June 1978 the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Will Meet

Orthodox Presbyterian Church

MINUTES OF THE FORTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MEETING AT- GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

JUNE 15-23, 1978

Published by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19126 OFFICERS OF THE 45TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Moderator : Rev. Larry D. Conard, 607 Melrose Ave., Chula Vista, California 92010 Stated Clerk: Mr. Richard A. Barker, 639 Shadowlawn Drive, Westfield, New Jersey 07090

Assistant Clerk: Rev. James L. Bosgraf, 2374 Dahlia St., Denver, Colorado 80207

Statistician : Mr. Edward A. Haug, 21-B Greenleaf St., Whiting, New Jersey 08759

Internal Revenue Number €or the Orthodox Presbyterian Church : 23-7001990 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

MINUTES OF THE FORTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

MEETING AT GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

JUNE 15-23, 1978

Published by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19126 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 3

MINUTES OF THE FORTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF THE ORTHODOXPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MEETINGAT CALVINCOLLEGE AND SEMINAHY GRANDRAPIDS, MICHIGAN JUNE15-23, 1978

THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 15 The Forty-fifth General Assembly was called to order at 8:OO p.m. by the Rev. Wendell L. Rockey, Jr., Moderator of the Forty-fourth General Assembly. Mr. Rockey constituted the meeting with a worship service and delivered a sermon on the subject “When Moses’ Sight Failed,” based on Numbers 2O:l-13. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered by the Rev. James C. Petty, Jr.. assisted by elders John S. Atwell (Carson, Calif.), Walter P. Flores (Beverly, Los Angeles), William A. Haldeman (Wilmington), Cyril T. Nightengale (Denver), Garret Van Der Heide (Rockport), and Carleton E. Winslow, Jr. (Portland, Me.). The Assembly recessed, following the pronuouncement of the benediction by Mr. Rockey, at 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 16 Following ,a devotional service led by the Rev. Donald J. Duff, the Assembly reconvened at 8:12 a.m. The Roll of Commissioners follows. (Commissioners represent presbyteries. Loca- tions of ruling efders are for reference only. The roll includes those enrolled at this and all later points in the Assembly.) Presbytery of the Dakotas Ministers: Glenn T. Black, William J. Bomer, James L. Bosgraf, Donald J. Duff, Glenn D. Jerrell, Jonathan D. Male, Allen P. Moran, Jr., Jack J. Peterson, Dennis J. Prutow Ruling Elders: Cyril T. Nightengale (Denver), Duane E. Spencer (San Antonio), Ronald E. Vanden Burg (Lark), William J. Vandenburg (Lark) Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic Ministers: Charles H. Ellis, Barry R. Hofford, Edward L. Kellogg, David M. Moore, Laurence N. Vail, H. Morton Whitman Ruling Elders: Allan W. Bjerkaas (Burtonsville), Richard E. Lauxstermann (Vienna) Presbytery of the Midwest Ministers: Vincent L. Crossett, Leslie A. Dunn, John N. Fikkert, David A. George, Robert W. Harvey, Carl J. Reitsma, Donald F. Stanton 4 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Ruling Elders: Kenneth L. Bosgraf (Wheaton), Robert L. Bush (Green Bay), Erwin Claerbaut (Cedar Grove), Earl M. DeMaster (Oostburg), Leonard Stob (Westchester), Robert H. Thompson (Gowen), John Williams (Meno- monee Falls), Peter J. Zaboukis (Gowen)

Presbytery of New Jersey Ministers: Edmund P. Clowney, Robert W. Eckardt, Richard R. Gerber, Robert A. Gramp, David W. Kiester, Richard A. Nelson, LeRoy B. Oliver, Douglas Rogers, Albert W. Steever, Jr. Ruling Elders: Edward A. Haug (Neptune), Garret A. Hoogerhyde (Fair Lawn), Samuel G. Parker (West Collingswood), Paul S. Patterson (Vineland), Herbert D. Plummer (West Collingswood)

Presbytery of New York and New England Ministers: Raymond E. Commeret, Theodore J. Georgian, Kenneth A. Ironside, Raymond M. Meiners, Donald R. Miller, Roger A. Ramsey, Charles E. Stan- ton, Bernard J. Stonehouse, Stanford M. Sutton, Jr. Ruling Elders: F. Kingsley Elder, Jr. (Covenant, Rochester), Paul S. MacDonald (Bangor), Herbert R. Muether (Franklin Square), Peter W. Schumacher (Memorial, Rochester), Garret Van Der Heide (Rockport), Carleton E. Winslow, Jr. (Portland, Me.)

Presbytery 'of Northern California Ministers: Donald G. Buchanan, Jr., Gerald G. Latal, Melvin B. Nonhof, Arthur G. Riffel, Roger Wagner, William E. Warren Ruling Elder: Bob J. Williams (Sunnyvale)

Presbytery of the Northwest Ministers: John W. Mahaffy, Patrick H. Morison, Donald M. Poundstone

Presbytery of Ohio Ministers: Robert L. Atwell, Charles G. Dennison, Lawrence R. Eyres, Henry P. Tavares, Edward L. Volz Ruling Elders: Thomas F. Armour, I1 (Harrisville), David J. Gregg (Grove City), Robert A. Nisbet (Alliance)

Presbytery of Philadelphia Ministers: Abe W. Ediger, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., John P. Galbraith, Robert D. Knudsen, Arthur W. Kuschke, Jr., Neil J. Lodge, John J. Mitchell, Jonathan F. Peters, James C. Petty, Jr., Norman Shepherd, Robert B. Strimple, Thomas ' E. Tyson, Douglas C. Winward, Jr. Ruling Elders : Calvin K. Cummings, Jr. (Emmanuel Chapel, Philadelphia)r, Peyton H. Gardner (Wilmington), William A. Haldeman ( Wilmington) , John 0.Kinnaird (Oxford), James R. Klahr (Middletown, Pa.), W. David Laver- ell (Blue Bell), Daniel E. McElwain (Fawn Grove), John Van Dyk (Wilmington)

1 The members of Emmanuel Chapel are carried on the roll of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 5

Presbytery of the South Ministers: Elmer M. Dortzbach, Larry G. Mininger, Roger W. Schmurr, Donald H. Taws, John H. Thompson, Jr. Ruling Elders: Gary B. Adams (Miami), John E. Evers (Ft. Lauderdale) Presbytery of Southern California Ministers: Arthur G. Ames, Larry D. Conard, Stephen D. Doe, Edwards E. Elliott, Louis E. Knowles, George C. Miladin, Daniel H. Overduin, Lewis A. Ruff, Jr., Michael D. Stingley, Sidney W. Van Camp Ruling Elders: John S. Atwell (Carson, Calif.), James A. Bates (Chula Vista), Robert M. Coie (Artesia), Walter P. Flores (Beverly, Los AngelesJ, Donald L. Gesink (Goleta), Dennis Remillard (Bonita) Ex Oficio Minister: Wendell L. Rockey, Jr. (Presbytery of New York and New England) Ruling Elder: Richard A. Barker (Westfield, Presbytery of New Jersey) Corresponding Members Ministers: Lester R. Bachman (Philadelphia), Committee on Diaconal Ministries; Leonard J. Coppes (Ohio), Committee on the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Committee on Diaconal Ministries; Allen D. Curry (New Jersey), Committee on Christian Education; Robley J. Johnston (Philadelphia), Com- mittee on Christian Education Other Presbyters in Attendance Ministers: W.Benson Male (Dakotas), Cornelius Van Ti1 (Philadelphia) Ruling Elders: Henry Buikema (Gowen, Presbytery of the Midwest); William A. DeJonge (Kirkwood, Presbytery of Philadelphia)

RECAPITULATION Ministers Ministers Elders Elders Presbytery Apportioned Present Apportioned Present Dakotas ...... 9 9 5 4 Mid-Atlantic ...... 6 6 4 2 Midwest ...... 8 7 9 8 New Jersey ...... 10 9 10 New York and New England . 9 9 6 Northern California ...... 6 6 3 Northwest ...... 5 3 2 Ohio ...... 5 5 3 Philadelphia ...... 16 13 8 South ...... 5 5 3 Southern California ...... 11 10 7 Ex Officio ...... 1 1 1

Total ...... 91 83 61 46 Total Voting Commissioners: 129 6 FORTY-FIFTH GENERALASSEMBLY

A survey of the commissioners and corresponding members present yielded the following information as to their dates of ordination:

Date of Ordination No. of Presbyters Responding Since Jan. 1, 1970 41 Jan. 1, 1960, to Dec. 31, 1969 43 Jan. 1, 1950 to Dec. 31, 1959 21 Jan. 1, 1940, to Dec. 31, 1949 15 Before Jan. 1, 1940 8

Total 128 On motion the offering received Thursday evening was designated for the Travel Fund. On motion the Moderator was authorized to appoint a temporary assistant clerk. He appointed Mr. Peterson. Mr. Barker presented the report of the Stated Clerk.

REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK The Minutes of the Forty-fourth General Assembly are presented herewith. They are our longest Minutes to date. The copy for the Minutes and also for the Form of Government was given to the printer on July 11, 1977, a one month improvement over the previous year. The remaining steps in the publication process resulted in delivery of the Minutes by the printer to the Administration Building for mailing on November 3, 1977. Several typographical errors and an omission have come to the Clerk’s attention. The most serious of these are an error in the address of the Santee church on p. 221 (10333 Mast Blvd., not 1033) and the listing of Mr. Graham as stated supply whereas he is pastor; and the omission of the name of the Rev. Edwards E. Elliott from the list of ministers on p. 237. The Forty-fourth General Assembly directed that the proposed new Form of Government be sent to the presbyteries by August 31, 1977. The printer had them ready by that date, but because the U. S. Postal Service lost a package sent by the printer to the Clerk, they were not sent to the presbyteries until September 9, 1978, still in time for the fall meetings of all presbyteries. Copies were sent at about the same time to all ministers and sessions as part of the Minutes of the Forty-fourth General Assembly. The new Form of Government proposed to the presbyteries by the Forty-fourth General Assembly has been approved by all eleven presbyteries. In at least seven instances, the vote was without audible dissent. Since the forms of subscription are af- fected by the new Form of Government, this Assembly must vote on those changes only, in accordance with Chapter XXVI, Section 2, of the old Form of Government. In the event the vote at this Assembly is by the required two-thirds majority, it is the judgment of the Clerk that the Moderator is obliged to declare that the new Form of Government has been adopted and is in effect. Copy for the Agenda for the Forty-fifth General Assembly was delivered to the printer on April 17, 1978, the first working day following the deadline for submission of materials to the Clerk. The Agenda were delivered by the printer to the Adminis- FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 7

tration Building on May 15 and were mailed within a few days. The delays that a number of people experienced in receiving the Agenda are attributable to the U. S. Postal Service. Late in 1977 the Clerk was informed of the desire of the Presbyterian Church in America to explore the possibility of a joint agency of the OPC, PCA, and RPCES for endorsing chaplains for the armed services. The Rev. Messrs. Patrick H. Morison and Michael D. Stingley, both reserve chaplains, participated in an ad hoc meeting on this subject held December 5, 1977. This group presented a full report to the Clerk for presentation to the Assembly, recommending that the OPC join with the PCA and the RPCES to form a body to be known as the Presbyterian and Reformed Commis- sion on Chaplains and Military Personnel. Since the group submitting this report and recommendation has no official status in the OPC, the Clerk judged that he had no authority to include the report in the Agenda. Nevertheless the working group that submitted the report deserves an answer from the Assembly. See recommendation ( 1). The Clerk has received a request for direct aid from the OPC to the Evangelical Reformed Church of Paris, France. The Clerk is not aware of any agency of the OPC that is constituted to grant such a request for the church as a whole. The Clerk refers the matter to the Assembly. See recommendation (2). The Clerk has received a request from the World Home Bible League for time to address the Assembly, at whatever length the Assembly might grant. The Clerk responded that it has not been the habit of the Assembly to grant such requests in recent years, but that the Assembly would be informed of the request. See recommendation (3). The attached report of the status of the General Assembly Budget Fund shows that except for one large extraordinary expense item, the Fund would have a positive balance including the beginnings of a reserve for the 1980 Reformed Ecumenical Synod. The extraordinary item was for remodeling a committee conference room at the Administration Building and was authorized by the General Secretary of the Committee on Stewardship. The Clerk reminds the Assembly of the following factors affecting the ,General Assembly Budget Fund : a. The cost of the Agenda and the Minutes is the largest item in the budget. Last year these items exceeded $10,000 for the first time. (This figure includes the cost of printing, but not for composition, for the proposed new Form of Government.) This means we are paying about $9 apiece for each copy of the Agenda and the Minutes, or about $18 apiece if the entire cost is attributed to the finished Minutes. Our cost per finished page in the Minutes is about $40. The biggest portion of the Minutes is reports of standing and special committees. The Assembly has never, to the Clerk's knowledge, exercised any control over the length of reports. It would be difficult to frame fair controls. A better way to control the page count of committee reports is to control the number of committees. This also helps to control the committee expense items in the Budget Fund. b. The cost of postage for the Agenda and the Minutes via fourth class mail (book rate) is modest enough but delivery is increasingly unsatisfactory. First class postage for the Agenda alone would cost an additional $300 to $400. c. The RES is requesting another substantial increase this year ($3,209.40 compared to $2,763.60 in 1977 and $1,831.87 in 1976). d. Tn 1974 the Assembly erected the Committee on General Assembly Fund Re- view. This committee has helped in setting more realistic budgets, but we still have no clear controls over committee expenditures from the Budget Fund. 8 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The points above are indicators of upward trends in demands on the Budget Fund. To help control these trends, and to provide guidelines for use of the Budget Fund, the Clerk offers recommendation (4). In 1973 the Assembly adopted the Clerk’s recommendation that that committees drawing upon the Budget Fund be instructed to include in their reports their estimated expenses for the next year. This instruction applied to the “41st and subsequent Assem- blies.” Continuing instructions of this sort should be incorporated in our Standing Rules. See recommendation (5).

RECOMMENDATIONS (1) That the report of the Chaplain’s Working Group be referred to an advisory committee for review and recommendation. (2) That the request from the Evangelical Reformed Church of Paris be referred to an advisory committee for review and recommendation. (3) That the Assembly determine whether or not to grant the request of the World Home Bible League for time to address the Assembly. (4) That the Assembly constitute the Stated Clerk, the General Secretary of the Committee on Stewardship, and such other persons the Assembly may choose, as a committee to set controls for the General Assembly Budget Fund, subject to review by the Forty-sixth General Assembly. (5) That this Assembly propose to the Forty-sixth General Assembly that the following be added to Chapter VI of the Standing Rules: 9. Each standing or special committee that depends upon the General Assembly Budget Fund for its expenses shall include in its reports to the Assembly an estimate of its expenses for the ensuing year. Respectfully submitted, Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 9

I GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUDGET FUND Preliminary Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements May 1. 1977 to April 30. 1978

Balance previous Assembly ...... $ ~ 1,851.10

Receipts Contributions ...... $24,562.18 Sale of Minutes ...... 384.75 Sale of Proposed Form of Government ...... 146.47 Proceeds from Knollwood Lodge ...... 1,100.00 Special gift for Conference Room ...... 1,400.00 Miscellaneous ...... 88.80 27,682.20 Total Accountable ...... $29,533.30--

Disbursements Honoraria-Stated Clerk. 44th General Assembly ...... 3,400.00 Assistant Clerk ...... 200.00 Statistician. 44th General Assembly ...... 150.00 Historian ...... 100.00 Printing Agenda. 44th General Assembly ...... 3,883.00 Printing Supplementary Agenda. 44th General Assembly .... 614.00 Printing proposed new Form of Government ...... 980.00 Printing Minutes. 44th General Assembly ...... 4,838.40 Postage and mailing expense ...... 139.99 Miscellaneous office and secretarial expense ...... 422.77 (includes additional postage and mailing) Travel-Fraternal Delegates ...... 841.46 Assessments-Reformed Ecumenical Synod ...... 2,763.60 North American Presby . & Ref . Council ...... 50.00 Committee Expenses Arrangements. 45th General Assembly ...... - Baptism of the Holy Spirit ...... 629.45 Book of Discipline.- Directory for Worship ...... 1,074.31 Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations ...... 1,721.94 Form of Government ...... 128.31 Housing €or Retired Ministers ...... 1,686.01 Linguistic Revisions to Westminster Standards ...... 473.10 Ministerial Training ...... 978.36 Race ...... 43.46 Trustees of the General Assembly ...... - Special Conference Room Expense ...... 5,546.54 $30.664.70 Balance April 30. 1978 ...... ($ 1,131.40) RES expense reserve ...... $ 1,300.00 Total deficit ...... ($ 2,431.40) 10 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On separate motions recommendations 1 and 2 were adopted. Pursuant to recommendation 3 the Assembly on motion determined not to grant the request of the World Home Bible League for time to address the Assembly. On motion action on rcommendations 4 and 5 was postponed until the time for erection of temporary committees. Mr. Haug presented the report of the Statistician. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN The following information summarizes some of the figures shown in the Statistical Report for the year ending December 3 1, 1977 and for prior years.

MEMBERSHIP Total membership at the end of 1977 was 15,782 comprised of 237 ministers, 10,683 communicant members and 4,862 baptized children. The total represented a net increase for 1977 of 253 (1.6%) members compared with an increase of 263 (1.7%) the year before. Modest increases have generally characterized the church’s growth during the 70s, as shown below. 1977 1.6% 1976 1.7 1975 -0.4 1974 2.1 1973 0.7 1972 2.0 1971 1.2 1970 0.8 Presbyteries have shown quite different individual growth patterns as the following table indicates.

CHANGE IN TOTAL MEMBERSHIP Presbytery 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Dakotas -82 42 56 -26 50 Mid-Atlantic 54 54 16 78 30 Midwest 57 138 71 78 103 New Jersey -17 -80 -72 - 60 -52 New York & New England 0 22 61 31 11 Northern California 17 -61 20 61 -37 Northwest 0 11 9 55 19 Ohio 3 60 2 - 10 -10 Philadelphia 28 106 53 70 54 South 33 3 -355* 35 38 Southern California -5 26 71 -49 -47 Total 98 321 -68 263 253 *loss of three congregations The consistently growing presbyteries are Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Philadelphia. The Presbytery of New Jersey consistently declined in each of the last five years. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 11

CHURCHES AND CHAPELS The number of churches increased from 131 to 133 and chapels from 20 to 30, during 1977. TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS (TITHESAND OFFERINGS,ALL ORGANIZATIONS) Total contributions for 1977 were $4,446,107, an increase of 8.3% over contrirbu- tions for 1976. The components of total contributions showed the following pattern during the period 1972-1977. PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR General and Special Benevolence Total Year Contributions Contributions Contributions 1977 7% 14% 8% 1976 12 7 11 1975 12 9 11 1974 11 7 10 1973 5 9 6 1972 9 13 10 The pattern of generally a 12% increase in giving for local purposes and 8% for benevolence causes, which appeared in the years 1974-1976, was altered in 1977 in a striking manner. Total giving showed a lower relative increase in 1977 but its effect was to show the largest relative increase in benevolence giving in the last six years. It would appear that increased giving reflected in a larger emphasis on benevolences in contrast with giving for local needs. YEARLY CONTRIBUTIONS PER COMMUNICANT MEMBER Continuing increases may be seen in this aspect of giving over the period 1972-1977. 1977 $416 1976 396 1975 3 65 1974 327 1973 305 1972 293 SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School attendance during 1977 returned to 1975 levels after an encouraging increase in 1976 as the following table indicates, AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE Year During May During November 1977 7,583 7,786 1976 7,833 7,962 1975 7,495 7,750 1974 7,692 8,247 1973 7,712 8,013 1972 7,912 8,005 In every year the average figures for November are higher than for May. This suggests 1) a tapering off of attendance prior to the summer months and 2) an ability to build back after the summer months. 12 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

DIRECT MISSIONS SUPPORT BY SESSIONS AND PRESBYTERIES To secure a better understanding of missions support, provision was made for the completion of an additional form in connection with the usual statistical report of churches and presbyteries. This form requested a special tabulation of contributions in the following manner.

For the local church-include each O.P.C. missions work to which your local church made a direct contribution and the amount. Do not include contributions for these works that you made to your presbytery-as indicated below, we shall ask the presbytery to report these funds to avoid duplicate reporting.

For the clerk of presbytery-include each O.P.C. missions work to which your presbytery made a direct contribution as the result of local church gifts for this purpose, and the amount.

Results were as follows.

Christian Education Foreign Missions Home Missions From Churches and From 'From From From Presbytery Presbyteries Churches Presbyteries Churches Presbyteries Dakotas 0 0 0 $ 5,532 $11,789 Mid- Atlan tic 0 0 0 5,869 9,136 Midwest 0 0 0 7,088 9,800 New Jersey 0 0 $6,934 4,054 486 New York & New England 0 0 0 1337 1 13,935 Northern California 0 0 0 0 2,640 Northwest 0 0 0 785 2,344 Ohio 0 0 0 0 0 Philadelphia 0 0 0 27,105 11,636 South 0 0 0 3 42 600 Southern California -0 0 0 0 15,600 Total 0 0 $6,934 $64,346 $77,966

STATISTICIAN'S NOTE The Statistician expresses a sincere thank you to each church and to each clerk of presbytery for providing the information above on direct giving to missions projects. It was an extra bookkeeping effort beyond the normal call of duty. Respectfully submitted Edward A. Haug, Statistician FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 13

Mr. Eckardt, President of the Trirstees of the General Assembly, presented their report.

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Trustees of the General Assembly met once since the Forty-fourth General Assembly. The following officers were elected to serve until the first meeting of the Trustees following the Forty-fifth General Assembly: President, Robert W. Eckardt; Vice-president, Willard E. Neel; Secretary, John J. Mitchell; Treasurer, Bert L. Roeber. The Trustees respectfully nominate Mr. Richard A. Barker to be the Stated Clerk of the Forty-fifth General Assembly and further recommend that his remuneration be $3600, and further recommend that his duties be those listed in the Standing Rules, Chapter IVYSection 3, except items h, i, j, and k. The Secretary of the Trustees continues to correspond annually with the Internal Revenue Service in regard to the group ruling granted to the Trustees of the General Assembly and the subordinate units of the General Assembly. This group ruling gives tax exempt status to all the local congregations and other agencies listed in the current Directory of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The reference number to be used in any correspendence concerning tax exempt matters is 23-7001990.

ELECTIONS The terms of the following trustees expire at this Assembly: Minister, John J. Mitchell; Ruling Elder, Willard E. Neel.

I ESTIMATED EXPENSES The Trustees estimate their costs for the next year will be $SO.OO for miscellaneous expenses. Respectfully submitted, Robert W.Eckardt, President

On separate motions the recommendations concerning the Stated Clerk were adopted. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Trustees of the General Assembly. The following were nominated : Minister - Mitchell : Ruling Elder - Willard E. Neel (West Collingswood). There being no further nominations the Moderator declared Messrs. Mitchell and Neel elected to the class of 1981. The floor was declared open for nominations to the office of Stated Clerk. Mr. Barker was nominated. There being no further nominations the Moderator declared Mr. Barker elected. The Clerk announced that in accordance with Standing Rule Chapter IV, Section 2.a., he had asked Mr. J. L. Bosgraf to serve as Assistant Clerk. The floor was declared open for nominations to the office of Stdistician. Mr. Haug was nominated. There being no further nominations the Moderator declared Mr. Haug elected. 14 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The floor was declared open for nominations to the office of Moderator. Messrs. Tyson, Conard, Gaffin, and Shepherd were nominated. The Moderator declared nominations closed. Mr. Bates presented a preliminary report of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel noting a balance from last year of $17,698.72, and approximately $35,000.00 available for expenses of the 1978 ssembly. On motion Standing Rule Cha2 ter VI, Section 7, was suspended and Overtures 1-4 and Communications 1-10 were ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud. The Clerk presented Overtures, Communications, and a Complaint as follows:

OV ERTU R ES Overture I From the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension March 7, 1978 The Forty-fifth General Assembly Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Mr. Barker: At a meeting of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church held on February 20 and 21, 1978, the following overture was adopted for presentation to the Forty-Fifth General Assembly: The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension respectfully overtures the 45th General Assembly to erect a special committee of five to recommend to the 46th General Assembly a concrete proposal for a monthly publication, to begin January 1980, that will serve the interests of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, specifically those of the Committees on Christian Education, Home and Foreign Missions, Stewardship and Diaconal Ministries, and including news from the churches, presbyteries and General Assembly. To support the overture, the Committee gives the following reasons: 1) At present there is no publication that has the specific task of serving the general interest of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. 2) In keeping with the main thrust of the objectives of the Committee on Steward- ship to assist the church as a whole in its worldwide task of proclaiming the gospel, there is a need for centralized information. The Committee on Home Missions would abandon the publication of OUTREACH in favor of the new publication. It is recognized that other Committees serve a wider constituency through their respective publications. However, it is the opinion of this Committee that cooperation in a new publication would enhance the work of all the Committees in serving the church as the primary source of information for the total ministry of the denomination. The Committee would suggest that the Committees on Christian Education, Home and Foreign Missions, Stewardship and Diaconal Ministries be requested to have a maximum of two representatives attend at least one meeting of the special committee of five to be erected by the General Assembly. Sincerely in Christ, George E. Haney, General Secretary FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 15

Overture 2 From the Presbytery of the Northwest May 6, 1978

Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk The General Assembly

Fathers & Brethren: At its Stated Meeting, the Presbytery of the Northwest, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, on April 29, 1978 moved to overture the 45th General Assembly to revise the boundaries of the Presbytery of the Northwest and the Presbytery of the Dakotas so as to include the whole State of Montana in the bounds of the Presbytery of the Northwest. By mutual agreement with the Presbytery of the Dakotas, the Presbytery of the Northwest has been doing missionary work in Billings, Montana and presently recognizes a chapel there. There seems to be no impediment to this request. Also, Bill- ings is nearest to our other works and the church in Ronan, than it is to any of the Dakota churches. Cordially in our Lord, The Rev. Harold L. Baurer, Stated Clerk

Overture 3 From the Presbytery of Southern California

May 17, 1978 The General Assembly The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk

Fathers & Brethren:

The Presbytery of Southern California on April 22, 1978, determined to overture the 45th General Assembly as follows: The Presbytery of Southern California respectfully overtures the 45th General Assembly to elect a board of five (5) members empowered to seek title to the PRES- BYTERIAN GUARDIAN, to secure office space for it and to select and call an editor who will be trusted with a high degree of liberty in the attainment of the goal of objectivity. Sincerely yours in Christ, James A. Bates, Stated Clerk 16 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Overture 4 From the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic May 25, 1978 Mr. Richard A. Barker Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Dear Mr. Barker, This letter is to inform you of action taken by the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic at its adjourned meeting on May 20, 1978 at Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Burtonsville, Md. The Presbytery determined by motion to overture the Forty-fifth General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to adopt and send on to the stated recipients the following appeal :

AN APPEAL TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BY THE FORTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH It is our belief that the Christian Church and the Civil Government are separate and distinct institutions, each with its own realms of authority and responsibility. Yet we also believe that both of these institutions derive whatever authority they have over the lives of men from the same source, from the Sovereign and Eternal God to whom they both owe their cxistence. And for this reason we believe, the separation of Church and State notwithstanding, that these two institutions are obligated to observe the commandments of God. As we survey the length and breadth of this nation, a nation that once proudly and boldly professed the ideals and values of Biblical Christianity, we see a dismal and frightening picture of rebellion against the Law of God. Our nation is filled to overflowing with all manner of physical violence, with widespread disrespect for civil statutes and contempt for the Law of God from which they derive their authority. Our land is polluted and defiled by deplorable forms of sexual immorality. Deeds which a century ago would have shocked and enraged the average citizen of this country, are now practiced publicly and shamelessly in every stratum of our society. Chief among the abuses to which we here refer, and the immediate occasion of this petition, is the merciless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of unborn infants in this country each year. The wholesale practice of abortion is in clear and open defiance of the teaching of God’s Holy Word, which everywhere leads us to conclude that a child in his mother’s womb is from the point of conception a human being and is therefore entitled to all the protection of law to which a fully grown adult is entitled. Abortion is murder. It is sin in one of its vilest forms and it is a sin which has reached fantastic proportions in our land. The July 4, 1977 issue of U.S. News and World Report states that some 1,115,000 legal abortions were performed in the preceding year in this country alone. It is in the face of this deplorable situation that we, the ministers and ruling elders of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in this Forty-fifth General Assembly, representing ,

FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 17

our respective churches throughout the United States, do hereby solemnly testify against this great evil in our land and with deepest urgency call upon our government to do whatever is necessary within the bounds of constitutional authority and that authority it has from God, to put an end to the senseless and merciless slaughter of helpless, unborn children. The Lord our God has brought dreadful judgments upon countless nations in the past for lesser crimes than this, and we dare not presume that He will refrain from doing so in our own case. How long will the Almighty refrain from His judgment while so many thousands of these helpless children are cruelly torn from their mothers’ wombs? Surely this is a hideous crime; and we will not escape Divine judgment if we as a people continue to countenance this evil. Since you our Chief Executive and esteemed legislators have authority as ministers of God to restrain and punish evil (Romans 13:4), we implore you to use the power of your offices to take some action which would bring the unborn children of our citizens under the protection of life guaranteed by the Constitution of these United States. And may it be to your honor and the glory of God. Amen. Sincerely in Christ, Andrew Wikholm

Overture 5 From the Presbytery of the Northwest June 6, 1978 The Forty-fifth General Assembly Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk

Fathers & Brethren: At its January meeting, the Presbytery of the Northwest determined to overture the 45th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, “That the 45th Gen- eral Assembly request the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension to consider a regirlat- program for the recruiting at reformed seminaries, of good prospective candidates for the Gospel ministry of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church by establishing an increasing amount in its annual budget for assisting presbytery committees to develop missionary internships; by developing policies for the disbursement of such funds; and by acting as a liaison between those candidates and the presbytery committees.” May our great God who is building his kingdom in Christ grant wisdom in all deliberations of your assembly. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Harold L. Baurer, Stated Clerk 18 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

COMMUNICATIONS Communication 1 (without attachments) From the Reformed Ecumenical Synod February 23, 1978 To the RES Member Churches: Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk, Greetings from the RES Secretariat. This is my first communication in 1978 and it will be brief. A longer report should come your way in April or May. The RES Interim Committee will meet in Pretoria from March 13-30 and will then travel to the Nether- lands for a consultation with the Moderamen of the Reformed Churches in the Nether- lands. After returning home, we hope to send you a comprehensive report on these meetings. At the present time we are sending you the financial reports 1977 (see enclosures) and call attention to your assessment for 1978. It would be well that you study these reports and compare them with the budget for 1977 as found on pages 78 and 79 of RES Acts 1976. A comparison will show that fewer churches paid in 1977 than in 1976. This is likely due to the increase in the budget adopted by Cape Town RES. Whatever the reason, we received considerably less in 1977 than we had hoped to obtain. If your church has not paid, kindly do your utmost soon to make the payment in arrears as well as the 1977 assessment. Your church is assessed 4.00% or $3,209.40 of the annual budget of $80,235. Will you kindly authorize this payment and see that it is sent to Mr. Lester Ippel, 1452 Cornell Dr., S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA 49506. May the Lord continue to bless your church and make the people of God complete in every good thing to do His will. Sincerely in Him, Paul G. Schrotenboer, General Secretary

Communication 2 From the Reformed Churches of New Zealand March4, 1978 Orthodox Presbyterian Church Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Mr. Barker, The Principal of our Reformed Theological College, Rev. Prof. Dr. R. 0. Zorn, will be, the Lord willing, in the U.S.A. to attend a number of conferences. During his stay in the U.S.A., he will be able to attend your General Assembly, to be held sometime in June of this year. It is our wish that he represents our Churches as a fraternal delegate to your Assembly and attend your sessions. With Christian greetings, Dick G. Vanderpyl, Stated Clerk FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 19

Communication 3 From the Reformed Churches of Australia March 20, 1978 Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Brother Barker, The Synodical Interim Committee of the Reformed Churches of Australia understands that during June 1978 the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church will meet. The Reformed Churches and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church have been Sister Churches for a number of years. Accordingly our Churches would like to send a fraternal delegate to your General Assembly meetings each year although this is not always possible because of distance. However, during 1978 Rev. Prof. R. 0. Zorn, Principal of the Reformed Theological College in Geelong will be visiting the U.S.A. and will be available to attend. The Synodical Interim Committee has decided, on behalf of our Churches, to delegate the Rev. Prof. R. 0. Zorn as our fraternal delegate to your Church’s 1978 Synod. With sincere Christian greetings, R. M. Ferguson, clerk

Communication 4 From the Reformed Ecumenical Synod April 14, 1978 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Mr. Barker, We are in receipt of your letter of March 2, 1978 in which you conveyed to us the action taken by the 44th General Assembly of the OPC regarding the consultation which the RES Interim Committee holds with representatives of the World Council of Churches. At its meeting in Pretoria last month the I. C. considered your letter and instructed me to send you this reply. The I. C. wants to express its appreciation to you for your concern that in our discussions we keep in mind the purpose that the 1968 RES expressed for the meetings with the WCC. Please be assured that the Interim Committee has every intention to honor the position of the RES vis-a-vis the WCC and to see that this is reflected in the “joint assessments” which may ensue from the meetings which is tentatively set for September 1979. Sincerely yours in Christ, Paul G. Schrotenboer, General Secretary 20 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Communication 5

From the Christian Reformed Church

May 1, 1978

Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard Barker, Stated Clerk

Dear Mr. Barker:

Our fraternal delegate to your forthcoming general assembly will be Mr. Albert Be1 2165 Heath St. S E Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508 I trust that our five-fold Synod in June will manifest and evidence our essential unity in Jesus Christ. Cordially John Bratt (Sec’y) Interchurch Relations Committee

Communication 6

From the Korean Presbyterian Church (Kosin)

May 1, 1978

The Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Dear Sirs:

We learned that General Synod will meet at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, June 16 -22 (sic), 1978 through your missionaries in Pusan. We like to send our representative to your General Synod for our mutual fellowship. Rev. Myung Dong Han will be there at your General Synod. He is presently the Chairman of Trustees of Korea Theological Seminary and Gospel Hospital. He is the Minister of Pusan South Church. Sincerely in His Service Dr. Kun Sam Lee, Chairman Fraternal Relations Committee FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 21

Communication 7 (without attachments) From the Reformed Ecumenical Synod May 2, 1978 Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Mr. Barker, We are enclosing herewith the following items regarding the incorporation of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod: 1. Copy of Call to Meeting letter. 2. Resolution that your church become a member of the incorporated Reformed Ecumenical Synod. 3. Proposed Articles of Association. 4. Proposed Bylaws of Reformed Ecumenical Synod. These papers have been prepared by Attorney Berton Sevensma of Grand Rapids and the General Secretary and have been approved by the Interim Committee of the RES. On behalf of the Interim Committee I would hereby ask your church to participate in the incorporating process so that the RES can become a Michigan ecclesiastical corporation. Only the four United States-based member churches can, according to Michigan regulations, become original incorporators of the incorporation. Therefore we are asking our American churches to take the steps necessary to incorporate. Then, after the corporation is formed, all other churches will be invited to become members. The Articles of Association and Bylaws have been so formulated as to honor in all respects the provisions of the RES Constitution now in effect. Any changes in word- ing are to meet Michigan legal requirements. To our knowledge there will be no practical change in the structure or the functioning of the RES or its secretariat. If you should want to compare the proposed documents with the Constitution, kindly consult the enclosed copy of the Constitution. Will you therefore take the following steps: 1. Send out to your churches the letter of call revised as necessary to suit your situation so that your General Assembly can hold a special meeting at which time the Resolution is adopted (the Resolution should be revised to suit your situation). This meeting should be at the time of your next annual meeting. 2. After the four churches adopt the Resolution to incorporate, the persons authorized to execute the Articles of Incorporation should meet jointly to form the incorporation. At that time Attorney Sevensma and the General Secretary will be present to give information and answer questions. We are eager that the incorporation be completed in June. At that time three of our four churches will hold their annual assembly at Calvin College. It would be con- venient to hold the incorporating meeting at that time also, perhaps during the third week of the month. If you have any questions, please telephone - (616) 455-1126. PGS:hj End. Sincerely yours, Paul G. Schrotenboer, General Secretary 22 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Communication 8 From the Reformed Church in Japan May 2, 1978 The 45th General Assembly The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Dear Fathers and Brethren, Thank you for your invitation of March 27 to attend your General Assembly from June 15-23 in Grand Rapids. It is great pleasure for me to send greetings in Christ our Lord over the Pacific. First of all we would like to express our heatfelt thanks for many supports, i.e., theo- . logical, church political and financial, which we have been given by senior churches in the United States before and after the birth of our church in 1946. In fact your American Protestant churches have exerted a great influence on evangelism in this country. A number of our ministers were trained in your Westminster Theological Seminary. Current trend of getting an advantage of evangelical conservatives in the States is also drawing our attention here in Japan, and similar tendency is becoming 4* the subject of talk among liberal and ecumenical camps in Japan. Under these circumstances responsibility of our church as standing upon the historical Reformed faith seems to be increasing. To cope with this in a right way, we are more and more convinced that the sound doctrine of theology and church polity is the most important basis. In this connection we have deep (a) sense of gratitude for the benefits which we have received through the fellowship with you for a long time. We have been studying two additional chapters of the Westminster Confession of Faith, i.e., “of the Gospel” and “of the Holy Spirit” which are well known in presbyterian church history in America. This is one of the steps for preparation of a creed in our own language in addition to the Westminster. A Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and State issued two years ago was also in this context. We sincerely hope you may give us advice and stimulus on these sorts of matters. Secondly we feel very grateful for (the) great amount of efforts and sacrifice which have been made by missionaries and their families whom you sent to us for preaching the gospel. During these past few,years we also sent two missionaries and their families to Indonesia, and some ministers and lay workers accepted a challenge to bring the saving gospel to Japanese people in foreign countries. These experiences opened our eyes to see hardships of missionaries as well as of sending churches. Al- though the growth of conservatives has been noticed, there are many difficult affairs in evangelism in Japan which may (be) little observed in other nations, so it is our wish that mother churches may specially understand hardships and patience of missionaries here in Japan and may continue to pray for them. Our communication with document (you may feel it quite poor in view that the minutes of our Synod written in Japanese can be read to considerably limited extent) may be improved. Our Liaison Committee will continue to prepare RCJ NEWS every year also in future. May the Lord bless all your deliberations which will greatly contribute to advancement of His Kingdom. ‘Through the minutes of the General Assembly we may be abundantly given His blessings. Yours fraternally in Christ, Yasuo Sakakibara, Moderator FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 23

Communication 9 From the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church May 11, 1978 Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Orthodox Presbyterian Church Dear Sir: We are happy to extend greetings to you, and to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, from the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Our Synod meets at Bonclarken, N.C. on June 5-8, and we are hoping to have a good meeting, Some very important issues will be coming up, and we are hoping they will be settled satisfactorily. May the Lord bless the meeting of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and guide you in all your deliberations. Sincerely, K. C. Seawright, Chairman Inter-Church Relations Committee

Communication 10 From the Presbytery of Philadelphia May 19, 1978 Orthodox Presbyterian Church Mr. Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk Dear Mr. Barker, The Presbytery of Philadelphia determined at its meeting of May 15, 1978, to ask the advice of the 45th General Assembly whether exception shall be made to the requirements for licensure in the candidacy of Calvin K. Cummings, Jr. The Presbytery’s Committee on Candidates and Credentials has been instructed to provide information to the General Assembly as to Mr. Cummings’ qualifications. I Yours in Christ, Douglas C. Winward, Jr., Stated Clerk

Commroiicarion I I (in part, without attachments) From the Reformed Ecumenical Synod April 24, 1978 I To all RES Churches: In this mailing we are sending you: 1. Letter to all RES Churches. 2. “A Report of the RES Interpretative Commission to the South Africa Churches of the RES.” 24 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Report contains two parts: The first is a report to churches outside South Africa, and the second is a report to the South Africa churches of the RES. Attached are a number of exhibits relevant to the current discussion on race relations in South Africa. The RES Interim Committee recently held meetings in South Africa and the Neth- erlands. While in South Africa the Committee functioned as the RES Interpretative Commission whose task is described on page 1 of its report. Besides having the task to “interpret” race relations, the Interim Committee was instructed to consult with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (GKN) concerning their membership in the WCC and theological developments in their churches. The Interim Committee spent five days in the Netherlands and met with the Moderamen of the GKN on three occasions. However, we are not distributing a report on the GKN at this time, for the Tnterim Committee must also meet with the RES churches in Java concerning their membership in the World Council of Churches. A meeting with our Indonesian churches is scheduled for July 19-24, 1978. After that meeting is held we will report to the churches concerning the meetings in the Netherlands and in Indonesia. We urge the churches to distribute this report widely among their congregations. Where it will be necessary to translate the report into the language of the churches, we urge that this be done so that the report is made available to the churches. We will also gladly send extra copies. Sincerely yours, Paul G. Schrotenboer, General Secretary

Communication 12 From the Presbytery of the Dakotas June 15, 1978 Mr. Richard A. Barker Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Dear Mr. Barker: At a special meeting called for this purpose, the Presbytery of the Dakotas passed the following motion: “The Presbytery determined to seek the advice of the 45th General Assembly as to the reception of Duane E. Spencer, ruling elder of Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas, as a ministerial member of the Presbytery of the Da- kotas as one who appears qualified though he has not had a theological seminary education and has limited competency in Hebrew. “Mr. Spencer earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. In 1954 he was ordained a minister in the Methodist Church. He surrendered his ordination papers to the Methodist Church in 1963 (those papers with a commendation by the bishop were returned to him) because of theological liberalism in the Methodist Church. Tn August 1963 he was ordained as pastor of Grace Bible Church, San Antonio. In San Antonio he has carried on a fruitful ministry, not only in the local congregation and a Christian School, but also via printed ministries and a national and international radio ministry. His Bible studies led him out of Arminianism and Dispensationalism into a strong reformed and presbyterian position and to a desire to serve in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 25

“About three years ago Mr. Spencer, who is now 57 years of age, suffered a massive heart attack. Doctors did not expect him to survive. He continues with the functioning of about half his heart. He is also diabetic. His age and physical condi- tion and his continued heavy ministerial duties preclude further formal studies, though areas in which he has not had formal education are often being studied as he prepares for his continued ministries. His specialty is word studies. In these he seeks out and then expresses his findings relative to the use of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words used in the Bible and their implications in the various theological disciplines. This recommendation is based upon the commission’s examination of Mr. Spencer in theology and other areas.” We are seeking the above mentioned advice from the 45th General Assembly. Sincerely in Christ, James L. Bosgraf, Stated Clerk

Communication 13 From the Presbytery of Philadelphia (This communication, dated June 8, 1978, consisted of relevant papers submitted pursuant to Chapter X, Section 4, of the Book of Discipline in connection with Com- plaint 1 of Mr. William A. DeJonge. In accordance with advice of Advisory Committee #5 they are not printed in the Minutes.)

COMPLAINT

Complaint I (without attachment) From Ruling Elder William A. DeJonge May 22, 1978 To the 45th General Assembly The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Fathers and Brethren: The following complaint was presented by me to the Presbytery of Philadelphia at its stated meeting of March 18, 1978, with consideration given to it at the next stated meeting of May 15, 1978. The complaint was denied on a motion, which included the following summary: “. . .the Presbytery believes that since it judges that all four of the reasons adduced in support of the complaint do not support the complaint, the complaint should not be sustained.” Not being satisfied that Presbytery has interpreted Westminster Confession of Faith or the Form of Government correctly, and frustrated by Presbytery continually defending its views on Isaiah 9:6 instead of addressing the substance of the complaint, complainant served notice of his intent to carry the complaint to the General Assembly at the same May 15, 1978 meeting, and hereby presents it for Assembly consideration: “And now this 18th day of March A.D. 1978, comes Elder William A. De Jonge and complains against the delinquency of the Presbytery in accepting as fulfilling its mandate the report of the Committee to Assist Kirkwood in Resolving Doctrinal Matters to answer the request of the Kirkwood OPC session, and in support of said complaint sets forth the following reasons: 26 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

1. It is contrary to Form of Government X, 7, which states that the Presbytery is to resolve questions of doctrine seriously and reasonably proposed. For Presbytery to simply describe the state of affairs on the Kirkwood session does not satisfy the requirements of this section of the church constitution. 2. Presbytery has not answered the request of the session for either adequate study materials or public debate on the issues involved, thus failing to give adequate assistance to the Kirkwood session. 3. Presbytery has not definitively stated whether Westminster Confession, Chapter 1, Section 8, does or does not support the position of the majority of the Kirkwood session, thus refusing to deal with a specific question of clarification asked by the session. 4. Presbytery has given no specific counsel concerning the resolution of disagree- ments of the session. Complainant humbly requests Presbytery to acknowledge these failures, and to provide the debate and counsel requested.” --- . William A. De longe, Complainant

Mr. Conard was elected Moderator on the second ballot. Mr. Rockey welcomed Mr. Conard to the chair. Mr. Conard requested Mr. Mitchell to serve as parliamentarian. On motion the Assembly determined to recess from 1O:OO-1O:ZO a.m. During the course of the presentation of the Overtures, Communications, and a Complaint, the Assembly recessed at 1O:OO a.m. with prayer led by Mr. Tyson, and reconvened at 10:24 a.m. On motion the times of recessing and reconvening were set as follows: Morning Afternoon Evening Convene 8:OO a.m. 1 :40 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Recess 1O:OO-10:20 a.m. 3:40-4:OOp.m. - Recess 12: 30 p.m. 6:OO p.m. 9:15 p.m.

’ Morning sessions preceded by a 20-minute devotional service Afternoon and evening sessions opened with the singing of a hymn or psalm version. Recess Friday after item 21 to permit temporary committees to meet, reconvening Saturday afternoon at 1 :OO p.m. No session Saturday evening or all day Sunday. NAPARC Joint Praise and Prayer Service Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. Additional sessions to be shortened or omitted to permit commissioners to observe other Assemblies or Synods. On motion the docket prepared by the Clerk was adopted with the addition of making the report of the Committee on Pensions the order of the day at 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday. On motion the Assembly determined that commissioners attending all business sessions of the General Assembly through noon, Friday, June 23, be considered to have satisfied the attendance requirement for travel compensation. I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 27

On motion and in accordance with Chapter XXVI, Section 2, of the (old) Form of Government, the Assembly approved those portions of the new Form of Govern- ment involving changes in the ordination vows (cf. p. 119 of the Minutes of the Forty- fourth General Assembly). All steps in the approval process having been completed, the Moderator declared that the new Form of Government had been adopted and was in effect. On separate motions thc amendments to the Standing Rules proposed by the Forty-fourth General Assembly were adopted as follows: a. Chapter I, 3.,h, change to read as follows: “Fractional remainders from the multiplications above shall be arranged in descending order. Beginning with the largest in each group, each of these fractions shall be counted as a whole number until the totals of all such whole numbers (from f. to g.) equal the numbers A and B found in d. above. In the event of ties in the lowest fractions to be so counted as whole numbers, the total may be increased by not more than three; if four or more such fractions are tied, none of them shall be counted as whole numbers.” b. Chapter I, 8, striking the words “its general secretary and/or not more than two of its members” and inserting the words “not more than three presbyters”. c. Chapter VI, 8, striking the words “two months” and inserting the words “two and one half months”. d. Chapter X, 4.a., inserting the words “at least” before the words “five members.” On motion it was determined that the following advisory and temporary committees be erected, that reports, overtures, communications, and a complaint be referred to them as indicated, and that the commissioners named below be appointed to

these committees, the first-named being conveners: ‘

Advisory Committee #l Report of the Committee on Foreign Missions. Messrs. Winward, Bjerkaas, Parker, Schumacher, Stob, Van Camp, and R. E. Vanden Burg.

Advisory Committee #2 Report of the Committee on Christian Education. Messrs. Adams, Gregg, Knowles, W. J. Vandenburg, Van Dyk, and B. J. Williams.

Advisory Committee #3 Report of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension, and Overture 5. Messrs. Winslow, Claerbaut, Evers, Klahr, Patterson, Remillard, and Riffel.

Advisory Committee #4 Report of the Committee on Stewardship. Messrs. Reitsma, Armour, Flores, Kiester, Lavarell, Nightengale, and Ramsey.

Advisory Committee #5 Complaint 1 and Communication 13. Messrs. Eyres, J. S. Atwell, Black, Commeret, Eckardt, Schmurr, and Wagner.

Advisory Committee #6 (not used) 28 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Advisory Committee #7 Report of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, Report of the Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers, and Report of the Committee on Pensions. Messrs. Doe, Cummings, Gesink, Hofford, Nelson, Van Der Heide, and J. Williams.

Advisory Committee #8 Report of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of the Committee on Race, Report of the Committee on Reformed Ecumenical Synod Matters, Report of the Missions Correspondent for the RES, Communications 1, 7, and 11, and Stated Clerk’s recommendation 2. Messrs. Strimple, Bomer, Coie, Gramp, Harvey, Miladin, Sutton, and Tavares.

Advisory Committee #9 Report of the Committee on Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards, Report of the Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms, Report of the Committee on Re- visions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Worship, and Report of the Historian. Messrs. Steever, George, Haldeman, Kuschke, Male, Muether, Stonehouse, and Taws.

Advisory Committee # 10 Report of the Committee on Ministerial Training, and Communications 10 and 12. Messrs. Morison, Elder, Ironside, J. H. Thompson, R. H. Thompson, and Volz.

Advisory Committee # 11 Report of the Committee on the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Messrs. Peterson, Buchanan, Knudsen, Mahaffy, Moore, Nisbet, Rockey, Rogers, Shep- herd, D. F. Stanton, and Stingley.

Advisory Commitfee # 12 Overtures 1 and 3. Messrs. Dunn, R. L. Atwell, Duff, Gardner, Georgian, Haug, Nonhof, Poundstone, and C. E. Stanton.

Committee on Overtures and Communications Overture 4 and Stated Clerk’s recommendation 1. Messrs. Clowney, DeMaster, Dortzbach, Ediger, Elliott, Kellogg, and Meiners.

Committee on Presbyterial Records Messrs. Prutow, K. L. Bosgraf, Dennison, Gerber, Kinnaird, MacDonald, Miller, Min- inger, Ruff, Warren, and Whitman.

Committee on Standing Committee Records Messrs. Plummer, Ames, Crossett, Lodge, Moran, and Peters. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 29

Committee on General Assembly Fund Review Normal assignment plus Stated Clerk’s recommendations 3 and 4. Messrs. Oliver and Johnston. Committee on Date, Place and Travel Messrs. Bates and Overduin (regular members), and McElwain (temporary member).

Communications 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 received no action or were noted for action at the appropriate time.

The Assembly recessed at 11 :35 a.m. following prayer led by Mr. Mitchell.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 17 The Assembly reconvened at 1:03 p.m. with the singing of the hymn, “Our God, our Help in ages past.” The Moderator led in prayer. The minutes of the sessions of Thursday, June 15, and Friday, June 16, were approved as corrected. Mr. Bates, presented a further report of the Committee on Date, Place, and Travel.

PARTIAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DATE, PLACE AND TRAVEL TRAVELFUND SUMMARY Balance at close of 44th G. A...... $17,698.72 Subsequent expenditures related to the 44th G. A...... -27.00

Balance ...... 17,671.72 Subsequent refunds to the travel fund related to the 44th G. A...... 49.00

Balance ...... 17,720.72 Received from churches this year ...... 21,520.50 Offering on June 15, 1978 ...... 257.78 Special offering from Calvary OPC, Cedar Grove, Wis...... 300.00

Balance available to the 45th G. A., 6-17-78 ...... 39,799.00

RECOMMENDATIONS The committee recommends: 1. That the following commissioners be excused for absence, as indicated, without loss of travel compensation except as noted. a. Elder R. L. Bush, from the Thursday and Friday sessions, June 15 & 16, due to late arrival necessitated by the limits of his allotted vacation time. b.The Rev. G. C. Miladin, from the Thursday evening and Friday morning sessions, June 15 and 16, due to a delay in departure from San Diego, Calif., in order that he might attend the graduation of his two children from high school on Thursday, June 15. 30 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

c. The Rev. R. W. Schmurr, from the Friday session, June 23, early enough to permit him to return by air to Hialeah, Fla., where he is committed to perform a wedding at 8:00 p.m., June 23. d. The Rev. H. M. Whitman, from the Friday session, June 23, in order that he may catch a 7:45 a.m. flight to Williamsburg, Va., where he is committeed to conduct a wedding on June 23. e. Elder C. T. Nightengale, at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 23, to catch the only flight available to him on that date. f.The Rev. L. A. Ruff, Jr., from the Thursday evening session, June 15, and one hour of the Friday morning session, June 16, due to a delay in departure from Chula Vista, Calif., because of pressing pastoral counseling of an emergency nature. g. Elder W. D. Laverell, from the Friday session, June 23, to catch an early morning flight to Philadelphia so that he may follow up job leads in connection with a church-planting opportunity. h. The Rev. D. M. Moore, from all sessions after Tuesday morning, June 20, in order to meet an obligation to be present at the forthcoming inter-mission conference in Taipei, Taiwan, beginning June 26, 1978. Mr. Moore requests reimbursement only for travel one way between Hastings, Neb., and Grand Rapids. Reimbursement for the remainder of his travel will come from another source. i.That the request of the Rev. S. W. Van Camp, to be excused with full travel compensation on the morning of Thursday, June 22, to drive to Aurora, Col., to candidate on the weekend, be denied, but that, instead, he be granted an excuse to depart at the close of the last session on Thursday, June 22, with no loss of travel compensation. j. That the Rev. G. G. Latal be excused from the Thursday, Friday, and Satur- day sessions, June 15, 16, and 17, due to a delay in arrival in order that he might keep a long-standing commitment to perform the marriage of his granddaughter in the Des Plaines (Ill.) C. R. church on Saturday, June 17, and preach at the morning and evening services in the same church on June 18, and that he be granted 34 travel compensation. 2.That commissioners who have submitted valid travel vouchers by noon on June 19 be reimbursed according to the following schedule: a. Those traveling by public transportation be reimbursed the full cost of their fare, as reported, to the nearest dollar. b.Those traveling by car as passengers be reimbursed at the rate of $0.02 per mile to the nearest dollar. c. Those traveling by car as drivers be reimbursed at the rate of $0.10 per mile for the first 1000 miles, $0.06 per mile for the second 1000 miles, and $0.05 per mile for every mile thereafter, plus $0.02 per mile for each passenger in his vehicle who is eligible to receive travel compensation, provided that the driver shall not receive an amount greater than the combined cost of standard, round trip tourist air fare for himself and his passengers, or for himself, if traveling alone, unless the committee recommends approval of the reason(s) for the use of a car in travel. 3. That each commissioner who applies for it be paid up to $7.00 per day of attendance for expenses at the Assembly. Respectfully submitted, James A. Bates Daniel H. Overduin Daniel E. McElwain FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 31

I On separate motions recommendations 1. a., b., c., d., e., f., g., h., i., j.; 2. ti., b., c.; and 3 were adopted. Mr. Tyson, President of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension, presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOME MISSIONS AND CHURCH EXTENSION On behalf of the constituents of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension seeks to give obedience to the Great Com- mission in proclaiming Christ to the nation. The Committee is profoundly thankful for the power of the gospel and the sovereign working of the Holy Spirit. The prayers and financial support from the Lord’s people are a constant encouragement as we as a church engage aggressively in our mission to the nation and the world. Several years ago the Committee concluded that the best way to accomplish previously adopted goals is to give all possible help and encouragement to each of the eleven presbyteries as they and the churches within their bounds become more involved in home mission and church extension endeavors. To implement these goals the Com- mittee has determined to grant aid to the presbyteries to assist them in calling a missionary-at-large. As several presbyteries move in this direction, it appears that some of the Committee’s long-range goals are becoming reality. However, there are still vast areas of our country where church planting ministries and church extension work must be done by the Committee in consultation with presbyteries if this work is to be done at all. In the course of 1977 seventeen home missionaries, three missionaries-at-large, an area missionary and a youth ministry were undergirded by your prayers and financial support. Fields receiving aid were as follows (listed by presbyteries) : Dakotas-Grand Junction, Colorado ( Donald J. Duff) ; Aurora, Colorado (Huibert Vandenbroek) ; missionary-at-large, Glenn T. Black Mid-Atlantic-Raleigh, North Carolina (Cromwell G. Roskamp) Midwest-Grand Rapids, Michigan (Henry Buikema) ; Gresham and Bar, Wis- consin (Gordon Peterson) ; missionary-at-large, John Fikkert New York and New England-Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Wendell L. Rockey, Jr.) Northern California-Novato, California (Richard C. Miller) ; Santa Cruz, Cali- fornia (Gordon Woolard) Northwest-Bothell, Washington (Patrick Morison) ; Eugene, Oregon (Harold L. Baurer) Ohio-Alliance, Ohio (David W. King); Dayton, Ohio (Lawrence R. Eyres) Philadelphia-south Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wilson Cummings) ; Philadelphia area missionary and part-time Director of Westminster Ministerial Institute (William Krispin) South-Atlanta, Georgia (Thomas S. Champness); Ocala, Florida (John H. Thompson, Jr. ) ; Tallahassee, Florida (Calvin K. Cummings) 32 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Southern California-Goleta Youth Ministry, Goleta, California (Dwight H. Poundstone) ; Oxnard, California (Stephen Doe) ; missionary-at-large, Larry D. Conard During most of the year Mr. Fikkert served half-time as missionary-at-large for the Presbytery of the Midwest and half-time as denominational evangelist for the Corn- mittee.

THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US As the work of home missions and church extension becomes more centered around local congregations and presbyteries, exciting new avenues of service and opportunity loom on the horizon. The plight of the large metropolitan areas in our country becomes a greater concern of the Committee as we see more clearly the need for reaching multi- tudes with the gospel. Not only is there a greater awareness of our task, but there is also a response to our prayers that the Lord send forth laborers into the harvest fields. We are encouraged by an ever-increasing number of men seeking ministry in our denomination. For this reason there is a great urgency for expanding and strengthening the present summer worker and intern programs. In order to accomplish this goal, the Committee has begun to cooperate more closely with the Committee on Ministerial Training as the two committees seek to coordinate the seminary training of young men for the gospel ministry with the responsibilities that each presbytery has for men under their care, An attempt is also being made to relate the summer worker and internship programs to the presbytery Corn- mittees on Candidates. From 1974 through 1976 the Committee has experienced financial difficulties due to the adoption of budgets that are not being met. This has made planning difficult and hampered efforts to enlarge and strengthen our work. In previous reports to the General Assembly, the Committee has urged the adoption of realistic budgets even though this has resulted in a temporary reduction of certain efforts. Again in 1977 the budget was not met; only 89.8% of the budget was attained, compared with 91.7% in 1976. By reducing expenditures the Committee was able to avoid a further deficit. In view of the fact that the Lord has opened many doors of opportunity that must be entered, our financial restrictions must not deter an advance in proclaiming Christ to the nation. New ways of utilizing men for heralding the gospel must be explored as we realize even more keenly the need for complete dependence upon the Lord. It has become increasingly evident that an evangelizing church is a spiritually maturing church. Even in the Old Testament economy the Psalmist had a glimpse of the praises of God’s elect, even from among the Gentiles, when he prayed: “God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us-That thy way may be known on earth, Thy salvation among all nations.” The almighty God has sovereignly drawn us to his Son the only Savior for our redemption-most of us being from among the Gentiles. And that salvation is to the end that he be praised and his salvation be made known to all mankind.

COMMITTEES RESPONSE TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY The 43rd General Assembly requested the Committee to develop guidelines for congregations to follow in discovering, evaluating and calling a pastor. A subcommittee studied this request and presented the following guidelines that have been sent to the churches through the presbyteries: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 33

I. Establishing n Pulpit Committee A. The session ordinarily serves as the Pulpit Committee. B. In the carrying out of this function, the session may appoint a sub-committee to assist. C. This sub-committee may be composed of ordained or unordained members of the congregation. 11. Evaluating Needs and Qualifications A. The session evaluates the congregation and community to determine the gifts, ministries, and needs of the congregation and community, listing strengths and weaknesses of the congregation and community. They establish from the evaluation what has been the ministry of the church, what the ministry of the church is now, and what they believe the ministry should be with a pastor. B. The congregation reviews the session’s evaluation and submits its own critique of the evaluation to the session. C. The session and congregation list the desired qualifications of a prospective pastor, keeping in mind the evaluation that has been made. D. The list of qualifications is revised to contain only the non-negotiable qualifications. (Ask which qualifications are absolutely necessary, keeping in mind your needs and ministries.) 111. Screening Prospective Candidates A. The session sends to the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension for resumes of prospects and evaluates them to determine which men would fit the non-negotiable qualifications. B. For each prospective candidate, letters should be written to: 1. The Credentials Committee of the Presbytery which examined him, if examined within the past 3 years. 2. The Practical Theology Department of the theological seminary which he attended, if graduated within the past 3 years. 3. All references mentioned on the resume. C. After determining which candidates to consider further, ask the first choice to come for at least eight days, including two Sundays. IV. Hearing a Candidate A. Have him preach four messages (two Lord’s days). B. Have him lead a mid-week Bible study. C. Have him teach a Sunday school class. D. Have him visit all shut-ins and those in the hospital. E. Have him in as many homes as possible. F. Have him meet with as many groups within the congregation as possible; i.e., missionary society, men’s groups, women’s groups, young adults, youth, etc. G. Ask him what he would do in specific situations that are unique to your congregation and community, and in ordinary situations. H. Near the end of his stay, ask him what kind of vision he has for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom in the congregation and community. I. Take proper steps to call a congregational meeting to determine whether they are ready to call a pastor. 34 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

(It is important to decide on a given candidate before hearing another one. This prevents personality contests and makes it possible to determine if the man’s gifts fit the needs of the congregation and community. A given candidate can always be considered again at a later time.) The 43rd General Assembly also referred to the Committee a motion that was before the Assembly to adopt the recommendation of the Advisory Committee that the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension “be directed . . . to establish as an immediate priority the securing of the full-time services of a man equipped to develop home missions and church extension effectiveness within presbyteries and congregations.” It was reported to the 44th General Assembly that the Committee had engaged the Rev. John Fikkert to serve the Committee as denominational evangelist on a half-time basis from October 1976 through the calendar year 1977. The Advisory Committee, in its report to that same Assembly, recommended several actions that were noted by the Committee. Among the recommendations was the securing of Mr. Fikkert as a full- time denominational evangelist. At the June meeting the Committee extended a call to Mr. Fikkert to serve the Committee as a full-time .denominational evangelist. Mr. Fikkert declined the call and accepted a call to serve as pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His service to the Committee was officially terminated on October 1, 1977 although certain commitments were met to the end of the year.

SUMMER WORKER PROGRAM The Committee provided $12,250 in 1977 for partial or full support of a seminarian or other person for summer work in the following chapels or churches: Grace Chapel, Lynchburg, Virginia-Michael Bushel1 Park Hill, Denver, Colorado-Winston Thompson Falls, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-Jonathan Falk Emmanuel Chapel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-John Smith, Dwaine Whitley Church of the City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-William Scott Nashua, Edinburg, Pennsylvania-Jeff Boer Calvary, Harrisville, Pennsylvania-Douglas Eckardt Lakeview, Rockport, Maine-Gordon Miller Grace, Hanover Park, Illinois-Robert Harting New Life, Abington. Pennsylvania-Andrew Selle Lake Sherwood, Orlando, Florida-Kenneth Roberts Westminster, Hamden, Connecticut-Frank Smith Calvary, Tallahassee, Florida-Kuldip Gangar First, Portland, Oregon-Larry Wilson Jamaica, New York (Christian Reformed Church)-Eric Sigward Olney Avenue Area, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-Thomas McCormick Chapel, Ocean City, New Jersey-John Johnson Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania-Mark Brown It is most important that the significance of this program be understood by sessions and congregations as it relates to the further training of men for the ministry and the future growth of the denomination. Each year more students are requesting this opportunity to serve. The Committee has been increasing this item in the budget in an attempt to encourage the local churches to take part in this program. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 35

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The Committee is committed to the expansion of an internship program as announced previously and reported in some detail to the 39th General Assembly (Minutes, pp. 53, 54). Two interns were assisted financially during the year: Karl Dortzbach and Tony Blair. Mr. Dortzbach was employed as an intern to labor at Hope Church, Mundelein, Illinois with Mr. Fikkert, missionary-at-large for the Presbytery of the Midwest and part-time denominational evangelist. In the course of the year Mr. Dortzbach was ordained as an evangelist and after Mr. Fikkert left the area in order to accept a call to a church, Mr. Dortzbach became the organizing pastor of Hope Church, a chapel under the oversight of Falls Church, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Mr. Blair was employed by the joint sessions of Westminster Church, Bartlesville, Oklahoma and the OPC of Caney, Kansas to labor with the pastor of Westminster Church, the Rev. Dennis Prutow, in a joint ministry. It was not financially possible for the Committee to make further commitments for interns even though other churches have indicated an interest in a pilot program if such assistance could be offered. The Committee is encouraged when churches give consideration to this program without financial aid from the Committee. Calvary Church, Middle- town, Pennsylvania engaged their first intern in the spring of 1977. Bethel Church, Oostburg, Wisconsin continues to be involved in this program. (Two men who have received this training are now serving in home mission churches.)

LITERATURE, POSTERS AND TAPE MINISTRY In an attempt to serve the church, the Committee once again compiled a Directory of Churches and Chapels that appeared at the beginning of 1978. The Committee is - grateful for a paid advertisement from the Quarryville Presbyterian Home that partially subsidized the Directory. The Directory is offered free of charge to our churches and any others who request it. During the year the Committee again contributed $1,000 to the Presbyterian Guardian. The editor of this publication used articles on home missions and church extension work and also cooperated with the general secretary in making sample copies of the magazine available to new chapels, churches and various individuals and groups outside the denomination that are in contact with the Committee. In 1977 the Committee increased the number of editions of OUTREACH from six to ten in order to share more information of what the Lord is doing throughout the denomination in the area of home missions and church extension. While works supported by the Committee receive regular coverage, the Committee is happy to share with the church developments in presbyteries and on the local level. A prayer calendar appears in each issue in order to prompt systematic prayer for all denominational home missionaries as well as others active in the work of home missions and church extension. The Committee cooperated with the Committee on Foreign Missions in preparing and sending to the churches a new poster picturing our home and foreign missionaries. Individual copies of the poster can be ordered at a minimal cost. In order to encourage participation in the SAVE program a poster was sent to all the churches early in the year to which messages could be applied over a period of several months. A poster to stimulate interest in investing in the Church Extension Fund is also available from the Committee. 36 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

A cassette tape ministry has been continued and enlarged in order to provide interested groups and persons with a taped interview with many of the home missionaries. The Committee also offers a tape presenting the To Tell rhe Truth program and a selection of tapes on several aspects of church growth and evangelism.

ATTENDANCE IN FIELDS RECEIVING AID It is difficult for the Committee to secure complete and accurate attendance figures from all the fields. On the basis of reports submitted, communicant membership in aid- receiving churches in 1977 increased by 1.5% over the previous year, while non-communicant membership increased by 3.1 %. Average attendance at morning worship services increased in 8 fields where comparisons could be made and decreased in 6. Average attendance at evening services in 1977 increased in 6 fields and decreased in 7. The increase for all fields for morning worship attendance was 2.9% and for evening worship there was a decrease of .8%. These figures do not include El Camino Church, Goleta, California since the support from the Committee is for their Youth Ministry. The Committee is concerned where there is no evidence of growth and has again sought the help and counsel of presbyteries in exercising oversight of home mission and church extension work within their bounds. Each month the Committee requires statistical reports from the fields receiving support. Those reports (Goleta Youth Ministry included) are summarized in mimeo- graphed form and are available.

SAVE PROGRAM The response to the 1977 SAVE (Students As Volunteer Evangelists) program was very disappointing. Only 8 young people sought to serve on teams in Denver, Colorado and Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Rev. Donald Stanton, pastor of Bethel Church, Oostburg, Wisconsin continues to serve as coordinator of the program. In recent years there has been greater emphasis on seeking the best qualified young people for this ministry. The promotion of the program has included the distribution of posters with attached action-grams.

POLICY ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT The Committee’s old ten-year Schedule of Aid applied in 1977 to Atlanta, Georgia and Eugene, Oregon. Both of these churches determined in January 1978 to become self-supporting prior to the completion of the schedule of aid. Home missions efforts in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ,and Gresham-Zoar, Wisconsin are moving slowly toward self-support, but the provisions of the Schedule of Aid are not applied to them. The Committee seeks in all its work to establish self-governing, self-supporting and self- propagating churches. In recent years, because of limited funds, aid to churches and chapels has generally been given on a year-to-year basis upon recommendation from presbyteries. The Com- mittee wishes to stress the importance of well-prepared recommendations if a field is to be considered worthy of support. Where circumstances and available funds warrant it, the Committee is willing to make a commitment of aid for up to six years on the basis of the following conditions: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 37

1. The Committee shall require a field to have at least ten families, including at least ten wage-earners, before a request for such aid will be granted. 2. The Committee will pay toward the pastor’s salary the following percentages of the amount paid by the church toward the pastor’s salary, plus the amount contributed by the church to the Combined Budget, and the Committees on Home Missions, Foreign Missions and Christian Education: Year following organization 1st Full Salary 2nd 500% 3rd 270% 4th 170% 5th 110% 6th 60% Faith Church, Ocala, Florida is the only church presently on this skyear schedule of aid. It is with thanksgiving to God that the Committee notes the two fields that became self-supporting at the end of 1977: Redeemer Church, Atlanta, Georgia and Oak Hill Church, Eugene, Oregon. Redeemer Church received $56,402 in aid from the Com- mittee from 1967 through 1977. During this time the congregation contributed a total of $28,315 to the Committees on Christian Education, Home and Foreign Missions. Oak Hill Church received $91,986 in aid from the Committee from 1963 through 1977. During this time their contributions to the work of the three Committees totaled $18,180.

SALARY SCALE AS APPLIED TO CHURCHES ON THE SCHEDULE OF AID AND COMMITTEE-SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES The Salary Scale for home missionaries employed by the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension, effective January 1, 1978, as adopted by the Committee, provides the following base salary in addition to manse or housing allowances: Year of Service Base Salary 1st $ 8,897 2nd 9,110 3rd 9,323 4th 9,537 5th 9,744 6th 9,959 7th 10,172 8th 10,385 9th 10,597 10th 10,809 11th 11,020 12th 11,235 13th 11,448 14th 11,659 15th 11,871 The minimum base salary for those men not covered by the scale will be $12,083. Further Provisions: 1. Salary The Salary Scale does not apply to ministers who have more than 15 years of service. 38 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

2. Hospitalization The church and/or the Committee will pay the cost of hospitalization coverage for the missionary in proportion to their respective shares of his salary. 3. Housing a. If a manse is not provided and the minister rents his house, he will receive a supplement for rent paid up to a maximum of $250 a month. b. If a minister owns his home, he will receive a supplement for interest, taxes, and other charges up to a maximum of $250 per month. 4. Utilities a. All utilities except personal telephone toll calls, and including heat, will be paid by the church and/or the Committee in addition to salary. b. The cost of utilities will be shared by the Committee and church in proportion to their respective shares of the minister’s salary. c. The church will pay utility bills directly to the service companies, and be reimbursed by the Committee’s share. 5. Pension The church and/ or the Committee will pay the missionary’s pension premium in proportion to their respective shares of his salary. 6. Social Security The church and/or the Committee will pay one-half of the missionary’s Social Secur- ity in proportion to their respective shares of his salary. For missionaries not in the Social Security program, the church and/or the Committee will pay one-half the annual investment in an established investment or retirement income plan, on the same basis and in the same amount as though the missionary were in Social Security. 7. Car Allowance The Committee would remind the churches that no provision is made in the Salary Scale for car allowance. Churches and chapels are encouraged to supplement the above salary provisions with a car allowance to help the pastor meet this pastoral expense. At the least, the Committee suggests that auto expense be reimbursed at the rate of 154 per mile.

FINANCES Total General Fund contributions in 1977 from living donors were $210,059 and were received from the following sources: Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Individuals $204,8 17 Non-Orthodox Presbyterian sources 5,242 Contributions from Orthodox Presbyterian sources to the General Fund were $21,608 more than 1976 contributions, and contributions from non-Orthodox Presby- terian sources were $1,345 less than in 1976. In addition, $441 was received in dividends and interest with additional designated non-budget receipts of $18,893. In the past certain designated non-budgeted receipts were applied directly to expenses and, therefore, did not show in total receipts. The Committee received bequests amounting to $3,871 that were placed in the Contingent Fund. (Margaret Duff, $100; Olive Dallas, $276; Amy K. Cobb, $500; William Boleyn, $2,932; Stevenson, $63) FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 39

Contributions from all Orthodox Presbyterian sources averaged $19.75 for the year, or approximately 384 per week, per communicant member in 1977. Note that in 1976 the average was $18.10 for the year, or 354 per week, per communicant member. The budget for home missions and church extension approved by the 43rd General Assembly anticipated contributions of $228,000 from Orthodox Presbyterian sources. Actual contributions were $204,817 or $23,183 less than anticipated. The actual contributions from non-Orthodox Presbyterian sources totaled $5,242 or $178 more than anticipated. Again, the Committee put forth great effort to reduce expenditures throughout the year. The office secretary continued a four-day work week despite an increasing work load. Plans for enlarging the missionary-at-large program were curtailed. Changes in staff reported under a later subheading (Officers and Staff) helped to reduce administrative expenses. The Committee is grateful to the Lord for enabling us to end the year in a better financial stance than has been the case in recent years, even though the budget was not met again. During the year the Committee kept expenditures at $209,826 compared with an approved budget of $228,000. General Assembly-approved budgets and actual receipts from Orthodox Presbyterian sources were as follows during the past four years: 1974 1975 1976 1977 Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual Budget Actual $181,00 $149,182 $215,000 $184,168 $199,900 $183,209 $228,000 $204,817 It should be noted that expenditures were curtailed to less than the budgeted expectations in each of these four years only because the Committee realized that the budgeted amounts were beyond the contributions that appeared to be forthcoming in the course of each year. Subsequently, the Committee had to postpone its announced plans for strengthening the summer worker program, the internship program, and the missionary-at-large program.

CHURCH EXTENSION FUND Total loans from individuals and organizations to the Church Extension Fund on December 31, 1977 were $933, 242, an increase of $127,646 over 1976. Accumulated earned interest less interest paid on various loans brought the total accountable in the Fund to $998,281. Of this total $763,432 is in the form of loans to churches or chapels. A liquid reserve of $68,719, that is 20% of the demand loans to the Fund, is set aside against possible withdrawals. Current interest rates on loans to the Fund are 5% on demand notes, 5%% on five-year notes, and 6%% on ten-year notes. The interest rate on loans to churches and chapels in 1977 was 7%. New funds developed during 1977 totaled $160,086 of which $21,536 was interest accrued to the present notes. Withdrawals from the Fund during the year totaled $32,440. On December 31, 1977, $165,360 was available for loans to churches; at the end of the year the Committee had approved loans of approximately $149,500. In 1977 loans from the Fund were made to the following churches and chapels: Grace OPC, Middletown, Delaware Grace Chapel, Aurora, Colorado Roswell Chapel, Roswell, New Mexico Emmanuel Chapel, South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bonita OPC, Bonita, California Christ Presbyterian, Janesville, Wisconsin I 40 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

During the year the Committee established an investment or handling fee of 1/4 of 1% of total assets in the Church Extension Fund in order to reimburse the General Fund for time spent by the staff on loans, property transactions and other related matters. At I the end of 1977 this amounted to $2,502. I Balances due on all loans from the Fund are recorded in the Treasurer’s Report.

CONTINGENT FUND Total reserve of this Fund on December 31, 1977 was $401,349. Of this, $114,974 was cash; $208,536 was loans receivable; $32,823 was mortgages receivable; $93,552 was real estate (net worth after subtracting mortgages of $74,599 outstanding) ; and an invest- I ment valued at $429. Loans payable were $48,964. Transfers are made from the cash I reserve to the General Fund in the form of a loan to cover the deficit in that Fund. At the end of the year the Committee joined the Committee on Foreign Missions in purchasing a copier; $2,362 was paid out of the Fund to be repaid from the General Fund in the next two years. In 1977 loans from this Fund were made to the following churches: Southwest Philadelphia Reformed Fellowship, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania New Life OK, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania Redeemer OPC, Dayton, Ohio Balances due on all loans from this Fund are recorded in the Treasurer’s Report.

I BUDGET 1978 The budget for 1978 was proposed to continue the present work of the Committee l and provide for only a modest development of the summer worker and intern programs. Anticipated Receipts Worldwide Outreach-Orthodox Presbyterian Church $224,000 Non-Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Miscellaneous 20,000 Total $244,000 Expenditures Missionary and Church Extension $163,676 Office and Administration 63,380 Promotion 9,400 Interest and Debt Reduction 6,250 Contingency 1,294 Total $244,000

GLENN R. COIE MEMORIAL FUND The Glenn R. Coie Memorial Fund was established by Sharon Orthodox Presby- terian Church, Hialeah, Florida for the purpose of providing loans to seminary students who plan to enter the ministry of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. At the request of Sharon Church, the Committee has been administering this Fund. Since its inception in 1966, seven seminarians have been granted loans totaling $3,600. Four have repaid the loans in full. Monies in the Fund are invested at 51/% interest in the Liberty Federal Savings and Loan Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On December 3 1, 1977 $4,717 was available for loans. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 41

The Committee urges sessions and presbyteries to inform candidates under their care of the following provisions of the Fund: 1. Applicants for loans shall have the following basic qualifications: a. Must be a candidate for the gospel ministry under care of a presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. b. Must be enrolled in a seminary. c. If a senior, must be, under ordinary circumstances, a licentiate of presbytery. 2. The maximum amount to be lent from the Fund to any qualified student shall be $750. 3. Loans shall bear the rate of 2% interest, payment of interest to begin one year following graduation from seminary, or one year from the termination of seminary work. 4. Principal shall be repaid in monthly payments beginning three years from date of first interest payment.

OFFICERS AND STAFF Officers of the Committee are: President, Thomas E. Tyson; Vice-president, Theodore Pappas; Secretary, Barry Hofford; Treasurer, Bert Roeber. At the February meeting of the Committee, General Secretary George E. Haney accepted the Committee’s request to serve in that capacity for an additional three years. Mrs. Richard Surman, secretary, serves the Committee on a fourday work week. For most of the year, the Committee shared equally with the Committee on Foreign Missions the services of Richard B. Miekley, controller; Miss Mabel Sager, bookkeeper; and Mrs. Joan Reichner, clerk (part-time). On October 1 the Committees on Home and Foreign Missions agreed to a shift in shared personnel. Mr. Miekley became full-time controller-bookkeeper for the Com- mittee on Foreign Missions and Miss Sager became full-time bookkeeper for the Com- mittee on Home Missions. Mrs. Reichner was employed by the Committee on Steward- ship on November 1 and began to assist in the transition that took place on January 1, 1978 when the Committee on Stewardship became the official receiving and disbursing agent for the denomination, a responsibility that had been discharged by the Committee on Home Missions. The Committee held three regular meetings during the year. One meeting was held in the Denver, Colorado area; three churches hosted the two-day meeting: Park Hill Church in Denver, Grace Chapel in Aurora and Immanuel Church in Thornton. Two subcommittees function regularly: the Advisory Subcommittee ( Messrs. Tyson, Hofford and Hoogerhyde) and the Finance Subcommittee (Messrs. Bosgraf, Hoogerhyde and Roeber).

ELECTIONS The terms of the following members of the Committee expire at this Assembly: Ministers: Larry Conard, Barry Hofford, Thomas Tyson Ruling Elders: Bertram Robinson, Bert Roeber Resignation: The Rev. George Cottenden (Class of 1980) I 42 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

I REPORT OF THE TREASURER The Report of the treasurer as audited by Main Lafrentz & Co., Certified Public Accountants, is as follows:

~ To The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. I Melrose Park, Pennsylvania We have examined the statement of assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. as of December 31, 1977, and the related statement of revenue collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances for the year then ended. Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, accordingly, included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. As described in Note 1, the Committee’s policy is to prepare its financial statements on the basis of cash receipts and disbursements; consequently, certain revenues and the related assets are recognized when received rather than when earned, and certain expenses are recognized when paid rather than when the obligation is incurred. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly the assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. as of December 31, 1977, and the revenue collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances during the year then ended, on the basis of accounting described in Note 1, which has been applied in a manner consistent with that of the preceding year. I MAINLAFRENTZ & Co. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 19, 1978 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES DECEMBER3 1, 1977

Church Combined General Extension Contingent Annuity Designated Cash, including savings accounts $332,682 $ 348,346 $209,4 17 $11 1,009 $1,7 18 $26,202 Notes and loans receivable, 4% % to 7% 1,000,25 1 763,432 236,359 460 Loans receivable from The Committee on Christian Education, 7% 5,000 5,000 Investments, at cost (market value $33,585) 3 6,065 $ 8,033 25,431 429 2,172 Equity in real estate, at cost 197,371 29,221 168,150 Other receivables 1,356 1,356 lnterfund receivable (payable) (3,965 1 3,965 ~ -__ ~- Totals $1,588,389 $34,645 $998,280 ~-$524,912 $3,890 $26,662 ~-

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES Notes payable $ 982,207 $93 3,242 $ 48,965 Mortgages payable 74,597 74,597 Fund balances 53 1,585 $34,645 65,038 ~-401,350 $3,890 $26,662 Totals $1,5 8 8 ,389 $34,645 $998,280 $524,912 $3,890 $26,662 ____~~~-

These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants’ opinion. STATEMENT OF REVENUES COLLECTED AND EXPENDITURES MADE AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES YEARENDED DECEMBER 31,1977 Funds Church Combined General Extension Contingent Annuity Designated Revenues collected Contributions Regular $155,8 18 $1553 18 Thank offering 53,229 53,229 Designated-budget $1,012, non-budget $18,893 19,905 19,905 Designated-special projects 112,132 $1 12,132 Bequests 3,872 $ 3,872 lnterest and dividends Notes and loans receivable 69,138 $46,879 22,259 Savings accounts and investments 14,698 441 10,775 3,092 $ 226 164 Rental income-real estate 1,310 1,310 Rental income-headquarters 30,902 30,902 461,004 229,393 57,654 30,533 226 143,198 ---_____-- Expenditures made Church extension expense 136,307 136,307 Office and administrative expense 67,739 65,372 2,367 Promotion expense 8,147 8,147 interest expense 45,668 45,399 161 108 Headquarters expense 32,381 32,38 1 Special projects 127,48 1 -----127,48 1 -.-----417,723 209,826 45,399 2,528 108 159,862 Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures 43,281 19,567 12,255 28,005 118 (16,664) Fund balances Beginning of year 488,304 14,340 55,285 371,581 3,772 43,326 (2,502) . 1,764 Transfers from (to) funds .------738 End of year ------$531,585 $ 34,645 $65,038 $401,350 $3,890 $ 26,662 These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants’ opinion. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 45

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER31, 1977

1. BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The accounting records of the Committee are maintained on a cash basis except that interest not paid on the anniversary date of certain notes payable is added to the note balances. Buildings are not depreciated. The cost of building improvements, furniture and equipment purchased is charged to expense in the year acquired.

2. CASH Church Extension Fund cash is restricted by the Committee in the amount of $44,058 which, together with the investments in American Telephone & Telegraph note, 6.5% due December 1, 1979, $24,661, would comprise a reserve of 20% of the demand notes payable at December 3 1, 1977.

3. NOTES AND LOANS RECEIVABLE Contingent Fund loans receivable include $31,064 due from the General Secretary of the Committee, payable $189 monthly including interest at the rate of 4%%.

4. ADMINISTRATION BUILDJNG Title to the administration building property, 7401 Old York Road, Melrose Park, Pennsykania, is equally vested in The Committee on Home Missions and Church Ex- tension, The Committee on Foreign Missions, and The Committee on Christian Educa- tion of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. The property is carried at the Com- mittee’s one-third share of its cost. The operating expenses of the property are shared by the three Committees and Great Commission Publications, Inc., an affiliate.

5. NOTES PAYABLE Notes payable, with interest rates to 6%%, have been issued at various dates to finance capital needs. A summary of notes outstanding at December 31, 1977, follows: Demand Long-term notes notes Total Church Extension Fund $343,593 $589,649 $933,242 Contingent Fund ---15,917 33,048 48,965 Totals -----$3593 10 $622,697 $982,207 A substantial amount of the long-term notes are renewed or become demand notes when they become due.

6. MORTGAGES PAYABLE Mortgages payable with interest from 434% to 6%, are secured by mission church real estate at various United States locations. Certain churches make mortgage payments directly. At such time, the Committee reduces its investment in real estate in an amount equal to the amount of the mortgage reduction. 46 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

7. DESIGNATED FUNDS Designated fund balances at December 31, 1977, were as follows: Special projects $ 2,090 New Fields 3,202 Glen Coie Memorial 5,176 General assembly 15,092 Intermediary 618 Shares fund 4 Administration building fund 480 Total $26,662

8. PENSION PLAN The Orthodox Presbyterian Church has a contributory pension and life insurance plan €or ordained ministers and permanent full-time employees. Plan contributions are paid entirely by the Committee. The cost of this plan to The Committee on Home Mis- sions and Church Extension for 1977, was $3,137. Benefits are not guaranteed but are based on participant’s equity in the retirement fund. 9. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Committee is contingently liable as guarantor of six mortgage loans aggregating approximately $161,140. The appraised value of the mortgaged church property at December 31, 1977, approximates $934,400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

ACCOUNTANTS’OPINION ON SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Our examination of the basic financial statements presented in the preceding section of this report was made primarily to form an opinion on such financial statements taken as a whole. Supplementary information contained in the following pages, is not considered essential for the fair presentation, as set forth in note 1, of the assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions, of The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc., and the revenues collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances. However, the following data were subjected to the audit procedures applied in the examination of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. MAINLAFRENTZ & Co. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 19, 1978

DECEMBER 31, 1977 NOTES AND LOANS RECEIVABLE Church Extension Fund Abilene, Texas-Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... $ 16,893 Atlanta, Georgia-Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 23,002 Aurora, Colorado-Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 44,02 1 Bonita, California-Bonita Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 73,000 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 47

Bothell. Washington-Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 38. 940 Caney. Kansas-- Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 7.414 Carson. California-Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 16791. Chula Vista. California-Bayview Church ...... 36. 338 Eugene. Oregon-Oak Hill Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 49.832 Goleta. California-El Camino Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 23. 248 Grand Junction. Colorado-Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 17.946 Green Bay. Wisconsin-Green Bay Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 43.011 Hacienda Heights. California-Hacienda Heights Church ...... 6.713 Janesville. Wisconsin-Christ Presbyterian Church ...... 60. 500 Menomonee Falls. Wisconsin-Falls Orthodox Presbyterian Church .... 52. 203 Middletown. Delaware-Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 4.000 Modesto. California-First Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 57.411 Philadelphia. Pennsylvania-Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Chapel . . 22. 547 Rockport. Maine-Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 16.651 Roswell. New Mexico-Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 29. 128 San Francisco. California-Brentwood Orthodox Presbyterian Church . . 29. 225 San Jose. California-Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 18.260 Santa Cruz. California-Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 25001. Santee. California-Valley Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 15.856 Sonora. California-Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 30. 939 Thornton. Colorado-Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 1. 227 Vienna. Virginia-Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 10.500 Westfield. New Jersey-Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 1.448 $763. 432

Contingent Fund Atlanta. Georgia-Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... $ 20. 910 Bangor. Maine-Pilgrim Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 49 Bartlesville. Oklahoma-Westminster Chapel ...... 14.479 Bonita. California-Bonita Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 10.601 Burtonsville. MarylandXovenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church ..... 11. 106 Cape Cod. Massachusetts-Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod ...... 19951. Dayton. Ohio-Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 15.000 Hamden. Connecticut-Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church .... 5.700 Houlton. Maine-Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 2.604 Janesville. Wisconsin-Christ Presbyterian Church ...... 17.523 Jenkintown. Pennsylvania-New Life Orthodox Presbyterian Church ... 3.353 Lincoln. Nebraska-Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 2. 000 Menomonee Falls. Wisconsin-Falls Orthodox Presbyterian Church .... 1. 912 Neptune. New Jersey-Good Shepherd Church ...... 8. 915 Philadelphia. Pennsylvania-Southwest Philadelphia Reformed Fellowship ...... 12. 897 Rockport. Maine-Lakeview Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 26. 200 Tinley Park. Illinois-Forest View Orthodox Presbyterian Church ...... 37. 433 Baurer. The Rev . Harold L., Eugene. Oregon ...... 860 Haney. The Rev . George E., Roslyn. Pennsylvania ...... 31. 064 Oliver. The Rev. LeRoy B., Abington. Pennsylvania ...... 1.758

d $236. 359 48 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER31, 1977 Market Value Cost INVESTMENTS General Fund 105 shares-Baltimore Gas & Electric, common ...... $ 2,796 $ 3,085 18 shares-Morton-Norwich Products, common ...... 475 67 1 115 shares-commonwealth Edison, $1.425 convertible preferred ...... 1,897 3,565 $ 1,000 U. S. Treasury Bond, 3% %, due 1978-83 ...... -- 824 712 $ 5,992 $ 8,033

Church Extension Fund $25,00&American Telephone & Telegraph Co., note, 6.5%. due December 1, 1979 ...... $24,687 $24,661 770 shares-Money Market Management ...... -- 770 770 --$25,457 $25,431 Contingent Fund 429 shares-Money Market Management ...... ---- $ 429 $ 429 Annuity Fund 4 shares-General Motors, $5.00 preferred ...... $ 282 $ 425 30 shares-Philadelphia Electric, 4.4% preferred ...... -- 1,425 1,747 --$ 1,707 --$ 2,172 Combined totals ...... --$33,585 $36,065

EQUITY IN REAL ESTATE General Fund Administration building and improvements, Melrose Park, Pennsylvania (% interest) ...... -- $29,221 Con tingent Fund Atlanta, Georgia-Manse ...... $ 18,035 Dayton, Ohidhurch ...... 8,230 Eugene, Oregon-Lot ...... 3,275 Green Bay, Wisconsin-Lot ...... 3,247 Greeneville, Tennessee-House and Lot ...... 17,533 Hanover Park, Illinois-Church ...... 10,403 Maple Grove, Maine-Manse ...... 5,500 Stratford, New Jersey-Church ...... 11,264 Thornton, Coloraddhurch ...... 29,978 Thornton, Colorado-Manse ...... 11,834 Thornton, Colorado-Lot ...... 3,185 Tinley Park, Illinois-Church ...... 27,296 Tulsa, Oklahoma-Manse ...... 18,370 $168,150 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 49

NOTES PAYABLE Church Extension Fund Demand notes at 5% per annum ...... , ...... $343,593 Long-term notes at 94% per annum ...... 186,516 Long-term notes at 6%% per annum , ...... 403,133 Total ...... $933,242-- Contingent Fund Demand note without interest ...... , , ...... $ 15,917 Long-term note without interest ...... , . . , . 15,905 Long-term notes at 4% per annum ...... , ...... 5,700 Long-term notes at 4%% per annum ...... 1,000 Long-term notes at 5% per annum ...... 10,443 Total ...... $ 48,965

MORTGAGES PAYABLE propem Contingent Fund Balance Annual Date of December 3 1, rate final payment 1977 Atlanta, Georgia-Manse ...... , . . 5% % 1/01/96 $18,035 Dayton, Ohio-Church ...... 5% % 02/91 8,230 Hanover Park, Illinois-Church ...... 5% % 11/01/89 10,402 Thornton, Colorado-Manse ...... 41/2% 11/01/84 3,681 Tinley Park, Illinoidhurch ...... 6% 10/91 23,045 Tulsa, Oklahoma-Manse ...... , . . . . . 5%% 1/01/91 11,204 $W rn

SCHEDULEOF CONTRIBUTIONS YEARENDED DECEMBER 3 1, 1977 Regular Orthodox Presbyterian Churches ...... $15 1,104 Other ...... 4,714 $1553 18

Thank offering Orthodox Presbyterian Churches ...... $ 52,954 Other ...... 275 $ 53,229

Designated-budget Orthodox Presbyterian Churches ...... $ 758 Other ...... 254 $ 1,012 50 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

SCHEDULE OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES YEARENDED DECEMBER 3 1. 1977

Church extension expense Missionary Salaries ...... $02772. Housing allowance ...... 6. 251 Missionary at large salaries and expenses ...... 28911. Summer workers ...... 12.250 Intern ...... 2. 170 Utilities ...... 5. 415 Pension premiums and hospitalization ...... 5. 105 Social security tax ...... 1. 997 Seminar expenses ...... 61 Moving and travel ...... 2. 594 Travel-general secretary ...... 4. 767 Miscellaneous ...... --.1. 779 Total ...... $136. 307 ~-

Office and administrative expense General secretary allowance ...... $6585. Office salaries ...... 31. 845 Pension premiums and hospitalization ...... 2. 950 Social security tax ...... 1. 978 Committee meetings ...... 6. 917 Rent ...... 3. 600 Telephone and telegraph ...... 1. 877 Legal and accounting ...... 2. 609 Postage and office supplies ...... 1. 784 Equipment and repairs ...... 1. 122 Stewardship committee ...... 4. 937 Miscellaneous ...... 95 Total ...... $37265.

Promotion expense Publicity ...... $101 Outreach ...... 6. 784 Miscellaneous ...... -- 1. 262 Total ...... !§ 8, 147

CONTINGENT FUND EXPENDITURES Contingent Fund office and administrative expense includes $2. 362 for the purchase of an office machine copier . This amount is to be repaid from the General Fund over a two-year period . FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 51

Mr. Winslow presented the report of Advisory Committee #3.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #3 The Report of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension has been reviewed and several committee members have answered questions about the work being done. Advisory Committee #3 has satisfied itself that the various programs are being administered with decency and in good order. We commend the General Secretary and the Committee officers and members for their sincere efforts and devotion to duty.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. That the committee be directed to develop an evaluation and self-examination form to send to the churches through the presbyteries as part of the present guidelines for discovering, evaluating, and calling a pastor. The form should be designed to assist the churches with guideline number I1 of the present guidelines which were formulated as directed by the 43rd General Assembly. 2.That the Moderator appoint a committee comprised of members of both the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension and the Committee on Ministerial Training to study the feasibility and advisability of transferring the summer worker and the internship programs with their funding to the Committee on Ministerial Training and to report back to the 46th General Assembly. 3. That the Assembly approve the request in Overture 5 and ask the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension to consider the matter. Carleton E. Winslow, Jr. Erwin Claerbaut John E. Evers James R. Klahr Paul S. Patterson Dennis Remillard On motion recommendation 1 was adopted. It was moved to adopt recommendation 2. On motion further consideration of recommendation 2 was postponed until after the report of the Committee on Ministerial Training. It was moved to adopt recommendation 3. On substitute motion it was determined to refer Overture 5 to the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. The following were nominated: Ministers-Eckardt, Conard, Ronald J. MacKenzie, Tyson and Petty; Ruling Elders-David F. Rundle, (Middle- town, Pa.), Winslow, William H. Kiester (Harrisville), and Robert L. Ayres (Caney). The Moderator later announced the election of the Rev. Messrs. Conard, Petty, and Tyson and Ruling Elders Ayres and Kiester to the class of 1981 and the Rev. Mr. Eckardt to the class of 1980. The Moderator ruled that no geographical or other notations would be shown on the list of nominees on the blackboard. The Moderator’s ruling was appealed. The Moderator was not sustained. Mr. Oliver, introduced to the Assembly Professor Raymond 0. Zorn, fraternal delegate of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand and the Reformed Churches of Australia. 52 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On motion Mr. Zorn was enrolled as a corresponding member. Mr. Stonehouse, President of the Committee on Foreign Missions, presented its report. By general consent, the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS The following were on the foreign missionary rolls of the church at the end of the year : ACTIVE Egypt The Rev. and Mrs. George R. Cottenden The Rev. and Mrs. W. Benson Male Japan The Rev. and Mrs. David M. Moore The Rev. and Mrs. George Y. Uomoto Korea The Rev. and Mrs. W. Ralph English The Rev. and Mrs. Theodore Hard The Rev. and Mrs. Young J. Son Lebanon The Rev. and Mrs. Victor B. Atallah The Rev. John S. Mason Taiwan The Rev. and Mrs. Egbert W. Andrews The Rev. and Mrs. Steven R. Hake The Rev. and Mrs. Robert L. Marshall The Rev. and Mrs. Lendall H. Smith ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE Sandra M. Campbell, R.N. Grietje S. Rietkerk, M.D. The Rev. and Mrs. Arthur J. Steltzer, Jr. Cornelia J. Van Galen, R.N. EMERITUS The Rev. and Mrs. Clarence W. Duff The Rev. and Mrs. Richard B. Gaffin The Rev. and Mrs. Bruce F. Hunt The Rev. and Mrs. R. Heber McIlwaine The service of the Males in Egypt has been a special part-time assignment. The Rev. John P. Galbraith is the General Secretary of the Committee. The Rev. Laurence N. Vail became the Committee’s first fulltime Assistant General Secretary on October 1. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 53

The Rev. and Mrs. David M. Moore and their children arrived in this country from Japan for a one-year furlough on August 26, 1977. They plan to return to Japan after this General Assembly. The Rev. and Mrs. Egbert W. Andrews were home on furlough from May 23 until November 28. The Rev. and Mrs. Lendall H. Smith and their children are scheduled to come home for a one-year furlough in the latter part of July. During the year the Committee rescinded its call to the Rev. Arnold S. Kress who had served as a missionary in Japan from 1966 to 1974 and had been on leave of absence since that time. The Committee’s decision was made regretfully, because of Mr. Kress’s many missionary gifts, but it had no option in the circumstances. However, in taking its action, the committee encouraged Mr. Kress to reapply to the Committee for missionary service if he were to modify his views to the satisfaction of his presbytery and the Committee. The Misses Campbell, Rietkerk, and Van Galen have remained on leave-of-absence status while the Committee has sought other fields for their medical missionary service. Three fields were considered: Korea, in the Gospel Hospital of the Kosin Presbyterian Church, in Pusan; Lebanon, where two doctors wish to retire and sell their medical facility in Beirut; and Pakistan, where the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (‘U.S.) has evangelistic work which it would like to supplement with medical work. The Committee had not made a final decision by the end of the year under review, but there is an opportunity for Dr. Rietkerk and Miss Van Galen to serve for one year at a Conservative Baptist Hospiltal in Shikarpur as replacements for missionaries on furlough; this would give them an opportunity, over a period of a year, to evaluate the possible work with the Associate Reformed Presbyterians. Also the General Secretary plans to survey the opporitunity in Lebanon in February, and he will also seek to visit the Pakistan field in July-August in conjunction with a planned trip to Indonesia. The Committee expects to be able to reach a definitive decision during 1978.

NEW MISSIONARIES Last year saw five new missionary families go for our church to foreign missions fields. This was the most sent out in one year in our history. One was, in effect, a replacement for a retiree from Korea, one was an addition to our Taiwan Mission, and three were to new fields, Egypt and Lebanon. We are deeply grateful to God for making these men and women willing to represent Him in these fields and for providing from many sources the funds needed for them. The Rev. and Mrs. Young J. Son arrived in Korea on July 21, 1977 with their six children, Elizabeth 13, Sarah, 11, David 10, Jennifer 7, Megan 5, and Andrew 3. Mr. Son’s work is to be that of an evangelist; he will also conduct Bible conferences in churches and take an active part in young people’s work. Mr. Son has been a minister in our church since 1968, and his work prior to going to Korea was as the director of a work among university and college students in the Philadelphia area, a work in which his wife assisted him. Mr. Son, of Korean parentage, has been a United States citizen since 1967. The Rev. and Mrs. Victor B. Atallah began their work in Lebanon on August 18. Mr. Atallah had been one of the organizing members first of the Middle East Reformed Fellowship and then of the Reformed Church of Lebanon before the civil strife dis- rupted so much of that country‘s life. He came to this country with his American-born fiancee, was married here, joined an Orthodox Presbyterian congregation, was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of the Midwest, was called by the Committee to 54 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY serve as an evangelist in Lebanon, and was ordained by the Presbytery. Mr. Atallah is of Egyptian parentage, and Arabic is his native tongue. The Rev. and Mrs. George R. Cottenden arrived in Egypt with their children, David 9, and Susan 7, on October 1. Mr. Cottenden served as pastor of our Church of the Good Shepherd, Neptune, N.J., his first pastorate, since 1967 until accepting the Committee’s call to missionary service in Egypt. In calling Mr. Cottenden the Com- mittee took the unusual step of asking him to serve for only four years. The Committee is saying neither that it will not want to continue our presence in Egypt after that time nor that it would not ask him then to continue; rather, the Committee is saying that it now reserves decision as to the future until a later time, that it may or may not want to continue to have missionaries in Egypt, and that Mr. Cottenden is at liberty to seek other service when the four years is completed regardless of future decisions by the Committee. Because of restrictions on Christian work in Egypt the Committee did not call Mr. Cottenden as an “evangelist” but as a “missionary” performing a large variety of functions. These functions are more fully set forth in the section of this report that deals with Egypt. Mr. Cottenden’s duties do not require a concentrated study of the Arabic language. The Rev. and Mrs. Steven R. Hake arrived in Taiwan on October 20 with their son, Jesse Jonathan, age ten months. Mr. Hake had graduated from seminary earlier in the year, and was ordained as an evangelist shortly before leaving for the field. Mr. Hake had spent one of his college years in study in Taiwan. The work planned for Mr. Hake is that of church planter. Prior to undertaking that work he and his wife will study the Taiwanese language for two years in a language school. The Rev. John S. Mason was placed on the roll of missionaries as of December 1, though due to his travel arrangements he did not arrive in Lebanon until January 6, 1978. Mr. Mason had served as one of our missionaries in Ethiopia for 18 months prior to our withdrawal in April 1976. He then spent a year in graduate study and home missionary work before the Committee called him to serve in Lebanon as an evangelist. Mr. Mason will undertake concentrated study of the Arabic language, but will be able to use English also to a greater degree than in some other countries.

