Early in its meeting, the 191st RPCNA Synod set aside time to remember the servants of the church who have died since the last meeting of Synod. Tributes were read for three ministers: Godfrey Franklin, Gordon Keddie, and Robert McFarland (see more below). Also remembered with thanks to God for their service were five ruling elders and three ruling elders’ wives (names below). Two friends of the RPCNA were also remembered—Rev. Edward Donnelly (RPC of Ireland) and Rev. G.I. Williamson (OPC, formerly RPCNA).

Deaths of Teaching Elders

Godfrey Franklin on Dec. 20. He served Selma, Ala., RPC and Pensacola, Fla., RPC.

Dr. Rev. Godfrey Franklin, 80, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 20, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 15 years Barbara; her son David; his children Jared (Etna) Franklin and Irina (Scott) Sorset; grandchildren Isabella, Sophia, Oliver, and Miles; and younger brothers and sisters Rev. David (Grace) Asante, Seth (Adelaide) Ntim, Alice (Asare) Baffour, Emmanuel Osei (Mary) Owusu, and Paulina Owusu.

In 1976, he moved to the United States with his then wife to pastor a church in Selma, Ala. While leading a church, he continued his education ultimately receiving his master’s in counseling and doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Godfrey, his then wife, and their young son Jared moved to Pensacola in 1983.

For over 25 years, Godfrey worked at the University of West Florida pursuing his passion and dedication for education and multiculturalism. He began his career at UWF’s Counseling Center. He became a professor in the College of Education in 1991 rising to the rank of tenured professor. Throughout his career at UWF, he taught undergraduate and graduate level students, chaired theses and dissertations, served in leadership roles, authored professional publications, developed curriculum, received professional, leadership, and community awards, and established teaching centers in China, Mexico, and Macedonia.

Upon retiring in 2009, Godfrey was awarded the title of emeritus professor. During this time, he also started and led his own congregation, the Multiracial RPC of Pensacola, from 1990–2002. The church was a part of the RPCNA.

A public viewing was held Dec. 29 at Joe Morris and Son Funeral Home with funeral services following. The burial took place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Pensacola. In lieu of flowers, his children request you share how you knew Godfrey and any fond memories or photos at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Gordon Keddie, on May 19. He served North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC, Grace (State College, Pa.) RPC, and Southside, Ind., RPC.

Gordon Keddie, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and pastor, passed away on May 19 at the age of 78 after a long struggle with prostate cancer. He held on until all three of his sons could gather and was surrounded by family at the end. He is survived by his wife, Jane, sons and daughters-in-law Donald, Iain, and Erin, David and Christina, and grandchildren Joshua, Sophia, Alexa, and one more expected.

The most important interest in Gordon’s life came to him on May 20, 1962, at a gospel rally after a soccer tourney (which his team lost) for the Scripture Union at his school. The preacher’s text was Eccl. 12:1 - “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Gordon, in his own words, said that “he saw, with awesome reality, that he was neither right with God nor committed to His Son. He must choose that day whom he would serve!” He confessed Christ as Lord, a commitment that would eventually lead him to leave life as a teacher, even his home country, to travel to the United States to study to be a pastor at Westminster, later the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

As a young seminary student, he accepted the offer to guest preach at the RP Church in Coldenham, N.Y., for Pastor John McMillan. At the door of the parsonage, he was welcomed by the pastor’s daughter, Jane, with whom he would celebrate 49 years married the day before he passed. She was his constant companion through 40 years in the gospel ministry in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa., Wishaw and Glasgow in Scotland, State College, Pa.,, and the Southside of Indianapolis.

Visitation was May 25 at Southside RPC, with a second visitation the morning of May 26 followed by the funeral service. Burial was at RPC Cemetery of New Galilee, Pa.

Robert McFarland on May 23. He served Quinter, Kan., RPC and Topeka, Kan., RPC.

Robert Hutcheson McFarland passed away May 23, 2023, at home with family by his side. In 1958, Robert married Georgia Ann Wilson, and they were blessed with three children: Rick (who married Ruth), Allison, and Nancy (who married Norman McCollum). Bob loved spending time with his children and grandchildren: Jordan (Chris) Jordan, Emmaline (Cameron) McCauley, Erin (Andrew) Morison, Emily (Steve) Olson, Eleanor (Gareth) Lamberton, Reuben (Kirsty) McCollum, and Nathanael (Karla) McCollum. Bob and Georgia’s children’s children are enlarging the family group with Calum, Evie, Alice, Saige, Eric, Sophia, Joel, Arthur, and three soon-to-be-born.

Bob was ordained as a minister of the gospel on Nov. 27, 1959. He served as pastor of Rose Point (Pa.) RPC for four years, then moved his family to Wichita, Kan., where he taught social studies for the Wichita public schools. In 1966, he was installed as the minister of Quinter (Kan.) RPC, and pastored this church for 17 years. During his time in Quinter, eleven student interns participated in summer training programs designed by Bob. Several of these interns came from Northern Ireland.

In 1980, Bob exchanged churches with Rev. Robert McCollum in Ballylaggan, NI. This initial exchange led to interim pulpit exchanges at six different Irish RPCs over a period of nine years. In 1983, Bob was appointed by the Synod of the RPCNA as Director of Educational Services and Youth Ministries, a post he held for four years. Topeka (Kan.) RPC called him to be their pastor in 1987, in which capacity he continued until 1998. During this time, he also served on various boards and committees of the RPCNA, Geneva College Board of Corporators and Trustees, and was Moderator of Synod in 2003.

A celebration of life memorial service took place May 27 at Topeka RPC, with a private family burial at Winchester RP Cemetery. Memorial gifts were gathered for Topeka RPC and Midland Hospice Care (c/o Mercer Funeral Home; Valley Falls, Kan.).

Deaths of Ruling Elders

John D. Russell on June 30, 2022. He served North Hills RPC.

Michael Mastorovich on July 5. He served Manchester (New Kensington, Pa.) RPC.

Louis D. Hutmire on Sept. 7. He served as RPCNA treasurer and as elder at Covenant Fellowship (Wilkinsburg, Pa.) RPC.

Edward Forest on Apr. 12. He served Orlando, Fla., RPC.

George Evans on May 15. He served Selma RPC.

Deaths of Wives of Pastors and Elders

Nancy Vincze on Mar. 27, 2022. Wife of John J. Vincze.

Elizabeth Maine on Oct. 11. Wife of Robert Maine, deceased.

Marjorie (Mitchel) Russell on Mar. 27. Wife of John D. Russell, deceased.

Friends of the RPCNA

Edward Donnelly on Mar. 4. He served in the RPC of Northern Ireland.

G. I. Williamson on Apr. 12. He served in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.