Minutes of the First Synod of the United Reformed Churches in North America

The acting Chairman of the Fellowship of Uniting Reformed Churches, the Rev. E. J. Knott calls for the singing of Psalter Hymnal Number 89 and 402, reads Revelation 1:9-20, and leads in opening prayer.

ARTICLE II

Agassiz, BC-Evergreen Covenant Ref.	Rev. Mark Zylstra
Allendale, MI-Independent Reformed		Ray Wallinga Lee Dyke
Aylmer, ON-Aylmer Independent Chr. Ref.		Tom Kaastra Neil Van Gurp Harry Van Gurp
Balmoral, ON-Covenant Reformed	Rev. Al. Bezuyen	Ben Bruining Ralph De Boer
Byron Center, MI-Trinity Ref. Bible		Percy De Ram Ed Heerema Bernie Wychers
Calgary, AB-Bethel Ind. Chr. Ref.	Rev. Dick Wynia	Ed Kamphuis
Cape Coral, FL-Trinity Reformed	Rev. Edward Heerema	Richard Stevens
Clinton, ON-Grace Orthodox Ref.	Rev. Peter Vellenga	Joe Van Dyke John Verburg
Delavan, WI-Orthodox Reformed		Ben Hoekstra
Dunnville, ON-Grace Reformed	Rev. Richard Stienstra	Richard Schotsman Peter Struyk
Coopersville, MI-Eastmanville Ref. Bible		David A Broene Paul Lieffers
Edmonton, AB-Orthodox Reformed	Rev. W. Pols Rev. W. De Jong	J. Van Doesburg
Guthrie, ON-Grace Orthodox Ref.	Rev. Brian Schouwstra	Ken Evans
Hamilton, ON-Hamilton Ind. Chr. Ref.	Rev Raymond Sikkema	Gary De Groot
Hudsonville, MI-Cornerstone	Rev. Stephen Arrick	John Sterk
Jordan, ON-Immanuel Orthodox Ref.	Rev. J. Bouwers	B. A Langendoen
Jenison, MI-Bethel Ind. Ref.	Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen	Herm Scholten
Kalamazoo, MI-Free Christian Ref.		Philip Vos Henry Knibbe
Lansing, IL-Oak Glen Covenant Comm. Ref.	Rev. Paul Ipema	William Beezhold
Lethbridge, AB-Trinity Ref.	Rev. Jelle Tuininga	Dick Vander Molen
London, ON-Independent Chr. Ref.	Rev. Dennis Royall	Bill Pennings John Vander Weg
Lynwood, IL-Lynwood Chr. Ref., Ind.	Rev. Jerome Julian Rev. Rein Leestma	Robert Clausing
Neerlandia, AB-Emmanuel Reformed	Rev. Theo Hoekstra
Orange City, IA-Redeemer Alliance Ref.	Rev. Ralph Pontier	Otto Huizenga Harlyn Jacobsma
Pompton Plains, NJ- Ref. Bible	Rev. Richard Kuiken	Herm Steenstra
Ponoka, AB-Parkland Ind. Ref.		D. S. Feitsma
Sanborn, IA-Cornerstone Orthodox Ref.	Rev. Harry Zekveld	Charles Andringa
Sheffield, ON-Independent Ref.	Rev. Robert Heerema	John Saliba
Smithers, BC-Bethel Reformed	Rev. Barry Beukema	John Bandstra
St. Catharines, ON-Trinity Orthodox Ref.	Rev. Calvin Tuininga	Teun Hunse Bert Gritter
Telkwa, BC-Reformed Church		George Koopmans Joe Boonstra
Wellandport, ON-Orthodox Reformed	Rev. J. Gangar	Jake Veldman Cope Critter
Winnipeg, MB-Providence Reformed	Rev. Fred Folkerts	Hank Bakker
Woodstock, ON-Independent Reformed	Rev. William Van Hal	Leo Miedema K. J. Werkema
Wyoming,MI-Beverly Chr. Ref., Ind.	Rev. Arthur Besteman Rev. E J. Knott	Gerald Rozema
Wyoming, ON-Covenant Christian	Rev Jerry Van Dyk	Bill Weiland Joe Anjema

ARTICLE III

President: Rev. E. J. Knott
Vice-President: Rev. Ralph Pontier
Clerk: Rev. Jerome Julien

ARTICLE IV

Synod is declared constituted after the reading of the Public Declaration of Agreement with the Forms of Unity. The body gives assent with "Amen."

