“After all this time, it’s still fun,” said Pastor Phil Pockras, retiring moderator of the 2014 Synod, as he pounded the gavel to bring the new Synod to order.

The historic 184th Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America convened today in Flat Rock, N.C., on the Bonclarken conference grounds. Also today, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church synod convened at Bonclarken just a few hundred yards away. Bonclarken is the official conference grounds of the ARP Church and the usual location of their synod.

Two years ago the ARP and RPCNA voted for their synods to meet concurrently so that there might be joint opportunities for worship, fellowship, and cooperation. Last night delegates from both synods gathered informally to sing psalms and to hear a presentation on evangelism and church planting, followed by fellowship and an ice cream social. Today the synods met in separate locations in the morning and evening but joined together in the afternoon for the ARP moderator’s message.

The RPCNA Synod opened this morning in the Patrick Room of the Bonclarken Lodge, one of the newest facilities at Bonclarken and the site where many of the RP delegates are both meeting and lodging. Pastor Pockras delivered the retiring moderator’s sermon as part of the opening worship service. He focused on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and spoke of Christ’s kingship over His church. He pointed out both the importance of this teaching for our intolerant world today as well as its historic shared importance in the RPCNA and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Afterward, the Synod gave thanks for the lives of several servants of the church who have passed away since the last meeting of Synod and also prayed for their families. Those memorialized included four teaching elders, two ruling elders, two pastors’ wives, and one missionary. Memorials were read aloud for Revs. Joseph Caskey, Philip Coon, and T. Richard Hutcheson.

The new moderator of the 2015 Synod is Robert Hemphill, pastor of the Laramie, Wyo., RPC. Delegates who are attending a Synod for the first time were introduced to the court.

Synod then began some of its routine business, hearing reports from its boards and committees. The Business of Synod Committee made recommendations about several papers that had come from the denomination this year.

Paper 15-1: comes from Midwest Presbytery and seeks to clarify some potentially confusing language in the Directory for Church Government regarding the organization of new congregations. This paper was referred to a Synod committee to report back next year.

Paper 15-2: comes from Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery and discusses who should oversee church meetings, including congregational meetings. The paper poses that this should always be the session rather than non-ordained congregational officers. The committee recommended that this come before the full Synod this year for discussion, and the recommendation passed.

Paper 15-3: regards some pension assessments that are in arrears by a congregation. This was referred to the Trustees of Synod.

Paper 15-4: comes from Christ Church in Providence, R.I., and asks for an interpretation of the Constitution as to whether elders only may pray in a worship service. The committee recommended that this question go to the judicial committee of Synod, and Synod did so.

The 20/20 vision that the Synod approved a number of years ago had the goal of reaching 100 congregations by the year 2020. The Home Mission Board reports that there are currently 96 congregations, gives thanks for what God has done, and requests prayer for further growth. (See presbytery chart for new and closed home mission works.)

In a year that was perhaps the “busiest time in its history,” the Global Mission Board recently launched a new RP mission field in India, initially focused on the “technology capital” of Bangalore, where two families will be ministering in late summer 2016.

A new field is also being launched in Pakistan, fueled by the work of Eliah Massey, present at this Synod, who has been translating Reformed works into Urdu. A preaching station has been established in Pakistan and four ruling elders ordained to oversee the ministry.

On the Japan field, the Global Mission Board is proposing a more gradual reduction in aid to the Japan Presbytery that all hope will smooth the transition to a self-supporting, self-propagating, and self-governing church in Japan.

What was, less than 10 years ago, a South Sudan mission, is now the Reformed Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, with about 3,000 people worshiping weekly in 22 congregations, mission churches, and fellowships. Longtime team leader Vince Ward returned to Canada this year and addressed this Synod. He received a standing ovation from the court and Psalm 68E (“Cush appeals to God”) was sung following. Daniel Faris has assumed the Sudan team’s leadership role. One teaching elder, Henry Fang, has recently joined the team, and a second teaching elder is being sought. Growth in the Sudan church has not been without spiritual battles, however, including discipline cases among some of the indigenous elders.

