As the RPCNA’s “highest court,” Synod is a deliberative body. That fact was clearly evident today, as nearly every report included lively discussion and debate.

To begin the day, however, retired pastor Don Piper delivered a devotional message based on Isaiah 40–“Comfort, comfort my people”–and other passages on bringing comfort to God’s suffering people. Rev. Piper shared many poignant reflections of times in his ministry when he had comforted people or failed to bring comfort. Being there is the key to helping the suffering, he said, ministering in the name of Christ by one’s quiet presence, by prayer, by reading Scripture, by unheralded acts of assistance.

The Presbytery Realignment Committee recommended to Synod that, effective upon the adjournment of this Synod, the congregations and missions in Colorado and Wyoming be transferred to the Pacific Coast Presbytery, and that the name of the Pacific Coast Presbytery then be changed to Western Presbytery. This would have transferred three congregations and three missions to that presbytery. While no one expressed dissent to the idea, many concerns were raised about whether the two presbyteries involved had had enough time to be made aware of this possibility and to offer feedback to the committee. After a long debate, the motion was referred back to the committee to report in 2014. Also, members of both presbyteries met with the committee over dinner for further discussion.

An increasing number of RP congregations have multiple pastors. A study committee created last year sought to clarify terminology and procedures in the Directory for Church Government so that, for example, counsel is given to congregations when a more senior pastor retires and an associate pastor is already serving.

Synod voted to take up the minority report of that committee, which offered a simpler, more concise set of changes than the majority report. After further attempts at amendments and motions, however, Synod voted to return the minority report to the entire committee for revision at this meeting of Synod. The committee did bring back a report at the end of the evening, but Synod’s adjournment time came before progress was made.

Another report that was not completed today because of lengthy discussion and debate came from a committee created last year to “define and clarify the relationship” between the Reformed Presbyterian Woman’s Association and the Synod. Based on some questions brought up last year, the committee wished to reaffirm much about the current practices and support related to the Reformed Presbyterian Home (which the RPWA oversees). These recommendations of affirmation, however, created differences of opinion, as some delegates thought they nuanced things in a way that would actually change current practices one way or the other. The Home is unique as an RP institution in that it is not controlled by a church court, yet was created by the Synod in 1895 and has had very strong ties to the denomination ever since. About 12 percent of Reformed Presbyterians have utilized the Home in the past 52 years, but in that number are many pastors and their wives as well as missionaries from all around the RPCNA. Twenty-three percent of current residents and patients are Reformed Presbyterian. When the parliamentary smoke had cleared, nothing concrete had changed. However, the final recommendation about considering the creation of a diaconal ministry related to the courts of the church was under discussion and will be considered again tomorrow.

The evening session was devoted to interchurch relationships, which included hearing reports from other RP denominations and other Reformed denominations.

Pastor Robert Robb from the RP Church of Ireland, who is a church planter and was moderator of their recent Synod, requested prayer for their invigorated church planting program.

Pastor David Karoon of the RP Church of Scotland reported that they are close to starting a Scottish seminary. He gave thanks for the recent RP mission team that came to his congregation.

Pastor Jeff Kingswood, moderator of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, gave thanks that at their recent Synod there was unanimous agreement on new governance provisions with Erskine. He gave thanks for the ARP Psalter (Crown & Covenant) and said the ARP Synod is considering adopting The Gospel & Sexual Orientation (drafted and adopted by the RPCNA in 2011) as a position paper. The ARP issued a unanimous invitation to the RPCNA to have a concurrent Synod in 2015, in which joint worship sessions would consist of exclusive psalm singing a cappella.

Pastor Peter Wallace from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church reported that they are working on a psalter-hymnal with the United Reformed Churches. The OPC has established a fruitful committee on diaconal ministries like the one being considered by the RPCNA, he said. He reported that June 30 is a day of prayer for OPC member and Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held prisoner in Afghanistan for four years (www.opc.org).

Pastor John Bouwers of the 17-year-old federation of the United Reformed Churches reported that they had recently approved a closer relationship (second stage) with the RPCNA. The RPCNA had approved a similar recommendation.

Ruling elder Bruce Kwekel from the Heritage Reformed Congregations was welcomed as an observer. Joel Beeke, keynote speaker from the RP International Conference, is from the HRC. One unique aspect of that church is that their elders subscribe to both of the common sets of Reformed standards: the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards.

Following these speeches, the Interchurch Committee recommended that the Synod meet concurrently with the ARP Synod. Since the report had been drafted prior to the ARP invitation, the recommendation was amended with the date of 2015. A few concerns were expressed about whether the logistics could be worked out in that time frame without significant expense, since the ARP Church would be hosting in North Carolina, but there was enough latitude in the recommendation that it passed easily.

After a hard day’s work, delegates honored Dr. Dennis Prutow with a reception. He served the RP Seminary for 12 years and has been in ministry for 45 years.

–Drew Gordon, editor, Reformed Presbyterian Witness