ARTICLE V

Chairman Knott welcomes visitors and representatives of various causes. He reads a letter from the Orthodox Christian Reformed Church (Independent) of Toronto. The president speaks to the delegates requesting prayerful participation in the meeting.

ARTICLE VI

Tuesday, 1:30 - 5:30, 7:00 - 9:00; Wednesday, 8:30 - Noon, 1:30 - 5:30, 7:00 -9:00; Thursday, 8:30 - 11:30. Fifteen minute breaks at 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.

ARTICLE VII

ARTICLE VIII

The Reformed Church of Telkwa humbly requests that the agenda for the Fellowship of Uniting Reformed Churches meeting held on October 1-3, 1996, be declared inadmissible due to the extreme late date at which it was presented to the churches. We would propose that the delegates use their time at the meeting to discuss the proposed Church Order, but that they not make any significant decisions at this particular meeting. We would also propose that a follow-up meeting be scheduled for the Spring of 1997, at which time concrete decisions could be made.

Grounds:

1) Given the fact that the agenda was mailed out after September 12 for a meeting held in the beginning of October, it was impossible for churches to adequately consider the matters presented in the agenda. Since the matters being considered are of great historic significance for our churches, it is crucial that the churches themselves be given adequate time to fully study the agenda materials.

2) It would set a very dangerous precedent for our new federation to allow its broadest assembly to deal with matters which could not be discussed adequately at the local level. If we truly believe that the local churches are of primary importance, then we would put this belief into practice by making sure that the local church has sufficient time to deal with the matters to be discussed at the broader assembly.

Note: We at the Reformed Church of Telkwa are well aware of the time and the cost involved in sending delegates to this sort of meeting. Yet this is a matter of important principle. It is not that we do not trust the delegates at the meeting, nor are we saying that we have great difficulties with the matters which are on the agenda, although we haven't had time to consider them in depth. But the point is this: we are very concerned to protect the primacy of the local church. Hierarchicalism will inevitably creep in when broader assemblies are allowed to deal with matters which were not dealt with at the local level. It is not sufficient to apologize for the lateness of the agenda and then go on as if everything were in proper order. If we allow the proposed agenda to go forward without having given the churches the opportunity to study and discuss the materials, then it would seem to us that we as churches have not really learned from our experiences with the operations of the broader assemblies in the CRC.

B. A motion is made and supported that advisory committees be appointed by the officers in order to deal with the items on the agenda.

C. Motion is made and supported to answer this overture by moving forward with the order of the day and discuss Telkwa's concerns as each item is considered.

ARTICLE IX

B. Motion made and supported to adopt "United Reformed Churches in North America."

ARTICLE X

A Recommendation 1: '"That the members of the Church Order Committee be granted the privilege of the floor during the presentation and discussion of this report."

1. Regarding Principle 7: By motion this principle is changed to read: "Federative relationships do not belong to the essence or being of the church, rather they serve the well-being of the church. However, even though churches stand distinctly next to one another, they do not thereby stand disconnectedly alongside one another. Entrance into and departure from a federative relationship is strictly a voluntary matter."

2. Regarding Principle 15: It is ordered by the chair that the pronoun used for "church" be changed from "she" to "it".

3. The Foundational Principles with the above corrections are

C. Recommendation 3: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the proposed Church Order (containing an Introduction and sixty-five articles) as part of the basis for its federation."

1. The following corrections brought by the committee are ordered by the chair.

a. Article 23 is omitted because of duplication. The numbering of articles which follow will be changed to reflect this.

b. Article 11 is to be changed in the second sentence to read "Only male confessing members . . ."

2. Church Order matters continued in Article XVII.

ARTICLE XI

The assembly recesses for supper. After the supper hour a public meeting of praise and thanksgiving is held. Dr. Nelson Kloosterman addresses the evening assembly on the subject of "Celebrating Zion's Welfare."

Wednesday, October 2, 1996

ARTICLE XII

The meeting is called to order by the chairman. Rev. Ralph Pontier announces Psalter Hymnal number 153 as the opening song. He reads from Ephesians 4 calling us to keep the unity of the Spirit, and leads in prayer.

