The Reformed Presbyterian Synod reconvened for Day 2 of deliberations with a sermon from CJ Williams “I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice”. He laid forth the meaning of Hosea 6:6 in its original context, how Jesus applied the verse in his own context, and finally, how we ought to apply this timeless truth in our own context. Following prayer and the singing of God’s Word, Synod turned to its business.

The synod took up an interesting question through her committee about when and how (non-judicial) meetings of church courts might be recorded. When should recording of meetings be required, encouraged, discouraged, or banned, and under what conditions? RPCNA church discipline trials must be recorded, according to our Book of Discipline. But what should be the rules or guidelines for parliamentary bodies?

The committee concluded that a court has the authority to determine its own rules, yet they also offered eight guidelines for Synod’s adoption. Some of these guidelines include:

• 3) Courts must vote (2/3 or majority) in order to decide to record a meeting.
• 4) Advice, not a law: If recording the meeting will inhibit free debate, do not record the meeting. Debate should be free at meetings.
• 5) If recording the meeting would force the meeting into executive session, do not record the meeting. Executive session is meant to protect the reputations of parties in the dispute, not the elders who are debating.
• 6) In advance, the court must also decide how it will limit the sharing of the recording, including preventing copying, and when/if it will be deleted. If a livestream, it must figure out how it cannot be recorded by others (preventing copying will be hard to do).
• 8) The minutes must be supreme to the recording. The recording may not modify the minutes, once the minutes are adopted by the court.

Within these limits, courts are free to record their meetings.

Another study committee addressed how church officers ought to practice exclusive psalmody away from home. This committee understood its purpose to be “to bring practical principles to bear in guiding officers on how to approach worship without compromising our manner of worship in these settings.” The pastoral counsel given “with both faithfulness to God’s commands for worship and the peace and unity of the Church universal in mind” included four practical guidelines helping church officers navigate worship in other churches. Delegates had different perspectives on whether these recommendations would be helpful or whether they would effectively loosen our standards.

After much debate about the substance of the committee’s report, Synod finally decided to lay the report on the table indefinitely. This action brought the committee’s work to conclusion. Then the motion was made that Synod “charitably reaffirm” its collective conviction of psalmody, based on RP Testimony 21.1; 21.2; 21.5. The motion passed by easily by a voice vote.

Synod turned its attention to the matter of the Reformed Presbyterian Home in north Pittsburgh and received a report from a representative of the Reformed Presbyterian Woman’s Association, which oversees the Home. After the report, a concern was brought regarding the practice of the Catholic Mass at the Home for residents at the Home who request it. After debate over exactly how Synod should act, the motion was finally adopted “that Synod of 2024 ask the RPWA with the RP Home administration to begin revising their governing documents so as to preclude Roman Catholic and all non-Christian spiritual care being required by government funding agencies.” This motion carried.

Also related to the RP Home, a judicial committee came forward with joyful news. Parties representing the RP Home and the Orlando RP Church had met with the committee regarding a dispute over a previously unpaid balance by a retired RP minister. The parties were able to work through their issues, leading to reconciliation. The two men embraced, and a representative from the RP Home will fly to Orlando to complete the process of reconciliation, as the Lord wills. The paper was withdrawn, and the matter is settled.

The board of Reformation Translation Fellowship reported on their work to fund printing of materials in a variety of languages. Board Member Allen Blackwood shared the joyful news that – through RTF funding – the very first translation ever of the Westminster Standards has been made into the Nepalese language. Delegates were reminded that in that part of the world living for Christ is very costly. Prayer is sought for the persecuted church in southeast Asia and, in particular, Nepal.

During the evening session, Synod heard from the Interchurch Committee, who presented fraternal delegates from sister denominations. The court was addressed by Matt Dyck (Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada), Rev. Iain Wright (Orthodox Presbyterian Church), Carl Gobelman (Reformed Church in the United States), and Jim Smith (Presbyterian Church in America). After this time, the court approved plans of the Interchurch Committee to invite the Presbyterian Reformed Church to enter into fraternal relations with us. You can learn more about this body of churches at PresbyterianReformed.org.

The RP Global Alliance informed Synod of its plans for an RP Global Day of Prayer the weekend of Oct. 5-6. The Alliance is encouraging online regional prayer meetings on Saturday across all Reformed Presbyterian denominations, with a Global day of Prayer on the Lord’s Day on the theme of “Men for the Ministry.” Synod approved this proposal. More information will be delivered to local churches.

This second day of Synod concluded with a one-hour hearing on the complaint of a member of the Midwest Presbytery against presbytery’s suspension of this teaching elder for publishing a book and web site advocating a position on wine in the Lord’s Supper contrary to the position of the RPCNA. Arguments were made by both the minister and a representative of the Midwest Presbytery. After deliberation, the court voted and the teaching elder’s complaint was not sustained.

Immediately following adjournment, many delegates went to College Hill RP Church to take part in the ordination and installation of Pastor Frank Du. He was ordained as a gospel minister and installed as an RPCNA church planting pastor for the Little Rock, Ark., region.