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Address to Synod by Reverend M Flinn
on behalf of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand
Wednesday 9th July 2003 - Synod Rockingham, Western Australia, 2003
Mr. Chairman
Members of the Moderamen
Fellow delegates, and visitors to the synod:
Thank you for the welcome I have received and for the privilege of addressing you at this synod. For me, this is the third time that I have stood in your midst in this capacity and we have also been able to welcome your delegates at our synods over the last 12 years. This mutual exchange has led to a greater understanding of one another's positions and we are grateful for the attempts you have made to overcome the obstacles that remain toward moving forward in our ecclesiastical relationship.
I bring greetings on behalf our churches in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We don't always see things the same way, and we are not carbon copies of one another. Our churches have a slightly different history and background from that of your own churches but in spite of minor differences, we stand together in the historic Reformed faith. We testify to the sovereignty of God in the world at large and in salvation and we proclaim man's calling and purpose to glorify God and enjoy him forever. In a day when there is much misunderstanding and false teaching among those who claim to follow Christ, and much godlessness and unbelief in society at large, these truths that we profess are a great heritage. They are not a trench into which we must retreat but a citadel from which we must advance, and as churches we would like to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in our service to the King.
Let me update you with something of what lives in our churches across the Tasman. Our current membership stands at just over 3300 in 19 congregations. Since your last synod, we have been blessed by the institution of two new congregations, one in Hamilton and one in Christchurch. These churches were established as a result of congregations growing large (by our standards) and wanting to reach out in other parts of these cities. Both mother and daughter churches continue to receive blessing. I can speak personally about that because I am privileged to serve in one of those new congregations in Christchurch. In addition, one of our ministers is serving in a home mission work in Wanganui. The congregation there is small but very keen and enthusiastic. Then too in the Wellington area, we have a minister who has recently come from South Africa, and who is serving as a home missionary with a special focus on the many South African immigrants that we have in New Zealand. This is something new and exciting for us and we are seeking the Lord's blessing also in this area of outreach.
In regard to overseas mission, our churches continue to support Miss Janice Reid in her work in radio broadcasting with the Far East Broadcasting Company. Beyond that, we have been especially encouraged by missionary opportunities that are opening up to us through the International Conference of Reformed Churches. We have been able to send pastors and a Christian school teacher to Uganda on short term mission work in association with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the US. More recently, one of our pastors has visited Myanmar and we are exploring the possibility of further short term mission work in the teaching and training of pastors and elders in the developing Reformed Churches there. Closer to home, our Overseas Mission Board has been investigating the possibility of sending a full-time missionary to PNG. One of our pastors was very keen to go there. He would have fitted in very well, but his family circumstances made this unwise at this time. Our churches are committed to exploring this possibility further and we remain in close contact with Rev. 'tHart. As I was putting this speech together, I received word of Mr. Wayne VanderHeide's appointment as Mission Worker for the work in Papua New Guinea. We are delighted to hear this and will pray for the Lord's blessing upon his work there.
On the interchurch relations front, we have entered a full sister church relationship with the GKN (Liberated) in the Netherlands and, closer to home, the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. We are encouraged about these contacts and look forward to fruitful interaction and cooperation with these churches.
Since it is of particular interest and concern to you, let me give a little more detail about our relationship with the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia. Our sister church relationship with them has been under strain in recent years. We have been concerned about their decision to open the office of deacon to women, although in connection with this, they have separated off the deaconate from the ruling session. We have been concerned about their discussions regarding the procedures by which young people may profess their faith in the CRCA and also the variety of worship practices within the CRCA.
In recent years, we have been able to discuss these subjects openly with representatives of the CRCA and we were given extra time at their recent synod to express our concerns. It has been greatly encouraging to us that our communication has improved significantly. This is not to say that we agree on every point. However, we have been able to communicate honestly and with integrity in both the letter and spirit of our rules for sister church relationships and we have also had the grace to listen to our brothers when our approach in the past has not been as constructive and helpful as it may have been.