ARTICLE XIII

ARTICLE XIV

Welcome is extended by the chairman to the following churches having official observers:

Alto, MI -	Kettle Lake Independent Reformed Church
Ancaster, ON -	Independent Christian Reformed Church
Boise, ID -	Cloverdale Christian Reformed Church
DeMotte, IN -	Immanuel Reformed Church Independent
Dutton, MI -	Independent Reformed Church
Grand Rapids, MI -	Christian Reformation Church
Highland, IN -	Community Reformed Bible Church
Momence, IL -	Christian Reformed Church
Toronto, ON -	Covenant Reformed Church

ARTICLE XV

Fraternal Delegates are welcomed by the chairman. Dr. Jack DeJong representing the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Rev. Jim Sawtelle representing the Reformed Church in the United States address the assembly.

ARTICLE XVI

The Chairman requests the assembly to permit the officers to appoint an ad hoc committee to divide the churches into classes.

Committee: Revs. R. Kuiken, J. Bouwers, and A. Bezuyen; Elders Joe Boonstra, Robert Clausing, and Harlyn Jacobsma.

ARTICLE XVII

A The Council of the Independent Christian Reformed Church of Aylmer, Ontario, moves the following overture as a substitute motion:

That the United Reformed Churches in North America continue to use the C.R.C. Church Order of 1934 as adopted at its first meeting in November 1995 "with the understanding that work will continue on a church order for the federation," in order that other churches such as the Orthodox Christian Reformed Church, the Canadian Reformed Churches, Free Reformed Church, Protestant Reformed Churches, Reformed Church in the United States, etc., may have opportunity to give input on the proposed Church Order. This would ensure that it is as compatible as it can possibly be to theirs.

B. The Council of Wellandport ORC overtures the assembly to change Articles 26 and 28 of the Proposed Church Order to read ". . . delegate three of their members . . ." instead of, ". . . delegate two of their members."

C. The Council of the Grace Orthodox Reformed Church, Guthrie, ON, overtures the assembly to add the following to Article 16: "All decisions made at broader assemblies, except those that are procedural or administrative in nature, shall be made by a two-thirds majority vote."

D. The Council of the Grace Orthodox Reformed Church, Guthrie, ON, overtures the assembly to change Article 54 so that the second step of church discipline reads as follows: "In the second, the Consistory shall seek the advice of classis, or in exceptional circumstances, the advice of two or more neighboring consistories, whereupon his name shall be mentioned."

E. The Council of the Grace Orthodox Reformed Church, Clinton, ON, withdraws their overture.

F. The Council of the Trinity Reformed Bible Church, Byron Center, MI, overtures the assembly to change Article 6 to read: "Second, the examination of both doctrine and life, which shall be conducted to the satisfaction of the calling council with the concurring advice of the delegates, according to the regulations adopted by the federation."

G. The Council of the Trinity Reformed Bible Church, Byron Center, MI, withdraws their overture concerning Article 8.

H. The Council of the Trinity Reformed Bible Church, Byron Center, MI, overtures the assembly to change the word "Classis" and the word "Synod" in the proposed Church Order to "Regional Assembly" and "General Assembly".

I. The Council of the Independent Reformed Church of Woodstock, ON, overtures the assembly to change the last word of Article 41 from "possible" to "feasible."

J. The Council of the Independent Reformed Church of Woodstock, ON, moves that provision be made in the Church Order for membership to be lapsed of members who do not merit ecclesiastical discipline.

ARTICLE XVIII

Rev. S. Arrick, Cornerstone Church, Hudsonville, MI, introduces missionaries to India: the Revs. Steve Poelman and Nanda. He requests prayers for their work.

ARTICLE XIX

The chairman rules that the word "Council" in Article 29 be changed to "Consistory".

ARTICLE XX

ARTICLE XXI

The aftemoon meeting is called to order by the chairman. Rev. J. Gangar reads from Hebrews 5:12-6:3, leads in prayer and calls for the assembly to sing Psalter Hymnal number 443.

ARTICLE XXII

ARTICLE XXIII

ARTICLE XXIV

A The chairman rules that discussion on the Church Order will continue until 2:15 P.M. when the question will be called.

C. A motion is presented calling for the next synodical meeting be held the third full week of October 1997.

D. It is moved and supported to suspend Article 65 for one year and refer it to the next synodical meeting for implementation.

E. It is moved and supported to suspend Article 32 for one year and refer it to the next synodical meeting so that like-minded churches and their ministers may be received during that year as charter members of the federation without sponsorship and additional examination."

F. Recommendation 4: "That the formulation of an article dealing with the procedure for severing the relationship between pastor and congregation be assigned to the Church Order Committee."

G. Recommendation 5: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the proposed Guidelines for a Licensure Exam for use among the churches."