The door to ministry in Mexico City has currently been closed, but both Home and Global Missions boards continue to pray for opportunities in Latin America.

RP Missions (short-term) had 60 participants last year on 16 trips.

The RPCNA Synod met with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod in the late afternoon and looked on as their moderators passed the gavel and the new moderator gave his address. He explained that he had been uncertain of the value and need for a concurrent Synod until he researched the denominations further and the careful process over the past decade that has led to this “family reunion” of Reformed Presbyterians. Also, a fraternal delegate from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church addressed both denominations.

The six North American RPCNA presbyteries met separately in the early afternoon and then reported to the full RP Synod in the evening. (A thorough roundup of news from the presbyteries is listed at the end of this report.) Following each report, prayer was offered for the needs of the presbytery.

The Reformation Translation Fellowship reported that translations of some works into Chinese languages are available for free download on their web site, rtf-usa.com.

Two reports—one from the Understanding the Times Committee and one from the Joint Commission on Service Personnel—garnered some lively discussion but, as the time for business elapsed, will have to be completed later.

For those who would like to learn some of the detailed news in the presbytery report, here is a compilation:

PASTORS AND PLANTERS

ORDAINED and/or INSTALLED

• Namsik Yang, associate (Los Angeles, Calif., RPC)

• Patrick Stefan (Rochester, N.Y., RPC)

• Richard Knodel (Southwest Ohio Mission Church)

• Stan McKenzie (Southside Indianapolis, Ind., RPC)

• Raymond Morton (Hetherton, Mich., RPC)

• Steve Rhoda (Westminster, Prairie View, Ill., RPC)

• Craig Scott, examination planned (First RPC, Grand Rapids, Mich.)

• Stephen Welch, supply (Coldenham-Newburgh RPC)

• Ryan Sommerville, in July (Aurora, Ohio, RPC)

• Sam McCracken (Casper, Wyo., Mission Church)

• Derek Moore, associate, in June (Laramie, Wyo., RPC)

• Joe Allyn, in fall (Trinity [Witchita, Kan.] RPC)

MINISTERING ELSEWHERE

• David Long—resigned from Lafayette, Ind., RPC; working halftime as pastor at Second (Indianpolis, Ind.) RPC and halftime as Executive Secretary of RP Global Missions

• Joel Wood—resigned from Sterling, Kan., RPC; installed at Trinity (Burtonsville, Md.) RPC

• Bruce Parnell—temporarily leaves Stillwater, Okla., RPC to serve in Asia

RESIGNED & RETIRED

• Stephen Michaud, resigned (Cambridge, Mass., RPC)

• William Edgar, retired (Broomall, Pa., RPC)

• Robert McFarland, retired (Midwest regional home missionary)

CHURCHES

CELEBRATED 180 years

• Rose Point (New Castle, Pa.) RPC

• Southfield, Mich., RPC

CLOSED

• Berkshire, Mass., Mission

• Calgary, Alberta, Mission — on hold

• Mexico City, Mexico, Mission

• Northminister (Altanta, Ga.) —reduced to preaching station

• Portland, Ore., Mission

EXPLORED

• church plant in urban Atlanta, Ga. (Frank Smith)

• church plant in Dayton, Ohio (Dick Knodel)

• reception of Toronto Free Church of Scotland into St. Lawerence Presbytery

• church plant in Bangalore, India (Licentiate Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan and Elder Ram Rao and familes)

• church plant in Albuquerque, N.M. (Jason Ryce)

ESTABLISHED as mission church

• Southwest Ohio (West Chester, Oh.)

• Casper, Wyo., Mission in July 2014

ORGANIZED

• Dallas (Flower Mound, Tex.) RPC—Mar. 2015

• Laramie, Wyo, RPC—planned for June 2015

• Marion, Ind. RPC—planned for Sept. 2015

RENOVATED

• Cambridge, Mass., RPC—accempted grant from city to repair historical exterior of building

• College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC—purchased nearby Presbyterian building to facilitate vision & expansion

• First (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC—remodeled manse; plan an addition to accomodate Pastor Miller, diagonosed with ALS

• Grace (State College, Pa.) RPC—added visitor resource center; plan to add a ramp to front of building

• Hetherton, Mich., RPC—added chair lift, working church bell, counter space, & grounded plugs

• Okamoto-Keiyaku, Japan, RPC— renovated parsonage bathroom, church kitchen, walls, roof, ceiling, & carpet.