REPORTS ON THE FIELDS Egypt Although tense and troubled as hopes for a permanent peace settlement with Israel rose and waned, Egypt continued to offer a fruitful opportunity last year for the spread of the Reformed faith. The Rev. and Mrs. W.Benson Male served in Egypt until June, were in the United States for the summer, and returned to Egypt in September. They plan to remain there until March of 1978. The Males have lived in Alexandria, where Mr. Male has done most of his work, though he has also traveled regularly to Cairo. On October 1 the Rev. and Mrs. George R. Cottenden arrived in Egypt wijth their two children. They live in Alexandria near the Schutz American School where their children are enrolled. Mr. Cottenden was called to serve in Egypt for a term of four years. On November 1 the Egypt Mission of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially constituted with the Cottendens and Males as members. The Mission works closely with the Evangelical Church which was established in 1854 by missionaries of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. The primary objective of the Mis- FORTY-FIFTH GENERALASSEMBLY 55 sion is to assist the Evangelical Church to recover its Reformed heritage, to help strengthen its ministry, and to provide a base for spreading the Reformed faith into other nearby nations. The Mission has pursued this objective by means of the following ministries : The Christian Fellowship Center This center, located near a large university in Alexandria, serves students from Egypt, Nigeria, Sierre Leone, and the Sudan. Mr. Male preached there weekly on Sunday evenings and conducted a study in the Shorter Catechism on Friday night, when there is also a time of fellowship. On the Friday night before Christmas there were 40 students in attendance. These students are carrying Reformed literature and teaching back to the countries of their origin. Literature From ,the very start of our missionary work in Egypt, the publication of Reformed literature in the Arabic language has been a major form of ministry. Last year translation was completed and printing begun of The Westminster Confession of Faith (1,000 copies), Williamson’s The Shorter Catechism for Study Classes (Vol. 2) (2,000 copies), E. J. Young’s Do you Believe and Murray’s Sovereignty of God (2,000 copies). VoS’s Child‘s Story Bible (Vol. 1) (5,000 copies planned) and Williamson’s The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes were being translated. This literature is being sold in major cities through Christian bookstores, and copies are distributed free to all the Evangelical pastors in Egypt and north Sudan. In addition to this publication work, a considerable number of books on Reformed theology have been placed in the library of the Evangelical Seminary in Cairo. This was madc possible through gifts from people in the United States. Bible lnstitutes In December Mr. Male started a Bible lnstitute in a church in Alexandria at the invitation of, and with the cooperation of a foreign missionary pastor. Thirty young adults drawn from various churches in the city study the Shorter Catechism on Tuesday evenings with the result that the Reformed faith is reaching into the non-presbyterian evangelical community. Another small bi-weekly Bible Institute was conducted by Mr. Male and Mr. Cottenden in a church in Cairo, giving the Mission contact with evangelicals there. Mr. Male also taught for part of the year in the Evangelical Seminary in Cairo. The A lexandria Community Church In the early part of the year Mr. Male served as the pastor of the English-speaking Cornmun6ty Church. After the arrival of the Cottendens, and with the prospect of the Males leaving Egypt permanently in another six months, the church asked Mr. Cottenden to serve as pastor. With the Committee’s concurrence Mr. Cottenden accepted the invitation and began preaching there as of November 1. This church, composed largely of foreign families in the area, meets in the Schutz American School. It has a morning worship service with an average of 30 present, and a Sunday school. Mr. Cottenden preaches at this service, teaches a mid-week Bible study, and carries on a pastoral ministry for members and others among the British and American residents of Alexan- dria. Mr. Male and Mrs. Cottenden also teach Sunday school classes there. Other Activities Both Mr. Cottenden and Mr. Male had numerous opportunities to preach in the Egyptian Evangelical Churches in Alexandria, Cairo, and other cities, speaking through 56 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY an interpreter. They also were able to have personal contact with many of the pastors and individual Christians, and attend presbytery and Synod and local church meetings. In addition to teaching a Sunday school class at the Community Church, Mrs. Cottenden organized and led a choir at the Christian Fellowship Center. Summary The Committee is well satisfied with the accomplishments of the work thus far. The Males and Cottendens have been engaged in planning goals and programs for the time after the Males leave. The General Secretary expects to visit this field in early March to consult with them and representatives of the Evangelical Church concerning the goals and programs.

JAPAN The Japan Mission is now composed of two families, the Moores and Uomotos, Their work is in four cities in three prefectures in an area 250 miles north of Tokyo on Japan’s main island of Honshu. Three Japanese nationals work with the Mission at chapels partially supported by Mission funds, Mr. Inui at Fukushima, Mr. Shiratsu at Ishinomaki, and Mr. Yaegashi at Yamagata. Sendai (Nakayama New Town) Mr. Uomoto has worked here since his return from furlough in 1971. Regular services were held in his home as well as in the neighboring Cherry Hill section. The Nakayama Chapel is quite small with a total of three members. Mr. Uomoto participated in several Bible studies and calling programs in association with the other chapels and churches of the Reformed Church in Sendai. He also sold Reformed literature in the Japanese language from his home. Participation in Presbytery and Synod meetings of the Reformed Church in Japan, along with the duties of Mission Chairman and Treasurer, consumed much of his time. Mrs. Uomoto assisted the chapel work by teaching a number of English Bible classes and playing the piano for services. Ishinomaki The first full year in the new chapel building brought little change in the history of slow growth that has characterized this congregation during the last several years (this is also a general characteristic of Christian missions throughout Japan). Although a number of visitors attended once or twice, few have remained very long, though there have been additions as well as some losses. The Mission’s share of financial aid to the chapel’s budget fell below the 50% level on the ten-year declining scale, and the congregation struggled to meet the cost of supporting a full-time pastor. At the end of the year their debt for land and building was about $14,000. Mr. Shiratsu and his wife tutored part-time to help out with the building debt. Fu kush ima The growth of the Fukushima Chapel was likewise slow during the year, but they were able to complete payment on the plot of land which was purchased in the northern suburbs for a building site. Mr. Inui was encouraged with the stewardship of the congregation. Services were held in the house rented as a home for the Inui family located close by the proposed building site, so that continuity in that neighborhood was maintained. Yamagata The chapel work continued in much the same pattern established in 1976, with morning services held in the new chapel building in East Yamagata, afternoon services in FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 57 the Kress house in West Yamagata on Sundays, and a number of Bible classes of various kinds during the week. Tracts were distributed door-to-door at the rate of about 500 per month. In addition to carrying on the chapel work until his August furlough, Mr. Moore worked in cooperation with Mr. Uomoto and the pastors of the Mission chapels in the four cities twice a month, and operated a book service in both Japanese and English titles from his home. Two weeks of summer camp programs at Omoshiroyama ministered to about 100 young people. Three baptisms during the year brought the total of pro- fessing believers at Yamagata Chapel to 10. During the time that Mr. Moore was on furlough, his brother-in-law and sister, Kazuhiko and Katie Yaegashi, undertook the responsibility of the chapel work, and lived in the Moores’ home. Mr. Yaegashi graduated from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1977 and was ordained as a minister-evangelist of the Presbyterian Church in America in October. Good relationships with the 5,000-member Reformed Church in Japan continued, with cooperation in the evangelistic out-reach with the Eastern Presbytery in the Tohoku area. The presbytery is preparing the churches and chapels in this area for organization as a separate presbytery of the RCJ. The goal of this endeavor is to move northward and ultimately bring the Reformed faith into Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. The Mission has in the past considered that area as ‘a possible place of future work; it is one of the least evangelized areas of Japan.

KOREA We find Korea very much in the news today in the United States and may be concerned about the situation there as far as our mission work is concerned. But our Mission reports that so far as they can tell political and economic conditions are stable and the missionaries can live and work without restriction. The Presbyterian churches that we work with in Korea have sometimes experienced turbulence, especially in general assemblies. But the Mission reports that both the Kosin and Hapdong Presbyterian General Assemblies went more smoothly last year than they have for several years. Our missionaries are among the privileged few who are welcome to work with both of these churches. Therefore, our role in assisting them to grow and in encouraging them to be faithful in their commitment to the Reformed faith is both strategic and vital. With regard to these churches it is of interest to know that in May 1975 the Hopdong Presbyterian Church launched a “Ten Thousand Church Movement,” an evangelism program with a goal of having the total number of churches reach 10,000 in 10 years. When the program started there were 2,534 churches with 730,000 members. By the end of 1977 they had added 923 new churches, bringing the total to 3,457, and 168,855 members for a total of 898,855. Mr. English and Mr. Son were actively involved in this church-planting program during the past year, making regular trips into the countryside to assist churches in their outreach. The Mission was encouraged and strengthened by the arrival of the Young Son family in July to labor with the English and Hard families. Because Mr. Son knows the Korean language and people so well, the Mission believes that some of the strength has been regained which was lost with the retirement of the Hunts. The Englishes and Hards continue to reside in Pusan, while the Sons have settled in Taejon where Mrs. Son attends language school and the children are enrolled in the Korea Christian Academy. The Sons will have to move in the summer when their lease expires; their new location has not been decided, but it probably will be Seoul. The activities of the missionaries last year may be summed up as follows: 58 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Preaching Mr. English preached a total of 60 times in Korean, mostly in small country churches for the purpose of church strengthening, but a few times also in the Kang Neung area, northeast of Pusan, for the purpose of church planting. Increased attendance in some of the churches has been reported as a result of this ministry and at least one conversion. Mr. Hard preached 59 times in Korean, gave 25 talks and used audio-visual aids 41 times. Sermons and talks were given in country churches, school chapels and assemblies, an army hospital, a factory, and a home for the aged. Although Mr. Son served in Korea Iess than six months last year, he was busily engaged in ministry. With only two exceptions, he preached every Sunday since the middle of August in various churches small and large, rural and urban. One third of his sermons were evangelistic and the rest directed toward edifying the church particularly in the area of Christian growth and service. He had the opportunity to address 3,500 high school students and challenge them to Christian service. Teaching In addition to preaching, each of the men has been engaged in a teaching ministry. Mr. Hard, who was appointed last year to a full professorship at the Kosin Seminary in Pusan, taught courses there on Evidences, Elenctics, Christian Classics, Christian Cul- ture, Christian Social Ethics and Theological Reading. He also taught courses in Missions at the Hapdong Seminary in Pusan, and in the Missions Bible Institute, and lectured at the Kochang Bible Institute. Mr. English taught courses in English Bible and English Conversation, using the Children’s Catechism in the latter, at the Kosin and Hapdong Seminaries in Pusan. He also gave lectures on Bible Geography and Natural History at the Kochang Bible Institute. Mr. Son taught courses in Homiletics and Preaching Exercise at the Kosin Seminary in Pusan and lectured on Homiletics at the Hapdong Seminary in Taejon.

Literature This continues to be an important ministry of the Korea Mission, with Mr. English and Mr. Hard being members of the Executive Committee of the Korea Society for Reformed Faith and Action (KSRFA). In all, the Society has published 46 titles with - 13 reprints. Last year, J. Adam’s Problems of the Christian Life was published; and three more books are in process of being printed, the Dictionary of Theology with 800 pages of all new material, Ladd’s The New Testament and Criticism and Laird Harris’s Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible. In addition, 10 books were reprinted last year, including the fourth reprinting of H. Conn’s Contemporary World Theology. Bath Mr. English and Mr. Hard have been active in bookselling, taking Korean books along on trips to country churches. Mr. Hard has also been handling the sales of KSRFA books in Pusan through local bookstores, helping country churches start libraries using funds donated by churches in the United States, selecting books for the Kosin and Hapdong Seminaries in Pusan, and supervising two Christian reading rooms in Pusan. Mr. English handled the ordering and sales of nearly $15,000 worth of English theological books for seminary students and professors, as well as ministers and missionaries. Mr. Hard wrote and published a book Religion and Society of which 1,000 copies were printed and 508 were sold. Relief Work The Mission has continued to minister to the physical needs of many in Korea through the relief funds sent by the Committee on Diaconal Ministries and others. Mr. Hard has been compiling and organizing data in order to minister more effectively to FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 59

the needs of the lepers and orphans. He has also supervised the construction and sale of solar ovens and water heaters, while continuing to work on improvemenits in design. Other Activities Mr. English and Mr. Hard have been working together on the assembly and use of audicwisual equipment for their own ministry and that of the churches. Mr. Son has begun to work with college students, gathering them in discussion groups to learn their outlook and needs in order to develop a ministry to them. Mrs. English continued teaching the children at home and served as Mission Treasurer. Mrs. Hard was principal-teacher at the Kori Westinghouse Atomic Plant School. She also taught a weekly Bible class there in the evening, and gave two lectures on Christian Education at the Kosin Seminary. During the summer Nelson Hard returned to the United States after living with his parents for a year, and Gregory Hard arrived to spend a year. Both have assisted the Mission in various of its activities.

TAIWAN A rapidly changing society confronts missionaries working on Taiwan. People are leaving the small rural townships of this island republic and are flocking to the cities where construction and other businesses abound. Transit systems are continually being upgraded and public services enlarged to meet the needs of the growing urban population. The standard of living is rising as the economy shifts from agriculture to industry. Just as Taiwan is going through a period of transition, our Mission is also. While the missionaries this past year have been engaged in continuing and extending previously established ministries, at the same time significant changes in personnel have put two families into fulltime language study and necessitated changes in the organization of the Mission. Personnel The Rev. and Mrs. Lendall H. Smith and the Rev. and Mrs. Robert L. Marshall were on the field during all of 1977. The Rev. and Mrs. Egbert W. Andrews were on a short furlough, from May to November, anticipating a short term with a view to retirement in 1980. The Rev. and Mrs. Steven R. Hake arrived in Taiwan on October 20 to begin their ministry. They soon joined the Marshalls in a two-year course of fulltime language study. The Marshalls completed their first year of language study at the end of the year. Also added to the Mission as “Associate Members” were the Rev. and Mrs. Charles W. Oppelaar who had served one term in Taiwan 10 years ago. They arrived in Taiwan last year on August 29 and are now engaged in language study. They were sent by the Reformed Churches of New Zealand after prior arrangement with our Mission and Committee that we would provide fellowship, cooperation, and oversight in their work. The Mission and Committee established the “associate member” category so that this care and mutual benefit would be assured. As associate members they participate in discussions and decisions of the Mission, report to it as well as to their own Overseas Mission Board, and are subject to the Mission’s oversight just like other members. The Reformed Churches of New Zealand have the same kind of commitment to the Re- formed faith and the proclamation of the gospel as does our church and we are happy to have this relationship with them. Mr. Oppelaar brings to the Mission valuable experience 60 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL .ASSEMBLY in church planting, and will be of assistance in enabling the Mission to carry out its objective of establishing a Presbyterian church in Taiwan that is true to the Scriptures as set forth in the Reformed Confessions. At year’s end the Mission family numbered 24, consisting of five families with 14 children. With the exception of the Andrewses, the members of the Mission are relatively new to working in a cross-cultural ministry. The Mission therefore sees as an important part of the Alidrewses’ ministry, during their final term, the training of Mission members, helping to establish them in their ministries, and giving a guiding hand to the Mission as it formulates goals and plans its work. The three couples presently in language school are learning Taiwanese, the language spoken by 75% c;f the people on the island. Four congregations were established through the work of the Mission among the Taiwanese while we had two missionary families there, while encouraging and aiding in the establishment of others. It appears that basic evangelistic work and church planting in most places on the island call for working in Taiwanese, while working with students, participating in the activities of presbyteries, or being involved in theological education require working in Mandarin which the missionaries must also seek to acquire to some degree. Chapels and Churches The work of the Mission this past year has largely been involved with Mission-associated chapels and churches. The Andrewses, until they went on furlough, continued to work with the two chapels in Kaohsiung, near the southern end of the island. Although the Hsin Ai Chapel experienced a mild decrease in average attendance, there was a substantial increase in offerings for the building fund. In January this congregation finished paying off a US$11,000 loan from the Committee in less than five years. During I977 the old building was torn down and with the help of another loan of US$16,00O from the Committee a very attractive and functional three-storied building has been constructed on the property, and was to be dedicated January 3, 1978. As of September the Mission’s seven-year program of decreasing support of the Chapel’s evangelist, Mr. Paul Hsieh, was concluded, and this congregation became fully self- supporting. However, the congregation faces challenges in the days ahead. Mr. Hsieh has indicated that he is making plans to leave during 1978 with the intention of going to the USA. If so, the chapel will find it difficult to replace him due to the shortage of workers in the Reformed Presbyterian Church. The Mission has a goal for 1978 of guiding the congregation in the election of elders and deacons and training them to provide proper leadership and enable the congregation to become self-governing. The Andrewses should be less involved in the life of the congregation as such organization is accomplished. The Hsin Hsing Chapel of Kaohsiung moved its services from Itka to North Li-a-lai early in the summer, and now meets in the home of one of the members. The chapel has experienced steady growth in all areas of its life with a large increase in attendance at evening services. In the past two years there have been 29 baptisms, and visitors appear regularly at the worship services. The Mission believes the outlook for this congregation is very promising and is grateful to God for its enthusiasm and continued growth under the ministry of Pastor Yieh Hsin I, who has now been there for over two years. In 1977 the congregation was in the fourth year of the seven-year support program. This chapel has now outgrown its present meeting place and hopes to buy land and build. The pastor has been having serious problems with a stomach ulcer and has requested an indefinite leave of absence to recover. During the first five months of the year Mr. Andrews preached 14 times in these chapels, for the first time using the Taiwanese language. He helped members of the FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 61

Hsin-Ai Chapel prepare to lead the weekly Bible study and prayer meeting, and also taught a Bible class at the mid-week service of the Hsin-Hsing Chapel. Mrs. Andrews visited the sick and helped with transportation, While the Andrewses were on furlough, Mr. Smith served as moderator of the Hsin-Ai Chapel and preached there once a month. The greater part of Mr. Smith’s ministry last year was involved with the Chung Ming Church of Taichung, the city near the western center of the island, where most of our missionaries are located. From February, when the previous pastor left, until July, when a stated supply was obtained, he was busily engaged in preaching and getting

~ pulpit supplies, moderating the Session and obtaining pastoral candidates. The new stated supply, Mr. P’an, is unordained so Mr. Smith continues to moderate. Attendance at the meetings of the Chung Ming Church has shown an increase during the year. The church has continued to make monthly payments on the building loan from the Com- mittee and increased the amount slightly in September. The Mission subsidy for pastoral supply has continued at about the same level as the year before. Mr. Smith has also been overseeing the ministry of the Reformed Gospel Bookroom in Taichung. The Mission had considered closing the Bookroom, but since sales more than doubled last year the Mission is in the process of reevaluating the Bookroom ministry. The Mission continues its connection with two churches in San Chung City, on the northern end of the island, chiefly through financial assistance. The Hsin-Sheng Church, pastored by Mr. Lo Chin Shan, showed improvement in attendance at all meetings. Six adults and one infant were baptized during the year. The church is located in an area where much building is taking place and has the opportunity to minister to large numbers of people. The congregation has continued to pay regularly on its loan from the Committee. The salary subsidy from the Mission remained the same as the previous year. Mission members preached there twice during the year. The Hsin-Hsin Church of San Chung City continued to pay off the two loans it has received from the Committee and one is nearly completely paid off. The property holdings of the congregation have continued to expand through a successful kindergarten program. The church location is strategic, being in a prominent position to bear witness to the population of the city. Reformed Presbyterian Church The Mission continues to seek the reconciliation of the two presbyteries of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Taiwan. The Mission joined with other Reformed missions in sponsoring a retreat for the leaders of the two presbyteries which was quite well attended. Men of the Mission attended sessions of both presbyteries. In July a successful young people’s conference, planned and executed by a joint committee of young people from both presbyteries, was held with over 200 attending. Teachers and discussion leaders included pastors and evangelists from both presbyteries. The Mission is working toward a cooperative effort in theological education, and is seeking to build chapels and churches to form new presbyteries in Taichung and Kaohsiung, hoping that the presbyteries will eventually merge into one synod. The Committee is very thankful to God that since 1976 our missionary staff has increased from two couples to five, including the Oppelaars, and we look forward with renewed confidence and hope to even more progress in the work in the years ahead.

LEBANON The political situation in Lebanon became somewhat stabilized early in the year, and the Committee was able to consider sending missionaries there again. By summer, conditions had continued to improve, and it was decided to send the Rev. and Mrs. 62 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Victor B. Atdlah as our first fulltime missionaries to that country. Prior to the civil dis- ruption of 1976 the Committee had issued a call to the Rev. Theodore J. Georgian to go to Lebanon, but by the time the local conditions had improved the Georgians felt that they could not go, and Mr. Georgian declined the call. The Committee then followed up its intention of sending two missionaries and called and sent the Rev. John S. Mason. The arrival of the Atallahs in August thus reactivated the work that had been begun under the Rev. and Mrs. W. Benson Male in 1974. During Mr. Male’s ministry in that and the following year, the Middle East Reformed Fellowship was formed to advance the Reformed faith throughout the Middle East, and then the Reformed Church of Lebanon was organized. When the armed fighting erupted while the Males were in the United States, it became impossible for them to return, and as the conflict intensified in Beirut the members of the church were scattered. Now, after a hiatus of two years, the work in Lebanon has begun again. The missionaries have reported that although they must exercise caution in moving about the city, especially at night, they have much freedom to work, as life and activity return to the city. As can be imagined in such circumstances the cost of living and the rate of inflation are quite high. The Atallahs are living comfortably in the apartment formerly occupied by the Males, and an apartment is being sought for Mr. Mason who arrived just after the end of the year. Mr. Mason is to spend the next two years in study of the Arabic language. The objective of the Lebanon Mission is to establish a strong national Reformed church which would become the base for evangelizing the whole Middle East. Lebanon is a strategic location for reaching and influencing people from other Middle East countries because of its freedom for religious expression, because it is the center to which nationals from all over the Arabic-speaking world come, and because of the ease of travel from it to those other areas that can be reached with the one language. To carry out this objective, Mr. Atallah engaged in the following ministries during the few months of 1977 that they were there: Personal Witness nnd Bible Studies Because Arabic is his native tongue, Mr. Atallah was able to begin immediately to witness to his neighbors and to others whom he contacted in a variety of ways. As this witness began to bear fruit in an increasing interest on the part of several of these contacts, he began individual Bible studies with them, some in Arabic and some in English. A regular mid-week Bible study was started in his apartment, and some students also began to come to him for personal counseling. Worship Services When several of the people who were attending the Bible studies appeared ready for it, Mr. Atallah began a weekly worship service in Arabic and English on Sunday mornings in his apartment. Another worship service in the English language was started on Sunday afternoons using the small church building connected with the German Embassy for a meeting place. Attendance at these worship services was small, but this was expected at the beginning. The goal is to develop both of these services into organized congregations. Mrs. Atallah was engaged in studying the Arabic language, and was also doing some teaching in a nearby college where she was able to make some contacts through her personal witness to the students.

THE FUTURE As the Committee looks around the world it can only be filled with thanksgiving, enthusiasm, and anticipation at the way in which the Lord has opened doors for the FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 63 preaching of the gospel. For our church these doors continue to open both in countries where we have not previously had missionaries and where we have missionaries now. At the previous General Assembly it was said by an Advisory Committee that our foreign missionary work has stagnated. While it is true that in recent years the General Assembly has not allotted funds to the Committee to expand its work, the Committee has sought to overcome this difficulty and makes continuing efforts to move forward, efforts which, as this report indicates, have borne fruit in the sending out of five missionary families in the past year. The Committee constantly seeks information from our several Missions concerning the number of missionaries they need on their fields, so as to set forth goals to be attained, it has gathered information on its own initiative concerning opportunities and needs in other countries, it has been alert to evaluate information about possible mission fields that have come to it, it has grasped and culti- vated opportunities so that we have sent fulltime missionaries to two new fields in the past year alone, it explores and has adopted new methods on its fields, it has sought and obtained other sources of financial support which have been an important factor in the calling of new missionaries, it is expanding its sources of missionary news for the church, it has planned a restructuring of the work of its home personnel so as to provide a missions-teaching ministry in the church and for the church and to improve the work of its missionaries, and it has become recognized, wherever it is known, for its faithfulness to its Reformed confession. The Committee deeply wants the foreign missionary enterprise of our church to go forward, and it enlists the encouragement and support of the church to bring that to pass not just by support from others but primarily from itself where the primary responsibility lies. God has provided opportunities, and divinely-given opportunities are responsibilities; in seeking to serve our church the Committee’s ability to perform those responsibilities is limited by the gifts that the members of the church are willing to give from their possessions. In our report to the previous Assembly we had projected for 1977 the sending of one new missionary to Taiwan and one to either Japan or Korea, and for 1978 one to either Japan or Korea and one to Lebanon. One was sent to Taiwan, and one to Korea; two were sent to Lebanon, putting us a year ahead of schedule for that country, and one was sent to Egypt. Four factors made this possible: funds had been freed from those formerly required for Ethiopia, there was an increase in contributions from our church, additional contributions were received from outside our church, and one who was sent is a single person requiring less funds than a family. Japan now has top priority for reenforcements, and we are seeking at least one missionary to go there, preferably two, at the earliest possible time. We do not plan at present to send additional missionaries to either Egypt or Lebanon. At the end of the year there was good likelihood that we should be able to send Dr. Rietkerk and Miss Van Galen to Pakistan for one year, with the cooperation of the Mission Homefront Foundation of the Netherlands.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS IN ETHIOPIA When it began to appear that the possibility of the return of our missionaries to Ethiopia in the foreseeable future would be remote, the Committee was asked to consider &hequestion of the right of the ruling elders of the Faith of the Trinity Church in Eritrea Province to administer the sacraments to their congregations. The Committee decided that although it recognizes that our subordinate standards provide that the sacraments shall be administered by a minister of the Word (Confession of Faith, Chapters XXVII :4, XXVIII :2, and XXIX: 3; Larger Catechism, Questions 158, 169, 64 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY and 176; Form of Government, Chapters V and VIII; and the Directory for the Public Worship of God, IV:S), it also recognizes the extraordinary circumstances in which the Faith of the Trinity Church must live, and therefore the Committee urged the ruling elders of the Faith of the Trinity Church to administer the sacraments to their congregations at Ghinda and Akkek-Guzai until such time as there may be available an ordained minister of the gospel who is either pastor of the church, or a missionary of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, or another minister of Reformed persuasion. The Com- mittee advised the elders that the administration of the sacraments should be carried on by the elders as a body (session), with each member taking part if possible, and suggested that they use as a guide the order of service for the administration of the sacraments which our missionaries had translated into the Tigrinya language. Finally the Committee reminded the elders of the biblical injunctions given in I Peter 5: 1-4 and Hebrews 13 :7.

MATTERS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE BY THE PREVIOUS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1, MISSIONARYWORK AMONG JEWS. The previous General Assembly referred to this Committee (and to the presbyteries and the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension) an action of the 1976 Reformed Ecumenical Synod concerning Reformed missionary work among Jews and instructed them to “consider how they may participate in mission work among the Jews, and report their findings and actions to the next General Assembly.” The Committee understands the Assembly’s directive to this Committee to pertain to international work as distinct from work in the United States, which would be the concern of the presbyteries and the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. The Committee knows of only one international Reformed work directed specifically to Jews, the Christian Witness to Israel. The Committee is contemplating making a contribution to that work as a regular part of its budget. The Committee draws the attention of the sessions of the church to a very informa- tive report on work among Jews submitted to the 1976 Reformed Ecumenical Synod by the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. It is found in the Acts of the 1976 RES, pp. 281-293, a copy of which was sent to each session.

2. REPORTOF ADVISORYCOMMITTEE No. 1 (FOREIGNMISSIONS). On motion it was decided that the Committee inform the 45th General Assembly that the Committee has given careful consideration to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee #1 of the 44th General Assembly and has taken certain actions and implemented some of the suggestions.

“GOD’S HIGHER WAYS” At the request of the Committee the Rev. Clarence W. Duff, now Missionary Emeritus, who was our church’s first missionary to Ethiopia and who served there from 1944 to 1970, undertook to write a history of our Ethiopia Mission. Drawing not only on his own experience but also on the experience and memories of others in the mission, on Mission records, and on extensive correspondence over the years, Mr. Duff both compiled an authoritative history of the work and wove a compelling story of the triumphs of God’s sovereign grace in what became Ethiopia’s Province of Eritrea. Fittingly he named the resultant book God‘s Higher Ways. It was published during the year under review by the Presbyterian and. Reformed Publishing Co., Nutley, N.J. The church is now further indebted to Mr. Duff for this work. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 65

MISSIONARY MEMORIAL FUND The Missionary Memorial Fund appears to be filling a need in tha church. Through- out Christian circles there is a growing movement away from spending money on large displays of flowers at funerals and the Memorial Fund gives people an opportunity to express their sympathy to the bereaved while at the same time helping to send the gospel to the world. It is to be remembered that a distinctive feature of our Fund is the tract, A Look to the Future, that is designed to be used both to comfort the believers and to witness to the unbeliever. We have found that many people in the church do not know about this opportunity, and we urge the pastors to keep it before the congregations, especially on the occasion of deaths in the congregation.

ADMINISTRATION During the year the Committee was able to implement its plan, indicated to previous assemblies over the past five years, to have a fulltime Assistant General Secretary. In 1975 the Committee had obtained the services of the Rev. Herbert S. Bird on a half- time basis. His death less than two years later delayed the change to a fulltime assistant, but the Committee was thankful to be able to obtain the services of the Rev. Laurence N. Vail and he began his work as of October 1 last year. Mr. Vail had previously served as a member of the Committee for 12 years until 1976. He has served as home missionary and pastor in two of our congregations, and was pastor of Grace Church, Vienna, Va. at the time that the Committee extended its call to him. The duties of the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary have been divided, for the present and until experience may indicate the need for changes, into the following categories : General Secretary--overall oversight and direction of Committee missionary and financial policy, formulate policies for recommendation to the Committee, and oversee and direct promotion of the Committee’s work including visiting the churches. Assistant Gerieral Secretary--carry out direct contact with the missionaries and Missions to administer the Committee’s work and policies, administer candidate procedures, arrange the itineration of missionaries on furlough, and prepare missionary study materials for the churches. The Committee has long seen a great need for an educational and teaching ministry in the field of missions that should be done both within and outside our churches; there is also a need, and a largely untapped opportunity, to provide an outlet for other churches that wish to support Reformed missions. These are major tasks and they require major amounts of time and special skills in order to accomplish them; they cannot be done without additional manpower, and the Committee decided that it cannot wait longer to undertake them. The additional personnel will also make possible more frequent trips by the general secretaries to our fields and thereby closer liaison between the fields and the Committee. This in turn should produce better understanding of the work by the churches. The Committee is well aware of the addition that this step makes to its budget. But the urgency of undertaking this ministry, which will be so largely a teaching ministry, is crucial to the development and fulfillment of our church’s foreign missions mandate. Rather than absorbing funds that might otherwise send more missionaries immediately, 66 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY the longterm effect will be to give us more missionaries than we should otherwise be able to have. Because a significant portion of the total time of the general secretaries will be given to a teaching ministry, as distinct from administration, the Committee is planning to reflect this in its financial report to future Assemblies. The Committee wishes to inform the General Assembly that during the early part of the year, until Mr. Vail began his work, the Rev. Lewis J. Grotenhuis gave much assistance to the General Secretary, at the request of the Committee. Mr. Grotenhuis served effectively, changing personal plans and at no little inconvenience, and without remuneration. The Committee here expresses publicly its gratitude to Mr. Grotenhuis.

RETIREMENT GIFTS TO MISSIONARIES We are now able to make a final report on the gifts that were made to the Rev. and Mrs. R. B. Gaffin, the Rev. and Mrs. B. F. Hunt, and the Rev. and Mrs. R. H. McIlwaine on the occasion of their retirement in 1976. The total, obviously an outpouring of love and thankfulness for men and women who had spent almost their entire service in our foreign missionary work, was $10,494.44. The total was divided equally among the three couples. We are thankful.

ANNA MOORE FUND The Committee entered into an agreement with Mrs. Anna Moore in which her residence was transferred to the Committee on Foreign Missions with Mrs Moore receiving life residence at 181 Brandywine Boulevard, Wilmington, Delaware. This fund is to be considered a part of the Capital Fund but is to be maintained separately until the Committee’s obligation is fulfilled.

THE COMMITTEE Those serving as the officers of the Committee at the end of the year were President, Bernard J. Stonehouse; Vice-president, Leslie A. Dunn; Secretary, Newman deHaas; Treasurer, Willard E. Neel. Standing and Special subcommittees during the year were as follows: Standing Committees Ethiopia/Lebanon/Egypt-Duff , Grotenhuis Japan-Bacon, Hunt Korea-deHaas, Dunn Taiwan-Byer, Stonehouse Candidates-Conn, Gaffin, Jr., List Finance/Education Allowances-Haldeman, Neel New Fields-Buchanan, Edwards Special Committees Administration-Conn, Edwards, Neel Administration of Sacraments by Ruling Elders-Duff, Grotenhuis Manual-Conn, Vail Operational Structure-Haldeman, Stonehouse Matters Referred by the General Assembly-Dunn, Edwards Support of Missionaries by National Churches-Conn, Gaffin, Jr. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 67

ELECTIONS The terms of the following members of the Committee expire at this Assembly: Ministers: Harvie M. Conn, Leslie A. Dunn, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Th.D. Ruling Elders: Henry K. Bacon, R. Eugene List, D.D.S. The Rev. Albert G. Edwards, III, of the Class of 1979, has resigned with regret due to lack of time to serve.

FINANCES CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions to the Committee’s general operating fund during the year were $335,862 and to Special Projects $27,090. These amounts compare with last year’s respectively, $309,068 and $39,758. The increases for the General Fund were attributable to designated contributions from outside sources in the amount of $53,217 as compared to 1976 which totaled $42,408 and to non-budgeted income of $7,387. The amount assigned to the Committee in the Combined Budget had been $262,000 of which $258,879 was received. The average weekly contribution per communicant member of the church to the work of this Committee was 48.04. These weekly contributions showed an increase of 11.5% in the years 1973-76 even though personal income in the United States increased at more than double that rate (28.5%) during the same period (1976 is the last year for which government figures were available as this report was written). The averages in weekly giving to Foreign Missions per communicant for the years 1973- 77 are as follows: 197748.04 1976-46.64 197547.24 1974-41.04 197341.86 Although we are very thankful that the amount has increased, the sad fact is that inflation has virtually wiped out the potential of the increase to send out new missionaries; had the amount remained constant we would have had to decrease our work. The Committee suggests that when churches prepare their budgets for subsequent years, that consideration be given to the inflation factor and its depressing action on the ability to expand.

BEQUESTS Bequests were received during the year from Margaret Duff, Olive G. Dallas, Amy K. Cobb, and William Boleyn.

I CAPITALFUND It is to be noted that the assets of the Capital Fund increased during the past year-from $296,000 to $324,000. The Committee has continued to carry our Ethiopia property on our books at cost even though we cannot now use it. This is because the Ethiopian government did not expropriate the property, and we plan to reoccupy it when and if that becomes possible. If the property should be destroyed or expropriated, or if it becomes apparent that we cannot return to the field, the Committee will seek to retrieve as much of the value as 68 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY possible and then write off the balance. The cost valuation of the property-land and four buildings-is $117,952 (see audited Treasurer’s report, Supplementary Information, Real Estate). The Capital Fund continues to be of great value in the Committee’s current and ongoing work, and we suggest that from time to time churches might remind the members, by means of their church bulletins or congregational letters, of this fund. Its funds are received by loans and bequests, and they are in turn used for capital needs of the Committee, including missionary housing and loans to national churches on our mission fields. The Committee issues notes for the loans and they are available in the following categories: Demand notes bearing 5% annual interest Five years @ 5% % Seven years @ 5% % Ten years @ 6% These rates are not intended to compete with commercial institutions because the loans are intended to serve a dual purpose: help our missionary work and also give a fair return on the loan. They are good value as a double investment-for Christ and the lender. EXPENDITURES The Committee was able to keep its total expenditures under the anticipated budget even though all areas had increases which were to materialize at different times during the year. As was noted in last years report, when we anticipated securing the services of an Assistant General Secretary in order to increase our program both at home and abroad, the costs listed as “administrative” increased in both dollars and percent of the whole. It is to be recognized, however, that under the present division of labor between the general secretaries a large portion of the General Secretary’s work and some of that of the Assistant General Secretary will be of a teaching, rather than administrative, nature. Much of the cost of supporting the new missionaries who were sent out during the year fell mostly in the latter part of the year. That means that expenditures for those missionaries will be greater in the new year than in the year under review.

BUDGETS The budget adopted by the Committee for 1979 provides for the addition of two ordained missionaries, probably one each in Japan and Korea depending on circumstances which are presently unforeseen. The Committee regards additions to our missionary personnel in these countries as essential; not only because of the great amount of missionary work that lies before us in these countries, but also for the well- being of the missionaries themselves who are overburdened because of their small numbers and wide responsibilities. The 1979 budget of $457,000 is an increase of $69,000 over the $388,000 in which the Committee is seeking to operate in 1978. The increase is occasioned chiefly by inflation ($27,000, computed at a 7% rate, which is a modest estimate because of high rates of inflation in several of our fields and the decline of the value of the U. S. dollar), as well as an estimate of $20,000 for each additional missionary. The budget estimates for 1980 and 1981 project one new missionary each, and inflation at seven percent. It is to be noted that in each of these two years the percentage of the total budget that is spent on the fields increases and the percentage spent on administration decreases. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 69

The Committee also wishes to point out that it has arranged the budget items in the new budget to reflect somewhat more clearly the purposes for which funds are spent “on field” and “off field.’’ In particular a “Teaching Ministry” category has been added in both places. On the field this provides for a person to be sent to the fields on special assignment to minister to the missionaries or to assist them in their work. Off the field this category provides for a teaching ministry by the general secretaries which is referred to earlier in this report; at the beginning this is estimated at about 20 percent of their time, and is so budgeted for the present, but they expect to increase it considerably. The Committee has also added a new category in these budgets, “Emergency Reserves,” for which it expects to set a maximum, perhaps of $20,000,which would be reached in four annual steps of $5,000. The Committee is not infrequently faced with emergencies that require expenditure of unbudgeted funds and, although the cost of these emergencies could usually be covered by special contributions if the need were publicized, the Com- mittee believes that in view of various complications that arise from such publicity, the most responsible approach is to provide beforehand in the budget. When a maximum is set and achieved it would not again appear in the budget until funds have been expended and replacement is needed. The budgets presented to the Stewardship Committee are as follows: Expenditures 1979 1980 1981 MISSIONARY ON FIELD Fields $265,53 1 $284,500 $304,900 New Missionaries 40,000 60,000 80,000 Teaching Ministry 3,000 3,600 4,200 Emergency Reserve 5,000 5,000 5,000 OFF FIELD

Furloughs 2,400 2,400 ’ 2,400 Medical for retirees 2,000 2,400 2,400 Candidates 3,000 3,000 3,000 Teaching Ministry 8,000 8,600 9,000 Subtotal 328,931 369,500 410,900 CAPITAL-sub total 12,000 12,000 12,000 ADMJNISTRATION Office 102,000 108,400 116,000 Promotion 13,000 13,000 13,000 Other 1,069 1,200 1,200 Subtotal 116,069 122,600 130,200 TOTAL $457,000 $504,100 $553,100 Receipts Orthodox Presbyterian contributions $294,000 $344,000 $399,000 Other contributions 100,000 120,000 134,100 Other income 20,000 20,000 20,000 $414,000 $484,000 $553,100 Reserve withdrawals 43,000 20,100 - $457,000 $504,100 $553,100 70 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

TREASURER'S REPORT The report of the Treasurer, as audited by Main Lafrentz and Co., Certified Public Accountants, is as follows: To The Committee on Foreign Missions of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. Melrose Park, Pennsylvania We have examined the statement of assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of The Committee on Foreign Missions of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. as of December 31, 1977, and the related statement of revenues collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances (reserve accounts) for the year then ended. Except as explained in the following paragraph, our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, accordingly, included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We did not examine evidence of ownership of foreign properties of the Capital Fund (stated at $263,704). The nature of these assets does not permit the application of adequate alternative procedures regarding such real estate. As described in Note I, the Committee's policy is to prepare its financial statements on the basis of cash receipts and disbursements, consequently, certain revenue and the related assets are recognized when received rather than when earned, and certain expenses are recognized when paid rather than when the obligation is incurred. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Since we did not examine evidence of ownership of foreign properties of the Capital Fund and we were unable to apply adequate alternative' procedures regarding such assets, as noted in the second preceding paragraph, the scope of our work was not sufficient to enable us to express, and we do not express, an opinion on the financial statements referred to above. Main Lafrentz & Co. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 19, 1978 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILIT~ES DECEMBER31,1977 Funds Handy side James W. Memorial Price Student Mission- Memorial Sponsor- Endow- Durling Davies ary Anna Combined General Capita1 Literature ship ment Trust Annuity Memorial MemorialMoore ASSETS Cash, including savings accounts, $255,123 $259,647 $151,303 $ 61,826 $33,415 $ 101 $394 $6,000 $197 $463 $11,948 Inter-fund receivables (6,oQQ) Notes and loans receivable-foreign missions, 5% to 6% 72,035 65,854 6,181 Mission advances 17,128 17,128 Investments, at cost (market value $1 1,869) 14,540 3,638 7,893 442 Real estate, at cost 35 1,9 10 44,456 263,704 - -2,567 ------$43,750 Totals $7 15,260 $216,525 $393,277 -$39,596 -$2,668 -$394 -$6,000 -$639 -$463 -$11,948 - $43,750 LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES Notes and loans payable $ 63,979 $ 63,979 Mortgage payable, Furlough House 6%, due 1983 1,911 $ 1,911 Payroll withholdings 2,256 2,256 Fund balances Special projects funds 43,069 43,069 Intermediaj funds 8,5 10 8,510 Reserve accounts 595,535 160,779 329,298 ------$39,596 $2,668 $394 $6,000 $639 $463 $11,948 $43,750 Totals $7 15,260 $216,525 $393,277 ------$39,596 $2,668 $394 $6,000 $639 $463 $11,948 $43,750 These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants’ opinion. STATEMENT OF REVENUES COLLECTED AND EXPENDITURES MADE AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES (RESERVE ACCOUNTS) YEARENDED DECEMBER 3 1, 1977 Funds Handyside James W.Memorial Price Student Mission- Memorial Sponsor- Endow- Durlhg Davies ary Anna Combined General Capital Literature ship ment Trust Annity Memorial Memorial Moore Revenues collected Contributions r Regular $213,334 $2 13,334 s Thank offering 61,377 61,377 Designated-budge t 61,151 61,151 7 Designated-special projects 27,090 27,090 Other contributions and bequests 65,482 $ 20,488 $ 86 $ 1,158 $43,750 Interest and dividends 13,406 5,617 5,418 1,661 156 $ 19 $ 30 $ 73 432 9 Other income 11,481 11,481 ------2 453,321 380,050 25,906 1,747 156 19 30 73 1,590 43,750 ------P Expenditures made Missionary expense 199,107 199,107 Office and administrative expense 91,230 91,230 Promotion expense 8,24 1 8,241 Interest on notes and loans payable 3,784 144 3,618 22 Special projects 28,840 28,840 Miscellaneous 1,575 1,575 332,777 327,562 5,193 --- Excess of revenues over expenditures 120,544 52,488 20,713 73 1,590 43,750 Fund balances (reserve accounts) Beginning of year 474,991 123,646 296,585 37,849 2,512 375 $6,000 631 2,390 5,003 Interfund transfers (15,355) 12,000 (2,000) 5,355 End of year $595,535 $160,779 $329,298 $463 $11,948 $43,750 --~ -- --- These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants' opinion. f FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 73

2. CASH Capital fund cash, $3,263 deposited in a time savings account, is restricted by agreement as collateral security of 25% of the demand notes payable at December 31, 1977 (see note 4).

3. REAL ESTATE Title to the administration building property, 7401 Old York Road, Melrose Park, Pennsylvania, is equally vested in The Committee on Home Missions and Church Exten- sion, The Committee on Foreign Missions, and The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. The property is carried at the Committee’s one-third share of its cost. The operating expenses of the property are shared by the three Committees and Great Commission Publications, Inc., an affiliate. The hospital and other properties in Ethiopia were vacated by all Orthodox Presby- terian Church mission personnel in 1976 because of political conditions in that Country. The Committee intends to re-enter this mission field, if an& at such time, as the political problems are resolved. These properties are carried at a cost of $117,952 at December 31, 1977.

4. NOTES PAYABLE Notes payable, with interest at rates from 5% to 6%, have been issued at various dates to finance Capital Fund needs. At December 31, 1977, the following notes were outstanding :

Original term of notes Balance Demand $13,052 5 years 20,025 7 years 22,785 10 years 8,117 $63,979

Of the long-term notes, $6,091, $4,025 and $5,484 become due in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980, respectively.

5. PENSION PLAN The Orthodox Presbyterian Church has a contributory pension and life insurance plan for ordained ministers and permanent full-time employees. Plan contributions are paid entirely by the Committee. The cost of this plan to The Committee on Foreign Missions for 1977 was $8,916. Benefits are not guaranteed, but are based on participant’s equity in the retirement fund. 74 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

6. INTERFUND TRANSFERS Interfund transfers made during the year consisted of: Fund Davies Missionary General Capital Memorial Memorial $ ( 12,000) $12,000 (3,355) $3,355 -- --$(2,000) -2,000 -___$( 15,355) -----$12,000 -$(2,000) -$5,355

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ACCOUNTANTS’OPINION ON SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION Our examination of the basic financial statements is presented in the preceding section of this report. Supplementary information contained in the following pages is not considered essential for the fair presentation, of the assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of The Committee on Foreign Missions of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Tnc., and revenues collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances. However, the following data were subjected to the audit procedures applied in the examination of the basic financial statements. For reasons stated in the preceding section, we do not express an opinion on the basic financial statements presented herein. Similarly, we do not express an opinion on the following data. MAINLAFRENTZ & Co. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 19, 1978

DECEMBER3 1, 1977 NOTES AND LOANS RECEIVABLE Capital Fund Egypt Mission $ 294 Taiwan Mission 44,639 Japan Mission 13,332 Korea Mission 7,589 Total $65,854 James W. Price Memorial Literature Fund Korea Mission $ 5,100 Japan Mission 1,081 Total $ 6,181 MISSION ADVANCES General Fund Japan Mission $ 4,000 Personal advances 13,128 Total $17,128 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 75

DECEMBER31. 1977 Market cost value INVESTMENTS General Fund 53 shares-Ward Foods, Common $ 2,506 6 364 55 shares-Gulf & Western Industries, common -~ 1,132 633 $ 3,638 $ 997 ~ --

Capital Fund $1,000-U.S. Treasury Bond, 3% %, due 1978-83 $ 712 S 824 100 shares-Duke Power Co., common 2,181 2,200 100 shares-Memorial Medical Center, Tnc. 5,000 5,000 $ 7,893 $ 8,024

Handyside Memorial Student Sponsorship Fund $1,000 notes, plus accrued interest, The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc., 6%%, due January 9, 1979 $ 2,567 S 2,567

Annuity Fund 4 shares-General Motors, $5.00 pfd. $ 442 $ 281

~ Combined total $14,540 $ 11,869

REAL ESTATE, at cost General Fund Administration building and improvements- Melrose Park, Pennsylvania (% interest) $ 29,221 Abington, Pennsylvania, Furlough House 15,235 Capital Fund-Missionary properties $ 44.456 Pusan, Korea #1 $ 61,060 #2 5,000 #3 4,400 Seoul, Korea 16,781 Taichung, Taiwan 12,576 Nakayama New Town, Japm 24,668 Ghinda, Ethiopia #1 5,224 #2 4,835 Women’s residence 15,000 Hospital 92,893 2 1,267 Yamagata, Japan ~- Total $263,704 Anna Moore Fund $ Wilmington, Delaware --43,750 76 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

~ SCHEDULE OF GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS YEARENDED DECEMBER 31, 1977 Regular Orthodox Presbyterian Churches $189,885 Others 23,449 $21 3,334

Thank offering Orthodox Presbyterian Churches $ 61,061 Other 316 $ 61,377

Designated-budget

I Orthodox Presbyterian Churches $ 7,933 Other 53,218 $ 61,151

SCHEDULE OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES YEARENDED DECEMBER 3 1, 1977 Missionary expense Salaries and child allowances $ 67,753 Education allowance 17,103 Pension and hospitalization 9,283 Vacation allowances 1,730 Housing 11,514 Utilities 7,065 Interest, taxes and insurance 2,196 Medical and dental 6,082 Travel to and from field 16,753 Travel at home 2,66 1 Travel on field 14,081 Equipment and supplies 1,638 National Co-workers 19,269 Language study 5,08 1 Meeting rooms 56 Book rooms 2,868 Literature 1371 Furlough expense 3,296 Candidate expense 2,370 Miscellaneous missionary expense 6,737 Total $199,107 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY . 77

Office and administrative expense Salaries $ 46,574 General secretary expense 7,380 Pension and hospitalization 8,73 1 Postage and supplies 3,342 Telephone and telegraph 2,518 Equipment and repairs 2,657 Legal and accounting 1,905 Committee meetings 4,474 Administrative travel 1,948 Stewardship committee 4,950 Rent 4,140 Miscellanous 2,611 Total $ 91,230 Promotion expense Travel $ 378 World Wide Challenge 3,829 Publicity 2,705 Solicitation 131 Miscellaneous 1,189 Total $ 8,241

Mr. Bjerkaas presented the report of Advisory Commitfee #I.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #l We give praise and thanksgiving to God for the way He has blessed the foreign missions efforts of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church during the past year. The un- precedented growth has encouraged the Committee on Foreign Missions and has increased the morale of our missionaries on the field. This growth should be encouraged and maintained. We urge the Committee to continue to increase the effectiveness of the lines of communication between the missionaries and the people at home. Interest in foreign missions will be stimulated by keeping the needs of the foreign missionaries continually before the people at the presbytery and congregational level. We also urge the Committee on Foreign Missions to increase the effectiveness of its communication with other foreign missionary agencies so that knowledge of our work becomes more widespread. The Committee on Foreign Missions has studied the report of last year’s Advisory Committee #1, but did not complete the study in time for the response to be included in this year’s report. After investigating the (coming) response of the Committee on Foreign Missions, we believe it is moving in the direction suggested by that report and we encourage the Committee in that effort. Advisory Committee # 1 makes the following recommendation: That the Com- mittee on Foreign Missions be requested to explore the possibility of more aggressively providing opportunities for fully or partially supported unordained people who express a desire to serve as supportive workers on the foreign field. Respectfully submitted, Messrs. Bjerkaas, Parker, Schumacher, Stob, Van Camp, R. E. Vanden Burg, Winward 78 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On motion the recommendation of Advisory Committee #l was adopted. The Moderator granted Mr. Galbraith’s request to address the Assembly. Mr. Galbraith reflected on his thirty years as General Secretary of the Committee on Fcreign Missions and his cxpectations for further service to the church following his retirement on December 31, 1978. Mr. Galbraith received a standing ovation. The Assembly recessed at 3:38 p.m. and reconvened at 4:OO p.m. Mr. Zorn, fraternal delegate of the Reformed Churches of New Zealand and the Reformed Churches of Australia, addressed the Assembly. At the Moderator’s request, Mr. Oliver responded. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Foreign Mis- sions. The following were nominated: Ministers - Dunn, Georgian, George, Gaffin, and Harvie M. Conn; Ruling Elders - Bjerkaas, Howard L. Veldhorst, (Oostburg), Van Der Heide, and R. Eugene List (Hatboro). The Moderator later announced the election of the Rev. Messrs. Conn, Dunn, and Gaffin and Ruling Elders List and Van Der Heide to the class of 1981 and the Rev. Mr. Georgian to the class of 1979. Dr. Elder, President of the Committee on Christian Educution, presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Nothing is more certain than the ultimate success and triumph of the church of Christ in whose interests we labor. Our Lord’s own words concerning his church could not be more absolute. “1 will build my church,” Christ declared, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’’ Equally certain is the prospect faced by every servant of Christ-and therefore by every enterprise undertaken by the church-that those activities most vital to the advancement of the cause of Christ will be beset by difficulties ranging in magnitude from the trivial to the transcendent. Juxtaposed alongside his assurance of success for his church are the Savior’s repeated warnings to his disciples that they should expect to encounter obstacles that would seem to threaten that success. In Bunyan’s account of the Pilgrim’s progress, no sooner had Christian found release from his burden at the cross and received the sealed roll that would gain him entrance at the Celestial Gate-no sooner had he begun his heavenward journey in earn- est than he came to the hill called Difficult. There, Bunyan says, “I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and knees, because of the steepness of the place.” After a bit of slumber halfway up the hill, Chris- tian at last reaches the top but immediately he is warned of even greater problems- travellers named Timorous and Mistrust tell him that a couple of lions bar the way ahead. Thus was begun Christian’s triumphant progress to Mount Zion-a journey that took him through the Valley of Humiliation and past Doubting Castle which was kept by the Giant Despair, accompanied as he went by the likes of Messrs. Pliable, Talka- tive, By-ends, Ignorance and Little-Faith. Bunyan’s description of the individual Christian’s journey of faith finds its parallel in the experience of the church militant in its struggle to enlarge and strengthen the rule of God’s grace in the world. And what is true of the church in general is true at some point or other of every agency that serves the ministry of the church. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the report of the Committee on Christian Education this year reflects this two-sided character of progress toward fulfillment of the Great Com- mission and realization of the church’s hope, viz., both promise and problems. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 79 _- As has been the case now for many years, the major effort of the Committee has been concentrated on the preparation and publication of curriculum materials for use in the church’s teaching ministry. Since October 1, 1975 that effort has been under the‘ direct supervision of Great Commission Publications which on that date became a joint ministry of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC and the Committee for Christian Education and Publications of the PCA. Although only six of the fifteen members of the Committee serve as trustees of GCP, the work over which they exercise responsibility represents the most significant part of the Committee’s activity in the year under review. These six members constitute, in effect, a subcommitte? charged with the implementation of the Committee’s first priority. By far the larger part of this report, therefore, concerns itself with the activities of GCP-its achievements and its setbacks, its hopes and fears, its opportunities and its limitations.