H. Recommendation 6: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the proposed Guidelines for a Candidacy Exam for use among the churches."

Chairman orders a change under "3. Content, (4) Reformed doctrine," the last three words to read: "Ecclesiology, and Eschatology" instead of "Pneumatology and Ecclesiology."

I. Recommendation 7: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the proposed Guidelines for an Ordination Exam for use among the churches."

J. Recommendation 8: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the proposed Guidelines for a Colloquium Doctum for use among the churches."

K Recommendation 9: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the credentials for meetings of classis and synod, certificates, and letter of call, printed in The Polity of the Churches, by J. L. Shaver (4th rev. ed., vol. 2, 1956, pp. 235-242) for use among the churches, and request the Church Order Committee to edit these materials accordingly."

L. Recommendation 10: "That the United Reformed Churches in North America adopt the liturgical forms printed in the Psalter Hymnal, Centennial Edition (1976) for use among the churches.

M. A motion is made and supported to request the present Church Order Committee to continue, and serve the next synod with advice regarding the overtures sent to that synod.

ARTICLE XXV

A. Motion made that the assembly adopt the Wellandport overture "to mandate one or two member councils to pursue denominational membership in the ICRC on behalf of our Federation."

C. Motion made to appoint the Wellandport and Dunnville Councils to pursue this matter.

D. This is declared to be the answer to Trinity, Lethbridge and Wellandport, ON.

ARTICLE XXVI

A The consistory of Sheffield Independent Reformed Church overtures the assembly to appoint a committee to contact the group to meet at South Holland, IL, November 1996, in order to warmly invite them to join with us in federation.

B. The council of Bethel Independent Reformed Church overtures the United Reformed Churches in North America to send a communication to the November meeting of the C.R.C. Inter-classical conference. This communication shall include a brief history of who we are and express:

1. that we share in their sorrow and grief over the spiritual decline of the Christian Reformed denomination;

2. that if they are to secede from that denomination, we encourage them to look to us and join us;

3. that whether this occurs or not, we will pray for God's blessing upon them as they contend for the faith.

Motion made to amend the motion to include that Bethel, Jenison, MI draft a fraternal letter and send it to the conference.

Motion made to amend the amendment to add three delegates to draft this letter, and that the letter be presented to the assembly for approval before adjourning.

The amendments are

C. The committee appointed to draft this letter is: Revs. Derrick Vander Meulen and Arthur Besteman; Elders Herm Scholten, Ralph De Boer, and Dick Stevens.

D. A motion is made that the chair appoint someone to be present at the South Holland meeting as our representative.

E. The chairman orders that this be our answer to Sheffield, ON and Cape Coral, FL.

ARTICLE XXVII

The Council of the Independent Christian Reformed Church at Aylmer, ON, overtures that the United Reformed Churches in North America forward the Church Order to all of the federations of the following churches, namely, the Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches, the Canadian Reformed Churches, the Free Reformed Churches, the Protestant Reformed Churches, the Reformed Church in the United States, requesting them for their evaluation, and/or recommendations on our Church Order.

B. A motion is made to delete everything following: "the Reformed Church in the United States."

ARTICLE XXVIII

Classis East	Classis Midwest	Classis West
Aylmer, ON	Allendale, MI	Agassiz, BC
Balmoral, ON	Byron Center, MI	Calgary, AB
Cape Coral, FL	Delavan, WI	Edmonton, AB
Clinton, ON	Coopersville, MI	Lethbridge, AB
Dunnville, ON	Hudsonville, MI	Neerlandia, AB
Guthrie, ON	Jenison, MI	Ponoka, AB
Hamilton, ON	Kalamazoo, MI	Smithers, BC
Jordan, ON	Lansing, IL	Telkwa, BC
London, ON	Lynwood, IL
Pompton Plains, NJ	Orange City, IA
Sheffield, ON	Sanborn, IA
St Catharines, ON	Winnipeg, MB
Wellandport. ON	Wyoming, MI
Woodstock, ON
Wyoming, ON

C. Motion made and supported to designate the first church in each classical list as calling church.

D. Motion is made and supported that the Free Christian Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, MI, be the calling church for the first meeting of Classis Midwest.

Note: London, ON, and Edmonton, AB, have already been designated as calling churches for the first meetings of Classes East and West, respectively.

ARTICLE XXIX

A letter from Van der Woerd and Faber, Barristers-at-Law, Hamilton, ON, is read. It presents two possible models for federative structure.

