In a day when Synod heard from delegates of other denominations as well as representatives from several countries, it was fitting that the morning’s devotional message would be delivered by a fraternal delegate.

Pastor Scott Cook, Erskine College dean and Bible professor, as well as fraternal delegate from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, preached on Psalm 89:19-52. That psalm resonates with those who aren’t feeling the love of the Lord presently. Praise is important when you are dealing with a difficult providence, Pastor Clark said, and that example is set at the beginning and end of Psalm 89. But God wants us to be honest in bringing our thoughts before the throne of grace, as the psalmist did. The author acknowledges the truth of God’s steadfast love even when he doesn’t seem to experience it. We too ought to remember that God’s steadfast love is infinite, and that the moments where we don’t seem to be experiencing it are oftentimes when we’re most receiving it.

Fraternal delegates who addressed the court today were Andrew Barnes (PCA), Kansas City, Mo.; Maynard Koerner (RCUS), Sioux Falls, S.D.; Bill Bokestein (URCNA), Kalamazoo, Mich.; Tony Mastris, Greek Evangelical Church of Cyprus; Kyle Sims (ARP), Lancaster, S.C.; and Iain Wright (OPC). Synod also heard from representatives of observer denominations: Mark Jagt (CanRC), Toronto, Ont.; and Don Overbeek (HRC), Toronto, Ont. A special privilege was hearing from Christian Vila, one of the representatives of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bolivia who had traveled to the States for the Synod meeting. “In Bolivia, Reformation is new,” he said.

The RPCNA’s Interchurch Committee reported that during next year’s concurrent synod with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at Geneva College, there will be joint worship times, some of which will include area congregations. There is to be a pre-Synod seminar on psalmody, with each denomination presenting how they apply the regulative principle in this area of worship. A recommendation to extend an invitation to fraternal relationship with the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) passed.

Though discussed earlier in the week, the deliberation and official action on the complaint by Rev. Ron Stegall occurred today. Rev. Stegall is a member of Midwest Presbytery (MWP) who had co-signed Bruce Hemphill’s study paper (see Wednesday’s report) to that presbytery and had recently been threatened with discipline for his view on women elders arising from a written statement to the presbytery. Stegall said that the courts of the church have known about his position for decades but instituted no discipline, although there was disagreement on how much was known by the courts. Both sides agreed that he was not being accused of teaching a contrary position from the RPCNA. His complaint contends that the “presbytery erred by stating that I deny the authority, perspicacity, and sufficiency of Scripture….[and] erred by abusing both parliamentary process and the disciplinary process.” A member of MWP and Mr. Stegall gave opening arguments, followed by deliberation through the late morning and early afternoon and then closing arguments. According to a constitutional provision, MWP was not permitted to vote on the complaint. In the end the Synod denied all the points of the complaint, so the case is still in the hands of the presbytery.

The Vital Churches Committee report, which was not completed earlier in the week, was again taken up. Motions to permanently discontinue the committee were made but failed.

The Board of Education & Publication reported that it held its spring meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., in part to meet with leaders of Reformation Heritage Books and gain a better understanding of their operation. The pace of new RPCNA book releases has increased in the past year, with The Gospel and Gender Identity, Prayers of the Bible, Pursuit of Glory, The Battle for the Biblical Family, and Ascent (album) published, and several more books in process.

Significant transitions are taking place at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Prof. Barry York begins as seminary president July 1, with Jerry O’Neill retiring after 23 years as president but continuing to teach courses in pastoral theology. David Whitla has been nominated by the seminary for professor of church history, and Synod interviewed him today. A search for a professor of New Testament is on the horizon.

Seven RPs received M.Div. degrees this year at the seminary, with eight and ten expected in 2019 and 2020, respectively. There is a need for North American RPs to enter seminary (none are expected this year). Dr. Jerry O’Neill noted the growth of distance learning and more seminaries using that option, while the RP Seminary has an active distance learning program but still prefers to have men on-site for two of the years. Over $2 million of $3 million needed for building renovations has been received.

Dr. O’Neill and his wife were honored with standing ovations for their service to the seminary and denomination, and an ice cream social was held in their honor following Synod’s adjournment.

During the Nominating Committee report today, a member of Synod moved that the Business of Synod Committee study the possibility of electing Synod’s moderator a year in advance. Similar proposals have been made in years past but have failed, in part because it would likely require a constitutional change. The motion to study passed.

Speaking of elections, Synod will hold its elections for boards and committees tomorrow. Though it has been a packed agenda this week, and there are still many reports to consider tomorrow, Synod seems on track to finish its business by its scheduled 4 p.m. adjournment time.

–Drew Gordon, editor

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