Speaking today on the devotional theme of “Enduring Suffering” was Pastor Matthew Kingswood of Russell, Ont., RPC. He spoke on “The Lord of Suffering” from Lamentations 1:1-12, applying the passage to Israel’s suffering, our suffering, and Christ’s suffering.

For the 2013 Synod, only one paper—regarding the collection of tithes and offerings—was received prior to Synod. The original paper, from Trinity (Beltsville, Md.) RPC to Alleghenies Presbytery, recommended that the section of the RP Testimony be removed that states: “The presentation of tithes and offerings is warranted as part of worship.” Presbytery forwarded the paper, believing that the subject merited further study. Synod, however, returned the paper since the presbytery itself had not studied the matter. At its own meeting later that day, Alleghenies Presbytery appointed a study committee.

A second paper asking Synod to reconsider the terms used for ministers without pastorates was not received because it was not received in time and, in the mind of the Business of Synod Committee, was not clear in the action being called for.

Eight years ago Synod set a goal of 100 congregations and mission churches by 2020. God has blessed the RPCNA with steady growth, and the current total is 93. The Home Mission Board (rphomemissions.org) reported to Synod that there are also a multitude of “irons in the fire,” with interest being expressed for RP churches in Irvine, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev., Portland, Ore.; Casper, Wyo.; Teller County, Colo.; Bryan and Dallas, Tex.; Aurora, Ohio; Harrisonburg, Va.; Owings Mills, Md.; the Berkshires, Mass.; and even Mexico City, Mexico. In some cases there is interest by a set of families or a regular Bible study; in other cases there are regular worship services.

Because current exploratory work includes two language groups besides English, the HMB has established a subcommittee on church planting across cultures.

The concentration of the work of the Global Mission Board (rpglobalmissions.org) is in South Sudan, Japan, and in short-term missions (RP Missions), with some exploration of possible new work.

In Japan, Kihei Takiura was ordained and installed as a second pastor for Keiyaku (Kobe, Japan) RPC with a focus on evangelism. A poignant moment today was when Pastor Shigeru Takiura introduced his son to the Synod. Pastor Charles Leach accepted a call from Kasumigaoka RPC in Kobe.

Discussion continued from previous years of the relationship between Japan Presbytery and Global Mission Board, with a difference of opinion about the speed of reducing aid, though the GMB reported that more than the reducing-aid minimum is being committed for the next two years. The RP Church of South Sudan is growing in numbers and in maturity. Currently there are 3 congregations, 10 mission churches, and 3 fellowships. The board requested prayer that God would raise up one or two additional teaching elders who would go to Sudan to help equip that new RP denomination.

The GMB is earnestly praying whether God would want the RPCNA to open another field of ministry. Interest has been expressed from India, Pakistan, South Korea, Mexico, Singapore and elsewhere. There has been progress made in RP ministry in several of these places.

RP Missions, the short-term missions program under RP Global Missions, reports a higher level of participation in missions this year after several years of declining participation.

A big part of the afternoon was spent considering the work of the presbyteries. Written reports of presbyteries often include brief news from every congregation. Thus, while the RP Witness provides many of the prayer requests throughout the year, reading all these presbytery reports at once gives one a tremendous understanding of the current health and needs of all RPCNA congregations. (The Minutes of Synod book containing these reports is available several months after each Synod.) Alleghenies—There have been two installations of pastors this year, and there are two retirements upcoming. Harrisonburg, Va., was established as a mission church by the presbytery today.

Atlantic—Zachary Kail will be leaving his associate pastor position at Broomall, Pa., RPC in August to take a pastorate at Trinity Christian Community Fellowship in Cyprus. Prayer was requested for the Coldenham-Newburgh congregation for a teaching elder and more ruling elders, and for the development of the church plant in western Massachusetts.

Great Lakes–Gulf—This presbytery currently has two mission churches, possible church plants in three cities, and opportunities being explored in Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Praise was also given to God for the addition of two associate pastors: Pastor Adam Niess in Bloomington, Ind.; and Pastor George Gregory in Columbus, Ind. The Sparta, Ill., RPC, with the retirement of Pastor Raymond Morton, is one of five churches that has vacant pulpits, but Pastor Morton plans to move to Hetherton, Mich., and become their stated supply.

Japan Presbytery consists of four congregations and one mission church in the cities of Kobe and Amagasaki. Kobe Theological Hall currently has 9 students. An addition to the Japanese Psalter is in process. The final disbursement was made of the East Japan Great Disaster Relief Fund, to which many RPs donated following the earthquake and tsunami.

Currently within Midwest Presbytery are six mission churches and preaching stations. Two pastors have recently been installed—Greg Stiner at Sharon (Morning Sun, Iowa) RPC and Dan Drost at Washington, Iowa, RPC–with Pastor Steven Work resigning effective Aug. 1 after 19 years at Quinter, Kan., RPC. Veteran chaplain Stan Copeland is the oldest active-duty soldier in the entire U.S. Army and anticipates retiring soon.

With nearly as many home-mission fields under consideration as there are congregations in the Pacific Coast Presbytery, a church extension committee has been established. One of the locations being cultivated is in Mexico City. There are also 6 men receiving theological training.

The St. Lawrence Presbytery spans large regions of the U.S. and Canada, Stephen McCarthy will soon be ordained and installed at Walton, N.Y., RPC. Jason Keuning was ordained and installed as associate pastor for evangelism at New Creation (Kitchener, Ont.) RPC.

Synod’s Understanding the Times Committee focused on the need for societal repentance in relation to issues such as debt and the redefinition of marriage. Even evils bring awareness of their ravages and the need of repentance. The committee highlighted some blessings in the RPCNA such as church plants, Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert reaching a broad audience with the gospel of grace, and good new seminary professors and pastors to replace retired ones.

Reformation Translation Fellowship has now produced and distributed one million volumes of Reformed books they have translated. They recently completed The Faith and Life project, a series of 20 small books designed for pastors.

The Committee on Vital Churches seeks to serve as a catalyst for congregations and presbyteries in promoting healthy churches. Some delegates gave thanks for the committee’s workshops last summer, which were the best-attended workshops at the RP International Conference.

The written report of the Presbyterian & Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel contained reports from the RPCNA’s five military chaplains, among whom are two colonels.

One highlight of the past year at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary is the development of distance education, and will ultimately offer up to one-third of an M.Div. degree as well as other courses. Barry York begins work as professor July 1 and is inaugurated in October. Denny Prutow’s retirement dinner was Apr. 19, and he will also be honored at a Synod reception Wednesday night.

College President Ken Smith, in conjunction with the Geneva College Board of Corporators, called Synod’s attention to trends affecting Christian higher education. One of those is the attempt to redefine freedom of religion as freedom of worship. Also reported was a June 18 victory with a preliminary injunction to allow Geneva to offer a health care plan without the U.S. Health & Human Services contraception mandate. Prayer was requested for the ongoing case.

The Board of Education & Publication reported on the extraordinary worldwide response to the book Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, published one year ago, and the effect it has had on sales of other Crown & Covenant books. This includes a surge of interest in The Gospel & Sexual Orientation, adopted by Synod two years ago and subsequently published.

Synod’s Youth Ministries Committee explained ways that some well-established presbytery youth programs are able to help presbyteries with newer programs. The committee also reported the tremendous success of the RP Seminary’s Theological Foundations for Youth program and the similar presbytery level programs.

Tomorrow, the Synod begins to focus more on deliberative issues, such as whether to realign the Midwest and Pacific Coast Presbyteries.

–Drew Gordon, editor, Reformed Presbyterian Witness