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Tuesday 8th July 2003 - Morning & Afternoon Sessions
Article 7 - Re-Opening
The Chairman reopens Synod, asking those present to sing Psalm 111:4,5 and reads from 1 Corinthians 1:17-31.
He then leads in prayer.
By 10:30 all delegates are present.
Br. J. Mulder is also present for the first time.
Article 8 - Delegates Agreement with Three Forms of Unity
Br J Mulder rises in agreement.
Article 9 - Time Schedules
Synod adopts the following time schedule:
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Monday to Fridays:
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9.00am to 10.30am
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Break
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10.45am to 12.00pm
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Lunch
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1.30pm to 3.00pm
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Break
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3.15pm to 5.00pm
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Evening Sessions:
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7.30pm to 9.30 pm
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Saturday Sessions:
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9.00am to 12.00pm
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Article 10 - Adoption of Agenda
The final draft agenda is presented.
1. Opening by the Convening Church - Rockingham
2. Signing of the Attendance List and Examination of Credentials
3. Election of Officers
4. Constitution of Synod
5. Delegates' agreement with the Three Forms of Unity
6. Adoption of the Agenda
7. Adoption of Meeting Procedure
8. Incoming Correspondence
a. Letter Rev. G. van Rongen requesting use of Synod documents.
b. F.R.C. Byford four (4) appeals re Art 93 Acts 2000.
c. F.R.C. Byford submission regarding submission of proposals at Synod.
d. F.R.C. Rockingham Appeal of Art 93 Synod 2000.
e. Letters from Dr. P. van Gurp - Holland.
f. Classis South submission re. Art 45 C.O.
g. Br.& Sr. K. Versluis appeal re Classis North Art 19.
h. Deputies training for the Ministry - replacement Appendix B re. Needy Students Fund.
i. Deputies training for the Ministry - updated Appendix B re. Hamilton Theological College Fund.
j. Br. L. Schoof appeal re. Inadmissibility of appeals Classis North.
k. F.R.C. Mount Nasura appeal re. Art 93 Synod 2000.
l. Classis South proposal re. Term Missionaries.
m. Classis South proposal re. second appeal court.
n. F.R.C. West Kelmscott re C. O. revision.
o. Br. L. Schoof appeal re Approval of Acts after Classis closed.
p. Classis North credentials for delegates to Synod.
q. Classis North list of delegates for Synod.
r. P.C.E.A. greetings to Synod.
s. F.R.C. Albany proposal re RCNZ.
t. F.R.C. Launceston re Art 54 Synod 2000.
u. Br. L. Schoof appeal re Classis North rules.
v. F.R.C. Kelmscott re Classis North April 2003.
w. F.R.C. Kelmscott re Art 93 Synod 2000.
x. F.R.C. Kelmscott re Art 19 Classis North October 2002.
y. Br. J. Byl appeal decisions Classis North 2001.
z. F.R.C. Albany re Term Missionary.
aa. F.R.C. Rockingham re Mission work.
bb. F.R.C. Rockingham re Synod Rules and assistant clerk.
cc. F.R.C. Rockingham re next convening church.
dd. F.R.C. West Albany proposal re. R.C.N.Z.
ee. Br & Sr L Woonings appeal Classis North Decisions
ff. Br D. Van Den Dool re Classis North 2003
gg. Br D. Van Den Dool re. inadmissibility of submissions
hh. Classis South list of delegates
ii. Classis South re report of revision of C.O.
jj. F.R.C. Mount Nasura overture to synod re. Rev R S Ward.
kk. Br D. Van Den Dool appeal Classis North April 2003 on p6
ll. Br. D. Van Den Dool appeal Classis North April 2003 article 24.
mm. F.R.C. Kelmscott audit Synod Treasury books
nn. F.R.C. Kelmscott proposal re. copies of Provisional Draft Agenda
oo. F.R.C. Kelmscott re article 17 and 19 of Classis North October 2002
pp. F.R.C. Byford re Article 41 Acts Synod 2000
qq. F.R.C. Byford notes on the R.C.N.Z.