• North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC—remodeled restrooms and classrooms; replaced doors and windows

• Syracuse, N.Y., RPC— plans a new parking lot

RELOCATED

• Christ Church RPC—moved 10 miles from Whitesboro to Floyd, N.Y.

• Trinity RPC—moved 7 miles from Beltsville to Burtonville, Md.

VACANT

• Broomall, Pa., RPC (Atlantic)

• Cambridge, Mass., RPC (Atlantic)

• Coldenham-Newburgh, N.Y. RPC (Atlantic)

• Harrisonburg, Va., Mission (Alleghenies)

• Hudson-St. Lazare, Quebec, RPC (St. Lawrence)

• Selma, Ala., RPC (Great Lakes-Gulf)

• Sterling, Kan., RPC (Midwest)

• Quinter, Kan., RPC (Midwest)

OUTREACH NEWS

BRANCH STATIONS—Okamoto-Keiyaku, Japan, RPC holds evening worship services in several locations

BOOTH—Shawnee, Kan., RPC members staffed an info and outreach booth at a local festival (30 participants; over 200 contacts made)

COFFEE HOUSE—planned by Seattle, Wash., RPC

DISCIPLESHIP HOUSE—Rochester, N.Y., RPC began 3:30 Endeavor House

ELDERLY—Immanuel, Ind., RPC sings psalms at a veteran’s home; Mineola, Kan., RPC ministers a long term care facility once a month; First (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC conducts weekly worship services to up to 20 nursing home residents

INTERNATIONALS—Brea, Calif., RPC’s Hsing Tang heads a Mandrin Bible study; North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC plans to establish a mission church to internationals from East Asisa; Christ Covenant (Lawrence, Kan.) RPC ministers to university internationals

INDIA—Second (Indianapolis, Ind.) RPC plans to send Licentiate Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan and Elder Ram Rao and familes to plant a church in Bangalore, India.

JAPANESE PSALTER—completed translations of part of each 150 psalms into a metrical verision. Psalter Committee aims to publish addendum to current Japanese Psalter this summer.

LUNCH—Elkhart, Ind., RPC ministers to 40-50 per week through Fresh Lunch Thursday

REFUGEES—Messiah’s Church (Clay, N.Y.) RPC ministered to a Nepali family; Syracuse, N.Y., RPC recieved into membership 3 political refugees from the Congo; Christ (East Providence, R.I.) RPC conducts a Chrsitian education class in Swahili & continues ministry to refugees

YOUTH—Salt & Light (Longmont, Colo.) RPC formed a youth group organized and overseen by parents

PRESBYTERY PRAYERS

• Alleghenies—cost to churches of obtaining clearences for those volunteering with children; increased tax/cost on family conference

• Atlantic—lack of teaching elders, ruling elders, and deacons

• Bloomington, Ind.—Pastor Holdeman’s leukemia went into remission

• Brea, Calif., RPC —recovery from doctrinal disputes and depatures, as the church is in climate of tension and concern

• Cambridge, Mass.—pastor has resigned; elder Chris Wright retired from 32 years on session; only one deacon

• Covenant (Aurora, Ohio) RPC—demolition of their building delayed by 1 year; received a pastor

• First RPC of Durham, N.C.—discipline and discouragment from smallness halved the church’s membership

• Fulton, N.Y., RPC—damage from winter weather

• Fresno, Calif. —small numbers and poor finances

• Great Lakes-Gulf—organized seminary-level classes in Indianapolis to provide local theological training for men seeking to pursue pastoral ministry

• Kita-Suzurandai, Japan, Mission—aging and inadequate church buidling; desire a burial place for church members (in Japan, bones of the dead may otherwise be worshiped)

• Orlando, Fla., RPC—small growth through 3 new communicant members

• Rimersburg, Pa., RPC—Pastor Monger faces serious spinal cord surgery; small congregation with uncertain future.