The subject of worship will be a matter of ongoing discussion. On the subject of children and church membership, I am pleased to report that the resolution of their recent synod was heartening to us. At CRCA Synod 2000, it was decided that children (possibly as young as 10) could make a profession of faith and then attend the Lord's Supper, although with a slightly different wording than for older members, especially when it came to adherence to the confessions. Younger people could agree publicly with the confessions "in so far as they understood them". However, it was quite clear at Synod 2003 that the CRCA do not want to move away from the idea of "confessional membership". That is, they do want to retain some understanding of the confessions and a public acknowledgement of this in their professing membership. However, no congregation requires an exhaustive or comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the confessions as a condition for public profession of faith. It was therefore decided to go back to the earlier wording for all professions of faith. But this synod clarified what this meant by affirming: 1) that the second question of the profession of faith form does not require a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the confessions; 2) that the aim of this question is that, through ongoing instruction, we may grow in unity in the truth for which our Lord prayed in John 17:16,23.
As fraternal delegates to the CRCA Synod, we were more concerned with the decisions regarding women in the office of deacon. At least 7 CRCA congregations now have women deacons and in some cases the deacons do not meet separately from the session. Some other congregations have no problem with women as deacons but were waiting until the outcome of Synod 2003. On the other hand, some congregations are strongly opposed to the decision on Scriptural and Confessional grounds.
This was a major issue before Synod 2003 because of two significant appeals from two classes against the decision of Synod 2000. In many respects, our own concerns dovetail with those of the appellants. We are concerned that the study committee report that led the CRCA to this decision appeared not to deal adequately with what it means to be ordained into office in the church, and the relationship between the offices of pastor, elder and deacon, and the three-fold offices of Christ. From our point of view there was not sufficient Scriptural evidence for the CRCA to take the decision to permit women to be ordained as deacons. In fact, the study committee concluded that the Scriptures were not conclusive as to whether or not this was permitted. In spite of that climate of uncertainty within the CRCA on the teaching of Scripture in this matter, they have taken a decision which is a departure from long established practice in Reformed churches. The appellants argued, on the basis of Scripture and Confession, that the decision of Synod 2000 should be reversed. However, the majority of delegates at Synod 2003 were not persuaded by the arguments brought forward by the appellants. Everyone was given ample time to present his views but when the appeals were put to the vote, they were not sustained.
Later, a further decision was taken in relation to this matter. It was decided to establish a committee to further study the confessional issue raised by the CRCA's separation of the deaconate from the session and to bring its findings back to the next synod. It was stated that depending on its findings, this committee may demonstrate the correctness of the traditional interpretation of the relevant articles of the Belgic Confession; demonstrate that the Confession does not in fact require us to keep the deacons on session; or instigate a process leading to a gravamen. As you can see, the matter is still under discussion in the CRCA and we will be monitoring this closely.
We are sad that the discussions between yourselves and the CRCA have broken down. Both your committees responsible for ecumenical contact have concluded that further discussions, at this point, would not be productive. While we respect your decisions and your right to make them, we do believe that face to face interaction is the only way that you will be able to remove the misunderstandings and misconceptions that exist on both sides and make any progress in discussing the real issues that separate you.
What of our relationship with you? Our Synod 2002 expressed thanks to you for your acknowledgement of the RCNZ as true and faithful churches of the Lord Jesus Christ and for your proposal to establish a fraternal relationship with us. On reading your deputies' report to this synod, I realize that we may have been hasty in interpreting the decision of Synod West Albany 2000 as a clear acknowledgment of the RCNZ as true and faithful churches. However, we can perhaps be forgiven for this. In your deputies' letter to our churches, which was circulated prior to our Synod 2002, it was stated: "As you can read in the decision, consequent on the FRCA being able to recognize the RCNZ as true and faithful churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, the proposal to offer Fraternal relations was adopted, however the implementation of the decision was postponed until several matters were resolved." We took this to mean that the "in principle" status of the decision related primarily to the proposal to establish fraternal relations and not the recognition of our churches as true and faithful.
That misconception aside, Synod 2002 re-affirmed its desire to offer the FRCA a sister-church relationship. We do not have the category of fraternal relations and it is our desire to relate to you on the highest level of ecumenical contact. Reading your deputies' report to this synod, I can see that this may not be possible at this stage because of our relationship with the CRCA. You will have to debate this matter, but from our side, we wish to be open to you, to explain clearly where we are at and why in the hope that the remaining impediment can be removed.
Brothers, we pray for the Lord's blessings upon your deliberations - that your decisions may be in accordance with the revealed Word and for the furtherance of the Lord's kingdom here in Australia and further afield.
Thank you.
Rev. Dr. Michael Flinn
last updated 23 Jul 2003
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