On a picture-perfect clay in west ern Pennsylvania, delegates ar rived for the 170 meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Pastor Wafter “Kit” Swartz of the Oswego, N.Y., RPC, moderator of the 1999 Synod, convened the meeting in the Old Main auditorium of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., on July 14.

The most anticipated issues for this Synod were raised in communications to the Synod or recommendations from committees—issues such as creation and the ordination of women as deacons, for a chart of all those issues and Synod’s decisions, see page 6.

Worship

“God is not fair, but He is very generous.” That was the cmx of Dr. Brian Chapell’s devotional message Monday morning.

Dr. Chapell president of Covenant Theological Seminary. applied the par able of the laborers in Matthew 20:1–16, pointing out that, in the economy of God’s kingdom, God rescues some people late in life while others labor all their lives. In a twist that captivated many even in this audience of preachers, Chapell compared those all-day laborers to Peter, who once brought up to Christ his own sacrificial service. Peter, soon after, would find out that he too was not worthy of the kingdom, and that the “landowner” was also being extremely generous with him. We all, said Chapell, upon realizing our sin, need to hear the message that “God is not fair, but He is very generous.”

Chapell preached to a full auditorium on the Lord’s Day as members of many congregations in western Pennsylvania joined Synod members for an evening worship service.

Tuesday began with the 1705 RPCNA Synod being led in devotions by Dennis Prutow, pastor of the Sterling. Kan.. RPC, member of the Board of Trustees of the RP Theological Seminary, and candidate being considered for a professor position at the seminary.

Pastor Rich Johnston of the Second Indianapolis, mci., RPC gave devotions Wednesday, Rev. James Carson on Thurs day, and Pastor Andrew Stringer of Bancroft, Ont., RPC. The week’s devotion’s centered on renewal based on love for Christ, His Word, and His people.

For the entire evening on Wednesday, Synod made prayer the sole item on the agenda. A program of individual, small- group, and corporate prayer based on the sections of the Reformed Presbyter ian Covenant of 1871 was organized by three men from the Pacific Coast Preshytety: John McFarland, Ken Orr, and Hector Pino.

Home, Foreign Missions

With no Synod last year due to the RP International family conference. Stated Clerk James McFarland reported two years of denominational statistics. In these two years the RPCNA showed slight growth in a number of categories, including membership from 6,195 to 6,246) and worship attendance (from 5,049 to 5,161). Not all the statistics were pleas ant, including the dissolution of several mission churches. The Home Mission Board is assessing its practices in the hope of helping as many mission works as possible grow to established congregations. A church planter’s “hoot camp” was held in the past year.

The Midwest Presbytery reported that it is seeking a regional home missionary.

The Committee on Church Revitalization quoted an estimate that 80 percent of evangelical and Reformed congregations are in need of revitalization. Said committee chairman Paul McCracken, “We’re con vinced that this is a tremendous need in this de nomination.” Two pastors of congregations involved in a pilot program on re vitalization—Wayne Duffielcl and Bruce Hemphill—testified of the benefits of that program to them and their congregations.

“It has been a very ex citing time for the Foreign Mission Board of late,” said hoard president Dave Long. He re ported encouraging developments in Japan, such as establishment of Kobe Theological Hall now beginning to bear fruit in Japanese churches, Pas tor Kanamori taking up the work in Mukonoso, Japan, and the encouraging efforts training students at KTH.

Pastor Long also said the board is looking at three prospects for new work:

1) China. Pastor Bill Roberts and Dave Long are embarking on an exploratory trip to China in late October.

2) Philippines. Pastor Rocky Simbajon and his congregation, with perhaps several other congregations, are seeking to join the Reformed Presbyterian Church. One board member, Jonathan Watt, recently visited the area.

3) Germany. Retired minister Raymond Hemphill, who was a member of the Foreign Mis sion Board for 30 years, said this was the most exciting board report he had yet witnessed.

Missionaries Gene and Ruth Spear, who have just retired from 46 years of service in Japan, were given an opportunity to appear before the court. After the two received a standing ovation, Rev. Spear gave a brief summary of his years in Japan. He recounted the growth of the Japan RP mission from the first congregation to the four current churches and two mission churches. He shared lessons he had teamed along the way and he expressed thanks for the support of the church. He pointed out the great obstacles and workload for Christian workers in Japan. and talked about the need to pray for laborers in the harvest, including from Kobe Theological Hall. Rev. Spear became emotional when speaking about the unwavering dedication of his wife in working beside him in Japan.

