on the 188th Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, it was not exactly business as usual. This Synod was unique in that it was being held concurrently with the Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP), both convening on the campus of the RPCNA’s Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa. (For detailed daily reports, see the links at the end of this article.)

The International Conference Advisory Committee directed people to its website, rpic2020.org, for details about the next RP International Conference July 29–Aug. 3, 2020, at Indiana Wesleyan University. Keynote speaker Warren Peel, pastor of Trinity (Belfast, N. Ireland) RPC, will expound the book of Daniel on the theme, “Glorifying God in Babylon.” Rates are to be published by the end of this August.

Membership in the RPCNA grew by 3.4 percent in the past year, and worship attendance increased 3 percent, reported the stated clerk. This was called 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 either organized or were received 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.

Rev. Charles and Susan Leach have returned to the U.S. after his pastorate in Kobe, Japan, since 2011. He thanked the RP Global Mission Board 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 as short-term missions.

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.

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.

The Judicial Committee reported to Synod in response to an appeal from a minister 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 its 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.

A Study Committee on Divorce and Desertion was created in 2017 in response to a Synod paper from Atlantic Presbytery related to some Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary communications on divorce and desertion. The seminary responded to this paper, and last year the work was given back to the committee with some alteration. This year the committee asked Synod to affirm its interpretation that “the word ‘departing’ [in the RP Testimony] explains that desertion refers to an unbelieving spouse physically leaving the believing spouse and departing to live elsewhere.” There was lengthy debate about the recommendation, including whether to pass it as is, whether it was too simplistic, whether it met the assignment Synod had given the committee, or whether it might cause harm through misinterpretation. The committee and many others contended that it was important for the committee and Synod to respond to the assignment in this precise and basic way, knowing that sessions and presbyteries can, and do, apply this and related statements from the standards to individual situations. In the end, the committee recommendation lost, 47–90, and the committee was dismissed.

A Special Committee on Christ’s Mediatorial Kingship was begun in 2014. The committee this year recommended that a booklet called “Christ-Centered Voting: A Practical Guide for Bible-Believing Christians” be published by Crown & Covenant in sufficient time for the next U.S. presidential election. The recommendation of adopting the booklet was vigorously debated. Several amended recommendations failed, such as that the booklet first be circulated to the churches for feedback to the committee. Much of the debate dealt with how to characterize Synod’s affirmation of this booklet—whether to receive, approve, or adopt it, or whether to send it back to the committee for further work. Ultimately the committee’s request that the booklet be adopted or approved lost when an amendment passed (67–59) to change the word to “receive.” The new motion then passed overwhelmingly. The committee’s recommendation about working with Crown & Covenant to publish the booklet passed, 69–55. The committee was continued.

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On Wednesday afternoon, similar institutions, missions, and ministries in the ARP and RPCNA shared about their work in various workshops.

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 bivocational 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.

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Daily reports for the 2019 Synod:

▶ Pre-Synod Conference on Psalmody

▶ Synod Day 1: “Beside the Beaver Vale”

▶ Synod Day 2: Of Committees and Workshops

▶ Synod Day 3: Hard Work and Good News”

Drew Gordon is editor of the RP Witness.