Worship

The 183rd meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) convened at 6:30 p.m. June 23 on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.

The evening began with worship, including the singing of Psalm 119M and a keynote address by Pastor Bruce Backensto, retiring moderator of Synod and also recently retired pastor of First RPC of Beaver Falls, Pa.

“What would you do if you knew you were going to die tomorrow?” was a question Rev. Backensto posed as he preached on the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13:1-17. An application of the passage is that Jesus set the example as a humble shepherd for pastors and ruling elders to follow. “Humble Shepherding” was the theme for the week’s devotional messages.

Leadership

Pastor Philip Pockras of Belle Center, Ohio, RPC was elected moderator, having been nominated by Rev. Ralph Joseph.

Pastor Bruce Martin was reelected as clerk of Synod, and Pastor John McFarland was newly elected as assistant clerk. Outgoing assistant clerk Rev. Ray Morton was thanked for his 20 years of service in that role with a standing ovation, a speech by the clerk, and a hockey stick and jersey.

Time was set apart to remember and give thanks for servants of the church who have gone to be with the Lord in the past year. Those honored included three teaching elders, nine ruling elders, one pastor’s wife, and missionary Oreta Everett Taverne. Memorial tributes were read honoring ministers Robert LaMay and Robert More.

Interchurch

The most vigorous discussions of the week occurred when Synod discussed its next two meetings. Much of this discussion related to an invitation of the Asso­ciate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Synod to meet concurrently at their denomination’s conference center in North Carolina. The 2013 RPCNA Synod had decided to pursue accepting that invitation with the goal of meeting in 2015, but three Synod committees had been hard at work considering the complexities and costs of such a plan.

As part of a several-year intention to get to know the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church better given that there are historic “family ties” and a number of commonalities, the RPCNA and ARP Synods have often exchanged pastors for a devotional message at their Synods. This year, at the beginning of Thursday’s session, Dr. Mark Ross, professor of Erskine Theological Seminary, the seminary of the ARP Church, led devotions based on Jesus’ prayer to the Father in John 17:20-26. Dr. Ross drew attention to the Son’s statement that God’s primary argument for the truth of Christianity is the church itself in its unity and love for one another. He pointed out that organic unity among denominations might or might not reflect such unity; nonetheless, true unity is one of the highest priorities we have as Christ’s witnesses.

Following a joint presentation by the Business of Synod Committee and Interchurch Committee and a long period of discussion, Synod voted to meet concurrently with the ARP Synod on June 8-12, 2015, at their Bonclarken Conference Grounds in Flat Rock, N.C. Bonclarken is the regular meeting location for the ARP Synod. While the two Synods will meet separately for some of their business next year, they will meet together for times of worship and for reports from their ministries. Worship times will include exclusive a cappella psalm singing as decided by the ARP Synod, which also commissioned the ARP Psalter that is based on the RPCNA’s Book of Psalms for Worship.

During the discussion of the related motions, speakers against the proposal did not question that there would be benefits to a concurrent Synod but did question whether it would be worth the significant additional costs, since Bonclarken is far from the geographical groupings of RPCNA congregations. Those speaking in favor asserted that this was a golden opportunity to encourage and edify one another in our shared faith and ministries and said there are ways to bring costs down.

There were other developments on the interchurch front. First the Synod heard from delegates from two sister Reformed Presbyterian denominations. Pastor Ed Blackwood grew up in the RPCNA and is pastor of a congregation in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Australia. There are three congregations there, and they use The Book of Psalms for Worship. Pastor Andrew Quigley of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland spoke next. The RPCS has four congregations and two mission churches, but has experienced significant revitalization. Next the Synod heard from delegates of other North American denominations with whom the RPCNA has a fraternal relationship. The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was represented by Pastor Tim Phillips. He reported that the ARP at its recent Synod removed from their standards two chapters that had been appended to the Westminster Confession in the early 1900s. The removal of those chapters brings them into conformity with other denominations in the North American Presbyterian & Reformed Council that use the Westminster standards, like the RPCNA.