THE PROGRAM OF GREAT COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS The Committee’s concern for gospel outreach and for the strengthening of the church comes to expression first of all in its support of the program ministries of GCP. At the time of the establishment of GCP as a joint ministry of the OPC and the PCA, the Committee on Christian Education turned over to the trustees of GCP its entire publication program, along with its ministry of service. The intention was then, and it remains to this day, that GCP should be the agency upon which the Committee would rely for development and implementation of its teaching ministry. The entire publication program, therefore, previously developed by this Committee is now administered by GCP. Those publications include Trinity Hymnal, the weekly church bulletins, the pamphlet and leaflet tracts, the Bible Doctrine workbook series, the Old Testament Survey course and the Committee’s own editions of the Westminster Confession and Shorter Catechism, along with the Sunday school curriculum for grades 1-12. For the first two and one-half years of the operation of GCP as a joint ministry these publications have formed the backbone-if not the whole body-of the program of GCP. New Senior High Sunday School Course With the formation of GCP as a joint ministry, steps were undertaken to expand the publication program and to enlarge its outreach. The first project in this expansion was the development of a new Senior high Sunday school course already on the drawing boards of the Committee’s staft’. Although some preliminary planning had been done by the Committe’s staff before the joint ministry was organized, this project has been delayed by repeated setbacks in the effort to obtain the staff required to move it along to completion. Only one full-time writer has worked on this project and his tenure lasted only fifteen months-time for little more than orientation and some foundational planning and format experimentation. Tn addition, one half-time writer has been at work for approximately two years, but half-lime writers labor under restrictions that tend to limit their productivity. Of more than a dozen individuals who have expressed interest in working on this project, fewer than six ever submitted a sample lesson and of these only one has proved to be a viable free-lance contributor to the project. As a consequence, the publication date of December 1977 originally projected for this course had to be postponed until September 1978 and some further delay in publication may yet be forced upon us.

Adult Study Courses A second curriculum project on which work was begun soon after the formation of the joint ministry was publication of adult study materials. The first of the materials to be published was a Leader’s Guide for use with Jay E. Adam’s Christian Living in the 80 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Home which appeared in September 1977. This was followed by a Leader’s Guide for use with Norman Sterrett’s How to Understand Your Bible published in December 1977. A study course entitled Discovering the Fullness of Worship by Paul Engle is scheduled for publication in March 1978 to be followed by a Leader’s Guide for use with The; Fruit of the Spirit by John W. Sanderson. Projected for the fall of 1978 is the first of a series of three leader’s guides for use with The Kingdom of God by Francis D. Breisch and in the fall of 1979 the first of another series of three leader’s guides for use with J. Gresham Machen’s The New Testament: An Introduction to its Literature and History. New VBS Curriculum Perhaps the most significant accomplishment of the first two and one-half years of joint ministry is the revival of the VBS curriculum which is being published for use in the summer of 1978. Making use of the basic content of the courses for beginners, primaries and juniors previously published by this Committee, these materials are a thorough revision of those courses with the addition of a totally new course for junior highs. The courses scheduled for publication in 1978 are: Beginners-Homes That God Made Primary-Fathers und Sons Junior-The Ten Commandments Junior High-Called To Be Servants Preschool Curriculum In view of the inability of the GCP staff as it is now constituted to contemplate publication of a preschool curriculum before early in the 1980s the Committee for Christian Education and Publications of the PCA has authorized the preparation of a pilot course to be developed under the direct supervision of its own staff. Discussions are underway to maximize the involvement of the GCP staff in this project but the detailed procedure for processing this course and for distributing it has yet to be determined. Service and Training Program The service and training program of GCP constitutes for the moment only a very limited part of the activities included in our ministry. Under the direction of the Rev. Allen D. Curry, Director of Educational Services, this program consists largely of Mr. Curry’s solo performances in conducting teacher’s workshops and conferences and in making presentations of the GCP curriculum. During 1977 presentations of the curriculum were made in West Collingswood, N. J. and in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Workshops and/or conferences were conducted in Phillipsburg, N.J., Norfolk, Va., Orlando, Fla., Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, in Marion, Morning Sun, Waterloo and Washington, Iowa and at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia. Other forums for this ministry during 1977 included the Southern Association of Christian Schools meeting in Gadsden, Ala., the Philadelphia Area Sunday School Association and the French Creek Bible Conference, Elverson, Pa.

THE PROMOTION OF GREAT COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS The overriding consideration in the establishment of a joint ministry in Christian education between the OPC and the PCA was the creation of an instrument by which we could labor together not only to minister to the needs of our particular denominations but also to extend the effect and influence of our ministry far beyond what would be possible for each denomination laboring independently. The name Great Commission Publications is, therefore, a clear reflection of the purpose of our joint ministry. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 81

It follows that if GCP is to carry out the purpose reflected in its name, its publication program must be vigorously promoted. To the same degree that funds spent on the development of curriculum represent an investment in a ministry of the church in edification and evangelism, the funds spent on advertising and promotion are an investment in the work of spreading the gospel and strengthening believers in the faith. It is valuable, therefore, to provide some indication of the scope of GCP’s ministry and to describe the measures that have been taken to build that ministry. The most significant indicator of the scope of GCP’s ministry is the number of churches in which the Sunday school curriculum materials are being used. At the end of 1974 just prior to the formation of GCP as a joint ministry that number stood at 630. In the last quarter of 1977 the number had increased to 755, of which 423 were outside the bounds of both the OPC and the PCA. Another important indicator of the reach of this ministry is the number of churches in which Trinity Hymnal is used in worship. At the end of 1974 that number was 562 and by the end of 1977 it had increased to just under 750 with nearly 550 churches outside the OPC and the PCA. Although less significant for the effect of GCP’s ministry, the increase in the use of the church bulletin covers is of interest. In 1974 the number of churches using the bulletin covers was just under 200. Especially as a result of advertising in 1977 that number now stands at 245, including 102 churches outside the OPC and the PCA. The number of copies of the bulletins in use has increased during the past year from 19,000 to over 26,000 per week. In addition, various publications of this joint ministry are regularly used in Eng- land and Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, in Mexico and in dozens of churches in Canada. On occasions GCP publications have been used in such unlikely places as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Finland and Indonesia. During 1977 a vigorous advertising program brought thousands of inquiries and requests for samples-and a significant increase in sales. A total of 47 ads featuring Trin- ity Hymnal, Bible Doctrine, Old Testament Survey, Sunday school materials and church bulletins appeared in seven of the leading evangelical periodicals. In addition, 14,000 copies of the catalog were mailed in September and 25,000 copies each of brochures featuring Trinity Hymnal, Old Testament Survey, Bible Doctrine, and Sunday school materials were mailed at intervals throughout the year. The immediate response to this advertising effort has been encouraging indeed. The results may be tabulated as follows: Requests for samples/ Sales Item information Bible Doctrine & 0.1‘.Survey 890 403 Trinity Hy m nal 567 265 Church Bulletin Covers 839 42 Sunday School Materials 1606 undetermined Miscellaneous Promotion Efforts Three issues of Horizoiz were published during 1977. A total of 65,000 copies were mailed each time with 13,000 copies going to OP Churches, 40,000 copies to PCA churches and 12,000 copies to individuals on GCP’s mailing list. There have been numerous indications from a variety of sources that the publication of Horizon serves a useful function in widening the influence of GCP and in deepening the interest of those who support this ministry. The fourth issue of 1977 was omitted only because of the press of deadlines in other areas of activity. The GCP mailing list was finally computerized in October 1977. A total of approximately 15,000 names were put on the computer and in subsequent months an additional 2,000 names have been accumulated. Full exploitation of the potential of a good mailing list is now an item of high priority in enlarging the ministry of GCP. 82 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

THE PERSONNEL OF GREAT COMMISSION PUBLICATIONS Obviously, neither the program ministries of GCP nor its promotional efforts could be carried out apart from the individuals who constitute the staff. Like any ministry of the church, it is the people who labor in the gospel who are the key to the success of the ministry. Although they are not strictly speaking a part of the staff, the twelve trustees who guide the affairs of GCP merit special attenion. Six trustees are chosen by the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC and six are chosen by the Committee for Christian Education and Publications of the PCA. They meet twice a year to hear reports of progress, act on a budget to support the program and make such policy decisions as the developing program requires. Because they are also members of the Committee, they serve in a liaison capacity between GCP and the Committee. The current trustees are as follows: The Rev. Thomas A. Patete (PCA)-President F. Kingsley Elder (0PC)-Vice President The Rev. Kenneth J. Meilahn (0PC)-Secretary George H. Parron (PCA)-Treasurer The Rev. Don K. Clements (PCA) The Rev. A. Michael Schneider (PCA) The Rev. Edmund P. Clowney (OPC) C. Gene Parks (PCA) Edward Robeson (PCA) Peyton H. Gardner (OPC) Robert B. Ashlock (OPC) The Rev. John J. Barnett (OPC) resigned during the year Directly responsible to the trustees is the Executive Director, the Rev. Robley J. Johnston. The Executive Director is responsible for the effective operation of every aspect of the GCP program. In the absence of an editor-in-chief, he serves in that capacity, not only providing general editorial guidance but also taking an active role in editing, rewriting and actually writing original manuscripts. In this area of responsibility he is assisted by the Managing Editor and also by the Director of Educational Services who acts as a constultant on editorial policy and pedagogical matters. Through the Controller, the Executive Director provides oversight of the business operation of GCP. Here it is his responsibility to submit annually a budget and budget projections for approval by the trustees, to authorize all expenditures, and to approve the employment of an adequate number of employees to operate the business office and the shipping room. Through the Art Director, the Executivc Director oversees the physicial production of all publications, approving format, design, etc. and determining the size of printing runs. Through the Director of Educational Services, the Executive Director is responsible for the direction of GCP’s program of service and training, although his active participation in this aspect of the GCP operatiofi is quite minimal beyond the point of planning. And finally, in the absence of a Director of Advertising and Marketing, the Executive Director is immediately responsible for the planning and execution of all advertising projects. Serving dircctly under the Exccutive Director, the Controller, C. Lee Benner, is responsible for the detailed supervision of all business operations of GCP. In this responsibility he directs the bookkeeper and oversees all of GCP’s accounts including the payroll. Aided by the Administrative Assistant, he provides oversight for the clerical and stenographic force and for the operation of the shipping room. He serves as purchasing agent for office and shipping supplies, furniture and equipment and, under the direction of the Executive Director, he prepares the preliminary drafts of the budget as well as quarterly financial statements. I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 83

The Managing Editor, Michael G. Smith, is directly responsible to the Executive Director for general oversight of all writing projects, and in carrying out this responsibility he serves as a liaison between the Executive Director as Editor-in-chief and the members of the full-time writing staff as well as free-lance writers. It is in the nature of this position for the Managing Editor to coordinate the work on all writing projects, scheduling them so as to insure as even a flow of work as possible. The Managing Editor also takes an active role in providing editorial consultation with and advice to the writers, and he shares with the Editor-in-chief the responsibility for final editing of all manuscripts. The position of Director of Educational Services held by the Rev. Allen D. Curry is one whose responsibilities reach into a number of staff operations. The primary function of the Director of Educational Services is to serve as educational consultant and advisor to the editorial and writing staff. In this function he is actively involved in the planning of new courses and in the evaluation of manuscripts in later stages of the writing process. At the moment, in the absence of adequate editorial staffing, this part of his responsibilities claims a disproportionate share of his time, Ordinarily, the Director of Educational Services would spend most of his time planning and conducting teacher and leadership training programs and in making presentations of the GCP curriculum wherever opportunity arises. In connection with this activity, however, the Director of Educational Services serves as a “spokesman” for those who use the materials and whose reactions he learns in the course of conducting his training programs. This aspect of his activities also makes the Director of Educational Services a logical consultant to the Executive Director in the planning of advertising and promotion projects. The Art Director, John Tolsma, plays a key role in the physicial production of all publications. Directly responsible to the Executive Director, the Art Director designs the layout and format of every piece of literature published (including all advertising and promotion pieces). Together with his assistant, Kathy Vail, the Art Director prepares each piece for submission to the printer, in the process of which he selects the typefaces, papers and inks, creates the artwork or contracts for it with free-lance artists and does original photographic work where required. The full-time and half-time staff writers (The Rev. Joseph A. Pipa, Dorothy P. Anderson and Mary Ellen Godfrey) work with the Executive Director, the Managing Editor and the Director of Educational Services in planning new courses, submitting proposed outlines and suggesting format for approval. Once the shape of a new course has been agreed upon, the writers’ energies are then directed toward study and research as required by the particular projects and finally to the actual writing of manuscripts for submission to the editors for final approval and editing, The editorial assistants, Dorothy Cilley and Becky Johnston, are responsible for reading and correcting all typescripts prior to submitting material to the typesetter and for reading and correcting all printers’ proofs. Their function is to check facts, correct spelling, punctuation, etc. and to maintain the standards of literary and printing style established by the editors. The administrative assistant, Elizabeth C. Oliver serves a dual function as personal secretary to the Executive Director and as office manager under the oversight of the Controller. The bookkeeper, Linda Boda, the secretaries, Betty Oberholtzer and Beth Swart, and the shipping clerk, Peter Anderson, perform all of the functions normally associated with those positions. It may seem to some that the staff described above is quite large given the relatively limited publications program now on the market. If the current activities of GCP in- 84 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY volved nothing more than maintaining and servicing those materials already in print, a staff of this size would be more than adequate. This, however, is far from being the case. The revision of the VBS curriculum, the development of a totally new senior high course for the Sunday school and the preparation of adult curriculum materials all involve writing and editing on a very large scale and constitute an impossibly heavy burden for the staff at its present strength. An intensive search for an Editor-in-chief was made over a period of four or five months in 1977 and the position was offered to one individual who ultimately declined to accept. A search for one or more full-time writers to make up for lost ground in the development of a senior high course has been a high priority item for the entire year and success in this search is a prerequisite to publication of this course on schedule. Greater editorial depth is also a prerequisite to continued regular publication of adult curriculum materials as well as to the initiation of new projects at other age levels. In addition to the staff described above, the Committee for Christian Education and Publications of the PCA headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., may be considered in a limited sense to be a part of the GCP staff also. The primary function of the Montgomery staff is, of course, to service the particular needs of the PCA, but some of their efforts in writing and conducting training programs make a contribution to the overall program of GCP. Also the office staff at Montgomery serves the interests of GCP in handling orders for GCP publications. Coordination of the efforts of the Montgomery staff and those of the GCP staff in Philadelphia both in writing and in servicing accounts has yet to be worked out smoothly, but a continuing effort is underway to unify the staff efforts as much as possible.

COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE GCP For the most part, the work of the Committee on Christian Education continued the pattern set last year. By far the greater share of the resources of the Committee is devoted to the development of curriculum material. The preceding account of the work of Great Commission Publications details this work. In addition, the Committee has continued its exploration of other ways to serve the church. This effort, even though it represents a small part of the Committee’s expenditures, requires a great deal of time and energy on the part of the Committee members themselves. In searching out ways in which to assist the church in her educational ministry, the Committee realized that as a body they, along with the members of the church, could profit from further instruction. Therefore, the Committee has continued the practice of holding seminars in conjunction with regular meetings. In conjunction with the winter meeting the Committee met with the Committee for Christian Education and Publications of the PCA for a conference on Goals and Ob- jectives for the Church’s Ministry of Christian Education, Discussions at this conference revealed a basic unanimity among the members of both Committees with respect to the overall goals and objectives for the church’s ministry of Christian education. The fall meeting of the Committee, held at Bethel Church, Wheaton, Ill., was preceded by a conference on Adult Education and members of the Presbytery of the Midwest were invited to participate. The Committee’s plans include at least one conference in 1978. This conference, focused on the subject of music in the church, is scheduled for Septem- ber 29 and 30, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pa. The practice of holding conferences in conjunction with Committee meetings has proved to be helpful to Committee members in increasing their own understanding of the teaching ministry of the church. It is the Committee’s hope that those who have participated in these conferences in those areas where they have been held have likewise come to a clearer understanding of the church’s task of Christian education. I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 85

As a result of the study conferences the Committee has begun to seek to help the church in ways other than by the publication of curriculum materials. At the present time there is a subcommittee seeking “specific ways that this Committee can assist the church in the area of promoting adult education.” Another subcommittee is at work on a “tentative statement of the goal or goals of the educational ministry of the church.’’ It is the Committee’s hope that both of these subcom.mittees will develop proposals for expanding the ministry of the Committee beyond its present involvement in publications and related activities.

Consultation with the RPCES Pursuant to the request of the 44th General Assembly the Committee authorized its Executive Committee to seek a meeting with Christian Training, Inc. for the purpose of exploring the possibilities for cooperative efforts in Christian education. Such a meeting has been scheduled for May 4, 1978.

Staff The Committee on Christian Education does not employ a staff. Employees of Great Commission Publications serve the Committee on a fee-for-services basis. Members of the staff of Great Commission Publications handle all the bookkeeping and secretarial work for the Committee. Most of the other work contracted from Great Commission Publications is carried out by Mr. Johnston, the General Secretary and Mr. Curry, the Associate General Secretary. At times other members of the Great Commission Publica- tions’ staff assist in the work of the Committee. This arrangement has proven satisfactory at this point in the history of the Committee.

Committee Officers and Meetings The following officers were elected at the October 3, 1977 meeting: F. Kingsley Elder, President; Robert B. Ashlock, Vice President; Kenneth J. Meilahn, Secretary- I Treasurer. These officers plus Messrs. Clowney and Gardner constitute the Executive Committee. The Committee has two stated meetings each year, the last Monday and Tuesday of February and the first Monday and Tuesday of October. The Executive Committee ordinarily meets during the third week of January and the last week of June.

FINANCES AND BUDGET PROJECTION Since the formation of GCP as a joint venture, the Committee’s own financial reporting is quite uncomplicated, there being no detailed accounting of the publishing operation. By far the. largest portion of the Committee’s financial resources is committed to the publication program of GCP and the Committee (largely through those members who serve as trustees of GCP) receives a detailed accounting of that program in the annual audited financial statement submitted by GCP as of June 30 each year. As shown in both the auditor’s statement and the figures included in the budget projection (Column “Actual 12-31-77”), the Committee expended more money in 1977 than it received. Because of the difference in methods of reporting, there is a discrep- ancy of some $9,000 between the loss shown in the budget projection figures and that reported by the auditors. Since the Assembly’s budget decisions are based chiefly upon simple cash changes, the figure of $20,243 shown in the unaudited report as the loss for 1977 is the one that should receive attention here. 86 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The decrease in cash in 1977 amounting to $20,000 did not occur at the price of additional borrowing. Rather, the loss was covered by the depletion of cash reserves on hand at the end of 1976. Nevertheless, we must not lose sight of the significance of the fact that our operation in 1977 was maintainet at a level that was some 14% above the level of contributions to Christian education within the combined budget. (It should be noted, however, that expenditures were well within the amount of contributions for Christian education approved by the 43rd General Assembly.) The significance of the figures for 1977 with respect to the current year must not be overlooked. In 1977 OF contributions to Christian education totaled only $145,000 although the 43rd Assembly had approved a total of $174,000. The figure for contributions approved by the 44th Assembly for 1978 is $170,600, but the pattern of 1977 strongly suggests that actual contributions will again fall significantly short of that amount. Realistically, therefore, the Committee is faced with the prospect of another year in which spending could be approximately $20,000 in excess of income. If this should be the case, the Committee’s cash reserves now in the Contingency Fund would be totally exhausted. Even if the 1978 budget goal were to be fully met, the Com- mittee’s obligations would require borrowing from the Contingency Fund amounting to at least $9,000. While such .a course is distasteful in the extreme, it would seem to be the only one open to the Committee if GCP is to be given a chance to demonstrate its viability. In fact, if we are forced to deplete all of the reserves available to the Committee in the course of the next two years, that would seem to be preferable to risking a failure of the joint venture precipitated by an insufficiency of operating funds in this initial stage of the venture . Obviously, the considerations noted above impinge upon the budget request of the Committee for 1979 and on the projections for the two succeeding years. Without the full amount approved for contributions in 1978, the appropriateness and the adequacy of the projections of 1979, 1980 and 1981 will have to be reconsidered. In any case, the Committee believes that the figures that follow constitute a fair presentation of what will be required to enable it to continue to support modest progress in the curriculum publication program and to continue the slow, steady retirement of the Committee’s long-term indebtedness.

Three-Year Budget Projection

Actual \ Unaudited figures Budget Budget Budget Budget EXPENDITURES : 12-31-77 1978 1979 1980 1981 Office (staff services) 13,500 14,200 15,200 16,300 17,500 Legal & Audit 760 900 900 1,000 1,100 Travel . 300 500 550 600 650 Committee Meetings 6,622 6,500 7,000 7,500 8,000 Stewardship Expense 4,965 - - - - Program Expense : Contribution to GCP 153,500 165,000 180,000 190,000 200,000 Interest-Long Term 9,102 9,000 8,500 8,000 7,500 Repayment SSPF 7,163 12,000 14,000 17,000 20,000 Guardian 500 - - - - Misc. Expense -----47 500 550 600 650 TOTAL EXPENDITURES -----196,459 208,600 226,700 241,000 255,400 I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 87

INCOME: Repayment of Loan-GCP 17,800 17,800 17,800 17,800 17,800 Interest Payment-GCP 9,348 8,500 7,200 6,100 5,000 Interest (Savings) 758 700 700 700 700 Contribu tions-OPC 145,036 170,600$’ 190,000 2 I0,OOO 230,000 Other 3,019 2,000 2,200 2,500 2,750 - - - - Sales-VBS --255 --- TOTAL INCOME 176,216 199,600 217,900 237,100 256,250

INCOME 176,216 199,600 217,900 237,100 256,250 EXPENSE -----196,459 208,600 226,700 241,000 255,400 NET CHANGE IN CASH -----(20,243) (9,000) ( 8,800) (3,900) 850 :::Approved by 44th G.A.

The foregoing three-year budget projection envisions the full implementation of a number of programs already initiated by GCP (It assumes, of course, that similar amounts in contributions to GCP from the PCA will be forthcoming.) As has been the case since 1975, the Committee’s budget makes little or no provision for program initiatives independent of the ministry of GCP. The specific advances in ministry provided for in the three-year budget projection include the following: 1. Completion of the new senior high Sunday school course by 198 1. 2. Completion of the newly revised three-year cycle of VBS curriculum by 1980 and the expected use of these materials in over 600 churches by 1981. 3. Continued enlargement of the adult curriculum, specifically by the publication of at least four new leader’s guides or study courses each year. 4. Publication of Sunday school materials for preschool aged children by 1981. 5. Publication of a revised junior high Sunday school course in 1981. 6. The addition of at least two writers/editors to the GCP staff to implement the aforementioned projects and to expand GCP’s program of sewice and teacher training. 7. A significant enlargement of GCP’s advertising and promotion effort in order to insure the widest possible use of its publications. Specifically, the aim is to increase the number of churches using GCP materials by 30% to 40% or approximately 300 churches. While the advances specified above are those currently in view in terms of the budget projection, particular projects may,have to be rescheduled and others substituted if the personnel to implement them cannot be secured. Though it is not strictly an item of gospel outreach, the three-year budget projection also includes provision for a slow but steady repayment of the Committee’s indebtedness incurred in the development of the Sunday school curriculum.

ELECTIONS The terms of the following members expire at this Assembly: Ministers: Messrs. Meilahn, Poundstone and Schmurr; Elders: Messrs. Elder and MacDonald. The Committee reports the resignation of the Rev. John J. Barnett from the Class of 1979. 88 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORT OF THE TREASURER The report of the Treasurer, as audited by Main Lafrentz and Company, Certified Public Accountants, is as follows: The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. Melrose Park, Pennsylvania We have examined the statement of assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. as of December 31, 1977, and the related statement of revenues collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances for the year then ended. Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and, accordingly, included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. As described in Note 1, the Committee’s policy is to prepare its financial statements on the basis of cash receipts and disbursements; consequently, certain revenues and the related assets are recognized when received rather than when earned, and certain expenses are recognized when paid rather than when the obligation is incurred. Accord- ingly, the accompanying financial statements are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly the assets and liabilities arising from. cash transactions of The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Tnc. as of December 31, 1977, and the revenues collected and expenditures made and changes in fund balances during the year then ended, on the basis of accounting described in Note 1, which basis has been applied in a manner consistent with that of the preceding year. MAINLAFRENTZ & Co. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 19, 1978

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LJABJLITIES DECEMBER31, 1977 Funds Combined General Contingency ASSETS Cash, including savings accounts $30,253 $ 30,406 $ 8,670 $21,736 Notes receivable: General Fund, 4% 12,900 12,900 Great Commission Publications, Inc., 6% 146,900 146,900 Administration building 29,22 1 29,22 1 $219,427 $184,791 $34,636 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 89

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES Notes payable Sunday School Publication Fund $1 17,167 $1 17,167 The Committee on Home Missions, 5% %, due on demand 5,000 5,000 Contingency Fund, 4% 12,900 12,900 Other, 71/2%, due April, 1981 2,836 2,836 5Vi %, due on demand 5,000 5,000 Fund balance 76,524 41,888 $34,636 $219,427 $184,791 $34,636

These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants’ opinion.

STATEMENT OF REVENUES COLLECTED AND EXPENDITURES MADE AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES YEARENDED DECEMBER 31, 1977 Funds Combined General Contingency Revenues collected Contributions Orthodox Presbyterian Churches $145,036 $145,036 Others 3,019 3,019 Interest income 11,731 10,106 $ 1,625 Miscellaneous 255 255 160,041 158,416 1,625

Expenditures made Contributions to Great Commission Publications, Inc. 153,500 153,500 General Fund expenditures (Schedule) 35,795 35,795 189,295 189,295 Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures (29,254) (30,879) 1,625 Fund balances January 1, 1977 -~ 105,778 72,767 33,011 December 31, 1977 $ 76,524 $ 41,888 $34,636 .- These financial statements and accompanying notes are subject to the accountants’ opinion. 90 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

SCHEDULE OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES YEARENDED DECEMBER 31, 1977 Staff services supplied by Great Commission Publications, Inc. $13,500 Committee meeting 6,623 Travel 300 Interest S. S. publication fund loans 7,823 Other loans 1,279 Stewardship Committee 4,963 “Guardian” subsidy 500 Legal and audit 760 Miscellaneous 47 $35,795

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER31, 1977 1. BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The accounting records of the Committee are maintained on a cash basis except that interest not paid on the anniversary date of certain notes payable is added to the note balances. The administration building is not depreciated. 2. CASH Cash, $8,002, deposited in a time savings account, is restricted by agreement as collateral security of 25% of the demand obligation payable to the Sunday School Publication Fund (see note 5 ) . 3. NOTES RECEIVABLE Notes receivable from Great Commission Publications, Inc. (an organization publishing curriculum for The Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in America) in the original amount of $178,046, is being repaid in ten annual installments of $17,805 plus interest at the rate of 6% per annum. 4. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING Title to the administration building property, 7401 Old York Road, Melrose Park, Pennsylvania, is equally vested in The Committee on Home Missions and Church Exten- sion, The Committee on Foreign Missions, and The Committee on Christian Education of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Inc. The property is carried at the Committee’s one-third share of its cost. Expenses of operating the property are shared by the three Committees and Great Commission Publications, Inc. 5. NOTES PAYABLE Notes payable to the Sunday School Publication Fund, have been issued at various dates to finance the publishing of Sunday School material. At December 31, 1977, the following notes were outstanding: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 91

Original term of notes Balance Interest rate Demand ’ $ 32,008 5% 2, 4 and 5 years 55,814 51/2% to7% 10 years 29,345 6% $117,167

Of the total, including the demand notes, $63,908 becomes due in the year 1978, of which $13,108 have been subsequently renewed. Mr. Adams presented the report of Advisory Coninlittee #2.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #2 Advisory Committee #2 commends the Committee on Christian Education for its work and prays that it continue in pursuit of its goals with all diligence. We encourage the ‘churches to offer prayer and help for our committee particularly in the areas of: a) securing qualified curriculum writers and editors so that projected goals can be achieved. b) meeting its financial budget. c) seeking closer utilization of OPC/PCA progress and cooperation in the work of Great Commission Publications.

The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Christian Edu- cation. The following were nominated: Ministers - James R. Payton, Jr., Miladin, Kenneth J. Meilahn, Ironside, Schmurr, and Poundstone; Ruling Elders - MacDonald and Elder. There being only two Ruling Elder nominations the Moderator declared Messrs. Elder and MacDonald elected to the class of 1981. The Moderator later announced the election of the Rev. Messrs. Miladin, Pound- stone, and Schmurr to the class of 1981 and the Rev. Mr. Ironside to the class of 1979. On motion the docket was amended to make the order of the day on Tuesday at 10:20 a.m. that part of the report of Advisory Committee #I0 dealing with Communi- cations 10 and 12. The Assembly recessed at 6:OO p.m. following prayer led by the Moderator.

MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 19 Following a devotional service led by Mr. Mininger the Assembly reconvened at 8:OO a.m. with the singing of the hymn, “How sweet and awful is the place.” Mr. Kellogg led in prayer. Dr. Elder announced that Mr. Johnston had submitted his resignation as General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education to the committee at a special meeting held Saturday evening. Mr. Oliver introduced to the Assembly the Rev. Howard E. Hart, fraternul delegate of the Reformed Chitrch in the United States. On motion Mr. Hart was enrolled as a corresponding member. Mr. Peterson, Chairman of the Conitnittee on Stewardship, presented its report. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud. 92 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STEWARDSHIP With thanksgiving to God the Committee on Stewardship makes its report to the Forty-fifth General Assembly. After a drop in giving during 1976 that seriously curtailed the denominational outreach efforts, our churches regained the initiative in stewardship during 1977. We thank the Lord both for prospering us as individuals and for a renewed faithfulness in our stewardship of God’s gifts, With improvement in support during 1977, our committees began 1978 in better position to move forward in gospel proclamation. New missionaries have gone abroad and new fields have been entered. New outposts at home have been set up and new missionaries are active. New publications and revised materials present the gospel in printed form to thousands. We are thankful too for the promise of continuing improvement in our ability to do the Lord’s work. The Committee on Stewardship is recommending a substantially enlarged program of Worldwide Outreach for 1979.

SUMMARY OF TRENDS It is worth the time of the assembly to note certain trends in the stewardship of our people and congregations. 1. The gain in actual giving seems clearly to reflect a renewed zeal by many to see our denominational outreach go forward. The gain made in 1977 is continuing into the first part of 1978. 2.Dependence on the Thank Offering to “make the budget” is less each year. The major support of our committees’ programs comes from the regular giving of our congregations throughout the year. 3.Total giving to Worldwide Outreach in 1977 was $608,400, an 8.4% gain over 1976. This gain, in view of a very small numerical growth, represents real improvement in our giving. 4. Undesignated support, which undergirds the total program of home and foreign missions and Christian education, is increasingly the major factor in our committees’ incomes. Designated support continues, but commitment to support the total program is more evident.

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND STAFF The Committee on Stewardship saw major changes in its staff and in responsibilities. On October 1, 1977, the Rev. John J. Mitchell, after having served part-time as the committee’s Administrative Assistant, took on full-time duty as its General Secretary. The increase in staff is intended to enable the committee more adequately to meet its “primary purpose” of supporting “the ministry of pastors and sessions in their responsibility to teach and encourage the practice of biblical stewardship in the church.” On January 1, 1978, the committee became the denomination’s fiscal agent in place of the Committee on Home Missions. This has required a large amount of new record-keeping, opening of bank accounts, and similar activity. The committee is served, both in this area and in the regular receipting function, by a part-time bookkeeper. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 93

The committee met four times since the last assembly, one of these meetings being concerned mainly with the change in staff and functions. The following officers were elected : Chairman Jack J. Peterson; Vice-chairman, Robert A. Kramm; Secretary, Albert W. Stcever, Jr. The executive committee met once with representatives of the three major standing committees to consider possible changes in the “Plan for the Committee on Stewardship.” During 1977, total expenses of the committee were $14,810.55. Of this, $9,244.51 was for personnel costs; $898.69 for office expenses; $878.85 for postage; $1,747.27 for meeting expenses; and $2,041.23 for promotional materials, mainly in connection with the special offering in June 1977 and the 1977 Thank Offering.

THE RECORD FOR 1977 The following table shows in summary the relation of the budgets approved by the Forty-third ( 1976) General Assembly to actual contributions received from Ortho- dox Presbyterian sources during 1977. Approved Actual % of Budget 1977 Budget 1977 Receipts Achieved Christian Education ...... $174,000 $145,0OO 83.4% Foreign Missions ...... 262,000 258,600 98.7 Home Missions ...... 228,000 204,800 89.8 Total Worldwide Outreach ...... $664,000 $608,400 91.6% In 1976, 93.2% of the total was achieved. But the total budget for that year had been severely reduced from the 1975 goals, and even more restricted in terms of actual requests by the committees. Total giving in 1976 was $561,200; the $608,400 given in 1977 represents an 8.4% gain in giving-and, even after inflation, resulted in real gains in work done. The 1977 Thank Offering’was $156,100 compared to 1976’s $151,200, or a gain of 3.2%. Gains in giving by the churches nearly equalled declines, and most of the net gain came from new congregations. Three churches gave substantial offerrings, but since they were designated for special purposes could not be counted in the total Thank Offering reported here. Our giving shows certain patterns as seen in the following table. % of total in 1976 1977 1976 1977 Thank Offering during the year Received in Jan.-Mar...... $ 27,948 $ 27,119 Received in Nov.-Dec...... 122,267 127,382 Total Thank Offering ...... $150,215 ---- $154,501 26.9 25.4 Other special offering ...... - 26,050 4.3 Other undesignated offerings ...... 227,945 261,892-- 40.9 43.0 Total undesignated receipts ...... $378,160 $442,443 68.2 72.7 Total designated receipts ...... ---- 183,040 165,964 3 1.8 27.3 Total Worldwide Outreach ...... $561,200 $608,407 100.0% 100.0% 94 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The special offering in June, received in 1977, will not be received in 1978 (due to the “Founders’ Day Offering” for the Committee on Pensions). This could result in some drop in support of our Worldwide Outreach in 1978, though contributions in the early months of the year give promise of continuing growth in our giving. It is significant that undesignated support, about two-thirds of the total in 1976, was nearly three-fourths of the total in 1977.

GOALS AND PROJECTIONS Until this year, the Committees on Christian Education, Foreign Missions, and Home Missions had been required to draw up five-year projections of their work. The Forty-fourth ( 1977) General Assembly approved a change reducing this advance planning to a three-year projection. Each committee presented such a projection to the Committee on Stewardship at a meeting in April 1978. From those projections, this report would focus on the following details.

Goals and priorities The Committee on Foreign Missions is continuing to reorganize its strategies both in replacing retired missionaries and in reassigning its efforts since the mission in Ethi- opia had to be withdrawn. As a result of both these factors, the committee has a substantial cash reserve on hand that it proposes to use up over the new few years as it advances its programs. The committee is now involved in Egypt and Lebanon as new fields, and is entering Pakistan as well. It proposes to add one new missionary this year and in each of the following three years. The Committee on Home Missions, faced with a deficit problem, had made cuts in its work and, together with improved support, managed to reduce the deficit significantly by the end of 1977. It proposed to continue and expand its emphasis on summer workers and interns, and to enlarge its commitment to the missionary-at-large program in cooperation with presbyteries. The committee’s three-year projection also shows a continuing support of home mission efforts basically on the present level. The Committee on Christian Education, having turned over almost all of its functions and assets to the joint publications venture with the Presbyterian Church in America, continues to focus its attention on Great Commission Publications, Inc. The committee, through GCP, is faced with “normal” difficulties in financial ability to complete a total program of Sunday school instructional material, and is also hampered by the difficulties of securing competent writers to produce the material. The return of vacation Bible school materials for 1978 marks a major gain. Long-term goals are for revision of the Senior High materials, additional adult materials, and other improvements in the Sunday school curriculum.

Budget projections A condensed version of the three-year projections is presented here to show the pattern of proposed efforts. Many items reflect inflation increases (usually at 7%). FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 95

Actual Operating Requested Projected Operation Budget Budget Budget 1977 1978 1979 1980 Foreign Missions OPC contributions ...... $258. 879 $258. 000 $294. 000 $399. 000 Non-OP contributions ...... 76. 983 80. 000 100.000 133. 100 Other income ...... 17.098 15.000 20. 000 20. 000 Total income ...... ---$352. 960 $353. 000 $414. 000 $552. 100 Admin., Promotion expense ...... $ 99, 6 15 $1 14,304 $1 16,069 $130, 200 Missionary expense , ...... 199, 107 262, 342 328, 531 410, 900 Interfund transfers* ...... 15,355 12,000 12,000 12,000 Total expenditures ...... ---$314, 077 $388, 646 $457, 000 $553, 100 Excess/(Deficit) ...... 38, 883 (35,646) (43,000) (1.000) Home Missions OPC contributions ...... , ...... , $204, 058 $224, 000 $241,900 $282, 200 Non-OP contributions ...... 4, 989 19,500 20, 500 22, SO0 Other income ...... 441 500 600 800

~ ~ ~ Total income ...... $209, 488 $244, 000 $263,000 $305, 500 Admin., Promotion expense ...... $ 73, 519 $ 72,780 $ 80, 260 $ 91, 130 Missionary expense ...... 136, 308 171,200 182,740 214, 370 ..-- ..-- . Total expenditures ...... $209, 827 $244, 000 $263, 000 $305, 500 Excess/(Deficit) ..... , ...... (339) Christian Education OPC contributions ...... $145. 036 $170. 600 $190. 000 $230. 000 Non-OP contributions ...... 3. 0 19 2. 000 2. 200 2. 750 GCP repayments* * ...... 27. 906 27. 000 25. 700 23. 500 Other income ...... 255 Total income ...... $176. 216 $199,600 $2 17.900 $256. 250 Committee operation*** ...... $ 42. 959 $ 43. 600 $ 46. 700 $40055. GCP commitment ...... 153.500 165.000 180.000 200. 000 -~ .- Total expenditures ...... $196. 459 $208. 600 $226. 700 $255. 400 Excess/ (Deficit) ...... (20. 243) (9,OC.O) (8.800) 850 *To build up Capital Fund Reserve . **For interest and principal payments on assets turned over to GCP. ***Includes substantial repayments of Sunday School Publica- tion Fund loans .

PROPOSED BUDGETS FOR 1979 The Committee on Stewardship reviewed the three-year projections of the Com- mittees on Christian Education. Foreign Missions. and Home Missions. including their requested budgets for 1979. In the committee’s judgment. the proposals presented were more realistic than in previous years in terms of contributions expected from Orthodox Presbyterian sources. 96 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Before considering the specific requests for 1979, the committee sought to estimate the total contributions for Worldwide Outreach in that year. Taking into account the 8.4% gain in 1977, the continuing gains in givnig in the first quarter of 1978, together with the effect of receiving no special offering in June 1978, the committee judges that at least $680,000 (of a total $685,000 goal) may be expected in 1978. If giving continues to improve into 1979, at about 10% gain, a total of $750,000 might be received that year. The committee also felt ;hat there was no call to make any significant change in the relative priorities among the three major standing committees. It is, however, recommending a commitment to the development of a deferred giving program that would require -additional financial suppcrt. It does not anticipate any need to increase its own budget ($32,400 for 1978) apart from the deferred giving program. which it would fund at $12,600 for 1979. As proposed by all the committees included in the total Worldwide Outreach, the following requests are shown together with percentage increases over previous years.

Requested Increase over for 1979 1977 actual 1978 budget Christian Education ...... $190,000 3 1 .O% 11.4% Foreign Missions ...... 294,000 13.6 14.0 Home Missions 241,900 ...... -18.5 8.0 Total to three committees ...... $725,900 19.3 11.2 Stewardship, regular ...... 32,400 0.0 deferred giving ...... 12,600 45,000 38.9 Total requested for 1979 ...... $770,900 26.j 12.5 Th_e total requested would require a 12.5% increase in giving beyond the approved Worldwide Outreach goal for 1978. Even assuming that 1978’s goal is met, to expect that much further gain in 1979 seems unrealistic. Therefore, the Committee on Stewardship, modifying the requested amounts so as to maintain the approximate relative priorities now prevailing for the three major committees, and to keep the total within reasonable expectation, recommends the following Worldwide Outreach in 1979. 1979 (1978) % of total (% of total) Christian Education ...... $185,000 26.2 (26.1) Foreign Missions ...... 280,000 39.7 (39.6) Home Missions ...... 240,000 34.1 --(34.3) Total to three committees ...... $705,000 100.0% ( 100.0%1 Stewardship, regular ..... 32,400 deferred giving ...... -~ 12,600 45,000 Total Worldwide Outreach 1979 ....$750,000

ACTION ON MATTERS REFERRED A number of proposed changes in the “Plan for the Committee on Stewardship” were referred with varying stipulations to the Committee on Stewardship by the Forty-fourth General Assembly. Some of these proposals were left to the committee’s discretion, some were referred to it for possible recommendation to the Forty-fifth FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 97

General Assembly, some were referred for recommendation after consultation with the other corn mi ttees. These proposed changes grew out of recommendations by the special Committee to Review the Combined Budget. The Forty-fourth General Assembly adopted two of the changes, reducing the required five-year projections to three-year ones, and adding a requirement for each of the three major standing committees to present written summaries of their proposed gospel outreach to the Committee on Stewardship. The Committee on Stewardship was authorized to select a new designation to replace the term “Combined Budget.” After conferring with representatives of the other committees, the Committee on Stewardship chose “Worldwide Outreach,” believing it better represents the purpose of the assembly in erecting the Committee on Steward- ship and adopting the “Plan” under which it functions. The changes in designation are as follows: 1. In C.1, substitute “worldwide outreach” for “activity.” 2. In C.3, substitute “total budget of worldwide outreach” for “combined budget.” 3. In C.4, first sentence, substitute “total” for “combined.” In C.4, second sentence, substitute “denomination’s worldwide outreach” for “denominational effort.” 4. In C.6, substitute “worldwide outreach” for “combined budget.” 5. In C.7, substitute “total” for “combined,” and “Worldwide Outreach” for “Comb i ne d Budget .” 6. In C.10,substitute “total” for “combined” in both instances. The other proposed changes referred to the committee were discussed with representatives of the three major standing Committees. Though appreciating the concerns expressed by the special Committee to Review the Combined Budget and by the advisory committee of the Forty-fourth General Assembly that dealt with the special committee’s report, the Committee on Stewardship would recommend only that one change be made to require the three major committees to include summaries of their gospel outreach in their reports to the assembly as well as in their presentations to the Committee on Stewardship.

DEFERRED GIVING PROGRAM The Committee on Stewardship has been urged to develop a program for deferred giving for the benefit of the kingdom as a whole and the particular agencies of the church. To set up such a program, with the specialized abilities and financial management needed, would involve a great deal of time and money before any return could be expected. Yet in considering the matter, the committee is impressed with the fact that deferred giving, or estate planning, is a stewardship service that many people need and desire. The planned use of major assets in the Lord’s service, while protecting the needs of the owner, should be a major stewardship concern of every believer. The committee, therefore, is proposing that a limited development of such a program be initiated. The committee believes that such a limited program is feasible only in cooperation with an existing service of thz sort desired. Mr. Robert G. den Dulk and the Rev. LeRoy B. Oliver, both members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, are engaged in various aspects of estate planning in behalf of Westminster Theological Seminary. They are willing to serve the church as well as the seminary in this service. 98 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Committee on Stewardship is recommending that $12,600 be committed to develop a deferred giving program, and contemplates using this amount in cooperation with these representatives of Westminster Seminary. The amount would be used to pay expenses incurred in behalf of the denomination and to pay some salary costs as well. The expert knowledge and the detailed forms and letters required to maintain the program wouM be provided to the Committee on Stewardship from those presently used by the seminary.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Committee on Stewardship recommends to the Forty-fifth General As- sembly that it approve the following program of Worldwide Outreach and request the churches to supply at least the amounts stated during 1979: Christian Education ...... $185,000 Foreign Missions ...... 280,000 Home Missions ...... 240,000 Total to three committees ...... $705,000 Stewardship, regular ...... $32,400 deferred giving ...... 12,600 45,000 Total 1979 Worldwide Outreach ...... $750,000 2. The Committee on Stewardship recommends to the Forty-fifth General Assembly the adoption of the following changes in the “Plan for the Committee on Stewardship”: a. To make the last sentence of Section C.2 read: “The Committees on Christian Education, Foreign Missions, and Home Missions and Church Extension shall include summaries of their proposed gospel outreach for the next fiscal year in their reports to the Assembly, together with summaries of actual operations from the preceding year, budget for the current year, and requested budget for the next year.” b. To-add the following sentence to Section C. 1 1 : “Contributions from Orthodox Presbyterian sources to Great Commission Publications, Inc., shall be reckoned as contributing to the responsibility of Orthodox Presbyterian churches to the approved program of the Committee on Christian Education.”

ELECTIONS The terms of the following members of the committee expire at this assembly: Ministers: Marven 0. Bowman, Jr.; Jack J. Peterson. Rulhg Elder: Luke E. Brown, Jr. In accordance with Standing Rule X, 2, the Rev. Laurence N. Vail (Class of 1979) resigned upon accepting the position of Assistant General Secretary for the Committee on Foreign Missions. Of the four vacancies, the assembly must elect at least two ministers and at least one ruling elder or deacon. Respectfully submitted, Jack J. Peterson, Chairman FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 99

Mr. Reitsma presented the report of Advisory Committee 4# 4.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #4 Advisory Committee #4 reviewed the report of the Committee on Stewardship. The committee met with and interviewed the General Secretary and Chairman of the Committee on Stewardship, the General Secretary and President of the Foreign Missions Committee, the General Secretary of the Christian Education Committee and a representative of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. We recommend: 1. That a limited program of deferred giving be initiated with the expertise of Messrs. Robert G. den Dulk and LeRoy B. Oliver. We would cite the following grounds for this recommendation: a. Such a program of estate planning provides financial guidance for believers and should be an integra! part of stewardship. b. Whereas few men have the background required for estate planning, Messrs. den Dulk and Oliver have the abilities required for this work. 2. Adoption of committee recommendation 1, that the 45th General Assembly request the churches to supply for the program of Worldwide Outreach in 1979 at least $750,000. Christian Education ...... $185,000 Foreign Missions ...... 280,000 Home Missions ...... 240,000 Stewardship, regular ...... $32,400 Deferred giving ...... 12,600 45,000 Total 1979 Worldwide Outreach ...... $750,000 3. Adoption of committee recommendation 2a. 4. Adoption of committee recommendation 2b. 5. Commendation of General Secretary John Mitchell for a job well done under much duress, commending him for his vision in leading the Committee on Stewardship towards a broader ministry of stewardship for the church. Respectfully submitted, Carl J. Reitsma, Convener Thomas F. Armour, I1 Walter P. Flores David W. Kiester W. David Laverell Cyril T. Nightengale Roger A. Ramsey It was moved to adopt recommendation 1 of the report of the Committee on Stewardship. On substitute motion recommendation 1 of Advisory Committee #4 was adopted, namely that a limited program of deferred giving be initiated with the expertisc of Messrs. Robert G. den Dulk and LeRoy B. Oliver. On motion recommendation 2 of Advisory committee #4 was adopted. The Assembly recessed at 1O:OO a.m. and reconvened at 10:23 a.m. Mr. Oliver introduced to the Assembly the Rev. Messrs. Arthur L. Herries and Wilbur Siddons, fraternal delegates of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. loo - FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On motion Messers. Herries and Siddons were enrolled as corresponding members and it was determined to hear Mr. Herries following Mr. Hart’s address to the Assembly. Mr. Hart, frnternal delegate of the Reformed Church in the United States, addressed the Assembly. Mr. Herries, fraternal delegate of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, addressed the Assembly. On separate motions recommendations 2.a. and b. of the Committee on Steward- ship were adopted. It was moved to adopt recommendation 5 of Advisory Committee #4. On motion the pending question was postponed indefinitely. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Stewardship. The following were nominated: Ministers - Marven 0. Bowman, Jr., Harold L. Baurer, Hofford, and Peterson; Ruling Elders - Luke E. Brown, Jr. (Hatboro), Coie and Ray Logsdon ( Burtonsville) . The Moderator later announced the election of the Rev. Mr. Hofford and Ruling Elders Brown and Coie to the class of 1981; and the Rev. Mr. Peterson to the class of 1979. On motion the Assembly determined to request the Committee on Stewardship to provide data to the 1980 Assembly which will better enable it to judge the net effect of the work of a full-time General Secretary as opposed to an administrative assistant, and that the report include a description of the different categories of work undertaken by the General Secretary and an accurate estimate of the time commitments to each category of work. Dr. Coppes, President of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DlACONAL MINISTRIES The committee on Diaconal Ministries held two regular meetings during 1977: Feb. 18-19, Oct. 14-15. Between meetings emergency decisions are made by the executive committee (the President, Vice-president, and Secretary-Treasurer ) , and subsequently reviewed by the full Committee. At the fall meeting the following officers were elected for a one-year term: President, Dr. Leonard J. Coppes; Vice-president, Mr. John K. Novinger; Secretary- Treasurer, Rev. Lester R. Bachman. SUPPORT 138 Churches contributed $44,757.29. 43 New supporting congregations sent gifts after the special letter to the ministers in November. 33 Individuals provided $5,568.93 in designated funds for special concerns. 3 Non-OPC contributors sent $2,2 10.57 for special projects. APPRECIATION Support in 1977 exceeded 1976 by $12,259.56 and the number of congregations sending gifts increased by 43. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 101

SPECIALCONCERNS 1. Aged Ministers’ Fund: Needs in 1978 i4dl require nearly $10,000.00. Only $5,000.00 was received in 1977 in designated funds. The balance must be transferred from the General Account. 2. Emergency Medical Funds: Over $17,000.00 was disbursed in 1977. Funds for such EMERGENCY needs may be designated or SPECIALLY solicited. 3. Ministers without Hospitalization: Three are now provided for by the Com- mittee. Presbyteries should require churches to provide hospitalization coverage when issuing a call or prepare to provide it from its own diaconal funds or, if necessary, seek this Committee’s help. 4. Disaster Relief: Funds from individuals and our churches are gladly received and disbursed as designated, but funds are NOT solicited except in severe EMERGENCIES involving areas where our churches or missionaries are located. WHY? Because the other denominational Committees are inadequately supported, and we do not want to exploit our EMOTIONAL, COMPASSIONATE appeals to their disadvantage. 5. Hunger-America: We have received funds designated for this cause. We have sought to distribute these funds and have distributed some of them. Our difficulty in distributing such funds fully is due to the fact that the possible recipients we contact reply that they are receiving public assistance. 6. Ugandan Involvement: We continue to be actively involved in Ugandan relief. - We have not actively sought to raise funds in 1977. The session of New Life OPC, Jenkintown, Pa., has served in co-ordinating our efforts inasmuch as Rev. Kefa Sempangi is one of their number. 7. Work Scholarships: We continue to underwrite work-scholarships in Korea, Japan, and America enabling Christian families to send their children to Christian schools. GENERALINFORMATION NAPARC Diaconal Agencies meeting in Grand Rapids: Your Committee was represented by Rev. Lester R. Bachman and Dr. Leonard J. Coppes. Dr. Coppes serves as president of this informal committee. TERMSEXPIRE Rev. Lester R. Bachman and Elder Cyril Nightengale (Denver, Colo.) RECOMMENDATIONS 1. That for the year 1979 each church and chapel be urged to include the work of this Committee in the amount of $4.50 per communicant. 2. That the following report be forwarded to the RES in fulfillment of the request to the 44th G.A. THE THEOLOGY OF DIACONAL WORLD INVOLVEMENT The world has shrunk dramatically by cords of short wave and Telstar. This is a work of God, the Author of providence. God has placed us in a position of history that enables us to hear of tragedy within minutes of its occurrence. God has conditioned the hearts of his people so that they cannot help being compassionate to human need. Regeneration is so certain to create compassion, as well as saving faith in Christ, that James uses the one to test the other. “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (Jas. 1:27). 102 FORTY-FIFTH GENERALASSEMBLY

Therefore, God in His providence, has placed His church-His compassionate people-in a world full of terror and need, and has enabled them to see-often far too graphically-the gaunt and hopeless faces of the poor of the world and the bloated abdomens of their children. If the church of Jesus Christ were to be guided by providence and emotion, the only course of action is immediate liquidation of assets and blanket distribution to this pitiful world. But God directs His people by His word. All problems and questions of conduct are to be answered here. Scripture is God-breathed for this very purpose. “that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Tim. 3: 17). What, then, are the theological principles upon which diaconal work is to proceed? What are their implications for world diaconal involvement?

