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The Reformed Presbyterian Church has held a large meeting in Marion, Ind., for so many years in a row that the denomination should start a church there. Actually, it already has. And the report about that congregation will come up during the week-long Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, which began today.
The gavel dropped on the 182nd Synod of the RPCNA at 6:30 p.m. The weeklong meeting, with about 150 delegates from across North America and even around the world, is slated to adjourn this Friday at noon.
All those voices joined together in singing Psalm 42C.
Pastor Dave Long, last year’s moderator of Synod, gave the keynote address as Synod opened with worship. In accord with the week’s devotional theme of “Enduring Suffering,” he used Romans 8:18- 39 as his text. What are the reasons God allows suffering to continue? Pastor Long drew eight reasons from Scripture: God allows suffering to draw people to saving faith; to draw believers closer to Himself; to judge and punish the wicked; to discipline believers (to prepare believers for things yet to come in our lives and to teach us); to sensitize us to the needs of others; to build a testimony to the work of God’s grace (the world is watching); to help us love the gospel and our Savior more (we understand a little better what it meant for Jesus to suffer); and to prepare us for heaven.
Over a dozen first-time delegates were introduced and welcomed.
Martin Blocki nominated Pastor Bruce Backensto of First RPC of Beaver Falls, Pa., to be moderator of the 2013 Synod, and he was unanimously elected. Bruce Martin and Ray Morton were reelected as clerk and assistant clerk.
Next, the Synod gave thanks to God for the lives of church servants who have passed away in the last year, including Pastors J. Paul McCracken (July 2012), E. Clark Copeland (Sept. 2012) and David R. Patterson (Jan. 2013).
After a few short reports, Synod adjourned to prepare for a long day of work Tuesday, comprised of reports from all RPCNA presbyteries and many of the agencies.