The Presbyterian Church in America’s delegate, Pastor Gary Cox, said that the PCA is seeking to keep the torch of their denomination burning strong in their second generation of existence. The United Reformed Churches of North America delegate, Pastor Casey Freswick, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church delegate, Rev. Tom Tyson, reported that their denominations had approved a full psalter for use in their joint psalter-hymnal project. As a result of an exploratory trip in 2013, the RPCNA Interchurch Committee sees many potential opportunities in Central and South American countries for the RPCNA to provide mentoring, training, and encouragement. Synod approved a new committee to focus on these opportunities.

The Interchurch Committee also remarked about a pattern of “a growing interest in the RP Church around the world.” There also is a desire to strengthen the RP denominations as they already exist. A multinational RP committee is drafting a proposal for an RP global committee that would be consultative in nature. The RPCNA Synod gave its endorsement to moving forward with the proposal.

Missions & More

The RPCNA Global Mission Board chairman Dave Long said it is an exciting time to see all that God is doing in various countries through Reformed Presbyterians. “The developing work in India is at the forefront of the things we see God bringing to our attention,” said the report of that board. It has determined “to enter into a preliminary commitment to develop the current work in India,” a work that has been spearheaded in the city of Bangalore since 2009 by Ram and Asha Rao of Second (Indianapolis, Ind.) RPC. Mission work is also being explored in Pakistan, where one man has already been laboring. “It is not beyond the realm of possibility that we would take on both of these as new works,” said Dave Long.

Sudan team leaders Vince and Julie Ward have announced that they will be returning to Canada in June 2015. An appeal was made that Reformed Presbyterians pray for new leadership for the Cush4Christ team and pray regarding the increasing tribal unrest in South Sudan. Missionary to Sudan Daniel Faris attended this Synod meeting.

In Japan, there are pastors in every RP congregation for the first time in many years. Four of those pastors attended this Synod.

RP Missions’ youth participation has increased in the past couple of years, and this year there are a record number of teams and participants.

The organization Reformation Translation Fellowship (RTF) is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Currently there are about 10 Reformed works being translated or re-translated into Chinese. The RTF hopes to have soon some downloadable books on its website.

The Home Mission Board (HMB) reported that as of June 30 there will be 96 congregations and mission churches in the RPCNA. That is 4 churches shy of the “2020 Vision” goal of 100 congregations and mission churches by the year 2020. The HMB said the denomination is on track for that goal. There has been an especially notable amount of church planting activity in the Midwest and Pacific Coast Presbyteries.

From the documents “Lessons Learned from Continuing Works,” and “Lessons Learned from Closed Works,” the outgoing president of the HMB shared reflections. One lesson learned is that, of various types of church planting, “the daughtering model (in which a mature congregation sends out a few saints to a new congregation less than an hour or two away) has produced the most steady results.” The first document later adds, “Church planting is of the Lord, and He can overcome all obstacles. That being said, experience indicates that the following factors add to the already high degree of difficulty: being far from other churches, having a church planter on the less personable side of the spectrum, and having a very small core of believers already present (or none at all).” Delegate Tom Reid rose to encourage other delegates to use this counsel wisely and not as a weapon against possible opportunities. Synod’s Committee on Vital Churches is planning a pastoral refreshment conference this Aug. 26-28 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Representatives to the Presbyterian & Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRCC) provided a report that contained individual reports from several RP chaplains.

An Army Reserve chaplain said, “A chapel service looks like a mini RP worship service with an opening prayer, Psalm, mini-sermon, Psalm, closing prayer, and benediction. I have found that many soldiers appreciate the simplicity of our worship, and I would encourage pastors to consider the Reserve Chaplaincy.”

The Committee on Understanding the Times is a three-person committee that each year provides some cultural analysis. At this Synod the committee requested “that Synod establish a study committee to consider the biblical basis of the doctrine of the mediatorial kingship of Christ, and present principles for application in the context of today’s RPCNA.” The committee asserted that this doctrine of Christ’s kingship is central to the denomination’s purpose. The motion to form a committee passed unanimously.

To serve on the new committee, Synod elected Shawn Anderson, Katsunori Endo, Bruce Backensto, Zack Kail, Richard Gamble, Scott Wilkinson, and Bill Edgar (convener).