The Japan Presbytery delegate. Pastor Shigeru Takiura, delivered the report from his presbytery. The presbytery has set three goals: translation of the RP Constitution, increase of candidates for ministry and missions, and congregational growth. Pastor Takiura also noted that the new Japanese RP psalter is the largest psalter in all of Japan. A letter of’ thanks to the Synod was sent from the building committee of the Kasumigaoka RPC in Kobe, Japan.

The Representatives to the Presbyterian and Reformed joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel noted the benefits of having four veteran RP chaplains ministering to military personnel. The military services have asked specifically for P RJC-endorsed chaplains because of the caliber of those chaplains. Congregations were urged to “adopt a chaplain” and pray for him.

Interchurch Concerns

With a relief from debate, Tuesday evening’s session theme was “The RPCNA and the Church in the World.” There were reports from elders who had visited the synods or assemblies of other, related denominations, and reports from those other denominations to the RPCNA.

Some of those “fraternal delegates,” like Pastor Andrew Quigley of the RP Church of Scotland, and Dr. Louis DeBoer of the American Presbyterian Church, reminded delegates that despite the small size of many of our denominations, we can take encouragement from having a place in the glorious body of Christ and the shepherding of souls.

Pastor Erfon Hughes of the Presbyterian Church in America said it was essential to the health of both denominations that we continue to work side by side, There were also fraternal delegates from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Korean American Presbyterian Church, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. There were observers from the Christian Re formed Church and the United Reformed Churches.

The RPCNA’s Interchurch Committee recommended to extend the denomination’s sus pension of fraternal relations with CRC, and the Synod did. A main issue is the CRC’s decision to allow the ordination of women as elders and ministers. A decision on the CRC’s member ship in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC is expected this fall.

The Synod expressed its concern over the recent move by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to allow joint membership in the National Council of Churches. Synod encouraged the NAE to reconsider the change and not to “permit dual membership with organizations that are inconsistent with the NAE Statement of Faith.” A decision on reconsidering the change is expected at the NAE board meeting Oct. 9.

Education

Many of the educational ministries reported Thursday morning. Including in this time was the vote on a new professor of homiletics and pastoral the ology for the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The sole nominee for the position was Pastor Dennis Prutow from the Sterling, Kan., RPC. He gave his testimony to the Synod earlier in the week, then answered delegates’ questions for 15 minutes. Later he gave a sample homiletics lesson for Synod members who wanted to observe.

Much of the debate regarding this vote and another recommendation from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Semi nary centered on the wisdom of’ presenting only one candidate for such positions. Delegates lined up on both sides of the issue, giving the Seminary some of the input it had desired regarding the best method to use in the future, Pastor Prutow was then elected to the professor position by in majority vote.

Seminary board chairman William Edgar (Broomall, Pa., RPC) reported a large number of RP students at the semi nary, greatly improved financial health, and the board’s commendation of its president. The president, Jerry O’Neill, announced that he had just received news of a large endowment contribution to the seminary for student scholarships Also, the Synod expressed its thanks to Prof. Duncan Lowe for his years of service to the seminary.

President John White of Geneva Col lege, the college that hosted this week’s Synod meeting, emphasized to the RPCNA delegates that Geneva is “ your institution.” College chaplain Timothy Russell related testimonies of students’ spiritual growth while at Geneva.

Synod’s Youth Ministries Commit tee announced the dates for the next youth leadership training conference, June 28—July 1, 2002.Just completed was a three-week program to introduce 14 high school students to foundational documents of the R1CNA and encourage them in leadership skills. Several of the youth said that these were the most influential weeks of their lives, reported Pastor Andy McCracken ( Elkhart, Ind., RPC), committee chairman.

The Covenanter Witness, the denominational magazine, will he changing its name in 2002, reported the Board of Education & Publication. The magazine’s new name will be the Re formed Presbyterian Witness. Several delegates expressed concerns regarding the decreasing understanding of our Covenanter heritage and covenanting. The board reported that overall sales of psalters and other materials had increased 40% since last year, and that 4,500 complete psalters had been sold in the first half of 2001.