CHRIST,THE DEACON The greatest Deacon of all is our Lord Jesus Christ. According to the ransom passage, His purpose in coming into history was to serve (diakoneo), specifically to give His life as a ransom in the stead of many (Mt. 20:28). As the Deacon supreme, He created the gospel in His service. His exclusive work as our Redeemer-His unique atonement-was a diaconal service to poor lost sinners. Moreover, Scripture commands us to take example from Christ’s exclusive work for our humble service of one another (Phil. 2:l-11; Jn. 13:l-17). This surely distinguishes the work of service as so godly an activity that it is the imitation of Christ. Diaconal service, therefore, is not a mere afterthought, but breathes the very essence of Christian living. Wherever Christians go they must distinguish themselves with a Christ- like life style (Jn. 13:35; I Jn. 2:6; Rom. 8:29).

WORLDINVOLVEMENT When it comes to a commission for involvement (or mission) to the world of unbelievers, the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 19, 20) focuses the responsibility of the church. Our Saviour commanded one program for his disciples for world diaconal involvement, and that was apostolic. As Christians go and make disciples of all nations, they necessarily carry their diaconal life style with them. But they go for the purpose of bearing the gospel, not for the purpose of feeding the poor. Jesus’ own example demonstrates the priority of the ministry of the word over the ministry of mercy. For example, Jesus’ initial ministry in Galilee sees Him leaving a popular healing ministry in Capernaum because His declared purpose was to preach elsewhere (Mk. 1:31-39). To be sure His healing ministry was revelatory of the Messiah. It was absolutely essential that He heal the sick and cast out demons. But this ministry of mercy was performed as an accompaniment, illustration, and demonstration of Christ’s declared purpose of the ministry of the word. It was while fulfilling His purpose of preaching He also healed, not the converse. Jesus taught the priority of the ministry of the word over the ministry of food when He spoke to Martha, a dear friend who was troubled about serving (deaconing) the food without Mary’s help (Lk. 10:38-42). The widow of Sarepta and Naaman the Syrian are examples of God’s selective mercy at points in history when many of Israel were unrelieved widows and unhealed . lepers (Lk. 4:25-27). It was never God’s purpose to relieve all men, indiscriminately, of the miseries which accompany their sinful stale. His program strikes at sin, the underlying cause, rather than treating the symptoms of misery. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 103

After the Saviour left, His apostles understood, and acted in accord with, the primacy of ministering the word, choosing a subcommittee of seven to minister food (Acts 6: 3, 4). The action recorded in Acts five illustrates this principle. Their commission to preach and teach was confirmed by the angel of the. Lord (20), and understood and obeyed by the apostles (25, 42). The healing recorded in verses 15 and 16 is an outflow of their primary ministry. Notice that it is by the initiative of the people that the sick are brought for healing, not the initiative of the apostles.

THEOBJECTS OF DIACONALSERVICE The only actual duty specified for the original deacons of Acts 6 is that of serving food to certain Christian widows. Later, Paul carefully limits the qualifications of widows to whom the church is mandated to give benevolence (I Tim. 5:9, 10). Non- Christians are clearly out of view here. Jesus teaches the necessary and inevitable compassion of the regenerate heart in the judgment scene of Matthew 25. Genuine Christians can be detected by their acts of compassion. But Jesus is careful to point out that the recipients of this mercy are “my brethren” (40). In explicating love in diaconal activity, John reiterates that “brethren” are the mandated recipients (I Jn. 3:16, 17). James agrees with this expos6 of hypocrisy. And he too labels the recipient of diaconal mercy as “a brother or sister” (Jas. 2:15). There is certainly a priority of the “household of faith” clearly set forth in Gal. 6:lO. While doing good is enjoined as properly directed to all men, it is mandated for the household of faith. This emphatic priority of the household of faith is in accord not only with the benevolent ministry and teaching of Christ, but with the Old Testament’s instruction regarding church benevolence. Communal benevolence was commanded toward both the Israelite and the “stranger” living among them as well (Deut. 14:28, 29; Lev. 19: 10; Deut. 24:17, 18; Ezk. 18:16, 17; Psa. 82:3, 4). Within the kingdom of God the chief executive and representative head, the king, was responsible to see that the divine command iregarding communal benevolence was carried out (Ezk. 18:16, 17; Psa. 72:12; Prov. 31:9). His action was imitative of God the great Deacon (Deut. 10:18, 19; Jsa. 3: 13-15; Psa. 72:1, 2, 12-14; 107:35-41), and typical/prophetic of Christ (Psa. 132: 10- 15; Isa. 29:19; 58:l-9; 61:lff; cf., Lk. 4:18, 19; Mat. 11:4, 5, 20; 28:17).

THEOLOGICALIMPLICATIONS Basic humanist presuppositions will certainly ,color the urgency with which a church ministers to men. If there is no heavenland there is no hell in a man’s theology, and if man is the measure of all things, then an unqualified urgency to feed the world becomes the number one priority. Eternal misery far outweighs the miseries of this life. Therefore the truly compassionate activity for the Christian theologian is to rescue poor lost sinners from eternal misery with the gospel. While he is engaged in this activity he will also relieve temporal misery of people around him. Only the myopia of unbelief, however, will engage the church in relieving temporal woes alone. 104 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Temporal judgment and God’s providence have relevance to our consideration. Scripture conditions believers to trust a sovereign God for the necessities of life. David’s mature observation, and inspired comment is, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psa. 37~25).Jesus promised the necessities of life to those who put God’s interests first (Mt. 6:33). God has ordained this to be so. But He ordains the means as well as the end. He sets an industrious spirit within His people. He provides Christian brothers with compassion also. Thus Christians work for a living, and those who cannot are recipients of diaconal ministry. Nations which have put God out of their thinking are under His wrath, Temporal disasters and famine are in God’s providence, if not directly traceable to sin. If idola- trous concern for “sacred” cows in India were to be replaced by allegiance to Jehovah, much protein would be available for the hungry. I SUMMARY Diaconal and word ministries go in tandem. These must not be separated, and neither may they be confused. Yet there is an essential priority of the gospel. It is parallel to the tandem of Jesus’ two great commandments. Neither is viable in isolation from the other, nevertheless it is emphatically clear which one is the first and great commandment (Mt. 22:37-39). The implications are: to develop a world relief agency separate from the church’s missionary work is to dismember the Great Commission and become practical humanists. In order to increase the church’s diaconal world involvement, we must increase her world missionary involvement, or strengthen the diaconal arm of her present mission fields. .* * * *

I I PROPOSED INCOME BUDGET FOR 1979 GENERAL.ACCOUNT: Office and Administration ...... $ 2,500.00 Travel ...... 2,700.00 Promotion ...... 800.00 TOTAL ...... $ 6,000.00 DIACONALMINISTRIES: Relief Fund, America ...... $ 2,000.00 Relief Fund, Korea ...... 1,000.00 Relief Fund, Japan ...... 1,000.00 Relief Fund, Taiwan ...... 1,000.00 Student Work-Scholarships, America ...... 8,000.00 Student Work-Scholarships, Korea ...... 2,000.00 Student Work-Scholarships, Japan ...... 600.00 Student Work-Scholarships, Korean Orphans ...... 2,600.00 Leper Patients, Korea ...... 2,500.00 Mental Hospital and Old Folks’ Home ...... 600.00 Gospel Hospital, Pusan, Korea ...... 1,800.00 Emergency Medical Relief, America ...... 5,000.00

$28,100.00 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 105

MISCELLANEOUS: Build Reserve for Emergencies ...... $ 1,000.00 !§ 1,000.00

TOTALGENERAL ACCOUNT BUDGET ...... $35,100.00 AGEDAND INFIRMMINISTERS’ ACCOUNT: Anticipated Disbursements ...... $10,000.00 Reserve for Aged and Retired Ministers ...... 1,000.00

TOTALAGED AND INFIRMMINISTERS’ ACCOUNT BUDGET ...... $11,000.00

PROPOSEDINCOME BUDGET FOR 1979 ...... $46,100.00

To the Committee on General Benevolence of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church We have examined the Report of the Treasurer of the Committee on General Benevolence of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for the year 1977. Our examination was made in accordance with standard auditing records and such other procedures which we considered necessary in the circumstances, except as noted in the following paragraph. Income from contributions was not confirmed. In our opinion, subject to the afore noted exception the Report of the Treasurer fairly presents the cash receipts and disbursements for the year 1977 and the assets held at December 3 1, 1977, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year. Respectfully submitted, HUBER& DREWES, CPAs Willow Street, Pa, March 28, 1978 106 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATEMENT OF RECORDEDCASH RECEIPTSAND DISBURSEMENTSOF THE GENERALACCOUNT YEARENDING DECEMBER 31, 1977 GENERAL FUND Balance on Hand, January 1, 1977 ...... $ 7,587.39

RECEIPTS CONTRIBUTIONS From OPC Churches, Designated . . $ 484.34 Non-Designated ...... $ 636.49 From OPC Deacons, Designated ... 5,583.08 Non-Designated ...... 24,921.28 From Other OPC Sources, Designated 5,940.00 Non-Designated ...... 989.75 From Non-OPC Sources, Designated 2,010.57 Non-Designated ...... 175.00 Total Designated ...... $14,017.99 Total Non-Designated .... $26,722.52 Total Contributions ...... $40,740.51 OTHER:Loan Repayment ...... 5,000.00 Transferred from Savings Account ...... 22,500.00 TOTALRECEIPTS ...... 68,240.51 TOTALFUNDS AVAILABLE ...... $75,827.90

DISBURSEMENTS Office and Administration ...... $ 394.11 Salaries and Allowances ...... 600.00 Postage and Supplies ...... 225.63 Legal & Accounting ...... 75.00 Telephone and Telegraph ...... 343.39 Travel ...... 2,676.50 2 mon,th Loan to Lester R. Bachman ...... 5,000.00 TOTAL...... !§ 9,314.63

DEACONALMINISTRY Relief Fund America: Family A ...... $ 435.00 Family B ...... 400.00 Family C ...... 775.00 Family D ...... 375.00 Family E ...... 50.00 Family F ...... 500.00 2,535.00 Relief Fund, Japan ...... 625.00 Relief Fund, Korea ...... 1,000.00 Relief Fund, Taiwan ...... 1,250.00 Student Work Scholarship, America ...... 6,000.00 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 107

Student Work Scholarship. Japan ...... 675.00 Student Work Scholarship. Korea ...... 2,000.00 Orphan Scholarship. Korea ...... 1,700.00 Leper Patients. Korea ...... 2,500.00 Mental Hospital & Old Folks Home ...... 600.00 Gospel Hospital. Pusan. Korea ...... 1,800.00 Other: Emergency Medical Relief: Family No 1 ...... 13.714. 00 Family No. 2 ...... 1,750.00 Family No. 3 ...... 910.00 Family No . 4 ...... 362.42 Presbyterian Home-Quarryville ...... 200.00 Johnstown Flood Relief ...... 400.00 TOTAL...... 38,021.42 TRANSFERRED:To Savings Account ...... 20,000.00 TOTALDISBURSEMENTS ...... $67,336.05 BALANCEON HAND.DECEMBER 31. 1977 ...... $ 8,491.85

STATEMENT OF RECORDEDCASH RECEIPTSAND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE AGEDAND INFIRMMINISTERS ACCOUNT YEARENDING DECEMBER 31. 1977

BALANCEON HAND.JANUARY 1. 1977 ...... $ 2,287.88 RECEIPTS Contributions: From OP Churches. Designated ...... $ 25.00 From OP Deacons. Designated ...... 3,165.57 From Other OP Sources. Designated ...... 1,827.50 Interest ...... 325.00 TOTALRECEIPTS ...... $ 5,343.07 TOTALFUND AVAILABLE ...... $ 7,630.95 DISBURSEMENTS Minister’s Family (A) ...... $ 5,400.00 Minister’s Family (B) ...... 3,000.00 Minister’s Family (C) ...... 136.70 Minister’s Family (D) ...... 400.0 Minister’s Family (E) ...... 5 10.00 TOTALDISBURSEMENTS ...... $ 9,446.70 BALANCEON HAND.DECEMBER 31. 1977 ...... $( 1,815.75) SAVJNGS ACCOUNT-First Federa! Savings and Loan Association of Lancaster BALANCEON HAND.JANUARY 1. 1977 ...... $ 3,430.12 TRANSFERREDFROM GENERAL ACCOUNT ...... 20,000.00 INTEREST EARNED...... 282.22 $2 3. 7 1 2.34 TRANSFERREDTO GENERAL ACCOUNT ...... 22,500.00 BALANCEON HAND.DECEMBER 31. 1977 ...... $ 1,212.34 I 108 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

INVESTMENTS Church Extension Fund Demand Notes 1/19/196&#A-40 ...... $ 500.00 5/ 3/1961-#A-64 ...... 1,OOO.OO 5/ 2/1962-#A-88 ...... 1,000.00 2/ 4/1963-#A-95 ...... 500.00 2/26/1964-#A-116 ...... 500.00 3/ 2/1965-#A-124 ...... 1,000.00 3/ 3/1967-#A-144 ...... 2,000.00 TOTALAMOUNT INVESTED ...... $6,500.00

ANALYSIS OF RESERVE BALANCES YEARJANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER31, 1977 Aged & Infirm General Ministers Account Account Total Cash Balance, January 1 ...... $ 7,587.39 $ 2,287.88 $ 9,875.27 Investment Balance, January 1 ...... -0- 6,500.00 6,500.00 Reserve Balance Total, January 1 ...... $ 7,587.39 $ 8,787.88 $16,375.27 Cash Received ...... $68,240.5 1 $ 5,343.07 $73,583.58 Cash Disbursed ...... 67,336.05 9,446.70 76,782.75 Cash Increase (Decrease) ...... $ 904.46 $ (4,103.63 ) $( 3,199.17) Investments, at Cost, Increase (Decrease) Cash Balance, December 3 1 ...... $ 8,491.85 $(1,815.75) $ 6,676.10 Investment Balance, December 3 1* ...... -0- 6,500.00 6,500.00 Reserve Balance Total, December 3 1 ...... $ 8,491.85 $ 4,684.25 $13,176.10 Amount *Investment Church Extension Fund Demand Notes $6,500.00

Mr. Hofford reported for Advisory Committee #7 concerning the report of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries. On motion recommendation 1 of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries was adopted. It was moved to adopt recommendation 2 of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries. It was moved and seconded to amend the pending motion to read “that the report on ‘The Theology of Diaconal World Involvement’ be approved by the 45th General Assembly and’ submitted to the RES.” On motion the Assembly determined to recommit the report on “The Theology of Diaconal World Involvement” to the Committee on Diaconal Ministries for revision and that Messrs. Clowney and Petty be appointed to work with the committee on the revision and that the committee be instructed to report to the 46th General Assembly. The Assembly recessed at 12:29 p.m. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 109

MONDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 19 The Assembly reconvened at 1:40 p.m. with the singing of the hymn, “Immortal, invisible, God only wise.” Mr. Warren led in prayer. The Minutes of the session of Saturday, June 17, were approved as corrected. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Diaconal Mh- istries. The following were nominated: Minister - Bachman; Ruling Elder - Nighten- gale. There being no further nominations the Moderator declared the Rev. Mr. Bachman and Ruling Elder Nightengale elected to the class of 1981. Mr. Oliver, Chairman of the Conirnittee on Eciimenicity arid Interchurch Relations. presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMiTTEE ON ECUMENICITY AND INTERCHURCH RELATIONS During the past year the Committee has sought to carry out the instructions of previous Assemblies and has met twice to consider its own concerns and once with the Committee on Fraternal Relations of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod.

I. APPOINTMENTOF FRATERNALDELEGATES TO OTHER ECCLESIASTICALBODIES : A. The Rev. Robert B. Strimple to the Fifth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America in September, 1977. B. The Rev. Arthur J. Steltzer and the Rev. Thomas S. Champness, Jr. to the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod meeting in May, 1977. C. The Rev. Young Son to the General Assembly of the Korean ’Presbyterian Church (Hapdong) meeting in September, 1977. D. The Rev. Theodore Hard to the General Assembly of the Korean Presbyterian Church (Kosin) meeting in September, 1977. E. The Rev. George Y. Uomoto to the General Synod of the Reformed Church in Japan meeting in October, 1977. F. The Rev. Laurence N. Vail to the Eureka Classis, Reformed Church in the US. meeting in April, 1978. The Rev. D. Clair Davis attended the June, 1977 meeting of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as an observer. At the time of the writing of this report, appointments of fraternal delegates to 1978 meetings of several churches with which the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is in correspondence are yet to be made. The Committee has also determined to appoint only one delegate to each of the concurrent synods/assemblies meeting in Grand Rapids in June. 1978.

11. REPORTSFROM FRATERNALDELEGATES TO OTHER ECCLESIASTICAL BODIES: A. The Rev. Theodore Hard, fraternal delegate to the Korean Presbyterian Church ( Kosin), reports that this denomination numbers 592 congregations served by 295 ordained ministers and 297 non-ordained leaders. The total constituency is 109,611 made up of 3 1,820 adult communicants, 7,479 baptized infants, 10,008 catechumens, 15,081 attenders and 45,223 Sunday school students. 110 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

B. The Rev. Young Son, fraternal delegate to the Korea Presbyterian Church (Hapdong) reports that this year’s assembly was uneventful in terms of any theological problems or matters of church government. The denomination has a goal of 10,000 congregations by 1985 and is currently growing at a rate of one congregation a day. Total membership is 837,473. Mr. Son reports that the denomination needs to foster an awareness of the corporate nature of the church. C. The Rev. Charles G. Dennison and the Rev. Lawrence R. Eyres, fraternal delegates to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America report that major decisions reached by the General Synod were: (1) adoption of Session-controlled communion in the place of close communion (2) revised terms of communion and church membership. Submission but not subscription to the Constitution of the Church is now required for membership. (3) Revision of the Testimony which serves as a commentary and modern application of the Westminster Confession. They also reported that the Covenanters are looking forward to a new field of labor in foreign missions, and that Synod recommended “that the director of educational services act as an information center for the promotion of Christian Day Schools within the RPCNA.” Two major studies were recommitted, but are indicative of trends within the church. First, the Committee on the Ofiicers of the Church recommended “that Synod affirm that Scripture teaches that there is one office of elder and that there exist within that office the two distinct functions of ruling and teaching, warranting the usage of the titles of ruling elders and teaching elders with reference to the way individuals are gifted by God to exercise their office.” Second, the Committee on Questions on Covenanting, continuing its work in connection with a report submitted to the 1976 Synod (see, Minutes of the Synod of the RPCNA, 1976, pp. 121-132), has proposed that public covenanting no longer be considered as “the particular form of response which God demands” and that the public covenants no longer be considered as “perpetually binding” but as guides to help “Christ’s Church today to a similar vigorous stand in behalf of the absolute authority of the Word of God and the universal sovereignty of Jesus Christ.” D. The Rev. John P. Galbraith and the Rev. Robert B. Strimple, fraternal delegates to the PCA reported that the issue arousing the deepest emotions was a personal resolution calling on the Assembly to “humbly petition the President and Congress of the United States to reconsider their decision to withdraw our armed forces from South Korea, land to continue to maintain our military presence there.” This resolution was adopted, against the recommendation of the Committee on Bills and Overtures and the vigorous speeches of many who argued that the Assembly should not make the error, which had characterized the PCUS, of making ecclesiastical pronouncements on political questions. Other matters of primary interest included the following: 1. With regard to the Christian Education and Publications Committee: a. The following motions relating to the joint venture with the Orthodox Presby- terian Church (Great Commission Publications) were carried: (1) “that the session of each PCA church not already utilizing Great Com- mission Publications’ Sunday School materials (Grades 1- 12) be encouraged to give serious consideration to using those materials,” and (2) that the Permanent Committee ’be commended “for being innovative in trying to meet the needs of the PCA that cannot presently be met by the joint- venture, and at the same time urge the committee to continue to coordinate as much as possible that which is done at Montgomery and Philadelphia.” FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 111

It was reported that although more churches in the PCA are using Great Com- mission Publications this year than last, PCA financial support of the joint venture is less this year than last. b. The Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, had proposed a plan for joint RPCES/PCA control of Covenant College, and the Permanent Committee recommended that the proposed plan be “approved in principle.” The Assembly, however, adopted the Committee of Commissioners’ recommendation that “the negotiation . . . be postponed one year, and that the Permanent Committee of Christian Education and Publication be instructed to continue discussions with the RPCES, with particular reference to philosophy of education and federal aid and control; and that the Christian Education and Publications Committee be instructed to draft a definitive statement regarding the relationship of the church to non-theological education.” c. The Christian Education and Publications Committee had proposed a Plan for Educating Ministers that provided for a considerable departure from traditional presbyterian methods of training ministers. It was finally approved by the Assembly, after a series of amendments proposed by the Permanent Committee itself, the Committee of Commissioners, and the Assembly in plenary debate. Under this plan presbyteries will have the option of requiring either the “traditional” three-year seminary program or a “combination of both classroom and tutorial” training in a “four-year training period developed in one of two ways”: (1) three years in an established seminary, leading to a Master of Divinity degree, plus a fourth year of tutorial study under PCA men on presbytery levels (an intern year is riot to be accepted in lieu of this fourth-year tutorial); (2) a two-year program in academic theology in an established seminary and/ -- or regional seminary or a program of self-study under qualified PCA ministers, plus a two-year program of study in the area of practical theology under presbytery supervision. In further defining what “seminaries” are in view, presbyteries were urged to counsel candidates to “attend seminaries that are committed to that view of Scripture set forth in the Westminster Standards and of the Reformed Faith, examples of which are Re- formed Theological Seminary . . . Westminster Theological Seminary . . . Covenant Seminary, and Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and/or to attend any regional seminaries that may develop cooperative agreement with such seminaries. . .7’ In a related action, an amendement to the Book of Church Order was called for “requiring at least one year of licensure for all candidates for the ministry either during or following the completion of a classic three-year academic seminary program or during an approved four-year alternate program for the purpose of providing supervised training in practical theology by the presbytery in which the candidate is to be ordained.” In order to “safeguard the high standards” of requirements for ordination a sub-committee of 21 qualified men, one to be selected from each presbytery, was erected to recommend to the Sixth General Assembly “a unified curriculum for theological education for PCA ministerial candidates.” d. The Christian Education and Publications Committee has been given many responsibilities. To it also the Assembly referred an overture calling for “a renewed study of the Biblical office of the Deacon” and for regional and denomination-wide education and fellowship of deacons. 2. Since its birth the PCA has been very active in Missions and that was reflected in reports to the General Assembly. 112 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

a. The Committee on Mission to the U.S. reported that since the previous Assembly 35 new “organizing pastors” for church planting and four “presbytery evangelists” had been appointed, and that they expected to have “at least 75 men and their families . . . engaged in the establishment of new churches in at least 50 different cities in the U.S.” They also expressed the hope that they could “accomplish by the end of this decade, what no other Reformed or Presbyterian body in the history of our country has achieved, that is a church which is Reformed in all 50 states. . .” The Assembly approved a plan presented by the Committee on Mission to the U.S. for a five-year campaign to raise $5 million for the construction of new buildings for new congregations. With the recognition of the new Presbytery of Central Florida and the uniting of the Vanguard and Tennessee Valley Presbyteries into one presbytery under the name of the latter, the number of PCA presbyteries remain at 21. b. The Committee on Mission to the World reported that “there are now 90 missionaries on the field with 12 approved candidates” in preparation, and that this is a 25% increase since the previous Assembly. Of the 90 missionaries only 11 are ministers of the Word; most are sent by “cooperative agreement” with non-denominational mission agencies. c. An Ad Interim Committee on Constitutional Documents recommended the adoption of what amounts to an interpretation of the Westminster Standards on baptism with relation to church membership, and the Assembly adopted the statement: “This means that a particular congregation should carry on its rolls those who are members of the visible church universal, and who have been solemnly admitted by baptism to a particular church. Likewise a particular congregation should carry on its rolls as non-communing members children of believers, who have been solemnly admitted to a particular congregation by baptism.” d. The previous Assembly had adopted a statement that was condemnatory of abortion, but the study committee was continued to the 1977 Assembly. The committee was directed to continue its study and to report to the 1978 Assembly. e. The Assembly adopted a resolution introduced by one of the presbyteries that unequivocally described homosexuality as sin and stated that “a practicing homosexual continuing in this sin would not be a fit candidate for ordination or membership in the Presbyterian Church in America.” f. The office of deacon is now under study by an Ad-Interim committee. 3. Several matters were dealt with that are of concern in all our Presbyterian and Re- formed churches and the OPC should be aware of positions taken and studies being made by other churches in order that we might both offer and receive help. a. The report of the Constitutional Documents Committee regarding the proper interpretation of I Timothy 3:2 was not approved but rather the whole question of divorce (not just of church officers) was assigned to a new theological committee which is to report to the Sixth General Assembly. b. The Rev. F. Nigel Lee moved that discussion: of the report of the Ad-Interim Committee to Study the Question of the Number of Offices in the Church be suspended until the Sixth General Assembly to allow the committee time to study various things: the minority report, the classic three-office view, the triune office view (Lee’s position), the office of deacon, and the general office of all believers. This motion was carried; Dr. Lee was added to the committee, and his paper stating the triune office view was distributed (59 pages of the Commissioners’ Handbook consisted of fine print documents on the question of church offices.) An amendment was added asking the committee to give special attention to the question of who may administer the sacraments. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 113

4. Several actions of the Assembly with regard to interchurch relations are to be noted: a. Encouraged occasional pulpit exchange among NAPARC member churches; b. Approved the strengthened statement of the “Basis” of NAPARC: c. Decided that its Committee on Interchurch Relations should have “more specific direction as to the committee’s response to overtures and invitations to discuss union with other Reformed bodies.” To implement this, the Assembly appointed “an ad-interim committee of six to write a position paper on the Biblical basis of ccclesiastical union and fraternal relations, and to report back to the Sixth General Assembly.” d. Determined to refer a complaint of the ARPC General Synod against the establishment of a PCA congregation “only 300 yards” from an ARPC congregation to the Carolina Presbytery for consideration; e. Decided that no comity agreement should be established with any church at this time, but reminded its churches of the guidelines adopted by the Fourth General Assembly concerning possible competition with other Presbyterian and Reformed churches: the OPC should be aware of those guidelines and might well consider a reciprocal statement. The PCA should “be sensitive to our brothers in other true Presbyterian and Reformed denominations and have consultation with them before entering their areas of church planting where areas of church planting overlap.” f. The Assembly responded in the negative to an overture from one of the presbyteries that the Assembly “direct the Sub-committee on Interchurch Relations to resist and vote against the approval of the membership application of the ARPC to the NAPARC.” The loose-leaf Handbook mailed to commissioners prior to the Assembly, numbered in such a way as to receive the additional pages which were distributed in the course of the Assembly, admirably fulfilled its purpose of providing “an efficient means of handling all of the papers that come before the Assembly.” We would recommend that our Stated Clerk consider adopting such a format for our General Assembly. (It was announced by the clerk at this General Assembly that the “tear out” ballot system had been learned from the OPC.) E. The Rev. Theodore J. Georgian and the Rev. Cornelius Tolsma, fraternal delegates to the Christian Reformed Church, report: The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was received into ecclesiastical fellowship; the matters relating to the Reformed Ecumenical Synod were dealt with favorably; it was moved to grant transfers under ordinary circumstances to members affiliating with churches in ecclesiastical fellowship; and the matter of a union church involving RCA and CRC congregations was referred to the Interchurch Relations Committee for further study. Recent years have seen the lodge issue come up before synods, mostly involving attempts to ease up on the church’s stand. Synod, however, adopted an advisory committee minority report essentially reaffirming the church’s historic position. A study committee on “Hermeneutical Principles on Women in Ecclesiastical Office” was given another year, and will bring in a completed report in 1978. The problem of the new hermeneutic has produced considerable discussion in the Church. The church has had a New Confession Committee since 1971, reflecting the desire in some quarters of the church for a re-expression of the faith in a new confession. This, in the light of the “pervasive secularization of modern life” and the felt need for the church to speak anew to our age. The Synod appointed a preliminary committee to bring recommendations to the 1979 synod “on pertinent matters relating to a Contempor- ary Testimony.” 114 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The so-called “Verhey Case” filled the galleries one evening. The Synod decided to remand this entire issue to the consistory which holds Dr. Allen Verhey’s ministerial credentials, the Neland Avenue CRC, in this action: “That Synod consider the adjudica- tion of the Dutton protest concerning Dr. Verhey’s views presently engaged in by the Neland Avenue Consistory an adequate way of dealing with the matter.” Neland Avenue is to report to the Synod of 1978. F. The Rev. Arthur J. Steltzer and the Rev. Thomas M. Champness, fraternal delegates to the RPCES report that the two major matters of concern before the 1977 Synod was the office of deacon and a statement on the beverage use of alcohol. The Synod determined that women should not be ordained to the office of deacon but that women who served in the local congregations assisting the deacons could be called deaconesses. The Synod took the position that the Bible does not declare the moderate use of alcohol sinful, but that in view of the 20th century American abuse of alcohol total abstinence is advised. Joint administration of Covenant College was offered by the RPCES to the PCA. G. The Rev. George E. Haney, fraternal delegate to Eureka Classis, reports that at the April, 1977 meeting three candidates for the ministry were examined for ordination, two from Westminster Seminary and one from Covenant Seminary. H. The following guidelines for fraternal delegates have been approved by the committee : Do’s 1. Do attend a minimum of three days and as many more as possible of the sessions of the synod/assembly to which you are sent. 2. Do take notes on significant actions of the synod/assembly and try to get copies of reports submitted to that body by its agencies or committees. Tf an agenda of the synod/assembly is sent to you in advance, familiarize yourself with its contents in advance of the meeting. 3. If you have been appointed to bring fraternal greetings, prepare your remarks to that body so that the Committee on Ecumenicity may have a copy but, more important, that you may be brief and not wear out your welcome by a long speech. 4. In preparing your remarks to that body, refresh your memory of significant developments and happenings in the OPC by reading to yourself the Minutes of the previous General Assembly of the OPC. It is well to take along with you copies of the Minutes of the General Assembly of the two preceding years. 5. Do seek to commend the body you are addressing for its accomplishments and virtues. Stress points of agreement with the OPC. Inform that body of significant developments and happenings in the OPC and of problems where such can be shared. 6. Do try to hold pr,ivate conversations with as many commissioners as possible. By this you can learn much of the spirit of the group and the denomination’s inner workings. Do try to build bridges between OPC and the denomination to which you are sent. 7. Do write a report for the Committee on Ecumenicity citing significant actions reflecting the life of the church, such report be made with the purpose of aiding the COEIR in preparing its report to the Gcneral Assembly. 8. Do keep an accurate account of your expenses which will be paid from the General Assembly Fund. When the host denomination does not provide meals and housing, you will be reimbursed for such costs, in addition to transportation. 9. Be conscious that some in the church you are visiting will judge the OPC by what they see in you. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 115

Don’ts 1. Don’t speak pontifically so as to leave the impression that you are the voice of the OPC. In speaking of the position of the OPC on any matter, it is better to cite actions of general assemblies and the Constitution than to give your personal opinion. 2. Don’t air your personal views, particularly where there is a crucial matter before the body you are visiting. Seek to avoid negative criticism in your address, and in private conversation use discretion. 3. Don’t zip in, make your speech and zip out. You cannot thus represent the OPC adequately or learn very much about the church you visit.

111. INVITATIONSTO OTHER ECCLESIASTICALBODIES : The Committee has sent invitations to those churches with whom we are in correspondence to send fraternal delegates to the Forty-fifth General Assembly.

Iv. CONTACT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICAAND THE REFORMEDPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, EVANGELICALSYNOD: In October, 1977 your committee received a letter from the Stated Clerk of the Fifth General Assembly of the PCA informing us of the Assembly’s action as follows: “The Assembly adopted the recommendation that the Assembly authorize the Committee on Interchurch Relations to continue their present discussions with other Reformed bodies, including discussion of possible union with Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, but that any proposal of an official action on union will be withheld until the paper on Biblical Basis of Ecclesiastical Union and Fraternal Relations is received by the General Assembly.” In consequence of that letter and in pursuance of the instructions of the Forty- second General Assembly; see Minutes, p. 159, “the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations was authorized to initiate exploratory conversations with the Reformed Church in the U. S. and those churches listed in Chapter V, Section 1, of the proposed constitution of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC),” three members of your Committee met with three members of the interchurch relations committee of the RPCES and with two members of the interchurch relations committee of the PCA on Wednesday, January 18, 1978, in Philadelphia. At that meeting there was informal agreement that the members present would recommend to their respective committees that three-way talks be begun with a view to organic union of the PCA, RPCES and the OPC. At a meeting of the committees on interchurch relations of the RPCES and the OPC, it was agreed that the separate committees would recommend to their major assemblies that the committees be authorized to discuss the possibility of the merger of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the PCA and the RPCES. In accordance with that decision, your Committee recommends that the Assem- bly authorize the Committee on Ecumenicity to discuss with the interchurch relations committees of the PCA and the RPCES the possibility of the merger of the three churches. The joint committee of the RPCES and the OPC also agreed that in view of the proposed initiation of talks concerning a three-way merger, it would not be advisable to present a plan of union between the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the RPCES in the immediate future. 116 FORTY-FIFTH GENERALASSEMBLY

V. NORTHAMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMEDCOUNCIL The NAPARC held its third annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 28-29, 1977. Minutes of this meeting are in the files of the Committee. A. The following items are reported from those minutes: 1. The representatives of the OPC were Messrs. Eyres, Galbraith, Oliver, and Peterson. (p. 1, par. 2) 2. The E.:ecutive Director of the NPRF was invited to sit in on the NAPARC meetings as a means of communication between NPRF and NAPARC. (p. 5, item 1) 3. The following was adopted as a statement of policy: “The Role of Authority of NAPARC in sponsoring conferences: “a. The stated purpose and function of the Council is to ‘facilitate discussion and consultation between member bodies’ and ‘exercise mutual concern’; its authority is only ‘advisory’ and it is not to ‘curtail or restrict the autonomy of the member bodies.’ “b. The Council may call a conference of the member bodies on subjects of mutual concern, to which all member churches are urged to send representatives. “c. The materials and conclusions of such a conference should be sent to the Interchurch Committees of all the member churches, and to the NAPARC Interim Committee. “( 1) The chief uses of the materials and conclusions of a NAPARC- sponsored conference would be (1) the information and instruction of the member churches and ( 2) the conveying of response-approval, disagreement, or further study-by each member church to the others. “(2) The materials and conclusions are to be considered the property of the several member churches and may be used and publicized by them only in their own name unless approved by other member churches also; joint publicity of the results of the conference should be by the churches themselves as distinguished from publicity by NAPARC which is consultative rather than policy-making. Neither NAPARC nor NAPARC-sponsored conferences may speak for the member churches. “(3) The ultimate purpose of the conferences is to search the Scriptures for better understanding of subjects to provide churches with tools through which they may apply their understanding to the church’s life and to seek an understanding that would be agreeable and common to all the member churches.” (p. 5, item 2). 4. The proposed amendment to the constitution was adopted. (p. 6, par. 10) 5. Action regarding the proposed membership of the Associate Reformed Presby- terian Church was postponed. (pp. 6, 7, par. 12). 6. “NAPARC recommends the following church relationship policy to its con- stituent churches: “1. That we acknowledge the Scriptural Mandate (Ephesians 4) to enter into Ecclesiastical Fellowship where it is consistent with Scriptural unity and truth as a visible demonstration of the unity of the church both to the church and to the world. “2. That we define Ecclesiastical Fellowship for NAPARC churches as follows: Ecclesiastical Fellowship is a relationship in which the churches involved are Reformed in their confessional standards, church order and church life though there may be such differences between them that union is not possible at this time and there might be considerable need for mutual concern and admonition. “3. That where churches enter Ecclesiastical Fellowship with other Reformed churches, that relationship be implemented where possible and desirable by: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 117

“a. Exchange of fraternal delegates at major assemblies. “b. Occasional pulpit fellowship (by local option) ‘(C. Intercommunion (regulated by each session (consistory) ) “d. Joint action in areas of common responsibility. “e. Communication on issues of joint concern “f. The exercise of mutual concern and admonition with a view to promoting the fundamentals of Christian unity. “4. That we mutually recognize that the decision to enter into or withdraw from Ecclesiastical Fellowship with another Reformed church shall be decided by each church on an individual basis.” (pp. 7-9, par. 13). 7. The council asked the concurrent Synod Committee to consider the use of a joint program on world hunger. (p. 9, par. 14). 8. There have been joint meetings of almost all of the various agencies of the churches. (p. 10, par. 17). 9. NAPARC is sponsoring study committee on hermeneutics (p. 10, par. 17, 18). 10. Rev. Richard DeRidder has offered to make a comparative study of the polity of the member churches. (p. 11, par. 18). 11. The matter of comity was referred to the joint conference of the home missions agencies. (p. 11, par. 19). 12. The Interim Committee was asked to consider means of increasing ruling elder participation in the activities of NAPARC (p. 11, par. 22). 13. The RCUS and the ARPC were invited to send observers to the next meeting. (p. 11, par. 24). 14. The next meeting will be held in Philadelphia, October 27, 28, 1978 (p. 12, par. 30). B. Concerning the NAPARC matters: 1. The Committee recommends that the Assembly adopt the recommendations of NAPARC (No. 6 above) as the policy of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in its relationship with other Reformed churches. 2. Thc Committee refers the following statement to the Assembly for information and recommends that an advisory committee be erected to consider the statement and its recommendations.

STATEMENT OF NAPARC CONFERENCE ON RACE RELATIONS PREFACE As participants in the NAPARC conference on Race Relations held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 24 and 25, 1977, we have entered in two days of discussion and self-examination regarding the relationships of the conservative Reformed community to the struggle for racial justice. We have arrived at a consensus on a number of crucial- issues and we offer our concerns to the larger NAPARC fellowship for deliberation and action. None of the NAPARC churches can adopt a position of superiority over the other NAPARC churches in respect to its record on race. Nor can the NAPARC churches in general claim superiority to other churches in respect to problems of race. 118 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

We are convinced that we, as Reformed Christians, have failed to speak and act boldly in the area of race relations. Our denominational profiles reveal patterns of ethnic and racial homogeneity. We believe that this situation fails to give adequate expression to the saving purposes of our sovereign God, whose covenant extends to all peoples and races. We are convinced that our record in this crucial area is one of racial brokenness and disobedience. In such a situation the credibility of our Reformed witness, piety and doctrinal confession is at stake. We have not lived out the implications of that biblical and confessional heritage which we hold in common with each other, with its emphasis on the sovereignty and freedom of grace, on the absence of human merit in gaining salvation, and on the responsibility to subject all of life to the Lordship of Christ.

I. THEUNITY OF MANWITH RESPECTTO CREATION,SIN, AND REDEMPTION Although there are marked distinctions and even divisions among men, including those of race, mankind, according to the teaching of the Bible, has a single origin. Later distinctions and divisions are indeed significant and may not simply be pushed aside; nevertheless, the Bible clearly teaches that the gospel is universal in its offer and its call. All men are created in the image of God and have fallen into sin, and are in need of redemption. All those who are in Christ are united together with Him as their Head in a new humanity, in which the distinctions and divisions that otherwise separate men are transcended in a new unity. True, the distinctions mentioned in the Bible as having been overcome in Christ are not primarily those of race, nor does the Bible think along lines that correspond with the distinctions of race as we understand them today; nevertheless, racial distinctions and divisions as we know and understand them today certainly fall under those things that have been transcended in Christ. How, then, is the new unity in Christ to be expressed in the communion of the church today as it bears on the question of race? The description of God’s people in I Peter 2:9, 10, as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, reveals the church’s visible oneness as the community of those separated unto the Lord. It is a oneness on the order of the racial, cultic, and national unity of Israel (Exodus 19:6), and it has as its purpose the declaration of the wonderful works of God. Therefore, the church’s identity transcends and makes of secondary importance the racial, national and cultic identities of the world. We see in Revelation 7:9, 10, the chosen race worshipping the Lamb in heaven. They come from different backgrounds, yet worship with one voice. Is not the unity of our worship here on earth to be a copy of that which takes place within the heavenly sanctuary? Should not all those washed in the blood of the Lamb joyously worship together? IT. ON CONFESSION In repentance we acknowledge and confess that we have failed effectively to recognize the full humanity of other races and the similarity of their needs, desires, and hopes to ours; and thus we have failed to love our neighbor as ourselves. We see this failure on three levels: A. Individual church members. Within the church, our members have exhibited such attitudes and actions as discourage membership or participation by minority groups. In the broader community our members have shared in attitudes and actions that exhibit hostility and alienation against minority groups, e. g. in housing and job discrimination. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 119

We have thus been guilty of the sins of selfishness in refusing to share material things, of coveting, and in general of failure to love the neighbor as ourselves. B. Churches Our churches have not been free from such formal actions as discourage membership or participation by minority groups. They have been guilty of a lack of positive action concerning mission to ethnic groups in their own neighborhoods and to ethnic groups at large. They have practiced a kind of cultural exclusivism, thinking of the church as “our church” rather than Christ’s. This involves the sins of pride and idolatry. C. Social structures The communities which we reflect and represent have supported or failed to protest against those industrial and economic policies and institutions which are ad- vantageous to our own persons and institutions, but which accentuate the plight of the disadvantaged. In this we have been conformed to the world rather than transformed to the will of God (Romans 12:1,2).

111. ON SOUTH AFRICA The NAPARC Conference on Race Relations calls to the attention of the NAPARC churches the turmoil confronting our Christian brothers in the nation of South Africa. The Conference requests NAPARC to encourage member churches to study the charges that the laws of the South African government deny to God’s people of every race the opportunity to fulfill God’s cultural mandate and covenant responsibility, to wit: A. Certain laws encourage, if not necessitate, the separation of husbands from wives and parents from children, and, therefore, lead to the disintegration of God’s institution, the family. B. Certain laws make it difficult for Christians to practice the Biblical principle that the laborer is worthy of his hire. C. Certain laws requiring separate development of the nations lead to serious conditions of malnutrition especially where there is a large population resettled in lands of minimal productivity. The Conference also encourages the NAPARC churches which are not members of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod to respond to the request of the RES meeting in Capetown on August 20, 1976, to wit: 1. “To request member churches to give early and serious attention to those problems involved in creating an atmosphere of dissatisfaction and unrest which led to the present riots as matters of great urgency.” 2. “TO urge all Christians to reach out to each other in a demonstration of love, thus promdting peace in South Africa.” The Message of Capetown, p. 5 IV. ON SEMINARIES We commend the Calvin Theological Seminary faculty for its decision to implement policies calculated to improve preparation for ministry in multi-racial areas; and West- minster Theological Seminary for its ministerial institute which intends to assist inner- city pastors in their continued training in ministry; and Covenent Theological Seminary for its Urban Ministers’ Institute; and request these institutions to communicate to the other NAPARC-related seminaries both their understandings of the biblical basis for those programs, and also progress reports concerning the accomplishment of the goals of those programs, with practical advice for the seminaries. 120 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

V. ON CHANGINGCOMMUNITIES A. We encourage congregations to reach out to the entire community around them. B. We encourage congregations to rise to meet the challenge of racial diversity in changing neighborhoods. C. We encourage members of our congregations to remain in those communities where there are racially changing patterns. D. We acknowledge that in order to change our unbiblical profile, we should urge churches in NAPARC to give priority to a vigorous pursuit of evangelism and church planting in racially, economically, and ethnically diverse communities. E. We encourage NAPARC to sponsor seminars and workshops toward implement- ing church growth along racially, ethnically, and economically diverse lines. F. We call upon NAPARC churches to define and incorporate new, small congregations and that provision be made for financial viability.

VI. ON MISSIONSAND EVANGELISM A. That the grace and righteousness of Christ may be demonstrated by loving, visible, cross-cultural and multi-class relationships; it is recommended that creative, vigorous and sacrificial diaconal ministries be developed in the local church, meeting common human need as close to home as is possible, enlarging the opportunities of the less fortunate socially in terms of physical, social, economic, educational, and spiritual needs. B. We recommend that the fall NAPARC conference on the diaconate take into account the effects of ecclesiastical and institutional racism, so that renewal of the diaconates in our various churches may reflect a consciousness of this specific evil in their efforts to administer mercy in the name of Christ. C. In reaffirming the great commission, we recommend that: Cross-cultural evangelism be encouraged in our churches through preaching, modeling, and discipling, through the elders and pastors, beginning with the use of our covenant families and homes, and house-to-house neighborhood outreach; And that NAPARC form a task force to prepare seminars and institutes for pastors and elders, churches, and seminary professors and students in cross-cultural evangelism; And that resource teams be developed to serve NAPARC churches and groups of churches.

VIT. GENERALRECOMMENDATIONS Our present discussions have been only a small beginning in considering more faithful paths of obedience in the area of race relations. Therefore, we call upon NAPARC and its member denominations to: A. Convene a conference at which minority brothers and sisters from the other evangelical fellowships meet with NAPARC members for murural conversation and edification; B. Appoint a committee to study the feasability of a NAPARC Institute on Justice and Human Relations; C. Encourage NAPARC denominations to send representatives to the NBEA conference in San Francisco. We commit ourselves to working locally and denominationally for these goals. Further thought and action in these areas is necessary for such reasons as: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 121

1. Scriptural data ont the unity of the church and the plan of God to restore the unity of the human race; 2. The need for our Reformed fellowships to avail ourselves of the gifts of members of the Body in minority communions; 3. The need for our denominations, congregationally and corporately, to promote justice for the oppressed, to uphold the cause of the poor. For Christ will not ask US about doctrinal purity or ecclesiastical fellowship; He will ask us about the people who are hungry, thirsty, naked, in jail, and without family. (End, Statement of NAPARC Conference on Race Relations) *** 3. The Committee recommends that the Assembly in response to the recommendation of NAPARC (Minutes p. 6, item 5) agree to participate in a joint study “of the current pressing question of divorce especially as it relates to: (a) ‘divorce and re-marriage,’ and (b) ‘divorce and the church officer,’ ” that the Assembly elect two persons to represent the OPC in the joint study, and that the Interim Committee of NAPARC he asked to convene such a committee. 4. The Committee reports that the Rev. Messrs. Richard B. Gaffin and Meredith G. Kline have agreed to serve as the Orthodox Presbyterian representatives on the NAPARC study committee on Hermeneutics.

VI. CORRECTION OF COMMITTEE’S REPORT TO THE 44TH GENERALASSEMBLY In response to a letter from the Clerk of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church pointing out an error in the committee’s report to the 44th General Assembly (see Minutes p. 162, paragraph 5), the Committee determined to report its desire to the 44th General Assembly to change “most.. .” (agd following words) to “a significant number of its new ministers have . . . been trained at Covenant Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary.”

VTT. CONTACT WLTH THE REFORMEDCHURCHES IN THE NETHERLANDS The Committee for External Ecumenical Relations of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands responded to the letter of your committee authorized by the 42nd General Assembly, see text, Minutes 44th General Assembly, pp. 163, 164. The letter from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands contained a copy of the text of a revised statement on their policy on interchurch relations. The Committee through its chairman acknowledged receipt of this information, informed the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland that the churches of NAPARC are engaged in a joint study of this matter and expressed the hope that both the statement of the Gmeformeerde Kerken in Nederland and the study of NAPARC would be useful to both our churches. VIII. BUDGET The Committee estimates that its expenses for fraternal delegates, committee meetings, meetings with committees of other bodies, delegates to NAPARC, and miscellaneous expenses will be $3500.00.

JX. ELECTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE The terms of the following members of the Committee expire at this Assembly: Ministers-John P. Galbraith and Jack J. Peterson. Respectfully submitted, Le Roy B. Oliver, Chairman 122 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dr. Stnmple presented the report of Advisory Committee #8. REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #8 1. REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON ECUMENICITYAND INTERCHURCH RELATIONS: A. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with the committee’s recommendation presented in the next to the last paragraph of part 1V. of its report. B. Advisory Committee #8 recommends that the General Assembly urge the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations to present a proposed plan of Union with the RPCES no later than the 47th General Assembly. C. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with the recommendation presented in part V.B.l. of the committee’s report. D. With regard to the recommendation in part V.B.2. of the committee’s report, Advisory Committee #8 finds the “Statement of NAPARC Conference on Race Rela- tions” to contain error. Because of the length and complexity of the statement, Advisory Committee #8 believes it beyond the scope of a temporary committee to make a detailed response. E. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with the recommendation in part V.B.3 of the committee’s report. 11. REGARD~NGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON REFORMEDECUMENICAL SYNOD MATTERS: A. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with recommendations (1-4) of the Com- mittee on RES matters. B. Advisory Committee #8 recommends that recommendation (5) be adopted in the following form: “The Assembly assure the RES member churches in South Africa that we shall encourage all our people to pray that our sovereign Lord will use the Christian community of South Africa to foster the righteousness and peace of the Kingdom of God among all the peoples of the nation so that the name of our God will be praised among the nations. C. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with recommendation (6). D. Advisory Cornmittec #8 recommends that recommendation (7) be adopted in the following form: “The Assembly ask the sessions to lead their congregations in prayer that the Holy Spirit will work mightily through his Word throughout the world to deliver sinners from the power of sin as well as from its consequences and in this way to establish the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and prosperity among men.” E. Advisory Committee #8 concurs with recommendations (8-1 1). 111. REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON RACE: Advisory Committee #8 received no report from the Committee on Race. (Note: This report was received later in the Assembly.)