Deliberations and Committees

Five “communications” were transmitted through lower courts such as presbyteries to this year’s Synod.

Communication 14-1 proposed small revisions to the RPCNA’s Book of Discipline to help a member making an appeal in a church discipline case. The proposal, forwarded from Presbytery of the Alleghenies, states that “appellants are often not familiar with or do not understand the appropriate procedures in the appeals process, and their lack of understanding can cause an appeal to fail on procedural grounds rather than the merits of the case.” The revision includes the statement that the church court must provide an advisor to an appellant. The proposal was initiated by First RPC of Beaver Falls, Pa., which observed that some discipline cases in the presbytery would have benefited from these proposed revisions. The recommendations passed. Communication 14-2 overlapped in its recommendation with Synod’s Realignment Committee and was taken up during that committee’s report (see below).

Communication 14-3 came from Atlantic Presbytery and was initiated by one of its ministers, Pastor Daniel Howe. The communication asserted that some of the thousands of companies represented in the mutual funds of the RPCNA’s pension plan are involved in sinful or questionable practices. Pastor Howe, after seeking input from the Pension Trustees, requested that “Synod appoint a committee to study the morality of its pension monies being invested in companies that trade in questionable or blatantly evil goods and services.” After a brief discussion, this was referred to the Board of Pension Trustees.

Communication 14-4 concerned a judicial case and was returned to its author for several reasons, including that it had not come through proper channels and that the nature of the request was beyond Synod’s scope of addressing.

Communication 14-5 requested some minor changes to the Directory for Church Government in balloting for officers. The communication was, after a couple of amendment proposals, referred to Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery.

Last year there was a recommendation on the table to realign the Midwest and Pacific Coast Presbyteries. That recommendation, which would have transferred several congregations from Midwest to Pacific Coast, had garnered a lot of support; but the brakes were applied since it seemed that the presbyteries and the congregations within them needed more time. After further consideration, that proposal was withdrawn.

Instead, the Committee on the Realignment of Presbyteries brought just one recommendation for a change—transferring Walton, N.Y., RPC from St. Lawrence to Atlantic Presbytery, a move supported by both presbyteries and the congregation. Walton was originally part of New York Presbytery but was transferred to St. Lawrence to bolster that small presbytery. But now St. Lawrence has 15 congregations and Atlantic has 9. This transfer was approved. The Realignment Committee encouraged the Synod to continue to give attention to other possible realignments, noting that, “in our opinion, there are areas, such as the Rocky Mountain region, Canada, and the American South, where the establishment of new judicatories would make particular sense in the future.”

Last year, Synod established a study committee to explore the feasibility of “umbrella” diaconal ministries. That committee recommended “that each presbytery and Synod establish a standing committee for diaconal ministry, with the delegated responsibility to: a) receive requests for diaconal support from the lower courts or their delegates, b) evaluate those requests and direct distributions from the diaconal funds of the court as they deem appropriate, c) report to the court on the work of the committee and the use of the diaconal ministry funds, d) recommend diaconal ministry matters to the committee of the higher court which have merit, but have exceeded their ability to support.”

There was much discussion on whether establishing presbytery- and Synod-level standing committees would be best for meeting diaconal needs, though all agreed that there is a great need for diaconal training and preparedness. The report was indefinitely laid on the table, essentially defeating the proposal.

Last year a committee was also created to study and encourage ruling elder involvement in Synod. The committee asked to be continued for another year as they gather more information. In other church business, the Church History Committee reported that it has updated the History of the Standards, which traces the development of the constitutional documents of the RPCNA. The committee also reminded delegates that many of the denomination’s records may be viewed free on RPArchives.org, and a historical collection is kept at the RP Seminary. Boards & Education

During Geneva College’s Board of Corporators report, college president Ken A. Smith said that the purpose of Geneva’s education is to have graduates who understand the times and know what they ought to do, like the biblical men of Isaachar. Challenges to enrollment are significant: the population of graduating high school students is decreasing, and alternatives to traditional secondary education abound. Geneva is making some staff and program cutbacks, although there are some additions based on demand. Dr. Smith gave thanks for the benefits new chaplain Rut Etheridge has brought to the college.