ARTICLE XXX

ARTICLE XXXI

The meeting is called to order by the chairman with the singing of Psalter Hymnal number 37 and 204. Elder John Saliba conducts opening devotions reading from Colossians 3.

ARTICLE XXXII

ARTICLE XXXIII

Motion made and supported to accept the invitation of the Trinity Orthodox Reformed Church, St Catharines, ON, to meet there.

ARTICLE XXXIV

Inter-classical Conference, or, Churches of the "Covenant Union," continued (from Article XXVI).

Esteemed Brethren,

The United Reformed Churches in North America at its first synod, meeting October 1-2, in Lynwood, Illinois, took note that you would soon be meeting together. We remain deeply interested in you because of our common heritage and faith.

We want you to know that we share your sorrow and grief over the spiritual decline of the Christian Reformed denomination in which so many of us were reared and to which so many of us owe so much.

We realize that you will be involved in grave deliberations and that difficult decisions will confront you. If you are led to the conviction that you can no longer remain as an effective witness in your denomination, we encourage you to join us. We are a newly established Reformed federation which is committed to faithfulness and obedience to the Word of God and the Reformed Confessions.

We assure you that we will be praying for you in your deliberations. May God bless you in the decisions that are made and whatever course of action you pursue as you contend for the faith.

In His Service,

ARTICLE XXXV

A Motion made and supported to appoint a committee made up of members from each of the classes to pursue legal research on both sides of the border regarding federative structure, and make a recommendation to the classes and the next synod

B. Motion made and supported to table this motion in order that the Wellandport overture may be presented.

C. The Council of Wellandport Orthodox Reformed Church overtures the United Reformed Churches in North America to adopt and legally structure itself according to model "B" as described in our letter of information.

D. Motion made and supported to continue the present committee of the Revs. A. Besteman, E. J. Knott, Elder Gerald Rozema, in conjunction with representatives of Wellandport, ON.

E. The deacons of the Covenant Christian Church, Wyoming, ON, request advice "regarding charitable fund transfers across the borders."

E. Motion made and supported to give this matter to the Committee on Structure (see section D, above).

F. The delegates of the Independent Reformed Church of Woodstock, ON, move that this synod appoint a consistory in Canada to research in order to register with the government the name "United Reformed Churches in North America."

ARTICLE XXXVI

A. Motion made and supported to appoint one church council on each side of the border � namely, Trinity, St Catharines, ON and Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, NJ � to oversee the financial needs on their sides of the border.

B. Motion made and supported that each church should decide to send an "asking" of at least $3 per family to cover federation needs within the next two months.

ARTICLE XXXVII

A Motion made and supported that the office of clerk be given for implementation to the church calling the next meeting of synod.

B. Motion made and supported that Rev. Julien continue to serve as Stated Clerk of the federation for the next three years.

C. Motion made and supported that the clerk be given a fax machine, additional telephone line, and necessary supplies for federation use at federation expense.

ARTICLE XXXIX 1

Motion made and supported that the officers appoint an Inter-Church Relations Committee for correspondence and contact with other churches.

ARTICLE XL

A. Motion made and supported that the deadline for sending the agenda for the next meeting be eight weeks prior to the next meeting of synod.

1. Given from Rev. Pontier on behalf of the assembly for the work of Rev. Knott as chairman.

2. Rev. Knott expresses his gratitude to Rev. Pontier for his magnificent work as vice-president, to the office staff for their diligent work, to the ladies of Lynwood Church for their delicious meals and the efficient serving of them, to Lynwood Church for the hospitality shown the synod of 1996, and to the clerk for his work.

D. Rev. E. J. Knott speaks closing words concerning our new beginning, giving the praise to our God.

E. The meeting is declared adjourned. Elder E. Heerema closes with prayer, followed by the singing of the doxology.

Home United Reformed Churches in North America First Synod Minutes

Minutes of the First Synod, United Reformed Churches in North America

MINUTES OF THE FIRST SYNOD UNITED REFORMED CHURCHES in NORTH AMERICA October 1-2, 1996 held at Lynwood Christian Reformed Church (Independent) Lynwood, Illinois

Wednesday, October 2, 1996

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MINUTES OF THE FIRST SYNOD
UNITED REFORMED CHURCHES in NORTH AMERICA
October 1-2, 1996
held at
Lynwood Christian Reformed Church (Independent)
Lynwood, Illinois

You may contact us using our Feedback form for questions or comments about this Web site.
Copyright � 1996 United Reformed Churches in North America
Last modified: July 24, 2007