The day began with a joint devotional service with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod. After an opening psalm, Prof. Rick Gamble of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary preached from Romans 13:1-7 on the mediatorial kingship of Christ over civil government. He indicated that the Apostle Paul is speaking normatively about civil government in this passage. In application, he asked whether we are telling our politicians that the government’s laws are to be Messiah’s laws, and telling them what Christ has to say about their laws.
Synod heard a report of Japan Presbytery, one of the RPCNA’s presbyteries outside North America. Pastor Kihei Takiura reported with sadness that a sister denomination, the Reformed Church of Japan, has decided to allow women elders. Highlights of the Japan Presbytery’s written report were published yesterday.
The Understanding the Times Committee’s report focused on the impact of radical Islam, including in North America, and how we can minister in this context. A section of the report focusing on questions of Christian businesses providing services to homosexuals was recommitted to the committee.
A special resolution was introduced that Synod appoint a 5-man committee to recommend a denominational standard regarding who ministers should marry and who should use church property for weddings. Synod voted not to take up the resolution after some discussion about whether RPCNA standards already covered this and whether the matter should be handled by lower courts.
Synod then took up some reports on education ministries. The RP Seminary conferred 14 degrees in May, including 4 to RP students. In the overall student body there were 60 full-time equivalent students at the seminary last year. The seminary now provides one year of M.Div. classes through distance education, and is pursuing allowing a second year for those pursuing work outside the pastorate. A theological journal is now being published by the seminary, with the inaugural issue available on rpts.edu. A search is already underway for future seminary faculty vacancies due to retirement, particularly president (likely 2018) and professor of biblical counseling. The seminary will host a national conference on human sexuality next April with Dr. Rosaria Butterfield.
The Board of Corporators of Geneva College reported that the significant trends of fewer high school graduates, fewer liberal arts majors, and tightening finances for the middle class have had an impact on the college. Geneva has eliminated two programs and a number of faculty.
There is also pressure on Christian institutions from the federal government. While most older Christian colleges have become more secular, Geneva has instead drawn closer to its sponsoring denomination, most recently in 2011-13 as it changed membership on the Board of Corporators from a minority selected by the RPCNA Synod to all members selected by Synod. The college has appealed to the Supreme Court to be exempted from requirements to provide abortifacients in its health care coverage. The college has also approved a new policy related to sexual orientation that is based on Synod 2011’s position paper The Gospel and Sexual Orientation, which has since been published as a book.
After 11 years as Geneva’s president, Kenneth A. Smith has taken a position with Baylor University. He gave a final address to Synod and received a standing ovation. Rev. Bill Edgar, who delivered the Board of Corporators report today, is serving as interim president, and the college hopes to complete a search for a new president by year’s end.
The afternoon brought a unique opportunity to learn about similar RPCNA and ARP agencies. Delegates from both the ARP and RPCNA could choose three of four presentations. One seminar gave information about global mission activities of both denominations. This included, for example, the work being done by both in Pakistan. Another seminar covered home missions. A third seminar covered denominational institutions, and a fourth covered education and publication work.
In the evening, the Synod went back to its usual work. The Vital Churches Committee reported on their first pastoral refreshment conference for RP pastors and their wives. The committee hopes to have future such conferences in various presbyteries.
The Graduate Study Committee is giving a total of about $12,000 this year to students, especially pastors, who are pursuing advanced degrees. The purpose of this is to enrich those already in the pastorate and also to prepare people for service in RP institutions.
The Youth Ministries Committee of Synod seeks to equip RP youth in a world where opinions, especially of young people, are rapidly departing from faith and truth. A focus of the committee has been on supporting theological training and on starting and encouraging presbytery youth programs. The success of programs such as Theological Foundations for Youth (TFY) is evidenced by some of the graduates entering the RP Seminary and by the proliferation of presbytery programs for theological training.
The Synod created a Central and South America Committee last year to help respond to great interest in Reformed/Presbyterian relationships in many places to the south. The committee reported how it is evaluating current needs and interest and how it might refine that for the future. There is also a need for the RPCNA Constitution to be fully translated into Spanish.
The Board of Education & Publication reported the publication of Dr. Rosaria Butterfield’s second book, Openness Unhindered, which addresses current conversations and controversies on sexual identity. Also being released this month is the book 150 Questions about the Psalter by Pastor Brad Johnston and a words-only version of The Book of Psalms for Worship.
The Interchurch Committee has been working with the ARP’s Interchurch Relations Committee to bring about greater cooperation and unity through means like this concurrent Synod. The committee has also been working to draw together Reformed Presbyterian denominations around the world through an RP Global Alliance. The 2014 Synod approved the alliance proposal in principle, and a revised proposal, based on feedback, was approved this year. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland approved the proposal earlier this month.
The Interchurch Committee has corresponded with a couple of denominations with whom we are drawing closer regarding their questions about the RP position on allowing women in the diaconate. Synod voted to join with the Heritage Reformed Congregations in recommending to its congregation a time of prayer and fasting during the last week of June regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage and Canada’s recent decision allowing euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide, with the date and implementation of such prayer and fasting being left to each local congregation.
Immediately following the Interchurch Committee report, the Synod heard from fraternal delegates Dale Clark of the Reformed Church in the U.S.
The Committee on Mediatorial Kingship of Christ, created by Synod last year, gave a brief progress report. Committee members are working on papers on assigned topics. The committee anticipates that several years may be required to complete its work.
The quadrennial RP International Conference will be held July 23-29, 2016, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. The International Conference Advisory Committee reported that the theme will be “The Sacrificing Church,” with Prof. Barry York from the RP Seminary as the main speaker. The key verse will be 1 Peter 2:9 and the conference psalm will be 68B. Scheduled to speak in other worship or plenary sessions are Rev. Gordon Keddie, Pastor Matt Kingswood, Pastor Jeff Stivason, and Pastor Pete Smith. Rev. Bruce Backensto is the conference program director. Further information is available at the conference web site, rpic2016.org.
“Thanks for allowing us to be on the cutting edge tonight,” said Bill Weir, chief financial officer of the RP Woman’s Association, via a Skype report to the Synod. Seated behind Mr. Weir were several RP residents of the Reformed Presbyterian Home, including previous members of Synod and also Jean Hemphill, mother of Moderator Robert Hemphill.
Bill Weir reported that the RP Home is becoming better known for short-term rehabilitative services which has also improved its financial picture. The Woman’s Association has chosen to sell the Robin’s Nest daycare operation in order to focus all its attention and energy to senior living. The board has also ironed out a long-range plan.
Following the report and at the recommendation of Pastor Jonathan Haney of Manhattan, Kan., RPC, the Synod sang Psalm 71C for the RP Home residents via Skype.
Following that Synod appropriately moved to prayer regarding the many needs and thanks noted during the day, including not only ministry items but also urgent needs from “back home” that have been mentioned from the floor of Synod.
Quip of the Day: Moderator Robert Hemphill, at the opening of the morning’s business session, wondered aloud whether the parliamentarians had intentionally placed the cover of Robert’s Rules of Order in front of him as a reminder. He stated that he wouldn’t mind if it were on purpose, noting that they are Robert’s Rules of Order.