The Board of Education & Publication reported several staff transitions, including the retirement of Lois Claerbaut after 15 years as shipping clerk. Thanks was given for increased sales of paperbacks (particularly Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert) and psalters. More man-hours are now being dedicated to upgrade web sites.

The RP Seminary gave thanks for a large graduating class this year—23 students, including 5 receiving doctor of ministry degrees. A new distance-learning program is underway. The seminary also requested prayer for men to come into the ministry, as many opportunities are presenting themselves beyond typical borders, and as a number of pastors are near retirement. The Graduate Study Committee oversees a matching-funds program for those pursuing graduate study, particularly those who have support (and in some cases matching funds) from a presbytery. The committee reported that four persons received aid in 2013.

In addition to the denomination-wide Theological Foundations for Youth program that meets each July at the RP Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa., Synod’s Youth Ministries Committee related that there are now Theological Foundations Weekends in four presbyteries: Atlantic, Great Lakes-Gulf, Midwest, and Pacific Coast. The committee and other delegates spoke of the continuing importance and urgency of putting the call to service in the church on the young people.

The Reformed Presbyterian Woman’s Association (RPWA), which oversees the RP Home, noted many staff changes. When CEO Laura Graham resigned in November, the RPWA decided not to fill the position but instead to distribute those duties among a leadership team comprised of the current chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and controller. Because of other staff moves and business decisions, the annual loss from operations has improved significantly. Also, the number of people coming for short-term care has increased.

The RPWA is currently serving 22 persons who are members of the RPCNA. The RPWA gave thanks for the 32 years of service of its retiring medical director, Fred Martin. The Board of Pension Trustees, over the next two years, will research and consider changing the retirement plan for church servants due to the decision on the Windsor same-sex marriage case that would change the interpretation of “spouse” in pension plans like that managed by the RPCNA.

The International Conference Advisory Committee reported that Prof. Barry York will be the main speaker for the next RP International Conference on July 23-29, 2016. The conference will once again be held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Other International Conference speakers will include ministers Gordon Keddie, Matt Kingswood, Jeff Stivason, and Pete Smith.

Finance and Statistics

The Finance Committee has set a $390,000 goal for the Reformed Presbyterian Missions & Ministries Fund in 2014. To meet all the requests of RP agencies would require total giving of about $460,000.

In 2013 there was $399,000 contributed, a decrease of $28,000 from the previous year’s record receipts but still $19,000 over the base goal for the year. This marks the seventh year when giving to RPM&M exceeded the goal, and Synod expressed thanks. Every congregation in one of the presbyteries—Atlantic—contributed to RPM&M in 2013. Previously the Finance Committee introduced the Targets of Honor, guidelines for contributions to the higher courts of the church based on their non-designated receipts. The committee gave thanks that 43 congregations exceeded those targets in 2013.

Synod’s Board of Trustees introduced new RPCNA controller Trevor York and bid farewell to Heather Blocki by presenting her with a gift.

The RPCNA’s Stated Clerk reported that the year 2014 saw the first drop in membership in 10 years—by 91 members, or about one percent. The total number of congregations and mission churches increased from 93 to 97.

Sixteen congregations and mission churches were without a pastor as of Dec. 31. There were 40 theological students under presbytery oversight.

In conjunction with recommendations for the 2015 Synod were discussions and motions regarding Synod 2016. The Business of Synod Committee proposed, on the year of the next RP International Conference, to meet on July 21-23 just prior to the conference. When discussion and debate moved Synod away from that proposal, a motion to cancel Synod 2016 failed by two votes. A motion to have a shortened Synod in June 2016 passed.

