39TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Hioderator : Rev
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The Orthodox Presbyterian Church MINUTES OF THE THIRTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AT OOSTBURG, WISCONSIN MAY 15 - MAY 20, 1972 4 Published by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19126 OFFICEKS OF THE 39TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY hioderator : Rev. Jack J. I’eterson, Box 306, Carson, North Ditliotii 58529 Stated Clerk: Mr. Richard A. Barker, 639 Shadowlawn Drive. Westfieid, New Jersey 07090 Assist ant Clerk: Rev. Stephen I.. Phillips, 21 Bryn Maw Avenue, Stralford, New Jersey 08083 Statisticiiin: hlr. E~NUXIA. Hmg, 46 Sandra Circle, Apt. A-1, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 Internal Revenue Number for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church: 7,37001990 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church MINUTES OF THE TH I RTY - N I NT H G EN ERA L ASS EM BLY MEETING AT OOSTBURG, WISCONSIN MAY .I5 MAY 20, 1972 Published by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19126 THIRTY-NINTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 3 MINUTES OF THE THIRTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORTHODOXPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MEETINGAT OOSTBURG, WISCONSIN MAY 15 - 20, 1972 MONDAY EVENING, MAY 15 The Thirty-ninth General Assembly was called to order at 8:03 p.m. by the Rev. George W. Knight, TTI, Moderator of the Thirty-eighth General Assembly. Dr. Knight constituted the meeting with a worship service and delivered a sermon oh the subject, “The Lordship of Christ in Message and Life,” based on I1 Corinthians 4:5. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered by the Rev. Donald F. Stanton, assisted by Dr. Knight and by elders John P. Daane and Lioyd Theune (Oostburg), J. A. Durrenberger (Valdosta) , William A. Haldeman (Wilmington) , Arthur F. Johnson (Denver), Harold R. Keenan (Whippany), Robert A. Kramm (Westfield), and John C. Smith (Pittsburgh). The Assembly recessed with the pronouncement of the benediction at 9:39 p.m. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 16 Following a devotional service led by Dr. Knight, the Assembly reconvened at 8:04 a.m. The Rev. Robert L. Atwell led in prayer. The Roll of Conmissioners follows: Presbytery of the Dakotas Ministers: Glenn T. Black, Lionel F. S. Brown, Larry D. Conard, Donald J. Duff, Abe W. Ediger, John R. Hilbelink, Richard G. Hodgson, John W. Mahaffy, Jack J. Peterson, Russell D. Piper, Stanford M. Sutton, Jr., John Verhage, Reginald Voorhees Ruling Elder: Arthur F. Johnson - Park Hill, Denver Presbytery of the Mid-Atlatitic Ministers: Charles H. Ellis, Barry R. Hofford, Richard L. Horner, Cromwell G. Roskamp, Laurence N. Vail, Samuel van Houte, H. Morton Whitman, Richard J. Wirth Presbytery of the Midwest Ministers: John J. Barnett, John F. Bettler, James L. Bosgraf, Ivan J. DeMaster, Henry H. Fikkert, George E. Haney, George W. Knight, ITT, Francis E. Mahaffy, Donald M. Parker, Henry D. Phillips, Donald F. Stanton, Eugene B. Williams Ruling Elders : George H. DeGraaf--Westininster, Westchester; Robert Tenpas- Bethel, Oostburg; Michael Elmergreen-Old Stockbridge, Gresham; Leonard Ferguson-Grace, Hanover Park; Stanley H. Molter-Falls, Menornonee Falls; Clarence Obbink--CaZvary, Cedar Grove; Clarence Roskamp-Christ Church of Cedarloo, Cedar Falls 4 THIRTY-NINTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY Ruling Elders (alternates) : John P. Daane, Earl DeMaster, John Fikkert, Howard LeMahieu, Raymond LeMahieu, Wilbert Nyenhuis, Lloyd Theme, and Isaac Van Ess-Bethel, Oostburg; Robert H. Kuhn-Falls, Menomonee Falls; Louis A. Vosku ildalvary, Cedar Grove I Presbytery of New Jersey Ministers: Robert L. Atwell, Calvin A. Busch, Edmund P. Clowney, George R. Cottenden, Allen D. Curry, John Davies, Charles G. Dennison, Robert W. Eckardt, Douglas W. Kiltredge, Robert L. Marshall, Kenneth I. Meilahn, Richard C. Miller, LeRoy B. Oliver, Stephen L. Phillips, Lendall H. Smith, Albert W. Steever, Jr. Ruling Elders: Richard A. Barker-Grace, Westfield; Garret A. Hoogerhyde-Grace, Fair Lawn; Harold R. Keenan-Emmanuel, Whippany; Samuel G. Parker- Itnmanuel, West Collingswood Ruling Elders (alternates): Robert A. Kramm and Davis A. Young-Grace, Westfield; Malcolm L. Woodruff-Emmanuel, Whippany Presbytery of New York und New England Ministers: Leslie A. Dunn, Theodore J. Georgian, John C. Hills, Jr., Donald R. Miller, William E. Moreau, Wendell L. Rockey, Jr., Charles E. Stanton, Bernard J. Stone- house, George J. Willis Ruling Elders: F. Kingsley Elder, Jr.-Covenant, Rochester; C. Stewart Lind- Memorial, Rochester; Bertram R. Robinson, Jr.