1V. REGARDINGRECOMMENDATION 2 OF THE REPORTOF THE STATEDCLERK. Advisory Committee #8 recommends that the Stated Clerk be authorized to reply to Pastor Roger Guibal of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Paris that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church regrets that it is not in a position to contribute to its building fund. Respectfully submitted, Robert B. Strimple For Advisory Committee #8 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 123 On motion the recommendation in part IV of the report of the Committee on Ecu- rnenicity and Interchurch Relations was adopted. Mr. R. L. Atwell recorded his negative vote. It was moved to adopt recommendation I.B. of Advisory Committee #8. It was moved and seconded to change the word “present” to “pursue” and to add the words “and respond” between “RPCES” and “no” in the pending question. On motion the AssembIy determined to recommit the main motion and its amendment to Advisory Committee #8. The Assembly recessed at 3:40 p.m. and reconvened at 4:OO p.m. On motion the recommendation in part V.B.l. of report of the Committee OD Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations was adopted. On motion the Assembly determined to refer the Statement of the NAPARC Con- ference on Race Relations (cf. part V.B.2. of the report of the Committee on Ecumen- icity and Interchurch Relations) to the Committee on Race for study and requested that committee to report its findings to the 46h General Assembly. It was moved to adopt the recommendation in part V.B.3. of the report of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations. On motion the pending question was postponed until after the report of the Com- mittee on Overtures and Communications. On motion the Assembly instructed the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations to explore the feasibility of including the Interchurch Relations Committee of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America in discussion of the possibility of merger. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations. The following were nominated: Messrs. Galbraith, Peterson, and Rockey. The Moderator later announced the election of Messrs. Galbraith and Rockey to the class of 1981. Mr. Galbraith, Chairman of the Committee on Revisions to the Form of Govern- ment, presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REVISIONS TO THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT Fathers and Brethren, The Committee on Revisions to the Form of Government herewith presents what it hopes will be its final report. A. Since the previous Assembly the Committee has given careful attention to Overture No. 1 to the 44th (1977) General Assembly referred to the Committee by that Assembly, and to the 17 communications addressed to the Committee, some of which were received before the previous Assembly and some afterwards. The Com- mittee also made its own review of its previous work, as well as considering suggestions made concerning the Revised Amended Version at the 44th Assembly. B. There are four typographical errors in the text of the Proposed Form of Government sent down to the presbyteries: 124 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Chapter 11, Section 4, next to last line (p. 2)-“Supper” should be lower case Chapter XXIII, Section 6, last line (p. 31)-“the” belongs before “presbytery” Chapter XXIX, Section 3.d, sixth line (p. 47)-“normally” is misspelled Chapter XXIX, Section 4, third line from bottom of p. 47-“Qualifications” should be lower case C. The Committee presents the following considerations in response to Overture No. 1 to the previous Assembly from the Presbytery of the Midwest that had proposed amendments affecting Chapters VI, VIT, VIII, IX, and X: The amendments proposed in the overture would use the term “pastor” and the description of the pastoral office in the proposed Form of Goverment to describe the office of the ruling elder, in which the minister is included. The minister of the Word would then be described as a teacher and his distinctive function would be described, not by the pastoral duties prcsented in the new Form of Government, Chapter VIII, but by the brief statement of teaching function given in Chapter IX. The Advisory Committee of the General Assembly rightly observed that the adoption of this overture would require extensive revision of at least Chapters VI through X and recommended further study, particularly of the Scripture passages cited in the overture, “to make sure whether the proposed Revised Amended Version of the Form of Government does justice to the Biblical concept of the eldership.” A broader and a narrower question are raised by the overture. The broad question is the issue as to whether the New Testament requires that all who exercise gifts for government in the church must be endued with the gifts for the public ministry of the Word. The narrower question is whether the ruling gift is best described by the pastoral image used in Scripture, or whether that image is more fittingly applied to those who teach as well as rule in the church. The new Form of Government does emphasize the parity in the ruling function of all presbyters or elders, whether they also labor in the Word and in teaching or not. Note the formulation of V:3, the function of elders as moderators, and the greatly enriched description of the work of ruling elders in X. But the new Form of Government does not require of all who rule in the church that they also be called and gifted of Christ for the teaching responsibilities of a minister of the Word. This position has been challenged; in briefest defense the committee would note : 1. The New Testament teaching about office unfolds in the context of the history of redemption. The New Testament eldership is rooted in the Old Testament eldership. The function of rule was the distinct characteristic of the elders of the OT. At the time of Christ elders are still called “elders of the people” as in the Old Testament (Matt. 21:23; 26:3, 47), and the word may describe rulers who were not teachers (distinguished from scribes, Luke 20:1) as well as elders who were (Matt. 15:2). When the elders of the Christian community are first mentioned without further description in Acts 11 :30, Luke can assume familiarity with that oficc among the people of God. In the rich outpouring of spiritual gifts on the New Testament church it is possible that most Christians with ruling gifts were also prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. That may explain why Paul must urge with irony that even the least able Christians be appointed to a court of judgment within the church rather than carry legal disputes before Gentile judges (I Cor. 6:l-7). But wise men should be sought to perform this task in the church, just as they would in the synagogue in Jewish communities. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 125

2. In the New Testament the ruling gift is distinguished from the teaching gift. In Romans 12:8 and I Corinthians 12:28 Paul lists the gift for rule separately. In the Corinthians passage Paul emphasizes the separability of the functions named and of the gifts that endue them. In the beginning of the list Paul specifies offices and ranks them in order of importance. “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues” (I Cor. 12:28). He distinguishes the gift of rule from other gifts and describes it in terms of its exercise (a recognized function), and does so in a context that includes the classification of offices, including the office of teacher. This distinction between ruling and teaching appears also in I Timothy 5:17. There we read that of the ruling presbyters so~izelabor in word and doctrine. That both groups can be called presbufrroi does not mean that their gifts, calling, and publicly recognized functions are the same. (A case can be made for translating the word as “older men” here as in v.1.) We know from the Gospels that the term “elderyywas applied to scribes who were teachers of the law and to elders of the people who were not teachers. The question is, Why do some rulers labor in word and teaching while others do not? The answer is plain enough. Some are teachers and others are not. Some have the teaching gifts; they are scribes in the kingdom (Matt. 13:52). In the light of Paul’s exhortations to Timothy to stir up his gift (I1 Tim. 1 :6) and to Archippus to fulfill his ministry (Col. 4:17) it is inconceivable that he would account men worthy of double honor who had teaching gifts but did not labor in Word and doctrine. Those who labor in Word and doctrine are those specially gifted for that ministry. The description of the work of the pastor in VIII assumes throughout that the minister of the Word has special responsibilities that spring from his calling to labor in the Word and teaching. Notice that the chapter states that the pastor joins with the ruling elders in governing the congregation. Notice, too, that his leading of the people “in all the service of Christ” is shared with the other elders. While the chapter does not say so, it is evident that the pastor is similarly a co-laborer with the deacons in ministering to the poor and the afflicted. Yet the strong description of the special duties of the minister of the Word ought not to be generalized in application to all who share with him in the ruling function. It is the importance of the ministry of the Word that makes the work of the teaching elder essential and distinctive. The overture, however, also raises a narrower question. Should the term “pastor” be used regularly for all ruling elders, and should the distinctive function or office of the teaching elder be designated by the term “teacher”? It is true that in the Old Testament as in the New the figure of the shepherd is applied to the ruling function. Kings are called shepherds: God says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd” (Isa. 44:28). With the death of a king the people are seen as scattered, sheep without a shepherd (I Kings 22:17). The false shepherds of Israel are condemned because they have not cared for the sheep but “with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them” (Ezek. 34:4). Nevertheless the overwhelming emphasis in the figure is on the feeding function of the shepherd. The Hebrew participial noun “shepherd” is derived from the verb “to feed.” In the Ezekiel passage just quoted the first charge against the shepherds is that they have not fed the sheep. Jeremiah prophesies God’s promise, “And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jer. 3:15; cf. 23~1-4). In the New Testament Jesus the Good Shepherd charges Peter to shepherd his sheep. Two verbs are used, one which includes oversight and could be translated “tend,” and one 126 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

which means more specifically to feed. Paul compares his stewardship in the gospel to a shepherd feeding (“shepherding”) a flock (I Cor. 9 :7, 14). The noun poimerz (shepherd, pastor) is applied in the New Testament principally to Jesus (e. g. Mark 14:27; John 10:2-16: Heb. 13:20; I Pet. 2:25), but in an important passage, Ephesians 4: 11, it is used of an officer in the church. What office does Paul have in view? Several considerations point toward a teaching office. First, when this list of offices is compared with the lists in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30 and Romans 12:6-8 it cor- responds with the first part of these lists where teaching gifts are mentioned. Second, in the context of Ephesians Paul is emphasizing the ministry of the gospel as that which edifies the church. It is the revelation of the mystery by the apostles and prophets (3:4-6), the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles (3:7-8), that causes the manifold wisdom of God to be made known through the church. Here, as regularly, Paul thinks of doctrine as edifying the church so that mature Christians may not easily be misled by false teachers (4:14). Finally, the close connection of a noun that denotes the tending and feeding of a flock with the term “teacher” strengthens the focus on the feeding function. The overture argues that because the shepherding function is included in Paul’s charge to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28 it must be applicable to all elders and that therefore ruling elders are in view in the “shepherds” or “pastors” of Ephesians 4:ll. But this line of reasoning can be reversed. If in Ephesians Paul is thinking primarily of the teaching offices in the church, then in his address to the elders at Ephesus he may also be speaking primarily to teaching elders. This is supported by his warning against false teachers arising from among them to draw away disciples (Acts 20:30). As we have noted, it is entirely possible that most elders in Paul’s richly endued churches had teaching gifts. In any case, in view of the flexibility of the term “elder” we cannot argue that all who could be called elders are in view when the teaching functions of those who labor in word and doctrine are described. An example of this is I Peter 5:l-4. Since Peter calls himself an elder and indeed a “€ellow-elder,” it is difficult to be sure what group he has in view. When Paul calls himself a “minister” (deacon) or slave of Christ he sometimes has his apostolic calling in view (I1 Cor. 3:6; 11:23; Eph. 3:7). We could not conclude that he was a “deacon” in the same sense as those he addressed at Philippi. Peter may have teaching elders especially in view, since his is a teaching office. Or he may be speaking more generally of all elders and charging them to shepherd the flock. While it is not inappropriate to use the figure of the shepherd in application to ruling elders, such usage would introduce an element of confusion in regard to the term used for those who serve as ministers of the Word in congregations. And since the Scriptures emphasize the place of the Word in the feeding and nurturing of the flock the well- established usage of the term “pastor” (or shepherd) is especially appropriate to the minister. D. The Committee draws the attention of this Assembly to the action of the previous Assembly that “the Committee on Revisions to the Book of Discipline and Directory for Worship be instructed to review its work in the light of the final disposition of revisions to the Form of Government (i.e., the revisions proposed to the presbyteries by the 44th General Assembly) and report with recommendations as soon as possible.” E. The chairman wishes to take this opportunity to express to the undersigned members of the Committee his personal appreciation for their exceptional diligence in meeting the demands placed on them to pursue and complete this work, at much personal sacrifice, for their effort and devotion to producing a governmental standard that FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 127 seeks to be faithful to the Scriptures, and for the congenial manner in which the discussions and debate were carried out. F. The Committee recommends: 1. That the Assembly propose to the presbyteries the following as amendments to the Form of Government (requiring a vote by this Assembly and the presbyteries- Chapter XXXII, Section 2): Chapter 111, Section 1, line 5 (p. 3)-Delete “several” Chapter 111, Section 2, next to last line of the first paragraph (p. 3)-change “thereunto” to “thereto” Chapter X, Section 1, line 3 (p. lO)-change “thereunto” to “thereto” Chapter XIII, Section 2, last sentence (p. 13)-reword the sentence from: “Non-communicant members are the children of communicant members, who, being born within the covenant, have been baptized.” to: “Non-communicant members are the baptized children of communicant members.” Chapter XUI, Section 4 (p. 13)-add a new sentence at the end: “It shall choose its own moderator annually from among its members.” Chapter XIII, Section 6, last line (p. 13)-change “moderator” to “to moderate the meeting.” Chapter XIV, Section 5, Paragraph 2, line 2 (p. 15)-change from: “. . . or dissolve congregations at the request of the people, to visit . . .,’ to: “. . . or dissolve congregations, at the request of the people and with the advice of the sessions involved, to visit . . . ” (cf. Chapter XXIX, pro posed new Section 4). Chapter XV, Section 5, lines 3-5 (p. 17)-change from: “. . . the stated clerk shall, at the request . . . five congregations, call a special general assembly . . .” to: “. . . the stated clerk, at the request . . . five congregations, shall call a special general assembly. . .” Chapter XXI, Section 8, Paragraph 2, line 7 (p. 25)-change from: “did express its approbation of” to: “approved” Chapter XXIII, Section 3, Paragraph 2, last line (p. 30)- delete “exceptional” Chapter XXIlI, Section 6, last line (p. 31)-Change period to semi-colon and add: “if one fourth of the presbyters present at the meeting are dissatisfied with the examination in theology, the candidate shall be required to continue the examination at a future meeting of the presbytery.” Chapter XXIII, Section 18, Paragraph 4, lines 3-4 (p. 37)-change from: “. . . the presbytery shall, after approving his examination, require him to. . .’, to: “. . . the presbytery, after approving his examination, shall require him to. . .,’ 128 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Chapter XXIII, Section 20, first line (p. 38)-change “and/or” to “or” Chapter XXV, Section 2 (p. 41) a. Line 8, change from: “. . . shall not be divested of the office. . .” to: “. . . shall not ordinarily be divested of the office. . .” b. Line 9-change from: “. . . but shall be entitled to be commissioned to higher judicatories when appointed by the session or the presbytery, and to perform. . .” to: “. . .but may be commissioned to higher judicatories by the session or the presbytery, and may perform. . .” Chapter XXVIII, Section 1, line 3 (p. 45)-change “And a” to “A” Chapter XXIX ( p. 47) a. Insert new section: “4. A group of believers meeting regularly for worship on the Lord‘s Day and under the jurisdiction of a session or presbytery, whose members are enrolled as members of an existing congregation or as members of the regional church but not yet organized as r? congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, may be accepted as a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The procedure to be followed shall be that prescribed in Section 3 above, except that members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church need not be reexamined by the presbytery or its committee, and that presbytery shall not proceed without the advice of any session that may be involved.” b. Change the number of the following section from “4” to “5”. Chapter XXXII Change title from “Amending the Constitution” to “The Constitution and Its Amendment” and substitute the following for Section 1 : “1. The Constitution of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, subordinate to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, consists of its standards of of doctrine, government, discipline, and worship, namely, its Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Form of Government, Book of Disci- pline, and Directory for the Public Worship of God.” 2. That the Assembly propose to the presbyteries the following as amendments to the Form of Government (requiring a vote by this Assembly, the presbyteries, and the next ensuing Assembly-Chapter XXXII, Section 3) : Change the third vow (ordination, installation, reception) from: “Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church?” to: “DO you approve of the government, discipline, and worship of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church?” in the following places-Chapters XXII: 13; XXIII:8, 12 (bis-subsections a and b), 14, 17, and 18; and XXV:6.

Chapter XXIII, Section 12, Subsection b, seventh vow, last line (p. 34)-change from: “. . . before those among whom you labor wherever you may be?” to: “. . . before the flock over which God shall make you overseer?” FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 129

Chapter XXIII, Section 14, seventh vow, last line (p. 35)-Add at the end after “labor”: “wherever you may be?” 3. That the Committee be dissolved. Respectfuly submitted, Richard A. Barker Edmund P. Clowney D. Clair Davis Robert W.Eckardt Edward A. Haug John J. Mitchell John P. Galbraith, Chairman

It was moved to adopt the recommendation of part F.1. of the report of the Corn.. mittee on Revisions to the Form of Government. On motion the Assembly determined to amend the pending question by adding the clarifying words “in both instances” after the proposed amendment to Chapter XIII, Section 6, of the Form of Government. The pending question was carried. The Assembly recessed at 6:OO p.m. Mr. Bates led in prayer.

TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20 Following a devotional service led by Mr. Prutow, the Assembly reconvened at 8:OO a.m. with the singing of the hymn “0 the deep, deep, love of Jesus.” Mr. Adams led in prayer. On motion the Assembly determined to change the time for reconvening on Wednes- day from 1:40 to 4:OO p.m. Mr. Steever presented the report of Advisory Cornrniffee #9.

, REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #9 I. REGARDINGTHE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REVISIONSTO THE FORMOF GOVERNMENT Advisory Committee #9 A. Concurs in the response of the committee to Overture 1 to the 44th General Assembly from the Presbytery of the Midwest, that had proposed amendments affecting Chapters VI, VII, WIT, IX, and X (see part C of the committee’s report.) (Cf.p. 124.) B. Recommends that the Assembly propose to the Presbyteries the amendments to the Form of Government found in part F.1. of the committee’s report (requiring a vote by this Assembly and the Presbyteries, per Chapter XXXII, Section 2, of the new Form of Government). C. Recommends that the Assembly propose to the Presbyteries the amendments to the Form of Government found in part F.2. of the committee’s report (requiring a vote by this Assembly, the Presbyteries, and the next ensuing Assembly, per Chapter XXXII, Section 3, of the new Form of Government). D. Concurs in the recommendation that.the Committee on Revisions to the Form of Government be dissolved. 130 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

11, REGARDINGTHE REPORT OF THE NEW COMMITTEE ON REVISIONSTO THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINEAND THE DIRECTORYFOR PUBLIC WORSHJP Advisory Committee #9 A, Commends the New Committee on Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Public Worship for its diligence and thoroughness in researching and assembling data on past actions of Committees and General Assemblies on this matter. B. Expresses some concern with the statement proposed under Chpater 1, Section 2.( c), because it does not appear to give sufficient priority to the Word of God. C. Recommends that the New Committee be continued.

111. REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON PROOF TEXTSFOR THE CATECHISMS Advisory Committee 4+9 recommends that the Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms be dissolved only after copies of their manuscript have been sent to ministers and clerks of session for consideration by Presbyteries, and action has been taken by the 46th G. A.

Iv. REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON LINGUISTICREVISIONS TO THE WESTMINSTERSTANDARDS Advisory Committee #9 concurs in the recommendation of the Committee on Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards that it be continued. v. REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE HISTORIAN Since Advisory Committee #9 has received no material from the Historian subsequent to that transmitted to the 44th General Assembly we recommend: A. That the General Assembly affirm its general agreement with the guidelines given in the Report of the Historian to the 44th General Assembly and transmit those guidelines to the churches for their consideration. (See page 192 of the Minutes, 44th G. A.). B. That the present Historian be reappointed for another year. Respectfully submitted, Albert Steever, Convener David George William Haldeman Arthur Kuschke Jonathan Male Herbert Muether Bernard Stonehouse Donald Taws

On motion it was determined to amend the previously approved proposed amendment to the Form of Government, Chapter XXV, Section 2, (cf. part F.l. of the report of the Committee on Revisions to the Form of Government) as follows: Chapter XXV, Section 2, fifth sentence, change to read “Ruling elders, once ordained, when they are not reelected to a term of service, shall not thereby be divested of the office, but may be commissioned to higher judicatories by the session or the presbytery, and may perform other functions of the office when so appointed by an appropriate judicatory.” It was moved to adopt recommendation 2 in Part F. of the report of the Commit- tee on Revisions to the Form of Government. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 131

It was moved and seconded to delete the proposed change to the third vow (ordination, installation, reception). The motion was defeated. Messrs. Poundstone, Kiester, Van Dyk, Ironside, and Morison requested that their affirmative votes be recorded. The pending question was carried. It was moved and seconded to elect a committee of three to be known as the Committee on Amendments to the Form of Government. The motion was lost. On amended motion recommendation 3 of the Committee on Revisions to the Form of Government was adopted as follows: that the committee be dissolved, and that the Assembly express its gratitude for the faithful and arduous labor of the committee. Mr. Duff, Chairman of the New Committee on Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Public Worship, presented its report. On motion the report was ordered included in the minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE NEW COMMITTEE ON REVISIONS TO THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE AND THE DIRECTORY FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP This committee met three times in this past year, each time for two or more days. The committee received six letters from five ministers during the year. These letters dealt with important matters and gave the committee very helpful suggestions. The committee has carefully considered the suggestions in these letters as well as those of the Advisory Committee of the 44th General Assembly. Almost all of the work of the committee in this past year has been on the revisions of the Book of Discipline. A great deal of effort has been spent on the definition of judicial discipline and the matter of judicial accountability. The committee calls attention to the proposed revision of BD I:2. In this statement there is a deliberate attempt to limit the area of judicial discipline. The committee believes that the concepts set forth in this proposed section are very important. We welcome comments from individuals, session and presbyteries on all of our work, but especially on this proposal. Please send any comments to: The Rev. Donald J. Duff, Chairman 3406 Fairway Dr. LaMesa, CA 92041

REVISIONS The committee has decided upon the following revisions since our last report: Key: ( ( ) ) denotes a proposed deletion ] denotes a proposed addition Present Chapter-Means as found in present Book of Discipline or Directory for Public Worship Proposed Chapter-Means as proposed by the committee to the 45th General Assembly. The fullest report we have made was to the 42nd General Assembly. That report is found on pages 169-179 of the minutes of the Assembly. Further changes are in subsequent minutes. I 132 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

BOOK OF DISCIPLINE PRESENTCHAPTER I: 1 Delete the proposed sentence: “This discipline is either judicial or administrative.”

I PROPOSEDCHAPTER I: 2 Judicial discipline is concerned with the correction of those offenses for which members of the church are judicially accountable. Judicial accountability is limited as follows: (a) In conduct, judicial accountability for every member of the church is limited to such actions contrary to the Word of God, which seriously disturb the peace, purity and/or unity of the church. (b) In doctrine, judicial accountability for a non-ordained member of the church is limited to his credible profession of faith as reflected in his membership vows. (c) In doctrine, judicial accountabiIity for an ordained officer of the church is limited to the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, which confessional standards are the legal standards of orthodoxy. The purpose of such discipline is to vindicate the honor of Christ, to promote the peace, purity and unity of the church and to reclaim the offender.

PRESENTCHAPTER I1 :3 All certificates of dismission shall specify the particular body to which the person is dismissed, and shall be sent directly to the body by the dismissing judicatory. [A certificate of dismission shall state whether or not the person being dismissed is in good standing. Good standing is defined as having no charges pending against a person, or having been found guilty of an offense and also having been restored.] The receiving body shall notify the dismissing judicatory of the fact of reception when accomplished. I PROPOSEDCHAPTER 111: 3 Every charge of a judicially accountable offense must: (a) be in written form, (b) set forth the alleged offense, (c) set forth only one alleged offense, (d) set forth references to applicable portions of the Word of God, (e) set forth, where pertinent, reference to applicable portions of the confessional standards. Each specification of the facts relied upon to sustain the charge must: (a) be in written form, (b) declare as far as possible, the time, place, and circumstances of the alleged offense, (c) be accompanied with the names of any witnesses and the titles of any documents to be produced. I PROPOSEDCHAPTER 111: 7 A. If a charge in the form prescribed in section 3 of this chapter is presented to the judicatory of jurisdiction by an individual or individuals, the judicatory shall proceed to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether judicial process shall be instituted. A committee may be appointed for this purpose but its findings shall always be reviewed by the judicatory. B. The judicatory, or the committee, shall consider (1) the form of the charge; (2) the form and relevancy of the specifications; (3) the respectability of the witnesses named in the specifications; and (4) the apparent authenticity and relevancy of any documents adduced in support of the charge and specifications; (5) the judicatory, or committee, shall determine whether the specifications, if true, would support the charge FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 133 ~ , or charges; and (6) also whether the charge or charges, if proved true would constitute a judicially accountable offense; (7) Should the judicatory, or committee, be persuaded that the charges and specifications, if proved true, would constitute a judicially ac- cotmitable offense, it shall not dismiss the case OR technical grounds but shall require that the charges and specifications be put in proper form. If the person bringing the charges fails to do this, it shall become the responsibility of the judicatory. C. Furthermore, if a person who has brought charges requests the judicatory to assume responsibility for prosecuting the case, the judicatory shall bring the charges, provided the preliminary investigation warrants instituting judicial process. D. When the form of the charges and specifications has been approved by the judicatory, it shall fix a time for the trial of the case and shall cite the accused to appear at that time. We recommend that the committee be continued. Respectfully submitted, Donald J. Duff, Chairman Glenn D. Jerrell Jack J. Peterson

Mr. Steever presented that part of the report of Advisory Committee #9 concerning the report of the New Committee on Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Public Worship (cf. p. 130). The recommendation of the New Committee on Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Public Worship was adopted. The Assembly recessed at 1O:OO a.m. and reconvened at 10:23 a.m. On amended motion the Assembly expressed its dissatisfaction with the “Proposed Chapter 1:2” in the report of the New Committee on Revisions to the Book of Disci- pline and the Directory for Public Worship and urged the committee to retain the definition of an offense in the present Book of Discipline, and further urged the committee to develop a formulation that will better express the place of our secondary standards in discipline. Rick Reynolds spoke to the Assembly describing the work of the Goleta Youth Ministry, which is supported by the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension. The order of the day having arrived, Mr. Morison presented the report of Ad- visory Committee # 10.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #10 REGARDINGCOMMUNICATION 10 In deliberating upon the request for advice from the Presbytery of Philadelpia relative to waiving certain licensure requirements for Mr. Calvin K. Cummings, Jr., this committee met with Mr. Cummings, the Rev. Arthur Kuschke, representing the Credentials Committee of the Presbytery, and the Rev. David Moore of the Japan Mission. The committee also examined testimonials to Mr. Cummings from the Rev. William C. Krispin, the Session of Calvary OPC, Tallahassee, FL., where Mr. Cummings served as a summer intern, and the Rev. John Barnett, pastor (at the time) of the church where Mr. Cummings was ordained as an elder. 134 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

The exceptions to which the communication refers are the completion of the prescribed seminary training and competency in the Hebrew language. (FOG, XXI, 6) In support of this waiver the following facts related to Mr. Cummings’ gifts and qualifications were noted: 1) He has served as an effective elder since 1967 in two OP congregations. 2) He has demonstrated competency in teaching the Word of God for many years in a wide variety of settings. 3) He served the Japan Mission for five years as a missionary associate, teaching English and Bible and serving as house parent to children of our missionaries. 4) As a current elder for Emmanuel Chapel, Philadelphia, he counsels a designated segment of this congregation and occasionally brings messages from the Word of God. 5) He has completed one year of study at Westminster Theo- lcgical Seminary. In all of the above items Mr. Cummings’ ministry has been highly commended. Mr. Cummings’ age and family responsibilities make it most unlikely that he would be able to complete more than the one year of seminary training he now has. The committee notes that he has been informally examined by Presbytery in all areas of knowledge required for licensure except church history and Hebrew. Recommendation 1 Advisory Committee #10 recommends that the 45th General Assembly adopt the following: “In view of the manifest qualifications of Mr. Calvin K. Cummings, Jr., and his recognized usefulness to the Japan Mission, the 45th General Assembly advises the Presbytery of Philadelphia to complete its examination of Mr. Cummings for licensure and that if Mr. Cummings’ examinations are otherwise satisfactory that presbytery waive the completion of the prescribed seminary training and competency in Hebrew provided that Mr. Cummings assure the Presbytery that he will continue to scek proficiency in the Hebrew language.” REGARDINGCOMMUNICATIONS 12 Relative to the request from the Presbytery of the Dakotas for advice about waiving certain requirements in receiving Dr. Duane E. Spencer as an ordained minister, Ad- visory Committee # 10 has reviewed with the presbytery’s representatives their action to date in counseling and examining Dr. Spencer, his growth in the Reformed faith his qualifications for the ministry. We have also reviewed with them numerous letters of reference for Dr. Spencer. We discussed these matters with Dr. Spencer himself. From this information it appears to this committee that Dr. Spencer has demonstrated well-informed commitment to the Reformed doctrine of the Westminster Standards and Presbyterian order, proven gifts for the pastoral Lministry, and great depth of Biblical and theological knowledge. In making our recommendation we have also considered his age and health, which eliminate the possibility of his attending seminary. Recommendation 2 Advisory Committee # 10 recommends that the 45th General Assembly advise the Presbytery of the Dakotas: A. First, if the presbytery should find through its informal examination an area of Dr. Spencer’s knowledge of relevant information which appears weak, that they review this with him and give him oversight and strengthening; B. Second, that it continue with a full and formal examination in those areas of knowledge required by the Form of Government for ordination; C. Third, if the presbytery then remains satisfied that admitting Dr. Spencer will prosper the cause of Christ and the ministry of the Word in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, that recognizing his exceptional qualifiactions it receive him as an ordained minister of the Word, waiving the formal academic requirements he lacks, as provided in the Form of Government, Chapter XXIII, Section 3, paragraph 2. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 135

REGARDINGTHE REPORTOF THE COMMITTEE ON MINISTERIALTRAINING Advisory Committee #lO has taken note of the great importance placed on this matter by recent assemblies. The Committee was created in 1967 and was to have been a standing committee but was made a special committee until the matter could be given further consideration. There is no doubt that the conccrns of this committee are of the greatest significance for the future of our denomination, especially in the light of the fact that the OPC has no seminary of its own nor the power to control one. It is in the church’s interest that the assembly maintain the highest quality in the personnel of the committee and encourage them to diligence in their labors. We also noted the high rate of turnover on the committee and the great disparity between the Assembly’s mandates and what the committee has been able to accomplish. It seems that the task of the committee is simply larger than its present structure can handle. It is the opinion of Advisory Committee #10 that the best way to solve this problem is to make this a standing committee with a budget large enough to accomplish its task.

Recommendation 3 Advisory Committee # 10 recommends that the Assembly instruct the Committee on Ministerial Training to continue its efforts to fulfill its mandates, but that it make its chief priority to present to the 46th General Assembly a specific proposal for the committee’s operation as a standing committee, including a statement of its functions and responsibilities, and specific proposed amendments to the Standing Rules of the General Assembly.

Recommendation 4 Advisory Committee # 10 recommends that the General Assembly include in the membership of the Committee on Ministerial Training at least one teaching or ruling elder involved in seminary education.

~ ~~~~~ On amended motion recommendation 1 of Advisory Committee #10 was adopted. The Moderator led in prayer for the missionary service of Mr. Moore, who left the Assembly at this time in order to return to Japan. On motion recommendation 2 of Advisory Committee #lo was adopted. The Assembly recessed at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Bjerkaas led in prayer.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 20 The Assembly reconvened at 1:50 p.m. with the singing of the hymn “Glorious things of thee are spoken.” Mr. Knowles led in prayer. The order of the day having arrived, Mr. Hoogerhyde, President of the Committee on Pensions, presented its report. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REP0,RT ON THE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS The Committee on Pensions continues to function in two primary areas, pensions and hospital/medical. The report covering each of these areas is intended to summarize the significant events of the year in those areas. 136 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

PENSIONS AND INSURANCE On December 31, 1977 there were 141 participants in the plan, including 12 who were receiving monthly pension benefits. During the year there were four ministers whose accounts were transferred to the pension fund of the Presbyterian Church in America as a result of their enrollment in that denomination. The term life insurance continues to be carried with the North American Life Assur- ance Company. The annual premium per individual, on $16,000 coverage, was $122 for the year 1977. Tke annual premium for the year 1978 will be the same for $17,000 coverage. There was one death claim paid during the year. During the year 1977 securities of the plan were administered by two investment managers, the First Pennsylvania Bank and DeHaven & Townsend, Crouter & Bodine. Both firms provide portfolio management, custodial services for securities held for the plan, and regular accounting reports of its administration of these assets. All new funds received for investment during the year were remitted to De Haven & Townsend. All funds required for transfer to other plans and for the purchase of an annuity were withdrawn from First Pennsylvania. The assets of the fund at the end of 1977 amounted to $742.649. With the decline of the securities market at the end of the year, the value of the portfolio decreased approximately 5.6%. This decrease, offset by the net investment income earned by the fund during the year, resulted in a reduction in each participant’s account of 2/ 1 Oths of a percent. The following comparisons of the two investment managers’ performances, both long term and current is: FIRST PENNA. DE HAVEN Current yield on market 7.06% 6.89% Current yield on cost 6.96 6.92 Portfolio gain 1977 .77 (-37) Average portfolio gain per year 3.73 4.59 (including investment income) Portfolio composition at December 3 1 Fixed income securities 56.8 43.2 Governments 14.7 15.1 Stocks 28.5 41.7 100.0% 100.0% The Committee during the year determined to bring the investments of the pensions fund under one manager, and selected the firm of De Haven & Townsend to be that manager. Effective January 1, 1978 the agreement with First Pennsylvania was terminated, and all assets in their possession were directed to be delivered to the Treasurer of the Committee. The decision of the Committee was based upon the experience of the fund over the past several years under the two managers in question, In the latter part of 1977, the Committee received a gift of a home and seven acres of land in western Pennsylvania, the donor retaining the right to reside in such property during his lifetime. All costs to maintain the property are to be paid by the donor. The donor, Mr. William E. Shaw of New Galilee, Pennsylvania, is a nephew of Dr. J. Lyle Shaw, a former minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, now deceased. The 44th General Assembly granted approval to the Committee “to receive a special offering in June 1978 in order to establish a special fund for the purpose of increasing the benefits of retired participants of the Pension Plan.” The Committee took the following actions as a result of that approval: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 137

1. The name of the offering is to be “Founders Day Offering.” 2. The date of the offering was to begin on June 4, 1978 and extend to June 11, 1978, the anniversary of the founding of the Church in 1936. 3. A goal of $50,000 was set for the offering. 4. All pension plan participants who have had at least 20 years of service in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and who are 65 years of age or older prior to January 1, 1980 are to be paid $20.00 per month until the fund received may be exhausted. If the offering is less or more than $50,000, the Committee may make an adjustment in the monthly payment to be made. The Committee has received letters of concern regarding the delay in receiving annual statements of their account. The treasurer of the Committee follows the practice of waiting until the auditors complete their report before he prepares the individual statements for mailing. The auditors are being encouraged to complete their audit earlier in the year.

HOSPITALIZATION The increasing cost of medical care throughout the country is one of the concerns of the Committee. While such increases vary in different areas of our denomination, it is one of our aims to secure insurance coverage for all costs, at a premium that can be afforded by participants and/or churches. In last year’s report, it was noted that the Committee was investigating the possibility of replacing Blue Shield coverage with another carrier to provide increased benefits in the medical/surgical area at a minimum increase in cost. Effective January 1, 1978 the medical/surgical coverage was taken over by Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., the same company that carries the major medical coverage. The basic benefits schedule under Lincoln is approximately double that of those provided by our Blue Shield coverage. The increase in premium cost approximated 15% for those with family coverage only. On the anniversary date of our plan with Inter-County Hospitalization Plan, there was an increase in the premiums for hospitalization coverage, the first increase in two years. Other than the increase in connection with our change of medical/surgical carrier, there was no increase in the major medical premiums. The latest claims reports from the carriers show the following for the period August 1, 1976 thru July 31, 1977: Coverage Inter-County Blue Shield Lincoln Nat’l Hospitalization MedicaUSurgical Major Medica I Premiums Paid $48,725 $ 3,885 $12,649 Claims Paid $49,790 $12,245 $ 6,833 In addition, there were claims totaling $25,280 paid by Provident Indemnity Insur- ance Co. in that same period under our previous major medical coverage with them. At the end of the year there were 131 participants in the plan. Although this is a decrease of 26 from the prior year, it should be noted that as of January 1, 1977, West- minster Theological Seminary ceased their employee coverage with our plan and secured other coverage. This accounted for a decrease of 31, resulting in a net increase of five during the year from those eligible throughout the denomination. 138 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

OFFICERS OF THE COMMITTEE The officers of the Committee are as follows: President: Garret A. Hoogerhyde; Vice President: John E. Dowling; Secretary: Edward A. Haug; Treasurer: Garret A. Hoogerhyde. ELECTIONS The terms of the following members of the Committee 'expire with this Assembly: Ministers: John P. Galbraith; Ruling Elders: Garret A. Hoogerhyde and Harold R. Keenan. An additional vacancy exists in the Class of 1980 due to the resignation of the Rev. Roger W. Schmurr. REPORTS OF THE TREASURER The reports of the Treasurer for both the Pension and Insurance and the Hospitali- zation accounts, as audited by Stephen P. Radics and Co., Certified Public Accountants, are as follows: PENSION AND INSURANCE ACCOUNT Committee on Pensions Orthodox Presbyterian Church We have examined the balance sheet of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Pension Fund as of December 31, 1977 and 1976 and the related statement of revenue and expense and changes in fund balance for the years then ended. Our examinations were made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Pension Fund at December 31, 1977 and 1976 and the results of its operations and changes in its fund balance for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. STEPHEN P. RADICS & CO. Haledon, New Jersey April 1, 1978 ORTHODOXPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PENSION FUND BALANCESHEET ASSETS December 3 1, 1977 1976 Cash in banksdchedule 1 ...... $ 8,671 $ 11,082 Cash-trust accounts ...... 20,008 10,707 Investments-trust accounts (at market value)-Schedule 2 ...... 713,970 724,607 Total assets ...... $742,649 $746,396 --

LIABILITIESAND FUNDBALANCE Insurance premium payable ...... $ - $ 121 Fund balance ...... 742,649 746,275 Total liabilities and fund balance ...... $742,649 $746,396 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 139

STATEMENTOF REVENUEAND EXPENSEAND CHANGESIN FUNDBALANCE For the Year Ended December 31, 1977 1976 Revenue : Contributions ...... $ 72,287 $ 71,965 Realized gain on investments ...... - 2,667 Investment income ...... 44,942 36,263 Unrealized appreciation on investments. . - 86,197 Total Revenue ...... $1 17,229 $197,092 Expenses : Premiums on life insurance ...... 13,157 12,645 Realized loss on investments ...... 2,924 Annuities purchased ...... 16,306 - Pension distributions ...... 7,s 10 6,226 Withdrawals and transfers ...... 37,367 3,903 Management fees ...... 3,769 3,273 General and administrative expenses .... 1,874 1,819 Unrealized depreciation investments ..... 37,948 , Total Expenses ...... 120,855 --27,866 Excess of revenue over expense (deficit) ..... (3,626) 169,226 Fund balance-beginning of period ...... 746,275 577,049 Fund Balance-End of Period ...... $742,649 $746,275

SCHEDULEOF CASHRECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS I SCHEDULE1 For the Year Ended December 3 1, 1977 1976 Cash balance-beginning of period ...... $-- 11,082 $ 15,212 Cash Receipts: Premiums received ...... 72,287 71,965 Receipt-trust accounts ...... 56,000 - Interest received ...... --325 129 Total Cash Receipts ...... --128,612 72,094 Cash Disbursements: Payments-trust accounts ...... 51,005 48,500 Management fees-trust accounts ...... 3,769 3,273 Annuities purchased ...... 16,306 - Premiumclife insurance ...... 13,157 12,560 Pension payments ...... 7,510 6,226 Withdrawals-vested interest ...... 6,501 3,903 Transfers to other plans ...... -- 30,987 - 129,235 74,462 140 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Expenses-General Fund : Honorarium-treasurer ...... 600 600 Legal and auditing ...... 400 400 Meeting expense ...... 473 ' 449 Stationery and printing ...... 89 70 Postage ...... 130 141 Telephone ...... 44 50 Bonding expense ...... 52 52 1,788 1,762 Total Cash Disbursements ...... 13 1,023 76,224 Cash Balance-End of Period ...... $ 8,671 $11,082 SCHEDULE2 SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS -TRUST ACCOUNTS December 31, 1977 1976 Market Market Cost Value Cost Value First Pennsylvania Bank: . Bonds ...... $135,053 $138,806 $127,816 $134,794 Preferred stocks ...... 14,107 7,825 34,921 24,875 Common stocks ...... 144,503 139,263 176,361 188,225 Commercial paper ...... 154,000 154,000 138,000 138,000 U. S. Government securities ...... 75,803 ---75,476 75,802 80,836 523,466 515,370 552,900 566,730 De Haven & Townsend, Crouter & Bodine: Bonds ...... 90,080 85,815 50,244 55,222 Common stock ...... 77,219 82,838 70,311 81,405 U. S. Government securities ...... 30,562 29,947 20,563 21,250 197,861 198,600 141,118 157,877 $721,327 $713,970 $694,018 $724,607 HOSPITALIZATION ACCOUNT Committee on Pensions Orthodox Presbyterian Church We have examined the balance sheet of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Hos- pitalization Account as of December 31, 1977 and 1976 and the related statements of revenue, expense and changes in fund balance for the years then ended. Our examinations were made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Hospitalization Account at December 3 1, 1977 and 1976 and the results of its operations and changes in its fund balance for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. Stephen P. Radics & Co. Haledon, New Jersey April 1, 1978 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 141

ORTHODOXPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Hos PITA LIZATION ACCOUNT BALANCESHEET ASSETS December 31, 1977 1976 Cash in bank-Prospect Park National Bank ...... $1,317 $ 73 Cash in bank-Prospect Park Savings and Loan ...... --2,585 4,415 Total Cash in Bank ...... 3,902 4,488 Receivable-Provident Indemnity Life Insuracce Company ...... -- 250 . 339 Total Assets ...... $4,152 $4,827 ~--- LIABILITIESAND FUNDBALANCE Premiums collected in advance ...... $3,529 $4,052 Fund balance ...... --623 775 Total Liabilities and Fund Balance ...... $4,152 $4,827 -~-- STATEMENTOF REVENUEAND EXPENSEAND CHANGESIN FUNDBALANCE For the Year Ended December 31, 1977 1976 Revenue : Premiums-members ...... $76,657 $81,541 Service charges ...... 496 610 Interest ...... 270 -- 312 Total Revenue ...... $77,423 $82,463 Expenses : Premiums-insurance companies ...... 76,657 81,541 General and administrative expenses .... 918 1,006 Total Expenses ...... -- 77,575 82,547 Excess of expenses over revenue ...... (152) (84) Fund balance-beginning of period ...... 775 859 Fund Balarce-End of Period ...... $ 623 $775 SCHEDULE1 SCHEDULEOF CASHRECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS For the Years Ended December 3 1, 1977 1976 Cash balance-beginning of period ...... $-- 4,488 $ 4,862 Cash Receipts: Premiums received ...... 76,134 81,597 Service charges ...... 496 603 Interest ...... --270 312 Total Cash Receipts ...... --76,900 82312 -81,388 -- 87,374 Cash Disbursements: Premiums paid, Inter-County and Blue Shield ...... 64,967 69,686 Premiums paid, Major Medical ...... --11,601 12,193 76,568 81,879 142 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Expenses-General Fund : Honorarium ...... 600 600 Stationery and printing ...... - 36 Auditing ...... 200 185 Supplies ...... ;...... 74 133 Telephone ...... --44 53 Total Cash Disbursements ...... --77,486 82,886 Cash Balance-End of Period ...... $-- 3,902 !§ 4,488 The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Pensions. The following were nominated: Ministers - Galbraith and John W. Garrisi; Ruling Elders - Klahr, Hoogerhyde, and Harold R. Keenan (Whippany). The Moderator later announced the election of the Rev. Mr. Galbraith and Ruling Elders Hoogerhyde and Keenan to the class of 1981 and the Rev. Mr. Garrisi to the class of 1980. The Minutes of the sessions of Monday, June 19, were approved as corrected. Mr. Gaffin presented the report of the Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PROOF TEXTS FOR THE CATECHISMS The Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms reports that it plans to have ready for publication within the next six months its manuscripts of proof texts for the Shorter Catechism. Respectfully submitted, John H. Skilton, Chairman

Mr. Steever presented that part of the report of Advisory Committee #9 concerning the report of the Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms (cf. p. 130). Mr. Oliver introduced to the Assembly Mr. Albert A. Bel, fraternal delegate of the Christian Reformed Church. On motion Mr. Be1 was enrolled as a corresponding member. The Assembly recessed at 3:38 p.m. and reconvened at 4:OO p.m. with the singing of the hymn “0for a thousand tongues to sing.” On amended motion the Assembly determined that the list of proof texts prepared for publication by the Committee on Proof Texts for the Catechisms be forwarded to the Committee on Christian Education, and that the Committee on Christian Education be requested to give consideration to their publication in an edition of the Shorter Catechism. Dr. Clowney introduced the Rev. Samuel S. Chang of the Korean American Presbyterian Church to the Assembly, who in turn introduced seven members of the Korean American Presbyterian Church to the Assembly. The Rev. In Jae Lee, Moder- ator of the Korean American Presbyterian Church, addressed the Assembly. Mr. Chang translated. Mr. Bates presented a further report of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel. On motion the recommendation of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel was adopted as follows: that due to his late arrival, which resulted from an unforeseen FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 143 emergency, Mr. Ellis be excused from the beginning of the Assembly through Monday evening, June 19, without loss of travel compensation. Mr. Dennison presented the report of the Committee 011 Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LINGUISTIC REVISIONS TO ‘THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS Your committee has met two times since reporting to the 44th General Assembly. These meetings were held jointly with the respective committees of the Reformed Pres- byterian Church of North America and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. We met in the Geneva Reformed Presbyterian Church of Beaver Falls, Pennsyl- vania. At these meetings we completed the review of the Westminster Confession of Faith two times. We have placed our work in the hands of Professor Norman Carson, professor of English at Geneva College, for stylistic uniformity. We have received from him so far his critical analysis of Chapters 2-16, and we have reviewed his suggestions up to Chapter 11. It would appear that if this General Assembly continues our committee, we ought to be able to present our definitive revision of the entire Confession to the next General Assembly. We recommend that our committee be continued. The members of this committee are: Robert B. Strimple, Charles G. Dennison, and Calvin A. Busch. Respectfully submitted for the committee, Calvin A. Busch, Convener On motion the committee was continued. At the Moderator’s request Mr. Peterson assumed the chair. Mr. R. L. Atwell presented the report of the Comt?zittee on Ministerial Training. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINISTERIAL TRAINING The Committee on Ministerial Training has met three times since the 44th General Assembly. At its fall meeting the committee elected the Rev. William Krispin as chairman and elder William Viss as secretary. Work has been undertaken in the following areas mandated by the General Assembly: MANDATEONE: Consider means of strengthening the preparation of men for the gospel ministry. Much of the committee’s time was taken up in consideration of this area. As in the previous year, students at Westminster Seminary were surveyed as to their interest in the ministry of the OPC. Forty-eight students responded to an initial questionnaire and 32 students responded to a more detailed follow-up questionnaire. The proposed revision to the Form of Government was studied to determine any changes made in the care and licensing of candidates for the Gospel ministry. The committee expects to communicate with the various presbyteries regarding the procedures outlined in the new Form of Government. The Winterim Internship program was continued but with only one student participating. The committee is giving consideration to: a. ways to implement more adequately the care and licensure provisions of the Form of Government. 144 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

b. ways to strengthen and expand current internship programs. This committee is working in cooperation with the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension in this area. c. developing a program of training in conjunction with Philadelphia area churches to improve the training in ministry of our candidates at Westminster during the seminary year. Plans are being laid for a year-long seminar during the seminary year with a view to: i. getting candidates grounded in the life and ministry of a local church early in their seminary training. ii. having students come under the care of the presbytery during their first year of seminary. (Currently, most students wait until their middler and senior years before fulfilling this requirement.) iii. having candidates licensed during their middler year, thus allowing ample time to the churches to assess the candidates’ gifts and maturity for ministry. (At the time of this year’s survey, only one senior of nine responding had been licensed.) iv. providing more adequate supervision and instruction in Gospel ministry. Our failure to give adequate attention to this area in the past has often meant that many fine candidates have been lost to the OP ministry, seeking instead ministry in other Reformed denominations. MANDATETwo: Recommend to presbyteries ways in which the gifts of men under their care may be developed and proved! and work with presbyteries in establishing suitable programs to this end. Your committee continues to see itself as the denominational arm of the Candi- dates and Credentials Committees of the various presbyteries. To that end, representatives of this committee met with representatives of the various Candidates and Creden- tials Committees at the 44th G.A. to inform them of our work and to consult with them around areas of common concern. This committee intends to continue this practice and to expand it by written reports to the various presbyteries on our work throughout the year. We would encourage the various presbyteries to: 1. continue using the annual report form for candidates under their care. (Copies of this form are available from the committee.) 2. continue supervising the study programs of candidates by requiring them to submit plans for study in their annual reports and by requiring annual transcripts of studies completed. 3. seek summer, winterim, and year-long internship opportunities for their candidates in the churches of their presbytery, requiring that written reports by the supervising session be filed with the candidate’s home session and the presbytery’s candidates committee. MANDATETHREE: Develop means for the continuing education and development of ministers. In response to this mandate, this committee held a continuing education seminar prior to the opening of the 44th G.A. In surveying the commissioners at that assembly, it was learned: 1. that our ordained leaders strongly desire that such seminars be held regularly but that they be held on a regional, presbytery, level. 2. that commissioners strongly desired seminars in the following areas: developing leaders for the local church, church growth and evangelism, discipling covenant youth, and time management. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 145

In following this up, the committee decided that we are not in a position, at the present time, to offer seminars on a regional basis. Therefore, it was determined that we urge the presbyteries, through their candidates committees, to conduct such seminars. We have provided the presbyteries with a list of available resource persons in the four above stated areas, together with some basic guidelines for conducting such seminars. It is our hope that we will be able to do more in this area in the future. MANDATEFOUR: Consult with representatives of seminaries or other educational institutions regarding the training of men for the ministry. Only one meeting was held this year with the Vice President for Academic AfTairs at Westminster Seminary. No formal contact was made by us with representatives of any other Reformed seminary. Members of this committee are on the mailing lists of the various seminaries. We hope to be able to do more in this area in the future. MANDATEFIVE: Assist the churches in seeking out men with apparent gifts for the Gospel ministry and in pressing upon them its urgent claims, The committee would remind the churches of the Guidelines for Seeking Out Men with Apparent Gifts for the Gospel Ministry sent by the 39th General Assembly to sessions and presbyteries and urge the churches to use these guidelines in more force- fully pursuing this vitally important area. We are encouraged by the increase in the number of men coming to Westminster Seminary from Orthodox Presbyterian Churches but more needs to be done. We would further remind the churches of the Handbook for Pastors and Sessions on Enlistment for the Ministry of the Word and Other Church Vocations, formerly published by the PCUS and available through this committee. Work this year was undertaken on a brochure to be used in introducing seminarians to the ministry of the OPC. We hope to have this available by the next assembly. THEEXPANDING SCOPE OF THECOMMITTEE’S WORK This committee has been a special committee of the General Assembly for eleven years. As such, it has labored with limited resources to fulfil an enormous and vital mandate. So much of the future of our church depends on growth in this area. Because of the limited resources of only six elected members working with no assistance in such areas as secretarial and administrative matters, this committee has made little progress in fulfilling its mandate. Many fine projects have been undertaken only to be dropped as the membership of the committee has changed or as the time of the committee members has become more limited. It is the judgment of the committee that it will be necessary to expand the membership of the committee and become a standing committee if our work is to go forward. Further, the assistance of a secretarial person and an administrator-trainer will likely be needed to enable the committee to work more inten- sively with seminarians both during the seminary year and in the various internship programs. It is the hope of the committee to bring such a plan to the 46th G.A. Brethren, pray for us as we continue to labor as your servants in this ministry. BUDGET The Committee submits the following estimate of its expenses for the year following the 45th General Assembly: Travel $800.00 Stationery & Printing 250.00 Postage & Phone 150.00 Secretarial 1,450.00 Miscellaneous 200.00 Total $2,850.00 146 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

RESIGNATIONS The Committee reports the following resignations: The Rev. C. John Miller (Class of 79) Elder William E. Viss (Class of 80) TERMSEXPIRING The terms of the following members of the committee expire at this assembly: Ministers: William C. Krispin and George C. Scipione. RECOMMENDATION The Committee recommends that it be continued and that two members be elected to the class of 1981, one to the class of 1979, and one to the class of 1980; of these, three out of four must be teaching elders; one may be a ruling elder. Respectfully submitted, William C. Krispin, Chairman

Mr. Morison presented that part of the report of Advisory Committee #10 concerning the report of the Committee on Ministerial Training (cf. p. 135). The acting Moderator ruled that Mr. R. L. Atwell, alternate, had replaced Mr. Cottenden on the class of 1980 of the Committee on Ministerial Training, and would automatically continue in that capacity. The acting Moderator’s ruling was appealed. It was moved and carried to put the question on the appeal. The acting Moderator was sustained. It was moved to adopt the recommendation of the Committee on Ministerial Training. The Assembly recessed at 6:OO pm. Mr. Moran led in prayer.

TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 20 The Assembly reconvened at 7:30 p.m. with the singing of the hymn “All hail the power of Jesus’ name.” On motion Dr. Coppes was given the privilege of the floor during the discussion of the pending question. The Assembly recessed at 9:15 p.m. Dr. Latal led in prayer.

WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 21 After a devotional service led by Mr. Peterson, the Assembly reconvened at 8:OO a.m. with Mr. Peterson in the chair. Mr. Riffel led in prayer. After a series of amendments the pending question was adopted in the following form: that the Committee (on Ministerial Training) be continued and that two members be elected to the class of 1981, one to the class of 1979 and one to the class of 1980; of these, three out of four must be teaching elders, one may be a ruling elder, and that the Committee on Ministerial Training be instructed to continue its efforts to fulfill its mandate, but that it make its chief priority to present to the 46th General Assembly a specific proposal for the committee’s operation as a standing committee including a statement of its functions and responsibilities together with an expense ment of these tasks to a new standing committee, and furthermore that the committee be instructed to report both its considerations and recommendations to the 46th Gen- eral Assembly. The Moderator resumed the chair. It was moved and seconded that the Assembly limit the budget of the Committee on Ministerial Training to not more than $1,000 for the period between the 45th and 46th General Assemblies. On motion the pending question was postponed until after elections to the Com-

To the General Synod of the RPCES Brethren : Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! The General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church rejoices in the prospect of discussions with several of the NAPARC churches with reference to possible organic union. We also rejoice in the progress that has already been made by our two communions toward a God-glorifying union on a scriptural basis. We wish to assure you of our continuing desire to further that progress toward union. May the Lord bless you richly. The 45th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Dr. Gaffin presented the report of the Committee oti the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit. On motion the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud. 148 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE BAPTISM AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INTRODUCTTON Previously, this committee, as the Committee on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, reported to the Forty-second General Assembly (Minutes, pp.133-35). That assembly “determined to refer Sections 5 and 6 of the report back to the Committee on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in order that it may more fully supply the exegetical and theological argumentation necessary to establish clearly the truth of the statement which the committee makes on the subject of tongues, prophecy, healing and other miracles. . .” (Minutes, p. 163). Since the last General Assembly, this committee has met three times in an effort to draft a final report, largely on the basis of previous studies prepared by members of the committee. Mr. Frame, elected by the Forty-fourth General Assembly to serve on this committee, found it necessary to resign after its first meeting. Former members, whose contributions have benefited the committee, are Herbert S. Bird, George W. Knight, III, and John J. Mitchell. The committee presents the following expanded statement as its effort to com9ly with the directive of the Forty-second General Assembly. The first section is a slightly modified restatement of those points in the original report which were not referred back for further elaboration.

I. THEBAPTISM (GIFT) OF THE HOLYSPIRIT 1. The baptism with (gift of) the Holy Spirit, as the fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) and of Jesus (Acts 1:4, 5), is a once-for-all event in the history (or accomplishment) of redemption, along with the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, with which it is most closely associated (Acts 2:32, 33). In keeping with Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8 (“in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”), baptism with the Holy Spirit is realized as an event in four stages: (1) on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the entire body of Jewish believers (Acts 2:l-4); (2) in Samaria, when the Samaritan believers received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17); (3) in Caesarea, when the Holy Spirit fell upon all the Gentile listeners, the initial nucleus of the far-flung church among the Gentiles (Acts 10:44); and (4) at Ephesus, when the Holy Spirit came on previously bypassed disciples of John the Baptist in close conjunction with their being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19: 1-7). Baptism with the Holy Spirit is thus associated with the once-for-all foundation and the ongoing witnessing nature of the church of Jesus Christ. 2. Every believer comes to share in the baptism with the Holy Spirit (along with death, resurrection, and ascension with Christ) through his union with Christ at conversion (I Corinthians 12:13; cf. Romans 6:3ff.; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:5, 6; Colossians 2:12, 13; 3: 1-3). Baptism with the Spirit, therefore, as an experience of individual believers, is not an event subsequent to conversion, or enjoyed only by some believers. 3. To share in the baptism with the Spirit means to have a place in the church, as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:21, 22), where the Spirit is at work for the blessing and mutual edification of believers according to His will. a. As the Spirit of adoption, he indwells each believer (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). b. As the Spirit of Christ, he indwells the whole body enabling each member to contribute to the edification of the whole (Ephesians 4:l-16). FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 149

c. As the Spirit of truth, he has given through the apostles and prophets the completed revelation of Christ and continues to empower the church to bear witness of Christ to all nations (John 14:26; 15:26, 27; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; Acts 1:8). 4. Being filled with the Spirit is not to be equated with the baptism with the Holy Spirit, but has reference to the continuing activity of the Spirit in the life of the believer (Ephesians 5:17-21; cf. 1:13, 14), based upon that baptism.

IT. THEGIFT OF THE HOLYSPIRIT AND THE GIFTS OF THE HOLYSPIRIT Three passages figure most prominently in the discussion of what are commonly referred to as spiritual or charismatic gifts. They are Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12-14, and Ephesians 4:4-16. Building upon these and related passages, the committee would like to draw attention to seven biblical truths which must direct our thinking in this area. 1. It is essential to recognize a distinction between the gift of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The former refers to the work of the Spirit experienced by all in the church and the latter, to those workings variously distributed within the church. The gift of the Spirit, is intrinsically bound up with the salvation revealed in Christ (repentance unto life, Acts 11:lS). It involves those blessings that are a foretaste of the eschatological inheritance (Rom. 8:23; I1 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13, 14). The gifts of the Spirit, on the other hand, (e.g. I Cor. 12:4-6), are provisional and subeschatological (not part of the final order). The latter would appear to be one of Paul’s points in the much disputed passage, I Corinthians 13 :8-1 3. Prophecy and tongues, among other gifts, have a provisional and partial character and so are temporary. They are destined to give way before the enduring works of the Spirit such as faith, hope and love. The demand, then, in considering this subject, is to do justice, on the one hand, to those activities that are eschatological in character and experienced by all, and on the other hand, to those subeschatological functions which are not universally distributed. 2. To refer to gifts and activities listed in Romans 12, I Corinthinas 12 and Ephesians 4 as charismatic in order to distinguish them from presumably non-charismatic gifts, is misleading. This can be seen most easily by surveying the use of the key term charisma. This word is distinctively and almost exclusively Pauline. Surely, Paul is the first to make of it a theologically important term. What especially bears emphasizing here is the relatively wide range of meaning that charisma has for Paul. It does not refer only, as in Romans 12:6 and I Corinthians 12:4ff., to a variety of specific gifts present in the context of the congregation for edification. In 11 Corinthians 1:11 it has reference to the apostle’s experience of God’s deliverance from a specific peril (cf. verse 10). Jn I Corinthians 7:7 celibacy under certain conditions is regarded as a charisma. The capacity granted to Timothy for the faithful exercise of his ministerial office is termed a charisma (I Tim. 4:14; I1 Tim. 1:6). The plural usage in Romans 11:29 probably brings into view the various covenant privileges of Israel (cf. 9:4; 3:1, 2). Particularly noteworthy is the more general force that charisma has in Romans 5: 15, 16. There it overlaps in meaning with charis and has a quite sweeping reference to the righteousness and life graciously revealed in Christ. To charisma is the deliberate parallel to “the grace of God and the gift by grace” (verse 15) and “the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” (verse 17; cf. verse 20). Similarly, in Romans 6:23 to charisma is, quite comprehensively, eternal life. Charisma, then, is a flexible term, capable of being used in various senses. Its flexibility arises from the fact that every charisma is a manifestation of charis, and any manifestation of charis can be termed a clzcirisriia (cf. Roni. 12:6). Further, since in its origin and continuation the church exists solely by divine charis, the whole church in all its aspects and activities is properly seen as charismatic. The life of faith as such 150 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY is by grace (Eph. 2:8) and is thus, in its entirety, from beginning to end, charismatic. To identify certain gifts in the church as charismatic and in this way distinguish them from others is to make a distinction that has no basis in Paul’s perspective. Similarly, the way in which the distinction between the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit is often made betrays a schematization foreign to the apostle. Some gifts obviously involve distinctive endowment beyond the natural capacities of the recipient (e.g., revelatory gifts), yet Paul’s teaching is, that any capacity of the believer brought under the controlling power of God’s grace and functioning in his service, is a clzurispa. Biblically speaking, ”Charismatic” and “Christian” are synonymous. 3. To refer to the gifts listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 as “spiritual” gifts is only approximately correct. The work of the Spirit is inseparable from the work of Christ in view of the functional unity that exists between them, dating from Christ’s exaltation (I Cor. 15:45). Accordingly, in Ephesians 4:7ff. it is the ascended Christ who gives gifts. In the same way, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (cf. Eph. 4:4-6) provides a distinctly trinitarian perspective on their bestowal. In Romans 12:3 and I Corinthians 12:28 it is either implicitly the Father or more generally God who is the giver. This breadth in outlook corrects a one-sided emphasis on the Spirit in relation to gifts in the church and should not be ignored. Still, there is a special accent on the Spirit, particularly in I Corinthians 12-14. The giving of gifts is a matter of “the manifestation of the Spirit” (12:7; cf. verses 8,9). And it is the Spirit who distributes to each one as he wills (12:12). Whethcr or not the term was in common use, Paul in 14:l has made “spiritual,” as a substantive, a virtual synonym of charisma. The expression “some spiritual gift” in Romans 1 : 11 (which is best taken indefinitely, without Paul having in mind any one particular gift) shows how closely he associated the Spirit with gifts given to the church. He naturally and appropriately described them in terms of the Spirit’s work. His point in Romans 1 : 11 is hardly to distinguish some gifts from others not of the Spirit. 4. All gifts variously distributed are given for service in the church. This can be seen, for instance, in what is perhaps the best understanding of I Corinthians 12:4-6. In the triadic structure of these verses “gifts,” “ministries,” and “workings” do not have reference to different entities, but the latter two serve to identify the character of the former. They make plain that the gifts listed in the verses that follow (8-10) are to function for service within the context of the church. The (diverse) manifestation of the Spirit is “for the common good” (verse 7). The consideration that identifies the purpose of all gifts and regulates their exercise is the edification of the church (14:13, 26). Beneficial experiences that the exercise of a particular gift may bring to its recipient are not aspects of it independent of this principle of the edification of the body. These benefits are strictly ancillary to that principle. 5. As a consequence of the above, no gift can claim a “privileged” position by having its place in the life of the church maintained as a component in a “second b1essing”or Spirit-baptism theology. The continuation and use of each gift must bc considered in its own right and examined, so far as possible, in terms of its specific function for the edification of the church. The popular view that tongues serves to evidence baptism with the Holy Spirit as a distinct, (usually) post-conversion experience finds no true support in the New Testament. In fact, it runs counter to its teaching on the baptism (gift) of the Holy Spirit (cf. Part J). 6. Any tension or dialectic between gift (Spirit) and office, propcrly exercised, is foreign to the New Testament. This is clear, among other considerations, from the use of charisniu in the Pastorals (I Tim. 4:14; I1 Tim. 1:6), as well as the plain office character of the apostolate. The one and samc Spirit is Ihe Spirit of both ardor and order. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 151

7. The lists of gifts in Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:s-10, I Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11 are not complete but selective and representative. So far, however, Paul’s rationale for selection in each instance has not been demonstrated conclusively. Still, it is possible to make at least two generalizations about the composition of these listings taken as a whole. a. Despite the inclination of Western mentality with its penchant for the specialist, too sharp a line should not be drawn between many of the gifts. For instance, it is difficult to distinguish clearly between gifts of healing and working of miracles (I Cor. 12:9, 10). There is clear overlap between exhortation and teaching (Rom. 12:7, 8). This suggests a degree of overlap between certain gifts, as well as the exercise in some instances of more than one of them by a given individual. b. The apparently representative character of the lists should not cause us to miss the fact that each of the charismata may be seen to belong to one of two basic categories: word-cliarismciia and deed-chcirismfitri. The two are, of course, inseparable and closely supplement each other. Yet, at the same time, the distinction between verbal and nonverbal activity ought not to be overlooked or minimized. Any particular charisma is either a service in word or a service in deed, with several, notably apostleship, involving both kinds of ministry. Confirmation for this view is found in I Peter 4:10, the only occurrence of charisma outside of the Pauline corpus. “Each one should use whatever charisma he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s charis in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength Gad supplies, . . .” Peter clearly summarized all types of service as either in word or deed.

111. THEGIFTS OF THE HOLYSPIRIT: PROPHECY AND TONGUES At the dominating center of controversy over charismatic gifts are tongues, prophecy, and, to a lesser degree, healing. Accordingly, in this section discussion will be focused on the former two gifts along two lines: (A) the nature of these gifts and (B) the question of their cessation. Again, it will only be possible to delineate lines of discussion without developing them fully. A. The nature of these gifts The only place in the New Testament where either prophecy or tongues are dealt with in a sustained, more than passing fashion, is I Corinthians 14. This discussion is set in the context (chapters 12-14) of Paul’s treatment of spiritual gifts operative in the church at Corinth. Several considerations are on the surface of the chapter and may be immediately brought into view. First, I Corinthians 14 is above ail a passage about prophecy (not tongues). Prophecy is the main point in the sense that throughout tongues are essentially a foil that serves to show the relative superiority of prophccy. A deliberate contrast betwecn them provides the basic structurc of the entire chapter (cf. verses 2 and 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 23 and 24, 26-28 and 29-32, 39). Further, tongues are to be interpreted (verse 13, cf. 5), and when interpreted, are functionally equivalent to prophecy (verse 5). Prophecy is superior or preferable to tongues (if uninterpreted), because only prophecy edifies others in the church (cf. verse 4). On the background of this brief overview of 1 Corinthians 14, what, more exactly, is the nature of each of these word gifts? 1. Prophecy According to the New Testament, all believers are, in a sense, prophets. Analogous to the universal priesthood of believers, we may speak of the “prophethood” of all within the new covenant community in this sense: The words of God (the covenant oracles, 152 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY cf. Rom. 3:2) are accessible to all and the laws and statutes of the covenant are a testimony written in the hearts and manifested in the lives of all (cf. Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27; I1 Cor. 3:3ff.; I John 2:27). With apparently no exceptions, however, the New Testament vocabulary for prophecy is not used in this sense. Rather, it has reference to a gift or function given only to some, not all, in the church. And furthermore, that gift is revelatory in character, bringing to the church the word of God in the primary and original sense. In these respects, New Testament prophets are in close continuity with the apostles as well as Old Testament prophets. Apparently, the designation prophet refers to those who exercise the gift frequently or with some regularity, while the gift itself can function temporarily in others or on particular occasions (cf. Acts 19:6). Prophecy in I Corinthians 12-14 is undoubtedly of this latter, more definite and restricted kind, That it is a gift given only to some in the church is clear from 12:10, 28, 29 (cf. Rom. 12:6; Eph. 4:11), as well as other indications throughout the passage. Also, while it is the case that Paul here somewhat flexibly associates prophecy with all speech “with the mind” (14:19; cf. verse 6), it is plain that the element of revelation is at its core (14:30; cf. verses 26 and 6). The effort is sometimes made to tone down this last point by maintaining that prophecy is a kind of low level revelation or admixture of revelatory and non-revelatory elements whose authority is ambiguous. Appeal is usually made to the need for the complementary gift of discernment (14:29) or distinguishing of spirits ( 12: 10). This understanding is at best contrived, without support elsewhere in the New Testament. The discrimination required by Paul has to do with determining either the source of an alleged prophecy (whether or not it is genuine, from the Spirit or from a false spirit; cf. I John 4:1), or its significance for the congregation. Perhaps both aspects are involved. At any rate, it seems closely related to the affirming “proving” or “testing” that bears not only on prophecy (I Thess. 5:21; cf. verse 20), but also on the word of the apostle itself (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:lO; cf. Deut. 13:l-5). So far as the content of prophecy is concerned, I Corinthians 14:3 gives pronounced emphasis to its hortatory character. Some have, therefore, wished to confine the activity of Christian prophets to that of “forthtelling.” There is no warrant, however, for divorc- ing or dissociating in any important respect the activity of the Corinthian prophets from that recorded of prophets in Acts, where the element of specific prediction, iiotably in the case of Agabus (11:28; 21:10, 11; cf. verse 4), is given prominence. Acts provides a picture of the activity of Christian prophets in local church situations like that at Corinth, and that picture in general appears to be one of marked continuity in functions between Old and New Testament prophets. The “prophecy” character of Revelation (1 :3), including even the letters to the seven churches, bear out this continuity. 2. Tongues Prophecy is a word gift that functions to bring inspired revelations to the church. What is the nature of the “word-gift” of tongues which is so closely associated with prophecy? Further examination of Scripture will show that tongues is also a mode of inspired revelation. This conclusion is confirmed within 1 Corinthians 14 along two lines. a. The most definite indication of the origin of tongues is given in I Corinthians 14:14. Paul says that the mind of the tongues-speaker is bypassed (“unfruitful”). At the very least, he means that his intellect is not used in the production of what he says. The meaning of the clause, usually translated, “my spirit prays” is a matter of some dispute. The noun pneiirna most likely has the sense of its immediately preceding usage in verse 12. There the noun, which refers to the person of the Holy Spirit, is used by extension, in the plural, to describe spiritual gifts, accenting that those gifts have their origin in the person of the Spirit (cf. the similar usage of pizeurizu with reference to prophecy in verse 32). To take przcimu in verse 14 as referring to a volitional and emotional, yet nonintellective, preconceptual capacity in man is at best doubtful and FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 153 without support elsewhere in the New Testament. In fact, Paul’s use of przeuma in an anthropological sense is plainly contrary to the view that man’s “spirit” has functions which are distinct from or in tension with the cognitive capacities of his “mind”. For instance, in Romans 1:9, Paul’s “service” of God in his (human) “spirit” takes place in the intelligible word ministry of gospel preaching (cf. Rom. 12:1f., where believers’ “service” of God is termed “rational,” “spiritual” (lopikos), and results from the renewing of the “mind”). The virtual synonymity of (human) “spirit” and “mind” is apparent from Ephesians 4:23 (“the spirit of your mind”). Accordingly, in I Corinthians 14:14 pneuma is the Holy Spirit and describes the gift of tongues as a particular reception of the Spirit himself by the speaker (“the Spirit in, given to, me”). Tongues are inspired, Spirit-worked speech of the most direct and unmediated kind. The speech capacities of the speaker are taken over by the Spirit such that the words are not the speaker’s except in the sense that his voice is employed. b. So far as the content of tongues is concerned, their revelatory character is seen first of all in the fact that they, as words of the Holy Spirit, are capable of being interpreted. Furthermore, verse 2 states that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks “mysteries.” Elsewhere in Paul this term is one of the central categories of revelation employed by him, accenting that what is revealed is inaccessible to man apart from the sovereign disclosure of God. It has reference to the eschatological salvation revealed in Christ, either comprehensively (e.g. Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:3ff; 6:19; Col. 1:26, 27) or to specific aspects related to that salvation (e.g., Rom. 11:25; I Cor. 15:51; I1 Thess. 2:7). There are no compelling grounds for giving its usage here (cf. I Cor. 13:2) a sense that falls outside this basic range of meaning. At the same time, the term perhaps serves to accent the unintelligibility to others, apart from interpretation, of what is spoken in tongues, analogous to its usage in connection with the parables of Jesus (Matt. 13:ll; cf. verses 10-17). The point to be appreciated, then, is that as with prophecy, so with tongues there is a revelatory aspect at the core of the gift and inseparable from it. The functional equivalence of prophecy and interpreted tongues already noted, extends beyond the fact that they are both edifying, to the fact that they are both inspired revelation. In the light of this overview of prophecy and tongues in I Corinthians 14, we can address ourselves briefly to three questions frequently raised with reference to tongues. (1) What are tongues according to the New Testament? Existing foreign languages or an unknown, perhaps heavenly language? Or both? First, they must in some sense be language; some type of unstructured, preconceptual vocalization, whether or not “ecstatic,” is excluded by the quality already noted above of (genuine) interpre- tability. Is the phenomenon described in Acts the same as or different than that found in Paul? In Acts 2: 11, tongues are clearly existing languages understood by their hearers, who spoke them natively. That tongues in Corinth were also existing languages is less obvious, but this issue is not crucial. What is crucial to the New Testament teaching on tongues is the consistent pairing of tongues and prophecy in Acts as well as in Paul. In Acts 19:6, this pairing is made explicit (cf. also the other summary description in Acts 10:46; 2:11, particularly the former). Noteworthy, also, is that in Acts 2 the tongues at Pentecost, in the light of the fulfillment of the Joel citation, are seen as prophecy (verse 17 and especially the insertion into the citation at the end of verse 18; cf. verse 11 ). The revelatory character of this prophecy is clear from the parallelism and, therefore, identification of phophecy with “seeing visions . . . dreaming dreams” (cf. Num. 12:6; Deut. 13:1, I Sam. 3:1, Jer. 14:14, Lam. 2:9). Further, the close association between prophecy and “mysteries” in I Corinthians 13:2a provides yet another indication of the tie between the former and tongues (cf. 14:2, discussed above). Taken together, these observations confirm what was said above concerning the functional equi- 154 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY valence of prophecy and in4erpreted tongues in I Corinthians 14. Regardless of the linguistic nature of the phenomenon in Corinth, in both Acts and I Corinthians 12-14, tongues are properly viewed as a mode of prophecy. (2) In I Corinthians 14 Paul is evidently and primarily occupied with the use of tongues in the public assemblies of the church. But what about the private exercise of tongues? The passage does contain indications that appear to point toward some kind of private exercise of the gift (verse 18, 19; even less clearly, verses 4 and 28). Such indications, however, can hardly be used to support the kind of developed and, in some cases, even consuming preoccupation with a private or devotional use of tongues that is sometimes advocated, largely by appeal to this passage. Such private uses as may be within Paul’s preview here would be controlled by the following considerations, among others: (a) Any private use of tongues is not a gift somehow separable from, in addition to, or independent of its public exercise (together with interpretation). Rather, the former is strictly ancillary, a subsidiary benefit enjoyed by the recipients of the latter. Perhaps the most instructive parallel at this point, including the “self-edifying” value of tongues (I Cor. 14:4a), is the experience of Paul himself mentioned in I1 Corinthians 12: Iff.: The sublime and inexpressible experiences (verse 2-4), about which the apostle would prefer not to boast (verses 1, 5, 6), are not an end in themselves. They are rather an accompanying, somewhat subordinate feature of the visions and revelations (verses 1, 7), which lie at the base of his gospel (cf, e.g., Gal. 1:ll-17). These intensely personal experiences do not fall within some private sector of personal religious experience in distinction from his apostolic ministry, but, as the larger context (chapters 10-13) makes plain, are an attendant aspect of that ministry. b. The principle of distribution (e.g. esp. I Cor. 12:30) that applies to tongues also includes any private use of the gift. It is often claimed that the public use of tongues is only given to some in the church, while their private exercise is for all. This view puts a construction on I Corinthians 14:5, 18, and 23 that they do not teach. (3) It is sometimes maintained that the gift of tongues brings to its recipients deeper devotion to Christ, greater fervency and freedom in prayer, and a more intense desire to witness. But surely the overall thrust of I Corinthians 12-14 (especially chapter 13) is precisely in an opposite direction (particularly with a view to tongues): such qualities, which are to characterize every believer, are not dependent upon or directly associated with receiving a particular gift. B. The Question of Cessation It is widely held that the New Testament does not teach the cessation prior to the parousia of the charismata mentioned in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. It is held that the view that certain gifts have ceased is the u posteriori rationalization of a church embarrassed by the absence of these gifts in its midst. There are, however, several lines of New Testament teaching that in their convergence point clearly to the conclusion that prophecy and tongues are intended to cease prior to the parousia, and have in fact ceased: 1. Anyone working with the New Testament is bound to recognize the temporary character of the apostolate. It is a fair generalization to say that in the New Testament the term has one of two basic references: (a) It can refer to the representative of a particular church temporarily delegated for a specific task (I1 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25; perhaps Acts 14:14). (b) The more important and dominant reference, as in I Corinthians 12:28, 29 and Ephesians 4:11, is to the apostles of Christ. In this latter sense the apostles are limited in number (just how many can remain undiscussed here) and confined to the first generation of the church’s history. This temporary character of the apostolate is seen among other ways: ( I) in the re- I FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 155

quirement that the apostle be an eye and ear witness of the resurrected Christ (e.g., Acts 1:8, 22; 4:33; 10~41;John 15:27; I Cor. 9:l); (2) in the indication Paul gives that he is the last of the apostles (I Cor. 15:8, 9 cf. 4:9); (3) in the fact that Paul does not designate as an apostle Timothy, who more than anyone else can be viewed as his personal successor. According to the New Testament “apostolic succession” in a personal sense is a contradiction in terms. This brings with it the recognition, then particularly in view of the situation contemplated in the Pastoral epistles, that the distinction: apostolic-postapostolic is not one imposed on the New Testament but is a distinction given by the New Testament itself. This, in turn, carries a further responsibility, especially in view of the obvious and central importance of the apostolate. It is a responsibility to determine what elements of the church life described in the New Testament are so integrally associated with the ministry of the apostles that they disappear with the passing away of the apostolate and what elements continue on into the postapostolic period of the church. 2. The single most important activity of the apostles is surely that of bearing witness (e.g. Jn. 14:26, 15:26, 27, Acts 1:8). The passage in the New Testament that perhaps provides the most comprehensive perspective on this task is Ephesians 2:19ff.In this passage Paul is viewing the New Testament church as the result of the great house- building activity of God in the period between the resurrection and return of Christ (cf. I Pet. 2:4-8). Paul calls the apostles, along with Christ as cornerstone, the foundation of the church (verse 20). This is not said in order to obscure the finality of the person and work of Christ as the only foundation (I Cor. 3: 1l), but to include the activity of the apostles in a specific respect. The apostles supplement the work of Christ, not by additional redemptive labors of their own, but by bearing witness to that work. To the once-for-all, foundational work of Christ, which has reached its climax in his death and resurrection, is joined the once-for-all, foundational witness of the apostles to that work (cf. I Cor. 3:lOff). The period beyond this foundational period is not a matter of perpetually relaying the foundation but is the superstructure built upon that foundation. ~ In terms of this foundational witness we can appreciate the emphasis on the apostolic tradition to be held fast, found already in I1 Thessalonians (2:15; 3:6), and on the “deposit” to be kept, in the Pastorals (I Tim. 6:20; I1 Tim. 1:14, Jude 3, 20). This emphasis establishes lines that prepare for and point the way to the eventual emergence of the New Testament canon (cf. I1 Pet. 3:16). 3. In Ephesians 2:20 Paul includes the prophets with the apostles in the activity of foundational witness or word ministry. (That New Testament prophets are in view is plain from Ephesians 3:5 as well as the word order (apostles first) in both verses.) From this we conclude that, like the apostles, the prophets have a foundational, that is to say, temporary, noncontinuing function in the history of the church and so pass away with the apostles with whom they are closely associated here. The following observations support this conclusion and bear on efforts to resist it: a. As a guideline for interpretation, the overarching priorty of Ephesians 2:20 relative to other passages on prophecy needs to be appreciated. I Corinthians 14, for instance, may well reflect circumstances in other churches, but in most of its considerable detail, it has a relatively narrow focus confined to the particular situation at Corinth. Ephesians, on the other hand, while certainly occasional like the other letters of Paul, is probably a circular letter, originally addressed to more than one congregation, and 2:20 is part of a section that surveys the church as a whole in a most sweeping and comprehensive fashion. Ephesians 2:20 with its broad scope, then, makes a generalization that applies without exception to statements in other passages concerning New Testament prophets and their activities. 156 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

b. The frequent counter to the above conclusion is that, in addition and more or less parallel to the foundational function of prophecy (which has ceased) are other functions (in View, for instance, in I Cor. 14). These, it is said, are intended to continue on in the church. However, granted the fully revelatory character of prophecy, (cf. the above discussion of the nature of prophecy) such a view results in a dualistic understanding of revelation : canonical revelation for the whole church-private revelations for individual believers or groups of believers. This understanding contradicts the coven- antal, redemptive-historical character of all revelation. The appeal to the prophecies of Agabus to support the notion of privatized, localized revelation for specific individual needs and circumstances is particularly unfortunate. In this case their redemptive-historical character seems apparent. In the one instance (Acts 11:28) prophecy is directed toward cementing the newly established bond of fellowship within the church between Jew and Gentile (verses 29, 30; cf. 20). In the other instance (Acts 21:10ff.), it is directed toward the unfolding of Paul’s apostolic ministry (cf: 20:23). c. The issues mentioned in the preceding point inevitably raise the question of the relationship between prophecy and the canon. Is continuing prophecy compatible with a completed canon? It will hardly do to reject this as a false or irrelevant question. The foundational period of the church is a period in which the content of the new covenant canon is in the process of formation. Prophecy is one of the principal word gifts operative in this period. It operated not only in producing what is eventually recognized to be canonical (e.g., the Book of Revelation, which as a whole is called prophecy, 1:3, 22:7, 10, 18, 19) but also and primarily in meeting contemporary needs in the church arising from the incompleteness of the canon of Scripture. For prophecy to continue on into subsequent generations of the church beyond this foundational period would necessarily compromise the completed character of the canon. d. Ephesians 2:20 points to the need for a certain flexibility in our conception of the apostles and their role. On the one hand, the apostles are “super-gifted”, apparently exercising the principal, if not all, gifts listed in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. Therefore, the foundational period is by way of preeminence properly called the apostolic age. Yet, others, like the prophets, are associated with the apostles and share in one or another of the gifts. The overall picture seems to be that the apostolate is the immediate nucleus or source in the church of the gifts given by the exalted Christ in this period. Certain more spectacular gifts (like tongues?) can be referred to as “the signs of an apostle” (I1 Cor. 12:12; cf. Heb. 2:3, 4), though they are exercised by others who are not apostles, because their presence in the church depends upon and flows out of the existence of the apostolate. In Acts every instance of the conferring of sign gifts takes place with the personal presence or oversight of apostles (2; 8~14-19;10~44ff.i 19:6).

4. The cessation of tongues. Tongues, being always closely associated with phophecy in the New Testament and, when interpreted, functionally equivalent to it (a mode of prophecy, cf. above), pass out of the life of the church along with prophecy and whatever other foundational gifts are bound up with the presence oE the apostolate in the church. This conclusion follows by inference along the lines laid down in the preceding points. (Any evidence available from before the fourth century such as that sometimes cited against this conclusion, notably Mark 16:17 and Irenaeus, Against Heresies, V, vi, 1, is to say the least, too isolated and obscure to be decisive.) Further, the problem of compromising the canon already raised with reference to prophecy, again necessarily surfaces in connection with tongues. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 157

5. In I Corinthians 14:20-22, Paul provides the most pointed indication of the purpose of tongues in the entire chapter. These verses pose several difficulties, particularly the use of the Old Testament in verse 21 and the progression in thought from verse 22 to verses 23-25. However, it appears that Paul is appealing to Isaiah 28:11, 12b not as a loose historical analogy illustrating a general truth, but as a genuine prophecy concerning Judah. In that case the most likely understanding of the passage confirms the conclusion that tongues cease with the close of the foundational age of the church’s history. Isaiah 28: 1If records judgment pronounced on the old covenant community because of its contempt for God’s Word. This judgment is proximately realized in the foreign-speaking invaders (cf. Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 33: 19; Jeremiah 5: 15). Yet, according to Paul, it has its ultimate fulfillment in the unintelligible tongues-speaking present in the new covenant community. Tongues are a sign for (against) unbelief that is primarily, although not exclusively, Jewish. The distinctiveness of tongues as a mode of revelation lies in the fact that they are a sign of judgment against unbelieving Israel. Tongues indicates, along with other developments in this foundational and transitional period (that reach a certain consummation in the destruction of Jerusalem), that the kingdom of God has been taken away from unbelieving Israel and given to a nation that will produce its fruit (Matthew 21:43). In this respect there appears to be a connection between tongues and the convenant-historical function of Jesus’ parables (Mat- thew 13:lO-15;Mark 4:lO-12;Luke 8:9-10) and signs (John 12:36b-41). (Note the appeal to Isaiah 6:9, 10 and the judgment prophesied on Israel common to the passages cited, cf. Acts 28:23-28.) This understanding of Paul’s argument in these verses takes on added weight by recognizing that the Old Testament verses cited are part of a textual unit. This unit, with the same judgment in view, refers to the foundation-laying realized in Christ and the apostles (Isaiah 28:16). This verse is not only quoted in I Peter 2:6 and evidently underlies Ephesians 2:20 (the church-house passages), but is also cited in Romans 9:33 (cf. 1O:ll) with explicit reference to the offense taken by unbelieving Israel at the gospel. The time of God’s activity of laying a foundation in Zion is also the time of judgment upon the unbelief in Zion provoked by that activity. This understanding of I Corinthians 14:20-22 takes on added plausibility from the fact that according to the record in Acts, Jewish opposition to Paul and the gospel was as intense at Corinth as anywhere. It would have been very much of a reality to his readers (Acts 18:l-17). 6. I Corinthians 13:8ff. is frequently appealed to as teaching conclusively that prophecy and tongues are to continue in the church until the parousia. Such an appeal, however, reads Paul too explicitly in terms of the problematics of present day controversy over charismatic gifts. Unlike the Pastorals, Paul is not oriented here in terms of differences between the apostolic present and the postapostolic period beyond. Rather, he has in view the entire period up to parousia, without regard to whatever discontinuities may intervene during the course of that period. He writes in the interests of emphasizing the enduring quality of faith, hope, and especially love. The theme that serves this interest is knowledge. Note the progressive sharpening of the focus from prophecy, tongues and knowledge (verse 8) to knowledge and prophecy (verse 9) to knowledge (verses 10-12). Emphasis moves from gifts of revelation (verses 8, 9; cf. 1, 2) to the knowledge which comes by all forms of revelation (verse 12; cf. 10, 11). Verses 10-12 contrast the believer’s knowledge at present and beyond the parousia (cf. the contrast between the believer’s present knowledge and love that structures chapter 8). Present knowledge is fragmentary and opaque (verses 9, 12); the knowledge of the future, consummate, clear and direct (verse 12). (The cootrast ek meros-ro teleion (verse 10; cf. 9, 12) is qualitative, not quantitative, between what is constitutive of the 158 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY present order of things and the future age in its absoluteness.) In this framework the point of verse 8 is to stress the temporary and provisional character of certain modes of revelation which produce that knowledge, but without intending to specify the time when any particular mode will cease. In the larger context here Paul singles out those modes which are of particular interest and relevance to the Corinthian church and which he goes on to treat in detail in chapter 14. Making the basic point of verse 8 in a different context, he might well have mentioned inscripturation as a mode of revelation. There are different ways in which this passage could be interpreted and applied, but at least the above treatment shows that the passage does not demand that tongues and prophecy continue until the parousia. On the above interpretation, the most the passage teaches is that the present knowledge of all believers is partial and continues until the parousia. 7. It is important to emphasize the following general consideration in seeking to determine what activities of the Spirit were completed in the foundational period of the church and what activities continue beyond. Such determination is not merely a matter of distinguishing within lists like those in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 between gifts that continue and gifts that cease. The gifts mentioned in these lists are organically interrelated, and as such are an integral part of a living church situation. This situation taken as a whole is in certain respects discontinuous with postapostolic conditions. The continuities that exist between the two situations are to a large extent to be identified from the picture brought into view by Paul in the Pastorals. So far as the continuation of word gifts are concerned, the guiding principle is spiritus cum verbo: the Spirit working with the foundational, apostolic tradition or deposit, and hence eventually with the canon. In other words, the word gifts in view in the Pastoral Epistles minister the written word (or that which becomes the written word). Word gifts are not seen as ministering new inspired revelation.

Iv. CONCLUSIONS REGARDINGTONGUES AND PROPHECY A. The function of New Testament prophecy and tongues was to bring God’s inspired revelation. B. Tongues were a temporary judgment sign against unbelievers in general and unbelieving Israel in particular. C. I Corinthians 12-14 does not teach that a purpose of the gift of tongues is to create deeper love for God and for others, or a more intense desire to pray and witness. In fact, it teaches that matters such as even the greatest of these, which is love, are not dependent on these gifts. D. The view that the tongues in Corinth, as well as on the day of Pentecost, were genuine language, finds its support in the requirement of interpretation into the language of those present. E. The private devotional use of tongues is not a gift separate from its public exercise with interpretation. F. The gifts of prophecy and tongues are concomitant in the church with the gift of the apostolate and therefore ceased with the close of the apostolic age. V. GIFTS OF HEALINGIN THE CHURCH A brief note may be added here about healing and related gifts. These stand in a somewhat different light than word gifts. The conclusion probably to be drawn is as follows: The gifts listed in I Corinthians 12 and encountered in the narrative in Acts (3: 1-10; 5: 12; 19: 11, 12) are “signs of an apostle” in the broader sense indicated above and so have passed out of the life of the church (II Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4). FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 159

At the same time, however, the sovereign power of God to heal the sick, particularly in response to prayer, is a reality experienced and an expectation to be maintained throughout the ongoing history of the church (cf. e.g., James 5:14, 15). RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. That the report be received and communicated to the churches for study. 2. That the report be communicated to the R. E. S. 3. That the committee be dissolved. Respectfully submitted, Leonard J. Coppes Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Chairman) James C. Petty William E. Welmers

Mr. Peterson presented the report of Advisory Coriimittee #I].

REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE # 11 The report of Advisory Committee #1t concerning the report of the Cornmitree on the Baptism arid Gifts of the Holy Spirit is silence, with the exception that we recommend that recommendations 1 and 2 be in the following form: 1. That the report be sent to the sessions and be commended for study. 2. That the report be sent to the RES.

The Assembly recessed at 1O:OO a.m. and reconvened at 10:20 a.m. On motion recommendation 1 of Advisory Committee #11 was adopted. On amended motion recommendation 2 of Advisory Committee # 11 was adopted in the following form: that the report be sent to the Reformed Ecumenical Synod with the notation that the General Assembly commended the report to the sessions of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for study. On motion recommendation 3 of the Committee on the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit was adopted. On motion the Assembly determined to request the General Secretary of the RES to send the report of the Committee on the Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the member churches of the RES for study. Mr. Shepherd, Chairman of the Committee oti Reformed Eciimenical Synod Mat- ters, presented its report. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REFORMED ECUMENICAL SYNOD MATTERS A. Last year your Committee was privileged to report extensively on the Cape Town (1976) Synod. During the interval between the quadrennial Synods, the work of the RES is carried forward by the General Secretary, and by the Interim Committee which meets from time to time. The Interim Committee is composed of the five officers of the Sycod and is chaired by the Synod’s President, the Rev. John P. Galbraith. 160 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

In March of this year, in accordance with a provision of the Cape Town Synod (ACTS, p. 74, Art. 120; OPC General Assembly 1977 MINUTES, p. 174), the Jnterim Committee spent three weeks in South Africa serving as a Commission to interpret South African concerns to the other member churches, and to interpret the views of the other churches for the benefit of the South African churches. The five member Com- mission included an Australian, two Americans, and two South Africans (one black and one white). The General Secretary, the Rev. Paul G. Schrotenboer, an American, participated in the meetings, and Mr. Galbraith served as Chairman for the Commission. The Commission held discussions with the Moderamen (Interim Committee) of each of the South African RES member churches, prepared a draft of an extensive report, then held an open discussion of the proposed report with all the representatives together. The report proved to have almost unanimous approval of the representatives, being described as “fair to all” and “constructive.” The report placed heavy emphasis on the need for greatly improved communication among the churches, and this was heartily accepted by all. Copies of the report of the Interpretative Commission were sent to all the RES member churches with the suggestion that they be made available to all their congregations. Your Committee does not know if all the member churches have undertaken to carry out this suggestion, but it is known that the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has sent it to all the pastors of the church, and it will be discussed at the quadrennial meeting of their General Synod in October of this year. The Committee also understands that copies of the report, having been obtained from the RES Secretariat, are to have been distributed to all commissioners at this Assembly and to be sent to each Session of the church not represented at the Assembly. The Committee wishes the Assembly to note that the matter of race relations in South Africa was first brought to the attention of the RES, in 1953, by he Orthodox Presbyterian Church through its 1952 General Assembly (MlNUTES, p. 49), and the progress made to date, however gradual, should be a source of thanksgiving for that earlier initiative. Nevertheless we should also continue to work, pray, and hope for more progress in the future. In doing so we may not lose sight of the relationship that we have in Christ with our South African brothers and sisters of all races and of the mutual blessings and responsibilities that that relationship entails. We are informed that the three Americans involved in the work of the Interpretative Commission were encouraged while in South Africa to seek a meeting with the President of the United States, and that they have done so. As of the writing of this report, no reply to their request has been received. The Committee suggests that Mr. Galbraith will be available to answer questions by the commissioners of the Assembly. Your Committee recommends that: (1) The Assembly express its appreciation to the lnterpretative Commission for its work toward achieving racial reconciliation in South Africa; (2) The Assembly express its appreciation to the RES member churches in South Africa for the discussions they had with the RES Interpretative Commission and for the resolve for more biblical relationships that appears to have come from those discussions; (3) The Assembly remind the RES member churches in South Africa of the basic biblical principle that as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to heed his command to do unto others as we would have others do unto us (Matthew 7:12); and urge them to labor for the implementation of this principle in the political, social, and economic spheres so that no racial group will seek to advance its own interests at the expense of, or to the disadvantage of, any other group; FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 161

(4) The Assembly ask the RES member churches in South Africa if there are ways in which our church can help them in achieving more biblical relationships among their pzople, and if so to specify them for us; (5) The Assembly assure the RES member churches in South Africa that we shall encourage all our people to pray that our sovereign Lord will use the Christian community of South Africa to foster the righhteousness and peace of the Kingdom of God among all the peoples of the nation so that the name of our God will not be blas- phemed among the nations, but will be praised; (6) The Assembly urge the Sessions of the church to study the Report of the Interpretative Commission and to foster among the people of our church a prayerful concern for a full expression of brotherhood among the Christians of South Africa, and for reconciliation through truth and righteousness among all the citizens of the nation; (7) The Assembly ask the Sessions to lead their congregations in prayer that the Holy Spirit will work mightily through his Word throughout the world to redeem sinners from the power of sin as well as from its consequences and in this way to establish the Kingdom of righteousness, peace and prosperity among men. B. This Assembly is in,receipt of a letter from the General Secretary of the RES rcquesting our denomination to participate in the incorporation of the RES as a Michigan ecclesiastical corporation.

Your 1 Committee recommends (8) that the Assembly accede to this request by adopting the resolution included with the letter of the General Secretary appropriately amended to meet the needs of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. C. The strength and uniqueness of the RES is that it brings together representatives of Presbyterian and Reformed churches throughout the world for the realization of a biblically and confessionally responsible ecumenism. A preesnt weakness is that Pres- byterian churches from the North American continent are not adequately represented in the membership of the RES. The recent formation of the NAPARC is a significant indication of the growing ecumenical commitment of the Reformed community in North America. Not all members of the NAPARC, however, are members of the RES, although membership in the latter would seem to be an appropriate, if not necessary, con- commitant to membership in the former, to fulfill the ecumenical calling of the churches. Therefore, your Committee recommends (9) that the Assembly urge the General Assem- bly of the Presbyterian Church in America, and the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, to give serious consideration to seeking membership in the RES prior to the 1980 meeting of the RES. D. The Forty-fourth General Assembly referred the action of the Cape Town Synod urging “the member churches of the RES to acquaint themselves with work of a Re- formed nature presently being done among the Jews and encourage them to support the work in prayer and in gifts” to the presbyteries and to the Committees on Foreign Missions and Home Missions and Church Extension, and that these bodies be requested to consider how they may participate in Mission work among the Jews, and report their findings and actions to the Committee on RES Matters. The Committee on Foreign Missions has responded to this request in its annual report to the General Assembly, but the Committee on RES Matters has received no responses. Your Committee therefore recommends (10) that this request to the presbyteries and Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension be renewed. 162 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

E. The Forty-fourth General Assembly approved $2,763.60 as the denomination’s share of the RES budget for 1977. Your Committee recommends (1 1 ) the approval of $3,209.40 as the decomination’s share of the RES budget for 1978. The increase represents the amount needed from our denomination for the appointment of an Associate General Secretary as provided for by the Cap:: Town (1976) Synod. Respectfully submitted, Norman Shepherd For the Committee on RES Matters

Dr. Strimple presented that part of the report of Advisory Committee #8 concerning the report of the Committee on RES Matters (cf. p. 122). On separate motions recommendations 1 and 2 of the Committee on RES Matters were adopted. On amended motion recommendation 3 of the Committee on RES Matters was adopted in the following form: that the Assembly encourage the RES member churches in South Africa to remember the basic biblical principle, which we ourselves need to remember, that as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we are to heed his command to do unto others as we would have others do unto us (Matthew 7:12); and encourage them in their labor for the further implementation of tfiis principle in the political, social, and economic sphere so that no racial group will seek to advance its own interest at the expense of, or to the disadvantage of, any other group. On the amendment changing the words “to labor” to “in their labor” the following commissioners requested that their negative votes be recorded : Messrs. Petty, Cum- mings, Laverell, Clowney, Bjerkaas, Van Dyk, Ruff, Stonehouse, Oliver, Gerber, Poundstone, Kinnaird, Harvey, Shepherd, and Conard. On motion Dr. Paul G. Schrotenboer, Gerzeral Secretary of the RES, was granted the privilege of the floor to respond to a question. The Assembly adopted the motion made earlier and postponed until after completion of elections to the committee on Ministerial Training, namely, to limit the budget of the Committee on Ministerial Training to not more than $1,000 for the period between the 45th and 46th General Assemblies. Dr. Dortzbach addressed the Assembly regarding the work of Reformed Theo- logical Seminary. The Assembly recessed at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Oliver led in prayer.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 21 The Assembly reconvened at 4:OO p.m. with the singing of the hymn “Praise waits for thee in Zion.’’ On motion recommendation 4 of the Committtee on RES Matters was adopted. On amended motion recommendation 5 of the Committee on RES Matters was adopted with the addition at the end of the original motion of “for by this shall all men know that ye are the Lord’s if ye love one another.” On motion recommendation 6 of the Committee on RES Matters was adopted. On substitute motion recommendation 1J.D. of the report of Advisory Committee #8 was adopted. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 163

Recommendation 8 of the Committee on RES Matters was moved. The Assembly recessed at 6:OO p.m. Mr. Harvey led in prayer.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 21 The Assembly reconvened at 7:30 p.m. with the singing of the hymn “Give thanks unto the Lord.” Dr. Laverell led in prayer. The pending question was carried. On motion the Assembly determined that sessions and presbyteries be requested to send to the Committee on RES Matters as soon as possible any objections that they may have to the structure and practices of the RES, and that the committee be requested to consider these communications and report to the 46th General Assembly with recommendations relative to them, and with a recommendation, with grounds, for either continuation in or withdrawal from the RES. On separate motions recommendations 9, 10, and 11 of the Committee on RES Matters were adopted. Mr. Kinnaird, Chairman of the Committee on Housing For Retired Ministers, presented its report. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING FOR RETIRED MINISTERS The 44th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, in response to a recommendation of the Committee on Pensions, (which had as its roots Overture 5 to the 40th General Assembly, together with a chain of subsequent events), erected a special Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers. The Assembly elected Kenneth L. Bosgraf, Robert M. Coie, Ada M. Galbraith, Lewis J. Grothenhuis, and John 0. Kinnaird (convener) to the committee. The committee first met on September 10, 1977. Officers elected were John 0. Kinnaird, Chairman; and Ada M. Galbraith, Secretary. Subsequently, the committee held two additional meetings. Decisions entered into by the committee include: 1) Any immediate need for housing by a retired minister is properly the function of the various diaconal committees and not of this committee. 2) Any action of the General Assembly should include a concern for the housing needs of ministers’ widows as well as ministers. 3) A survey of ministerial housing should be undertaken, directed both to the ministers and to the clerks and representatives of agencies employing ministers. 4) A list of factors, which may be advantages or disadvantages of ministers owning their own homes, should be developed. 5) The General Assembly should be requested to erect another committee to look specifically into the possibility of a retirement center for Orthodox Presbyterians, not limiting it to retired ministers. 6) Of the several causative factors entering into our current problem, the one which we can now control, and which can have the most profound impact in the future, is that of the ministers renumeration. Adequate present salary levels are the best pre- ventative we can apply to avoid future problems. A major activity of the committee was the “Survey of Ministerial Housing”, reported further on in this report. Principal conclusions drawn from the survey include: 164 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

1) Over 80% of the ministers would prefer to own their own homes. Approximately 60% do. 2) Only a little over 40% of the congregations own manses. 3) Many very imaginative plans are being used to help ministers obtain their own homes, (We note these elsewhere in the report and commend their careful consideration to our ministers and sessions.) 4) The manses currently owned represent a significant asset of the church. (Only a few churches have evaluated how this asset might be utilized, especially if the minister no longer lives in it.) The major problems whereby ministers are sometimes frustrated in their desire to live in their own homes (most especially during retirement), have arisen primarily’ from four causative factors: 1) During the early years of the denomination many ministers were called upon to make considerable personal sacrifices in terms of salary and living accommodations. This they did gladly, not counting the cost, but only seeking the glory of God and the good of His people. 2) The United States Government has pursued a policy of inflating the money supply for the last 45 years, being the same period as our denomination’s existence. As a result, real personal purchasing power has declined while the cost of housing has sky- rocketed. For the most part, personal capital spending is now financed using borrowed capital. This has been especially hard on ministers. 3) Traditionally congregations have provided manses for their ministers. ( This cus- tom arose in another age.) 4) Few congregations, if any, obey the Scriptural mandate that pastors who do well deserve to be paid double. Frequently, they are paid only “half”. The only question not answered in I Timothy 5 :17 is, “double the salary compared to whom”? Perhaps a fair answer is double the average gross income of the wage earning heads of households in the congregation. There are other possible basis, most of which would result in even higher salaries. 1) The Survey of Housing Preference A) Ministers’ Survey B) Clerk‘s Survey C) Summary of Solutions to the Problem 2) Who Should Own the House?-Factors to Consider 3) A Discussion of I Timothy 5: 17 4) Recommendations for Action

SURVEY OF HOUSING PREFERENCES The survey, in two parts, was sent to each minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The minister was requested to pass the second sheet of the survey on to the clerk of Session or the appropriate representative of the organization with which he was associated or by whom he was employed. As of the closing date for analyzing the results, returns were received from 158 ministers and 104 clerks or representatives. At the writing of this report, 10 additional ministers and 6 additional clerks have responded. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 165

’The two parts of the survey were analyzed separately and the two parts are presented separately hereafter. Note that the ministers’ survey is broken down into five age groups of approximately the same size (it was impossible to make them any more equal). Also, following the results of the survey is a summary of the many bold and imaginative ways being used in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to solve the problem of housing for our ministers. We proudly call your attention to the summary and trust that it will inspire many of us to seek out new and novel solutions to suit the local needs in every situation where the problem exists or can be seen possibly to exist in the future. One deficiency in the survey is that your committee failed to ask how many ministers have engaged in second occupations (moonlighting) together with asking how many of their wives have engaged in an occupation. Such a survey of employment, together with the special plans known to have been utilized by the congregations, would have been helpful to this Assembly in understanding how 60% of our ministers have been able to achieve home ownership status. SURVEY OF HOUSING PREFERENCES A. MINISTERS’ SURVEY 1) Age Bracket 26-3 1 32-39 40-47 48-63 64-79 Number Of Men 28 35 34 29 32 2) No. Employed By Church 24 30 25 18 18 No. Not Employed By Church 4 3 9 11 14 3) Number Retired 0 0 0 0 13 Number Semi-retired 0 0 0 1 11 4) Present Housing: Manse 12 11 11 9 4 Own Home 9 19 20 19 21 Rental Home 1 2 2 0 2 Rental Apartment 5 1 1 1 4 Other 1 2 0 0 1 Own Home Other Than Residence 2 2 2 4 6 50% Or More Equity In A Home 2 13 11 23 16 5 ) Housing Preferences During Active Ministry: Manse 3 4 6 4 6 Own Home 23 26 26 23 22 Rental Home 1 1 1 0 0 Rental Apartment 0 0 0 0 0 6) Housing Preferences During Early Retirement: Manse 0 0 1 0 0 Own Home 22 28 27 25 24 Rental Home 1 1 1 0 0 Rental Apartment 0 0 0 2 5 7) Housing Preferences During Later Years: Manse 0 1 1 0 0 Own Home 19 26 20 19 17 Rental Home 3 1 1 0 0 Rental Apartment 0 0 7 6 8 Other 1 0 2 2 3 166 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

8) Retirement Location Factors Item/Rank 12345 A. Family 69 49 13 10 1 B. Home Church 2 5 19 23 29 C. Away From Recent Pastorate 4 9 20 20 29 D. Climate 17 21 42 32 6 E. Part-time Service 63 48 20 40 F. Other 54623 Giving a weighted* average results in the following ranking: Average Rank A. Family 124 1 B. Home Church 41 5 C. Away From Recent Pastorate 45 4 D. Climate 81 3 E. Part-time Service 118 2 F. Other 15 6 :*Weighting Factors Rank Weight 1 6 2 5 3 4 4 3 5 2 6 1 None 0 9) Retirement Location Preferences A. Suburban 88 Rural 42 Urban 12 B. Seacoast 57 Mountains 41 Inland 35 C. Northeast 32 West 26 East 21 Southwest 20 Southeast 18 Northwest 13 Central 9 Northcentral 9 Gulf Coast 6

SURVEY OF HOUSING PREFERENCES B. CLERKS’ SURVEY The following is a summary of the Clerks’ Survey with reference to their evaluation of the assets in the church in the form of manses and of the congregation’s desires pertaining to the use of same. A total of 104 Clerks (and/or representatives of agencies) responded. Of these, 43 groups own manses. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 167

The manses are typically 40% single story, 51% two or more story, and 9% split level. On the average there are 7.4 rooms including 3.8 bedrooms and 1.7 baths. A third have attics and two thirds have basements. Occupancy includes 95% active ministers, 5% semi-retired ministers, and 5% in miscellaneous other uses such as Sunday schools. Only 3 manses are reported to have been put out for rent. Of the 43 owning manses, 32 said that if the minister should no longer occupy the manse, they would either sell it (60% of the 32), or rent it out (47%), or make it available to a retired minister (37%). While only 12 of the 32 above said they would make the manse available to a retired minister if no longer needed by the pastor, fully 21 responded to the question as to the terms under which they would make it available to a retired minister. Most of these said they would consider accepting a modest rent or part-time service. Outright purchase, take over the maintenance and utilities, or other arrangements were less preferred. For those not owning a manse, the reasons given were that the minister owns his own home (71% of 61), the minister rents his own (16%), the congregation cannot afford one (8%), or the congregation rents a manse for the pastor (5%). Of the 104 respondents, 7 reported that they had disposed of their manses anywhere from 2 to 20 years ago (mostly recently). Of the 61 without a manse, 35 pay their minister a housing allowance. Of truly great significance was the variety of ways in which the congregations were helping the ministers to buy housing for themselves (either while active or for retirement). These are highlighted in the next section of this report in an effort to stir the imagination of those congregat,ions that may wish to do likewise,

SURVEY OF HOUSING PREFERENCES C. SUMMARY OF SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM Aside from salary and housing allowance, many churches have developed imaginative and creative solutions to the problem. The following are presented for your consideration. 1) One congregation sold the manse and gave its pastor the use of the church’s equity in the former manse, interest free, as a down payment on his own house. In effect, the church holds an equity position in the pastor’s home equal to the relation of the down payment to the purchase price. 2) Another congregation maintains a standing fund which is made available to each new pastor to help buy his home and which is reimbursed to the church by each departing pastor when he sells his home. 3) Still another church recently awarded their previously retired minister a lifetime pension adequate to rent a small apartment. 4) Some churches pay their pastors a housing allowance. 5) In one instance, a Christian individual loaned the pastor the down payment on a duplex, the rent from both sides being used to pay the mortgage. Meanwhile, the pastor lives in a manse. 6) One congregation pays its minister, in addition to his salary, an amount equal to his mortgage payments, utilities, taxes, and insurance. (Several slight variations of this plan were reported.) 168 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

7) Another church offered its pastor a 4% premium on top of his salary if he would use it, plus any monies of his own he wishes to add, to establish a long-range investment program aimed at providing security for his family. 8) One church is carrying the $40,000, 6% mortgage for the pastor. The mortgage is 100% of the purchase value. 9) Another church with a large complex of buildings furnishes an apartment to a semi-retired minister who labors in the complex which includes both a church and an academy. 10) One congregation advanced part of the down payment and also paid the pastor a housing allowance. 11) An agency made the down payment and took out the mortgage. The minister repays the down payment and meets the mortgage payments. Title will, in due time, pass to the pastor. 12) A church recognized that its pastor was not adequately paid to provide for his long term needs so they gave him a 25% raise. 13) Another church pays its minister so well that he not only has paid for his home but is now investing in a second one. 14) The down payment on a minister’s home was provided by an agency’s funds. Terms unknown. 15) A congregation sold its manse to the pastor at a “fair” price.