rr. F.R.C. Byford english "Call for Reformation" and four Dutch brochures
ss. F.R.C. Mount Nasura re. article 17 and 19 Classis North October 2002
tt. F.R.C. Mount Nasura proposal re Presbyterian Church of Korea
uu. F.R.C. Mount Nasura proposal re mission work and C.O.
vv. F.R.C. Mount Nasura proposal relations with other churches
ww. Br & Sr CJ Byl appeals on Classis decisions
xx. F.R.C. Armadale proposal re Presbyterian Church of Korea
yy. F.R.C. Kelmscott - Information re Appeal
zz. Greetings from Canadian Reformed Churches
9. Instructions
10. Reports by Classis Churches
11. Reports of Deputies and discharge of Deputies
a. Report Deputy for the Revision of Church Order and The Ecclesiastical Documents
b. Report Deputies for the Book of Praise
c. Report Synod Treasurer's Financial
d. Report Deputies for Training for the Ministry
e. Report Deputies Relations Other Churches (Reformed) - (Distributed separately)
f. Report Deputies Relations Presbyterian Churches (Distributed separately)
g. Report Deputies Relations Sister Churches(Distributed separately)
h. Report Deputies Indonesia, Philippines Churches (Distributed separately)
i. Report Deputies Nominating Authorities.
j. Report Deputies for Archives and Library of Synods.
k. Report Deputies auditing books for Deputies for Article 17 and 18 of the Church order.
l. Report Deputies inspection of Archives and Library
m. Supplementary report from Deputies Relations with Sister Churches.
12. Audit of the books of the Treasurer and discharge of Treasurer
13. Calculation of the percentages of the churches' share of synod costs
14. Appointment of Deputies
15. Appointment of convening church, and place and time of the next Synod
16. Questions according to Article 41 of the Church Order
17. Personal questions
18. Adoption of Acts
19. Approval of Press Release
20. Censure according to Article 47 of the Church Order
21. Closing of Synod
Material for items 8yy and 8zz were distributed to delegates, as this material was submitted after the final deadline.
Admissibility of incoming correspondence is to be judged when an item is to be dealt with.
ADOPTED
Article 11 - Homepage on Internet
A proposal from the executive to place Acts of Synod also on the Internet is adopted, on the proviso that the matters of personal nature are excluded. Also in matters relating to other churches, discretion will be used.
ADOPTED
Article 12 - Proposal to amend Synod Rules 1.5 and 3.2
(Refer Article 105)
Materials:
Agenda Item 8bb - F.R.C. Rockingham proposal regarding modifications of the Synod rules as they relate to an Assistant Clerk.
Decisions:
Proposal Regarding Rule 1.5 (Additions underlined)
"Arrange meeting accommodation for synod and its committees; any necessary sound amplification; all administrative support facilities; and refreshments and meals.
Also, recommend to Synod a qualified administrative assistant to the Clerk (see Rule 3.2). "
ADOPTED
Proposal that Assistant Clerk to be remunerated in line with the rate agreed to for delegates.
ADOPTED
Proposal Regarding Rule 3.2 (Officers of Synod) (Additions underlined)
"The vice-chairman shall assist the other Officers of Synod where needed, and prepare the
Press Release of Synod. The first Clerk shall be responsible for the preparation of
the Acts of Synod. He shall have responsibility for synod's administration facilities,
and ensure the timely distribution of materials to the delegates.
An assistant recommended by the convening church (see Rules 1.5) shall be appointed
to record the Acts of Synod during the open sessions. At the conclusion of synod he
shall be responsible for printing and distributing these Acts. The second Clerk shall prepare all outward correspondence. He shall place a copy of all such correspondence in synod's Archives."
Grounds:
The task of recording the Acts of Synod restricts the clerk's full participation in the discussion and decision making process of Synod.
Will reduce workload of Clerk during and after closing of Synod.
ADOPTED
A proposal from Synod floor is made that Synod amend Rule 3.2 to remove the words "…during the open sessions:"
DEFEATED
Proposal from Free Reformed Church Rockingham regarding Rule 1.5, 3.1 and 3.2:
"Alternatively, Synod may decide that with an assistant, there is no need for the first and second clerk in Synod, and may appoint only one clerk."