PRESBYTERY INFORMATION, UPDATES, AND PRAYER REQUESTS

Alleghenies

• 16 congregations
• in 4 states: Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania
• 14 students of theology
• Mission church in Harrisonburg, Va.
• Grace (Gibsonia, Pa.) RPC celebrates three new elders and shepherding groups.
• First (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC accepted the retirement of Pastor Bruce Backensto and installed Pastor Steve Miller and Associate Pastors Matt Filbert and Tim McClain.
• Covenant Fellowship (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC accepted the retirement of Pastor Bruce Hemphill and installed Pastor Pete Smith.
• Mission church in Harrisonburg, Va.
• Providence (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC installed Pastor Steve Bradley, Associate Pastor C.J. Williams, two elders, and a deacon.
• College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC installed Co-Pastor Dean Smith.
• Rimersburg, Pa., RPC struggles with low attendance and only one resident elder.

Atlantic

• 9 congregations
• in 5 states: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania
• 7 students of theology
• Coldenham-Newburgh (Walden, N.Y.) RPC searches for a pastor.
• Pray for Berkshire Mission Work and church planting in metropolitan areas.
• Pray as the elders of one congregation deal with difficult pastoral issues..
• Pray for provision as half of the eight installed elders are nearing retirement.

Great Lakes-Gulf

• 19 congregations
• in 9 states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee
• 3 mission churches: Pageland, S.C., Terre Haute, Ind., and Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio.
• Church plant in Marion, Ind. (Jason Camery)
• Praise God for Southside (Indianapolis, Ind.) RPC’s ministry for English learners.
• Southside (Indianapolis, Ind.) RPC accepted the retirement of Pastor Gordon Keddie, installed Senior Pastor David Whitla and Associate Pastor Stan McKenzie.
• Pray with Bloomington, Ind., RPC for Pastor Rich Holdeman, who celebrates that God gives growth even as he struggles with leukemia.
• Sycamore (Kokomo, Ind.) RPC installed Pastor Shawn Anderson.
• Pray as Northminster (Cumming, Ga.) congregation has been reclassified as a preaching station due to diminished attendance.
• Sparta, Ill., RPC installed Daniel Hemken and two ruling elders.

Japan

• 4 congregations
• 1 mission church: Kita-Suzurandai
• Kobe Theological Seminary: 9 students
• 4 students under care in presbytery
• Pray for the health and faith of the many elderly members in congregations.
• Praise God as 24 psalms are being proofread to be added to the Japanese Psalter.
• Pray for seekers attending church events or church services.
• Kasumigaoka RPC installed Pastor Charles Leach.

Midwest

• 20 congregations
• in 6 states: Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Wyoming
• 4 mission churches: Living Way, Tex.; Dallas, Tex.; Laramie, Wyo.; and Casper, Wyo.
• 7 students under care (Joe Allyn & Luke Finley are eligible to receive a call)
• Winchester, Kan., RPC installed Pastor Kyle Borg
• Tri-Lakes (Monument, Colo.) RPC and Manhattan, Kan., RPC were established as a congregations. Installed Pastor Alex Tabaka and Pastor Jonathan Haney, respectively.
• Pray for Eliah Massey, installed as missionary to Pakistan.
• Dallas (Flower Mound, Tex.) mission church installed Pastor Mark Koller.
• Springs Reformed (Colorado Springs, Colo.) RPC installed Associate Pastor Jason Ryce and are exploring a mission work in Teller County.

Pacific Coast

• 6 congregations
• in 3 states: California, Washington, and Arizona (plus mission works)
• 5 students under care
• Pray for the many mission works: Irvine, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Portland, Oreg.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Mexico City, Mexico.
• Pray for the Tuscon, Ariz., commission as they consider the closure of that work.
• Pray as Fresno, Calif., RPC experiences a severe financial shortfall.

St. Lawrence

• 15 congregations
• in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta) and New York
• 8 students under care (Scott Doherty & Mark Goerner are eligible to receive a call)
• Anticipated church plant in Calgary, Alberta.
• Pray for Christ Church (Whitesboro, N.Y.) as they relocate again.
• Pray for congregations without pastors and for congregations experiencing financial strain.
• Rochester, N.Y., RPC installed Patrick Stefan.
• Presbytery voted to receive the Toronto Free Church of Scotland into the presbytery.
• Christian Heritage (Endicott, N.Y.) RPC was established as a congregation.

—Drew Gordon