-Westnziizster, Hamden Presby tery of North ern California Ministers: Arthur G. Ames, Robert K. Churchill, Carl E. Erickson, Gerald G. Latal, Richard M. Lewis Ruling Elder: Nick Roorda-Betlzany, Manteca I Presbytery of the Northwest Ministers: Harold L. Baurer, Albert G. Edwards, 111, David J. Miller Presbytery of Ohio Ministers: Leonard J. Coppes, Lawrence R. Eyres, John M. Frame, Donald M. Poundstone, Laurence C. Sibley, Jr., Henry P. Tavares Ruling Elders: J. Elmer Baird-Redeemer, Dayton; John C. Smith-Covenant, Pittsburgh I Ruling Elder (alternate) : William Shaw-Redeemer, Dayton Presbytery of Philadelphia Ministers: Lester R. Bachman, Herbert S. Bird, D. Clair Davis, Robert R. Drake, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., John P. Galbraith, A. LeRoy Greer, Robley J. Johnston, Rollin P. Keller, Robert D. Knudsen, William C. Krispin, John J. Mitchell, Robert E. Nicholas, James C. Petty, Jr., Thomas E. Tyson, Douglas C. Winward, Jr., Paul Woolley Ruling Elders: William R. Ferguson-OPC, Kirkwood; William A. Haldeman- Emmarzuel, Wilmington; John 0. Kinnaird-Bethany, Nottingham; Robert M. Meeker-Calvary, Glenside Presbytery of the South I Ministers: Elmer M. Dortzbach, Clarence W. Duff, Larry G. Mininger, Arthur 0. Olson, Carl J. Reitsma, A. Boyce Spooner, John H. Thompson, Jr., Cornelius Tolsma, Luder G. Whitlock. Jr. THIRTY-NINTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 5 Ruling Elders: J. A. Durrenberger--estminster, Valdosta; Archie Nelson-Sharon, Hialeah Presbytery of Southerti Culifornia Ministers: H. Wilson Albright, Wallace A. Bell, Bruce M. Brawdy, Ralph E. Clough, Edwards E. Elliott, Kent T. Hinkson, Edward L. Kellogg, Calvin R. Malcor, George W. Marston, Dwight H. Poundstone, Daniel H. Overduin, Salvador M. Solis Total Ministers: 110; total Ruling Elders: 24; total Ruling Elders (alternates): 14. On motion Mr. Peterson’s request to be excused at the close of the Thursday afternoon session was granted. On motion it was decided that for the purpose of determining full travel fund com- pensation, attendance through the evening session of Friday, May 19, would fulfill the requirement of attendance at every session of the Assembly. Mr. Barker presented the report of the Stated Clerk as follows: REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK The Minutes of the Thirty-eighth General Assembly are presented herewith. The Minutes were transmitted to the printer in August, 1971, and were published and dis- tributed in January, 1972. They are the longest Minutes to date. Two changes are to be noted in those Minutes in the report of the Committee on Foreign Missions with respect to the Formosa field. On page 77, the first full paragraph, the last sentence should read: “During the year a loan of US $6,000 was made to a second church, with which we have a close relation?hip, for the purchase . .” On page 84 the sale price of the property in Taipei, given as US $18,475, was augmented in the following fiscal year, bringing the total received to $19,191. The amendment to Chapter XI, Section 2, of the Form of Government proposed by the Thirty-eighth General Assembly and recorded on page 31 of the Minutes of that Assembly has been approved by the Presbyteries of the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, New Jersey, New York and New England, Ohio, Philadelphia, and the South, and disapproved by the Presbyteries of the Dakotas, Northern California, the Northwest, and Southern California. The amendment has therefore been approved by a majority of the Presby- teries. See recommendation (1) below. Although the Thirty-eighth General Assembly intended that the transfer of the state of North Carolina from the Presbytery of the South to the Presbytery of the Mid- Atlantic should become effective with receipt by the Stated Clerk of notice of approval by the Presbytery of the South, the latter Presbytery made the dismissals implementing the transfer effective December 31, 1971. The Clerk and the Statistician regard the change as having occurred officially on that date. The Rev. Harvie M. Conn has declined to serve as a delegate to the Reformed Ecumenical Synod 1972, and the first alternate, the Rev. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., has agreed to serve as a non-voting delegate. The delegation has been rearranged in accordance with the instructions of the Thirty-eighth Assembly. In the Clerk‘s judgment the Thirty- eighth Assembly did not provide for the possibility of Messrs. Shepherd and Gaffin attending the R.E.S. Sydney Missions Conference 1972 as observers. See recommendation (2) below. The Philadelphia area churches declined the request of the Thirty-eighth Assembly that they arrange for the Thirty-ninth Assembly, and responsibility €or selecting the time and place of this Assembly devolved upon the Moderator, Stated Clerk, and Chair- man of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel of the Thirty-eighth Assembly. The decision to meet in Oostburg on May 15, 1972, was reached on October 8, 1971. 6 THIRTY-NINTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY The report of the Committee to Study the Matter of Abortion, and the report of the minority of that committee were published in pamphlet form in March, 1972, in accordance with the action of the Thirty-eighth Assembly. The pamphlets are available at 15$ each from Great Commission Publications. The cost of publication has graciously been underwritten by a member of the church. The Clerk has served as ecclesiastical endorsing agent for the denomination for the military chaplaincy, a duty not covered by the Standing Rules. See recommendation (3) below. The Clerk has carried out the duties of the office assigned by the Board of Trustees, and makes recommendation (4) below concerning the assignments made by the Thirty- eighth Assembly to the Trustees.