At the end of Synod this proposal was considered:
DEFEATED
(Refer Article 105)
Article 13 - Proposal from FRC Byford regarding Synod's handling of Correspondence
Materials:
Agenda Item 8c Submission from Byford
Decision Items 1 and 2:
Byford proposes:
1. All proposals (from the churches and including those of deputies) that are admissible must be tabled and decided upon.
2. The admissibility of proposals must be decided upon with appropriate grounds and recorded in the Acts.
ADOPTED
Decision Items 4 and 4
Byford proposes:
4. To amend the Rules for Synods by adding Proposal 1 (above) after the current Rule 7.3.
"7.4 All proposals (from the churches and including those of deputies) that are admissible must be tabled and decided upon."
5. To amend the Rules for Synods by adding Proposal 2 (above) after the current Rule 7.7.
ADOPTED
Items 3 and 6
Byford prosposes:
3. All proposals and decisions must be recorded in the Acts of synod.
6. To amend the existing Rule 7.8 of the Rules for Synods by adding the sentence "Proposals that are superseded by another proposal that was adopted shall be recorded as LAPSED." after the sentences "Proposals declared in the affirmative shall be recorded as ADOPTED. Proposals declared in the negative shall be recorded as DEFEATED".
Decision:
Not to accede to items 3 and 6.
Grounds:
Synod deemed it not necessary to add to the existing rules.
Article 14 - Request from Synod Executive on how to deal with the Appeals that are before Synod
Materials:
Agenda items 8 g, j, o, u, v, x, y, ee, ff, gg, kk, ll, oo, ss, ww, yy.
Recommendations:
1. Synod decides to appoint an advisory committee of four members of synod with the mandate to prepare a report plus recommendations re the agenda-items above and to submit this report whenever they have done justice to the appeals.
2. Both the appellants and those appealed against should have the opportunity to be heard by the advisory committee and, if necessary, by synod.
3. It is wise to include in this advisory committee only those members of synod who have not judged these issues before.
4. Whereas all members of synod are included in the discussions of these appeals, only those who have not been directly involved in judging these matters before should make a final judgment on these appeals.
5. The advisory committee should also address the question of the admissibility of the appeals.
Grounds:
1. The material submitted is large and complex and it may be hard to prepare a report during the two weeks of a normal time-period.
2. To judge these appeals, synod, including its advisory committee, should hear both sides; in preparation of the material for discussion an advisory committee of synod needs time to hear both sides of the argument;
3. Material submitted in the agenda items above has to do with certain aspects of church doctrine. An advisory committee may need time to consult others; the seriousness of the issues justify a proper and extensive preparation;
4. In order to do justice it is wise and proper not to appoint to the advisory committee those who have dealt with these issues beforehand. Meanwhile all members of synod have the opportunity to discuss the appeals and the report of the advisory committee.
5. There is the question of admissibility. Often one can only determine admissibility after having digested the appeals. Thus it is best to ask the advisory committee to advise on this question as well.
Decisions:
Recommendation 1, 2 & 3 & 5
ADOPTED
Recommendation 4
DEFER decision for several days.
Proposal to amend Recommendation 2 to delete words "…and, if necessary, by synod"
DEFEATED
Article 15- Matters Affecting Sister Relations - Overture by Mt Nasura
Materials:
Agenda items 8vv
Mt. Nasura overtures synod to decide that in considering relations with other churches:
1. the church pluriform practice of permitting guest ministers of non-sister church to proclaim God's Word and to permit guests of such churches to the celebration of the Lord's Supper is an obstacle to entering into sister relations.
2. it is essential to maintain the confessed Scriptural comfort that the Lord has made His covenant with the believers and their children.
DECLARED INADMISSIBLE
Grounds:
This letter was written on 17 June 2003. It deals with a new matter that would apply to all contacts and relations and thus should have been sent via the minor assembly at least four months before synod. Thus it is inadmissible.
Article 16- Request from Reverend G van Rongen
Material:
Agenda Item 8a
Decision:
Synod decides to accede to Reverend van Rongen's request to use a copy of the Acts to enable him to publish a supplement to his book on the Church Order and standing decisions of synods of the FRCA.
ADOPTED
last updated 23 Jul 2003
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