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Tuesday 15th July 2003 - Evening Session
Article 79 - Re-opening of Synod
The chairman opened the evening session by requesting Synod to sing Psalm 1: 1, 2 & 3.
Article 80 - Adoption of the Acts
It was decided to include the appeals of the churches regarding Art 93 Synod 2000 in the Appendix of the Acts.
ADOPTED
Articles 45 through 74 are adopted.
Article 81 - Relations with PCEA
(Refer Article 77)
Material:
Agenda Item 11f - Report of Deputies Relations Other Churches (Presbyterian)
Agenda Item 11f - Letter PCEA re decisions Synod Maclean NSW
Decisions:
1. To recognise the inconsistent way in which the FRCA has conducted its inter-church relationships with churches the FRCA has not yet recognised as sister churches.
2. To assure the PCEA that the FRCA only engage in discussion regarding church unity with churches that we believe to be true churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. On the basis of this assurance, to make a sincere effort to re-engage the PCEA in effective discussions about the matters of concern using the statements of 1998 (Acts of Synod, Art.93), and to elicit from and discuss with them whatever concerns they have regarding the FRCA
4. To send a letter from synod to the PCEA Synod, informing them of these decisions.
5. To thank deputies for their work and to appoint new deputies with the following mandate:
a) to make a sincere attempt to re-engage the PCEA in discussions, if at all possible via face-to-face meetings;
b) to send two delegates to the next synod of the PCEA;
c) to assess the PCEA response and come with recommendations to the next synod.
Grounds:
1. The Deputies have noted in their report that our approach to the PCEA has been different than with other churches. They note that the FRCA have made declarations about the faithfulness of other churches on the basis of a far less intensive studies of their doctrine and practice; that the FRCA has a sister relationship already for many years with the PCK; that with both the EPCI and the FCS, Synods have previously been clearly moving to intensified relationships; and that in more than one instance Synod has been happy to use a church's standards as means of evaluating the church's doctrine and practice.
2. The FRCA do not make declarations that churches are true and faithful unless they are able to offer sister church relations (Acts of Synod,1985, Art.67).
3. The PCEA has given indication that it is willing to enter into discussions with the FRCA. The recent Synod of the PCEA resolved to "direct the Inter-Church Relations Committee to maintain contact with the FRCA deputies, and endeavour to progress the discussions about matters of concern between us."
4. The letter of the PCEA to our synod needs an answer from our synod. Our deputies also ask that this letter receive a direct reply from our synod.
ADOPTED
Defeated Amendment
The following amendment was voted on prior to adopting the decision above.
Replace Ground 2 with the following:
2. The PCEA request for the FRCA to explicitly state that they are recognized as true and faithful churches shows that the PCEA does not understand that such a statement in the FRCA would imply ecclesiastical unity
DEFEATED
Defeated Amendment
The following amendment was voted on prior to adopting the decision above.
Replace Ground 3 with the following:
3. Synod 1998 made statements on the points which hinder the FRCA from fulfilling its desire for full ecclesiastical relations. It is the FRCA desire that along with the PCEA these points be examined by testing them according to God's Word.
DEFEATED
Article 82 - Adjournment
Elder J Mulder invited Synod to sing Psalm 27:1 & 6 and then led in prayer.
The Chairman adjourns Synod until Wednesday, 15 July 2003 at 9.00.
last updated 22 Jul 2003
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