During the report of International Conference Advisory Committee, Robert Hemphill (Westminster. Cob., RPC) was approved as program coodinator for the next conference, to he held in July 24-30. 2004, at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

A Covenanter Holiday Tour in Ireland, with new coordinators Andy and Terrill Curran, will take place July 23—Aug. 10, 2002.

Later on Thursday the Synod heard from four persons connected with the Woman’s As sociation, including those in new positions. Bill Weir is now chief financial officer, Margie Hemphill is RP Home administrator, and Mary Balok is presi dent of the Board to Address Disability Concerns. Faith Mar tin, executive director of the Woman’s Association, also ad dressed the Synod.

Finance

The goal for the Reformed Presbyterian Mission & Ministry fund (raised primarily from congregations’ contributions) had exceeded its goal for the past two years, reported the Board of Trustees of Synod. One rea son for exceeding the goal was a generous gift from an estate that was distributed over five years ending in 2000.

Chairman Bill Roberts of Synods Finance Committee expressed thanks to God for provision for the Synod and the hoards of the church over the two years since the last Synod meeting. Altogether, a half million dollars was projected to be distributed to the various agencies of the denomination: Board of Education & Publication, Foreign Missions, Geneva College, Home Missions, Pension Trustees, RP Seminary, Woman’s Association, anti Synod Operations, including the Graduate Study fund.

A committee was created to evaluate the job description of the Finance Committee now that many financial proposals are worked out by the Trustees of Synod in the spring prior to Synod meetings.

An issue that has spanned more than one Synod is that of allowing a significant change to the denominational pension program, in which many pastors, missionaries, and denominational employees participate. Some Synod delegates have advocated permitting retirees to withdraw up to 100 percent of their pension fund at retirement to invest or spend as they chose. The current plan provided for a withdrawal of up to 40 percent upon retirement, with the rest being invested in an annuity.

Synod spent many hours discussing both a majority report of the Pension Board, which attempted to create a program based on the 1999 Synod’s direction, and a minority report, which was closer to the current plan but pro posed the creation of retirement savings plans for pastors and other church workers. Soon after the report came to the floor, Synod tabled the majority recommendations and voted to take up the minority recommendations. Committee secretary Wayne Duffield remarked that the discussion of the 2001 Synod was moving in a very different direction from the 1999 Synod. A recommendation to continue the current plan as is passed narrowly, 47-4. Later the minority recommendations and the report were ap proved, hut they would not be the final word.

Pastor Bill Edgar pointed out that a big difficulty in Synod’s deciding this issue is that it stands in the place of both employer and employee regarding the pension plan. Pastor Kit Swartz said confusion was being caused in part because Pension Board mem hers had differing opinions on some of the significant aspects.

The following day a concern was expressed on behalf of retiring pas tors who might be better sewed by having a lump-sum distribution avail able this year, rather than taking another year to consider it. Delegates sought a way to reconsider the recommendations. The first at tempt failed for lack of a qualified seconder according to parliamentary procedure, but another way was paved and the recommendations were once again on the table. In the end, the Synod approved the new plan that originally had been brought in by this year’s Pension Trustees report, including the option of a 100% distribution of one’s account upon retirement.

Other Actions

Locations for future Synods were set, including a Synod in the year of the next RP International Conference in 2004. In 1996 and 2000, no Synod was scheduled during years of the international conference, and prior to that “abbreviated Synods” were held. Neither of those alternatives was acceptable to everyone, and now a third option is planned— holding the Synod a month or more apart from the conference.

Synods were scheduled for Parkville, Mo., in 2002; Beaver Falls, Pa. (Geneva College), in 2003; and a location in Indiana for 2004.

Every time in the past decade that electing the moderator of Synod a year in advance has been proposed, it has stirred a hornet’s nest. The current practice has a long tradition and constitutional status, but allows the moderator no time to prepare for a key task. Seventy percent of delegates at the last Synod said they favored electing officers a year in advance. But this year some rose to pro pose a different method of election, and others cited advantages of the current system, including the expectation that electing in advance would become more “political.” Some just favored the tradition. Two recommendations on this is sue were referred hack to the committee for reconsideration in light of the debate.