WHO SHOULD OWN THE HOUSE?-FACTORS TO CONSIDER Possible A1 ternates : Church Owned Manse Minister Owned Home Third Party Owned, Rented By Church Third Party Owned, Rented By Minister Other Factors To Consider: 1) Tax break for ministers in U.S. Tax Code. Deductions for local real estate taxes paid, for interest payments made, and €or housing allowance received. 2) Tax break for church in many areas, but not all, for local real estate taxes. 3) The availability and cost of obtaining capital and credit for the purchase of real estate. By the church. By the minister. (But what about the young minister just starting?) 4) Does the ownership of the real estate by either party put one or the other party under any kind of pressure? 5) Does the Federal Government intend to continue policies which inflate the money supply? 6) Will prices continue to rise, will they stabilize, will they decline? 7) Will there be a recession, and if so will its initiation be sudden, will it be severe, will it be coupled with inflation? 8) The advantages of acquiring a basic capital asset through routine periodic payments during periods of increasing inflation such as have been experienced over the last 45 years. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 169

9) The advantages of real estate as a hedge against inflation (i.e., a higher rate of price increase than most other goods and assets). 10) The disadvantages of real estate, especially if purchased highly leveraged (i.e., small down payment), in a declining market. Especially if the market loses its liquidity. 1 1) The psychological situation. Will the congregation overly intrude into the minister’s home if the congregation owns it? Will they feel free to call on the minister at his home if the minister owns it? 12) The decorating and maintenance problem. Will the minister have time to do it? Will the congregation put volunteer labor into a minister-owned home? Will the congregation decorate it to the minister’s taste? Will the minister feel free to make changes to the congregation’s manse? 13) The risks associated with a heavy debt burden. The pressures it imposes on individuals and on the church, 14) ‘Willproperty taxes rise or decline in the future? 15) Will there be a special problem for those who believe in a six-year Old Testa- ment general equity law on indebtedness? 16) If the church owns the real estate, where will the minister go when he retires? 17) How do we achieve flexibility of size to suit the needs of the single minister, the large family, the childless couple, etc? 18) What effect does the purchasing power of the minister in relation to the combined purchasing power of the whole congregation have on the decision? 19) Is the minister being paid an adequate salary? Enough to meet his daily needs; to save for a down payment; to save to meet emergency needs; to save to provide for retirement; to invest as a hedge against inflation; to meet periodic payments for mortgage, real estate taxes, and insurance; to pay for his children’s education; to give to charity; to enjoy some of the fine things of life? 20) What is a desirable location for the minister’s home? 21) Is the congregation’s membership stable or transient? 22) What kind of area is the church located in? 23) Does the minister want to own his own home? 24) Are banks inclined to lend to churches? Will banks ask individual members to co-sign the mortgage or to take out personal loans to reduce the size of the mortgage? 25) With a continuing interest by governments in controlling rents, will the market lose its liquidity and make real estate a bad investment either for the highly leveraged investor or for the mobile owner.

A DISCUSSION OF I TIMOTHY 5: 17 The point of this discussion of 1 Timothy 5:l-18 will be to demonstrate that verse 17 teaches that pastors who do well should be paid very generously, perhaps even twice as much as others. This epistle was written by Paul to Timothy. Timothy, who had spent some time travelling throughout Asia as Paul’s assistant, was now being assigned greater administrative responsibility with respect to the Ephesian community, This epistle was Paul’s charge to Timothy as he assumed his new duties. Contained within the charge is a passage, I Timothy 5:l-20, dealing with how Timothy should relate to four classes of people (verses 1-2) : 170 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

a) Older men, to be treated as a father b) Younger men, to be treated as brothers c) Older women, to be treated as mothers d) Younger women, to be treated as sisters He then goes on to give direction for handling a sub-group within two of the above four, namely widows. He presents three alternate means for meeting the physical needs of widows: a) For those widows who have relatives who are capable of supporting them. (verses 4-8 & 16) b) For those widows who are still young, attractive, and “eligible”. (verses 9- 10) c) For those widows who are destitute indeed, neither having relatives nor being “eligible”. (verses 3 & 11-15) In verse 3, he says that destitute widows are to be honored. In the context we clearly see that this means that their claim to receive that which is required for their physical comfort is to be honored. To honor them means, not to esteem or to praise them, but rather it means to provide for their physical needs. Continuing in verse 17, having dispensed with the subject of women (especially widows), Paul goes on to discuss the needs of older men and especially those who rule. Verses 19 and 20 conclude the discussion of men. It is said that the older men who rule well are counted worthy of receiving “double honor”. And among this already special group, some are singled out as being even more certainly entitled to “double honor”, namely those who not only rule well but who also labor in the work of preaching and teaching. (verse 17) Who are these men who rule well and labor in preaching and teaching? Some hold they are church officers called “Elders”. Others would hold they are older men called “elders”. The context would say they are older men called elders who are doing the work of the pastorate-ruling, preaching, and teaching-and doing it well. It seems clear from the context that the verse does not have specifically in view those whom we call Ministers. Nor does it have specifically in view those whom we call Elders. Some have held that the main message is to distinguish between Ruling Elder and Teaching Elder. We judge this to not be the case; the verse has in view specifically older men engaged in the activities of ruling, teaching, and preaching. In our modern situation, such men are generally, but not necessarily, known as pastors. What is “honor”? Some hold it is esteem or praise. The context would say it is provision for their physical needs. In our society it is referred to as the “remuneration package”. It includes such items as salary, manse or housing allowance, utilities, paid benefits, reimbursement of expenses, etc. Is the above view correct? Look to verse 18 for confirmation. Confirming the obligation to provide generously for the physical needs of the men doing pastoral work in verse 17, Paul cites two passages of Scripture: a) “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn”. (Deut. 25:4) b) “The laborer is worthy of his reward”. (Matt. 1O:lO) The only question remaining is, “How much is double honor”? A more basic question, of course, is, “how much is single honor”? There is no simple answer. Possibili- ties include the following: a) The average earned income of working heads of households in the congregation. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 171

b) The average earned income of the work force in the local culture. c) The average earned income of the pastors secular “peers” (i,e., equivalent age, training, experience, responsibility, etc.) in the congregation or the community who are not engaged in pastoral work. d) The average earned income of the Session. e) Any number of other formulas. Some have objected to this interpretation of I Timothy 5:17 on the grounds that the church would have to pay this double salary to each member of the Session if the above view point were to prevail. This could be true, but only if the “Ruling Elder” were equally engaged (i.e., the same number of hours per week doing the same work- ruling, preaching, and teaching-and doing it equally well). Obviously, verse 17 allows for some adjustment for intensity and quality of activity. One could argue that Lhat word “honor” includes more than salary. Perhaps it does. However, it must be maintained that it includes salary. There can be no objection to the pastor receiving double esteem as long as he also gets double pay. Neither is a plea being made for exact mathematical calculations. What is required is a very generous allocation of the church’s resources. It is clear that God’s Word mandates no less. Certainly, if the pastor who does well receives “double honor,” during his working years, the church would not likely be having problems of “housing for retired ministers,’’ Can any argue that the pastor who labors well is worthy of any less reward?

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION Your committee brings the following recommendations: 1) That this report be commended to the ministers, sessions, and boards of deacons for study. 2) That the sessions (and agencies hiring ministers) be requested to review their ministers’ compensation package in the light of I Timothy 5:17. 3) That the General Assembly erect a committee to study the possibility of a retirement center for Orthodox Presbyterian Church people. 4) That the sessions, boards of deacons, and committees of the General Assembly, when working on these problems of housing, be reminded to consider the’ needs of ministers’ widows. 5) That this committee’s work be accepted as complete and the committee be dismissed. The Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers Kenneth L. Bosgraf Robert M. Coie Ada M. Galbraith Lewis J. Grotenhuis John 0. Kinnaird, Chairman

Mr. Hofford reported for Advisory Commitfee #7 concerning the report of the Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers. 172 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On amended motion recommendation 1 of the Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers was adopted in the following form: that this report be commended to the ministers, sessions, boards of deacons, and boards of trustees for study. After a series of amendments recommendation 2 of the Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers was adopted in the following form: that, sessions (and agencies hiring ministers) be requested to review their ministers’ compensation packages with the ministers in the light of the teaching of Scripture, and in addition that the presbyteries be requested to review calls specifically to provide for adequate retirement housing. On separate motions recommendations 4 and 5 of the Committee on Housing for Retired Ministers were adopted. Mr. Oliver introduced to the Assembly the Rev. Benjamin Hah, who in turn introduced the Rev. Myung Dong Han, Chairman of the Trustees of the Korean Theo- logical Seminary, and fraternal delegate of the Korean Presbyterian Church (Kosin). Mr. Han addressed the Assembly. Mr. Hah translated. The Assembly recessed at 9:20 p.m. Mr. Volz led in prayer.

THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 22 Following a devotional service led by Mr. Cummings, the Assembly reconvened at 8:OO a.m. Mr. B. J. Williams led in prayer. The order of the day having arrived, Mr. Prutow presented the report of the Committee on Presbyterial Records as follows :

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PRESBYTERIAL RECORDS [Note: In the citation of Rules, letter A refers to the Assembly’s Rules for Keeping Presbyterial Minutes, and letter B refers to the Assembly’s Rules for Examining Presbyterial Minutes.] The committee recommends the following: 1. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of the Dakotas be approved with the following exceptions: a. Failure to record that the minutes of the special meetings of December 7, 1976, and January 27, 1977, were approved at the same or subsequent meetings, p. 147, line 37, and p. 150, line 2 (cf. Rule A.ll) b. Failure to state the place of the March 22-25, 1977, meeting of presbytery, p. 151, line 5 (cf. Rule A.3) c. Failure to name the moderator of the July 23, 1977, special meeting of presbytery, p. 179, line 1 (cf. Rule A.5) d. Failure to record the selection of a clerk pro tern for the July 23, 1977, special meeting of presbytery, p. 179, line 1 (cf. Rule A.6) e. Failure to state the place of the September 27-28, 1977, meeting of presbytery, p. 180, line 5 (cf. Rule A.3) 2. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic be approved with the following exceptions: a. Failure to indicate that a man licensed was examined, p. 111, paragraph 2 (cf. Rule A.12) FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 173

b. Failure to indicate churches which ruling elder commissioners represent, p. 113, line 27 (cf. Rule A.7) c. Failure to identify individual praying, p. 125, last paragraph (cf. Rule A.lO) d. Failure to record a closing prayer for the December 10, 1977, meeting, p. 129, line 7 (cf. Rule A.lO) 3. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of the Midwest not be approved because they were not presented to the General Assembly as required (cf. Rule A.19). 4. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of New Jersey be approved with the following exception: a. Failure to comply with (old) Form of Government Chapter XV, Sections 16 and 11, and Chapter XIV, Section 5, in waiving examinations in ecclesiastical history, Greek, Hebrew, and philosophy when receiving ministers from other denominations, p. 4, item 31, and p. 10, item 16 (cf. Rule B.l) 5. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of New York and New England be approved with the following exceptions: a. Failure to record the action of presbytery in regard to Mr. Dortzbach‘s request, p. 132, line 2 (cf. Rule A.12) b. Failure to record the disposition of exceptions taken to presbytery’s Minutes by the 44th General Assembly, p. 132, line 5 (cf. Rule B.8) 6. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of Northern California be approved with the following exception: a. Failure to state the time of adjournment of the July 8, 1977, meeting of presbytery, p. 464, line 26 (cf. Rule A.3) 7. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of the Northwest be approved with the following exceptions: a. Failure to state the place of the April 28-29, 1978, meeting of presbytery, p. 242, line 1 (cf. Rule A.3) b. Failure to conform to (old) Form of Government, Chapter IX, Section 9, in requiring sessions to keep membership rolls: ( 1 ) Requiring a roll of “covenant children” rather than “baptized children,” p. 247, line 7 (cf. Rule B.l) (2) Requiring a roll of “adherents,” p. 247, line 9 (cf. Rule B.l) c. Failure to number page on which the minutes of the January 27-28, 1978, meeting were typed (cf. Rule A.l) 8. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of Ohio be approved with the following exception : a. Presbytery should request aid from the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension rather than approving aid, p. 218, lines 45 and 54, p. 219, line 38 (cf. Rule A.12) 9. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia be approved with the following exception: a. The minutes of the October 14, 1977, meeting are out of (sequential) order and not signed, p. 179 (cf. Rules A.4 and A.18) 10. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of the South be approved with the following exception: a. The copy of presbytery by-laws kept with the minutes is not corrected as amended, p. 283, paragraph 5 (cf. Rule A.21) 174 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

11. That the Minutes of the Presbytery of Southern California be approved with the following exception: a. Presbytery fails to give a reason for beginning a meeting earlier than the time set for the meeting, p. 542, line 5 (cf. Rule A.4) 12. That the Rules for Keeping Presbyterial Minutes be amended by the addition of: “22. The presbytery shall record in its minutes any exceptions taken to sessional minutes in its annual review of those minutes.” Note: The committee recorded one or more notations to all Minutes presented except those of the Presbytery of the South. Respectfully submitted, Dennis J. Prutow, Chairman

On separate motions recommendations 1, 2, and 3 of the Committee on Presby- terial Records were adopted. On substitute motion the minutes of the Presbytery of New Jersey were approved without except ion. On separate motions recommendations 5 and 6 of the Committee on Presbyterial Records were adopted. Recommendation 7 of the Committee on Presbyterial Records was adopted with the deletion of item b. (2). On separate motions recommendations 8 through 12 of the Committee on Pres- byterial Records were adopted. Mr. Mitchell reported for the Committee on Appeals and Complaints that it had no report. The order of the day having arrived, Mr. Plummer presented the report of the Committee on Standing Committee Records.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDING COMMITTEE RECORDS The committee recommends the following: 1. That the Minutes of the Committee on Christian Education be approved with the notations listed by the Committee on Standing Committee Records and with the exception that no copy of the by-laws of the committee was found with its Minutes (violation of Rule 21 of the Assembly’s Rules for Keeping Standing Committee Records). 2. That the Minutes of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel be approved without exception and with the notations listed by the Committee on Standing Com- mittee Records. 3. That the Minutes of the Committee on Diacorial Ministries be approved without exception and with the notations listed by the Committee on Standing Committee Records. 4. That the Minutes of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations be approved without exception. 5. That the Minutes of the Committee on Foreign Missions be approved without exception and with the notations listed by the Com,mittee on Standing Committee Records. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 175

6. That the Minutes of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension be approved without exception and with the notations listed by the Committee on Standing Committee Records. 7. That the Minutes of the Committee on Pensions be approved without exception and with the notations listed by the Committee on Standing Committee Records. 8. That the Minutes of the Committee on Stewardship be approved without except ion. 9. That the Minutes of the Trustees oj the General Assembly be approved without exception and with the notation listed by the Committee on Standing Committee Records. Respectfully submitted, Herbert D. Plummer, Chairman

On motion recommendation 1 was adopted. On motion recommendations 2 through 9 were adopted. Mr. Nightengale presented the report of the Committee on Race. On motion Stand- ing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE C80MMITTEEON RACE As a result of a recommendation of the Committee on RES Matters the 44th General Assembly determined to elect a three-member Committee on Race with the following mandate: (a) to prepare a statement for the next General Assembly that would serve as a report to the RES on our Church’s “activities in terms of Resolutions 14 and 15” adopted by the 1972 Sydney Synod, and to make such recommendations to the Assembly as it may deem proper in the matter; (b) to study the report, “Human Relations and the South African Scene in the Light of Scripture,” approved and accepted by the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church (R.S.A.), October, 1974, and to present a report of its analysis to the next General Assembly with a view to its being transmitted to the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, to the RES in time for its 1980 gathering, and to the member churches separately. The 44th General Assembly elected to the committee the Rev. Messrs. William C. Krispin (Convenor) and Edwin C. Urban, and Ruling Elder Cyril T. Nightengale. Before the committee was able to meet the Rev. Edwin C. Urban resigned because of the press of his ministerial duties. The remaining members of the committee found it very difficult even to begin to work at the task assigned it, finding the mandate to be very broad and difficult to handle given the limited time both members of the committee had to devote to the task. Consequently, little progress has been made. The committee saw its work as falling into three categories: 1. Determining the follow-up of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to the Report of the Committee on Problems of Race made to and adopted by the 41st General AssEmbly . 2. Studying the assigne.d report “Human Relations and the South African Scene in the Light of Scripture,” a document of over 90 pages in length, together with seeking to understand the South African racial situation and the church’s responsibility in that situation and formulating a response from our church to the Dutch Reformed Church (R.S.A.). 176 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

3. Making recommendations to the 45th General Assembly in fulfilling the mandate given it. In pursuing the mandate according to the outline stated above the committee felt that we were in no position to work at #2 without first determining the state of our own house. It is our position that our house is not in order and that much work is needed before we can proceed to speak to the South African situation. In 1974, the special Committee on Problems of Race made seven recommendations to the 41st General Assembly, six of which were adopted either directly or by amendment. The recommendations as adopted were: 1. that the 41st General Assembly remind the churches that the mandate given the Committee on Race by the 38th General Assembly to seek “proper Christian action for the church of Jesus Christ in meeting the problems of race based upon plain and consistent Biblical principles” is an abidnig mnadate for the whole constituency of the O.P.C.; 2. that the General Assembly urge the serveral presbyteries and sessions to implement the principles of Biblical race relations and that they be urged to give their attention to considerations outlined by the committee in Parts 111 and IV of its report; 3. that the 41st General Assembly encourage the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension and the several presbyteries prayerfully to consider means of extending the Reformed witness within the major urban areas of our nation; 4. that the 41st G.A. recommend to the presbyteries and sessions that they have seasons of prayer and regional conferences dealing with the problems raised in this report; 6. that this report, with Appendices A and B, and the attendant actions of this Assembly, be sent to the member churches of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod for their information. 7. that this committee be dissolved with the thanks of the 41st General Assembly. On further motion, “presbyteries and sessions were urged to study Appendices A, B, and C, in relation to Parts I11 and IV of the report of the Committee on Problems of Race.”

Although it has been impossible to make a detailed survey of the response of the several presbyteries and sessions to the recommendations of that committee, a cursory survey has revealed that little or no action has been taken. Because that report was not sent as a direct communication to the RES it had no status at the 1976 Conference on Race held in South Africa. Consequently, no consideration was given to it at that time. It appears that the work of that committee has been of profit only to the members of that committee. In effect, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church has stated that it has no problem of race. However, there is much evidence to the contrary. The membership of th Orthodox Presbyterian Church does not even begin to reflect the plurality of peoples in American society. Few American miniority persons hold membership in the OPC. Among our ordained leadership there is even smaller minority representation. Our home missions efforts are making little dent in changing that picture. Over the past 25 years some congregations have moved out of neighborhoods into which minority persons have begun to move. All of this is in addition to the fact that minority persons in America continue to be oppressed economically, socially and politically by the predominant white, middle and upper class elements of society. We, as a church, have done little to speak to this continuing situation of which we are a part. The committee recommends: 1. that the 45th G.A. again remind the churches that the mandate given the Com- mittee on Problems of Race by the 38th General Assembly to seek “proper Christian FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 177

action for the church of Jesus Christ in meetng the problems of race based upon plain and consistent Biblical principles” is an abiding mandate for the whole constituency of the O.P.C.; 2. that the G.A. send copies of the report of the Committee on Problems of Race made to the 41st G.A. to the several presbyteries and sessions urging them to implement the principles of Biblical race relations and that they be further urged to give their attention to the considerations outlined by the committee in Parts I11 and IV and Appendices A, B, and C of its report; 3. that the G.A. encourage the Committee on Home Missions and Church Exten- sion and the several presbyteries prayerfully to consider further means of extending the Reformed witness within the major urban areas and minority communities of our nation; 4. that the G.A. recommend to the presbyteries and sessions that they have seasons of prayer and regional conferences dealing with the problems raised in that report; 5. that the G.A. request the several presbyteries and sessions to report their response to these requests to the Committee on Race no later than January 1, 1979; .-v 6. that the G.A. send the report of the Committee on Problems of Race made to the 41st G.A. to the RES and its member churches as an official communication to them of our position on matters of race to be used in official discussions of the RES at the regional and synodical level; and 7. that this committee be continued under the mandate given it by the 44th G.A. and that it be expanded to include a total of 5 members. Respectfully submitted, William C.Krispin Cyril T. Nightengale

It was moved to adopt recommendation 1 of the Committee on Race. On amended substitute motion the Assembly determined the following: that the Assembly remind the churches of the actions of the 41st General Assemlbly regarding the work of the Committee on problems of Race and request the several presbyteries and sessions to report their responses to the Committee on Race no later than January 1, 1979. On motion recommendation 7 of the Committee on Race was adopted. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Race. The following were nominated: Messrs. Schmurr, Fikkert, Reitsma, Petty, Huibert J. Van- denbroek, Michael Nunley (Denver), Gustavo Espino (Novato), Claerbaut, and Stanley Dea (Gaithersburg). On motion Mr. Petty’s request to have his name withdrawn was granted. On motion the Assembly determined to designate the two highest losers on the last ballot as alternates to the Committee on Race. The Moderator later announced the election of Messrs. Claerbaut, Nunley, and Reitsma to the Committee on Race and of Messrs. Espino and Vandenbroek as first and second alternates respectively. Mr. Reitsma was appointed convener. Mr. Oliver introduced to the Assembly the Rev. Dr. John Kim, who in turn introduced three members of the Korean Presbyterian Church (Hopdong). On motion the Rev. Young So0 Lee, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Korean Presby- terian Church ( Hopdong), fraternal delegate of the Korean Presbyterian Church (Hop- 178 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY dong), was enrolled as a corresponding member. Mr. Lee addressed the Assembly. Dr. Kim translated. Mr. Elliott presented the report of the Committee on Overtures and Communica- tions. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VI, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERTURES AND COMMUNICATIONS REPORTON OVERTURE 4 Overture 4 from the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic was referred to this committee for advice. The overture petitions the General Assembly to send an appeal to the chief executive and to the legislative branch of the United States government decrying the lawlessness rampant in our nation and protesting specifically the wholesale practice of abortion. The appeal implores the government to “take some action which would bring the unborn children of our citizens under the protection of life guaranteed by the Consti- tution of these United States.” The Thirty-eighth General Assembly received the reports of the Committee to Study the Matter of Abortion (Minufes, 38th G.A., p. 135 ff.), ordered the reports printed for distribution and referred them to members, sessions and presbyteries for study. Presbyteries were requested to report to the next assembly. The Thirty-ninth Assembly approved a statement on abortion received as an overture from the Presbytery of New Jersey. It was amended by striking the statement, “abortion is murder” and by inserting “possibly” before the exception that would permit voluntary abortion to save the life of the mother. The following statement was adopted: (Minutes, 39th G.A., p. 17 ff.):

STATEMENT ON ABORTION Believing that unborn children are living creatures in the image of God, given by God as a blessing to their parents, we therefore affirm that voluntary abortion, except possibly to save the physical life of the mother, is in violation of the Sixth Command- ment (Exodus 20: 13). We state the following reasons: 1) The Bible treats human personhood as beginning at conception (Psalm 139: 13-16; 51:s; Jeremiah 1:4, 5; Luke 1:41-44; 1:29-38; Exodus 21:22-25). 2) The Bible considers the human person to be a complete person (Genesis 2:7; Numbers 23: 10; Deuteronomy 6:s; I Thessalonians 5:23). This unity is severed only by death and then only temporarily until the natural, intended union is restored at the resurrection (TI Corinthians 5:8; I Thessalonians 4: 13-17). 3) The Bible forbids murder because man is created in the image of God (Genesis 9:5,6). The Bible further says that succeeding generations of men are conceived in the image of God (Genesis 5: 1-3). We call upon society and the church to show compassion toward unwed mothers and mothers of unwanted children. To this end, not only sympathetic counsel, but also concrete help should be extended (I John 3:16-18; James 2:14-17). But we also call upon our society to return to the law of God, recognizing the Word of God that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 179

Recommendation 1 In view of this action, the committee recommends that the Assembly not seek to formulate another statement on abortion at this time but rather: . a. That the Assembly direct the Stated Clerk to inform the President and Vice President of the United States and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church continues to deplore the destruction of unborn human life by voluntary abortion, and that this Forty-fifth General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church petitions the Congress to provide for unborn children that protection of life guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. b. That the Clerk remind the presbyteries and sessions of our church of the availability of the report of the Committee to Study the Matter of Abortion and further that sessions be urged to remind the members of the church of their responsibility as citizens to support the enacting of legislation that will protect and preserve human life.

FURTHERREPORT ON OVERTURE 4 The church of the Lord Jesus Christ and in particular those charged in a special way with the stewardship of the Word and the discipline of the church have a solemn responsibility to apply the teaching of Scripture to the circumstances of contemporary life and to the ethical issues faced by Christians in their walk of obedience to Christ. This responsibility is exercised by Christians individually, according to their gifts, and by the church corporately. Such application of the Word is necessary in judicial discipline when offenses occur. But such application is also needed as a part of instruction in the Word so that Christians may be warned and exhorted to obey Christ in the decision of daily life. Church officers and assemblies may err against Christian liberty in seeking to bind men’s consciences beyond the Word of God, but they may also err by failing to instruct and inform the Christian conscience concerning the requirements of Scripture in concrete situations. Further, the church is called to make its testimony to Scripture clear on ethical issues confronting society. The church may be unable to speak with a united voice because of the complexity of the issue or because of its lack of understanding of the Scriptures. Yet this does not lessen the responsibility of the church to answer the questions of the uninstructed or to rebuke the wickedness of the profane. Confusion on ethical questions abounds in our society and brings the threat of tyranny and perversion to the law of our land in its formulation and administration. Questions of ethics are raised by some aspects of medical and genetic research, defiance of Christian standards in sexual and family life, exploitative manipulation through mass media of communication and propaganda, the abuse of social and legal structures to de- prive people of rights and opportunities, new forms of racism. All these and many other issues must be examined in the light of Scripture, especially since they are raised in new forms because of the development of science, technology, and the instruments for social control. This task is the continuing responsibility of every Christian and every church officer, but joint reflection and common witness are also needed. Recommendation 2 The Committee on Overtures and Communications therefore recommends that this General Assembly request the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council to consider the establishment of a Study Commission on Christian Ethics in Contemporary Society and that such a commission be charged with conducting ongoing research in the ethical issues of our time, correlating the studies made in NAPARC churches with other 180 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY conservative Reformed churches, and using the services of Christian scholars, statesmen, and informed individuals in these fields, and that the Commission make its studies available to church and civic groups and to responsible leaders in government, and further, that the Commission propose from time to time position papers or resolutions that might be adopted by the synods or assemblies of the NAPARC churches. In making this proposal, the assembly does not authorize such a commission to speak in its name but only to serve as a study and resource organization.

REPORTCONCERNING THE “CHAPLAINSWORKING GROUP REPORT” (cf. Stated Clerk’s Recommendation 1 ) The 5th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America and the 155th General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, each called for a study of the feasibility of forming a joint Chaplains Endorsing Agency to serve the Presbyterian Church in America, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. This study was made by a group of men who are at present in the military chaplaincy or who had been military chaplains. Included among those making the study were two Orthodox Presbyterian ministers, the Rev. Michael D. Stingley, a reserve Army chaplain and the Rev. Patrick H. Morison, a reserve Air Force chaplain. The study group enumerated several anticipated results of the forming of such an endorsing agency, which it considered advantages to the churches involved, and also to chaplains and men desiring to become chaplains. The study group then recommended the following action to be taken by the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and by the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod : “Be it resolved that the (insert names of the three denominations) establish the ‘PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED COMMISSION ON CHAPLAINS AND MIL- ITARY PERSONNEL,’ for the purpose of providing a joint endorsing agency for military and institutional chaplains of the three denominations and to provide a ministry to our church members and their families serving in the military.” At present, the endorsement of Orthodox Presbyterian ministers for such service is a responsibility of the stated clerk of our denomination as set forth in General Assembly Standing Rule Chapter IV section q: “The duties of the stated clerk between assemblies shall be . . . to serve as ecclesiastical endorsing agent of the denomination for service in the military chaplaincy. Candidates for the chaplaincy shall be endorsed only with the concurrence of their presbyteries.” Though the advantages to our denomination of changing our endorsing agent may be qucstionable, your committee is persuaded that there are other advantages we as a denomination would experience. Such an agency could be an invaluable source of information for ministers and ministerial students who wish to know more of the nature of a chaplain’s work, the gifts especially needed and the proper method of seeking such a position. We believe it would be very effective in serving men now in the chaplaincy as well as their families in areas which are not the sole prerogative and responsibility of the presbyteries to which the chaplains belong. It would provide information concerning opportunities in hospitals, retirement homes, penal institutions, industry and other areas where the service of chaplains is needed. Finally, it would be an aid to presbyteries in the fulfillment of their responsibilities toward members who serve as chaplains. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 181

Recommendation 3a We therefore propose the following action: that the assembly approve the formation of a Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel which shall consist of three members each of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in America and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. 0 The commission shall serve as a liaison agent between our denomination and military, industrial, penal, health, and other institutions where chaplains are employed. 0 It shall make available information concerning the nature of the work of chaplains, opportunities for service as chaplains, and procedures to follow in seeking such positions. 0 It shall provide encouragement and counsel to chaplains and their families in areas which do not infringe on the prerogatives and responsibilities of presbyteries. 0 It shall serve as an endorsing agent subject to the authorization of the judicatory which has oversight of the applicant. Recommendation 3b We recommend that the following steps be taken to implement the above decision: 1) that three members of this commission be elected by the General Assembly whose terms of office shall expire in one year, two years, and three years, and that in future elections, election shall be for three years. 2) that the expenses of this commission shall be defrayed through voluntary gifts and through stated contributions from the participating churches. The stated contribution from our church this year shall be $150 per active duty chaplain to be taken from the General Assembly funds. Recommendation 3c If the above recommendations are adopted, the committee would rcommend the following amendment to the standing rules of the General Assembly: that the present section (9) of Chapter IV be deleted and that the present section r be changed to section q.

It was moved to adopt recommendation 1.a. of the Committee on Overtures and Communications. The Assembly recessed at 1O:OO a.m. and reconvened at 10:20 a.m. After amendment the pending question was carried in the following form: that the Assembly direct the Stated Clerk to send to the President and Vice President of the United States and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the statement on zbor- tion adoptd by the 39th General Assembly and inform them that the Orthodox Presby- terian Church continues to deplore the destruction of unborn human life by voluntary abortion, and that this Forty-fifth General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church petitions Congress to provide for unborn children that protection of life guaranteed by the constitution of the United States. Mr. Lodge requested that his negative vote be recorded. On motion recommendation 1.b. of the Committee on Overtures on Communica- tions was adopted. On motion the Assembly determined to send the Report of the Committee to study the matter of Abortion (Minutes, 38th G.A., p. 1lSff.) to the RES for its study and possible action. It was moved to adopt recommendation 2 of the Committee on Overtures and Communications. 182 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

On motion the Assembly determined to postpone action on the pending question until the 46th General Assembly, and that the recommendation be referred to the Committee on RES Matters in order that it. might be further evaluated in terms of the goals of the RES and the needs of the churches in North America for additional ethical consultation. The motion to adopt the recommendation in part V.B.3. of the report of the Com- mittee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, which had been postponed to this point in the docket was considered and was carried. The floor was declared open for nominations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Mem- bers of the NAPARC Committee on Divorce. The following were nominated: Mews.- Mitchell, James R. Payton, Jr., Dennison, and John M. Frame. On motion the Assembly determined to designate the man receiving the third highest number of votes as alternate to those elected. The Moderator later announced the election of Messrs. Payton and Dennison, and of Mr. Mitchell as alternate. The Stated Clerk read a communication from the Synod of the RPCES, acknowl- edging and expressing appreciation for the Assembly’s earlier action concerning the RPCES. On motion recommendation 3.a. of the Committee on Overtures and Communica- tions was adopted. On motion the Assembly determined that the Commission be requested to explore avenues of mutual service with other NAPARC churches in the area of Chaplaincy. On motion recommendation 3.b. of the Committee on Overtures and Communi- cations was adopted. On motion recommendation 3.c. of the Committee on Overtures and Communi- cations was adopted. The floor was declared open for nominations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Mem- bers of the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Per- sonnel. The following were nominated: Messrs. Stonehouse, Prutow, Morison, Stingley, and John W. Betzold. The Assembly recessed at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Tavares led in prayer.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 22 The Assembly reconvened at 1:40 p.m. with the singing of the hymn “Arise, 0 Lord, our God.” The Moderator led in prayer. The Minutes of the sessions of Tuesday, June 20, and Wednesday, June 21, were approved as corrected. Upon recommendation of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel, the Assem- bly on motion determined that due to an unforeseen emergency Messrs. Gramp and Patterson be excused at the close of the afternoon session on Thursday, June 22, without loss of travel compensation. On motion nominations were reopened for the Orthodox Presbyterian Members of the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel. Dr. Dortzbach was nominated. The Moderator later announced the election of Mr. Betzold to the class of 1981, Dr. Dortzbach to the class of 1980, and Mr. Prutow to the class of 1979. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 183

The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Appeals and Complaints. Mr. Tyson was nominated. There being no further nominations the Moderator declared Mr. Tyson elected to the class of 1981. Mr. DeJonge presented his Complaint against the Presbytery of Philadelphia (cf. Complaint 1, p. 25). On motion Mr. DeJonge was granted an additional ten minutes in which to present his Complaint. Mr. Eyres presented the report of Advisory Committee #5.

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMLTTEE #5 Advisory Committee #5 met to consider Complaint 1 of Mr. William De Jonge against the Presbytery of Philadelphia. In addition to reviewing the pertinent docu- mentary material, the committee met with Mr. De Jonge and the Rev. Douglas C. Winward, Clerk of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. On September 20, 1977, the session of the Kirkwood OPC requested in writing that Presbytery “assist it in the resolution of an important doctrinal matter by providing study materials and information for debate on the following subjects: (Advisory Committee #5 emphasis) (1) The relationship of subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1, Section 8, and the use of non-Textus Receptus based Bibles in the church, especially in our liturgical formulas and educational publications. (2) The relationship of Van Ti1 apologetics and probability arguments concerning the text of Scripture.” In response to this request, Presbytery erected a special advisory committee which consulted with the Kirkwood session and also prepared a report (comprised of two study papers written by the Rev. Messrs. Arthur Steltzer and John Mason) which was heard by Presbytery on March 17-18, 1978. These papers were approved by the Presby- tery and distributed to those present at the meeting, including Mr. De Jonge. It is the judgment of Advisory Committee #5 that these two papers adequately answer the original request made by the Kirkwood session for “study materials and information for debate.” Mr. De Jonge complained that Presbytery had not fulfilled its responsibility in answering the request of the Kirkwood session for materials, giving four reasons (see text of Complaint 1). The Presbytery of Philadelphia took action on May 15 to deny the complaint of Mr. De Jonge as follows: “The Presbytery of Philadelphia in reply to the complaint of William A. De Jonge; viz., that the Presbytery was delinquent in accepting the report of Presbytery’s special committee as the answer of the Presbytery, responds as follows to Mr. De Jonge’s reasons stated as grounds for the complaint: “1. Reason No. 1 raises two questions: First, whether the Presbytery fulfilled a duty to ‘resolve questions,’ to which the Presbytery replies that no judicatory is obliged tu resolve all questions of faith nor is it ever able to resolve a question unless the parties are willing to agree, though the Presbytery in this case endeavored to do so; and second, what the complainant regards as ‘doctrine’ - the use of a comma between the words ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Counsellor’ in Isaiah 9:6 - the Presbytery regards as a question of translation that does not affect biblical doctrine whether or not the comma is used. Presbytery judges that Reason No. 1 does not support the complaint. “2. Reason No. 2 first raises a question of judgment as to what are ‘adequate’ materials and the Presbytery judges that the information provided was ‘adequate’; and 184 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY secondly the allegation of failure with regard to study materials and public debate are (sic) contrary to fact, for study materials were suggested and provided and the question was in fact debated on the floor of the Presbytery on several occasions. The Presbytery thus believes that Reason No. 2 does not support the complaint. “3. At its meeting on May 15, 1978, the Presbytery explicitly staled (Advisory Committee #5 emphasis), by motion, that the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chap- ter 1, Section 8, “does not bear on the question of the propriety of the comma between the words ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Counsellor’ in Isaiah 9:6 . . . ” Reason No. 3 is therefore in Presbytery’s view, contrary to fact, and does not sustain the complaint. “4. At its meeting on March 17, 18, 1978 the Presbytery heard the report of the special Committee to Assist Kirkwood in Resolving Doctrinal Matters, including the specific counsel of the members of the committee to the Kirkwood session, and deem- ing this counsel adequate, the Presbytery dismissed the committee with thanks. Furthermore, at its meeting on May 15, 1978, the Presbytery passed the following motion: ‘presbytery counsels the session of the Kirkwood Church that it should not feel it necessary to continue, as a session, to consider this matter.’ Therefore, Reason No. 4 being contrary to fact, the Presbytery judges that this ‘reason’ does not support the complaint. “In summary, the Presbytery believes that, since it judges that all four reasons adduced in support of the complaint do not support the complaint, the complaint should not be sustained.” Having reviewed the documents of the case, Advisory Committee #5 finds the Presbytery to have acted, in fact, to give to the Kirkwood session the study material they originally requested, as well as to consult directly with them on the questions involved. It seems to the committee that any response that the Presbytery would have given to the request of the Kirkwood session would have been unacceptable to the complainant if it did not agree with his opinion concerning the text, translation and interpretation of Scripture. We find Presbytery’s responses to the four grounds for Mr. De Jonge’s complaint to be adequate refutations of the complaint. Therefore, Advisory Committee #5 recommends to the General Assembly that Complaint 1 from William A. De Jonge against the Presbytery of Philadelphia be denied. Advisory Committee #5 further notes that Mr. De Jonge has previously raised the issue of the merits of the Textus Receptus and the King James Version of the English Bible before the Philadelphia Presbytery and the General Assembly in other forms. It is the hope of this committee that Mr. De Jonge will see the wisdom of not taking up further time on the part of Presbytery or the Assembly with other complaints or overtures which, though they may differ in form, are in substance the same.

On motion Mr. Eyres was granted an additional ten minutss in which to present the report of Advisory Committee #5. The recommendation of Advisory Committee #5 (next to the last paragraph of its report) was moved and amended by changing the words “be denied” to “not be sustained.” The Assembly recessed at 3 :40 p.m. and reconvened at 4:OO p.m. The pending question was carried. Mr. Poundstone presented the report of Advisory Committee #12. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 185

REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE #12 1. Advisory Committee #12 supports the idea behind Overture 1 and the reasons given for its support, but recommends the following amendments in the overture before its adoption: a) delete “monthly” b) delete “to begin January 1980” c) change the period at the end of the overture to a comma and add the words “with particular attention to costs, personnel involved, and publication scheduling with reference to the needs of the Committees mentioned above.” 2. Advisory Committee #12 recommends (a) that the special committee of five be comprised of one representative appointed by each of the Committees (Christian Education, Home and Foreign Missions, Stewardship and Diaconal Ministries), (b) that the appointments be reported to the General Secretary of the Committee on Stewardship by October 1, 1978, and (c) that the convener of the special committee shall be the representative of the Committee on Stewardship. 3. With reference to Overture 3 Advisory Committee #12 recommends no action.

On amended motion recommendation 1 of Advisory Committee #12 was adopted and Overture 1 was adopted in the following form: that the Assembly erect a special committee of five to recommend to the 46th General Assembly a concrete proposal for a publication that will serve the interests of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church including in particular those of the Committees on Christian Education, Home and Foreign Missions, Stewardship and Diaconal Ministries, and including news from the churches, presbyteries, and General Assembly; with particular attention to costs, personnel involved, and publication scheduling with reference to the needs of the Com- mittees mentioned above. It was moved to adopt recommendation 2 of Advisory Committee #12. The Assembly recessed at 6:OO p.m. Mr. Gregg led in prayer.

THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 22 The Assembly reconvened at 7:30 p.m. with the singing of the hymn “Great is thy faithfulness.” Mr. Doe led in prayer. The pending question was carried. On motion recommendation 3 of Advisory Committee #12 was adopted. On motion the following resolution was adopted: WHEREAS, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a member of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, a voluntary association of church denominations of Reformed persuasion situated in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, South Pacific and Australia, and WHEIREAS, it is desirable and beneficial that the Reformed Ecumenical Synod be incorporated as a Michigan ecclesiastical corporation in order that its common purposes may be more readily accomplished, and WHEREAS, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church desires to become an incorporator and a member of the corporation to be organized; NOW, THEREFORE, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church meeting in General As- sembly adopts the following Resolution, to wit: 186 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

RESOLVED, that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a Pennsylvania ecclesiastical corporation, become an incorporator of and a member of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, a Michigan ecclesiastical corporation to be organized : FURTHER RESOLVED, that Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to execute Articles of Incorporation of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod on behalf of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Stated Clerk prepare an attested copy of this Resolution for the purpose of filing the same with the State of Michigan. Dr. Strimple presented a further report of Advisory Committee #8. On motion the recommendation in part IV of the report of Advisory Committee #8 (cf. p. 122) was adopted. It was moved and seconded to adopt the following: A. That in view of the fact that the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America has long had women as ordained deacons, that the Christian Reformed Church has now decided to follow the same practice, and that the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod is proposing a revision to their Form of Government explicitly to prohibit the ordination of women as deacons, the General Assembly requests the above-named churches and the Presbyterian Church in America, all members of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council, to appoint representatives to confer with a special committee of our church on the subject of “the ordination of women as deacons” in the ensuing year; and that the Committee on Ecumenicity and Inter- church Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church be the recipient of responses to this request and make arrangements for the conference.

Grounds: 1. The purposes of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council include : a. “Facilitate discussion and consultation between member bodies on those issues and problems which divide them as well as those which they face in common, and by sharing insights ‘communicate advantages to one another.’ ” b. “Promote the appointment of joint committees to study matters of common interest aqd concern.” c. “Exercise mutual concern in the perpetuation, retention, and propagation of the Reformed faith.” 2. Among the purposes of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod are to: a. “Advise one another regarding questions and problems of import pertaining to the spiritual welfare and the scriptural government of the churches.” b. “Strive to attain a common course of action with respect to common problems.” c. “Give united testimony to the Reformed faith.” 3. The policy of “Ecclesiastical Fellowship” approved by this (45th) General Assembly and by other of the NAPARC churches states that one of the means by which this Fellowship is to be implemented is the “communication on issues of joint concern.” FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 187

B. That the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations be instructed to appoint the special committee to participate in the conference if any of the other churches responds affirmatively to the request. C. That if the conference is held, the special committee report fully to the next General Assembly on the conference and be authorized to present recommendations. By general consent it was determined to consider the parts of the pending question seriatim. The three parts of the pending question were separately included in the motion. The motion as a whole was carried. Messrs. Peterson, Adams, Duff, Lavarell, Tyson, Elder, Kiester, Buchanan, Prutow, J. Williams, Cummings, and Haug requested that their negative votes be recorded. On motion the Assembly determined to adopt Overture 2 (which inadvertently had not been referred to an advisory committee) and to redraw the boundary between the Presbytery of the Northwest and the Presbytery of the Dakotas accordingly. The Assembly recessed at 9:15 p.m. following prayer led by Mr. Van Camp.

FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 23 Following a devotional service led by Mr. J. S. Atwell, the Assembly reconvened at 8:05 a.m. with the singing of the hymn “Immortal, invisible, God only wise.” Mr. Remillard led in prayer. Mr. Galbraith presented the report of the Missions Correspondent for the Re- formed Ecumenical Synod. On motion Standing Rule Chapter VT, Section 7, was suspended and the report was ordered included in the Minutes without being read aloud.

REPORT OF THE MISSIONS CORRESPONDENT FOR THE REFORMED ECUMENICAL SYNOD Fathers and brethren, A meeting of the R.E.S. Committee on Missions was held in Pretoria, South Africa, March 26, 1978. Your correspondent serves as Chairman, and the Rev. Dr. Paul G. Schrotenboer as General Secretary. The principal business of the meeting was to plan the Missions Conference that is now customarily held in the week prior to each meeting of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod. The Conference is thus scheduled for Nimes, France in August 1980. The Com- mittee is looking seriously at the feasibility of also sponsoring a conference for young people of the R.E.S. to be held after the Missions Conference, possibly at Aix-en-Pro- vence, and is consulting with the Reformed Seminary there about it. The general outline of the Missions Conference has been established, and speakers are being invited. The theme of the Conference is to be “Prophetic Witness in a Be- wildered World.” There are to be three topics under that head: Prophetic Witness by the Church-to its families and covenant youth, involving covenant youth in the life of the church, its response to current evils, and outreach to the world. Prophetic Witness and the Role of Christian Parents-their life and witness in the home, task toward the children and their problems, the problem of communication, witness to neighbors and their children. Prophetic Witness to Youth Outside the Church-their problems and needs, what they respond to, how to incorporate converts into the church life. 188 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Discussion will have a larger part in the conference than heretofore-the reason for only three topics. There will be a daily Bible study, as well as a keynote address to begin the conference and a “wrap-up” address at the end. The Committee also decided to prepare, for distribution at the time of the Confer- ence, an up-dated World Survey of Reformed Missions. Copies of the current edition are available from the R.E.S. office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Committee seems to be serving a very useful purpose in raising the awareness of the breadth of Reformed missionary work around the world and in helping the churches in their thinking about the principles and practice of missions. Respectfully submitted, John P. Galbraith

Mr. Bates presented the final report of the Committee on Date, Place and Travel.

FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DATE, PLACE AND TRAVEL FINANCIALSTATEMENT Balance from 44th General Assembly ...... $17,720.72 Received from churches in 1978 ...... 21,520.50 Offering at opening worship service ...... 257.78 Special Offering from Calvary OPC, Cedar Grove ...... 300.00 Total ...... 39,799.00 Payment of 125 travel vouchers 20,670.00 Payment of 124 claims for per diem 6,744.00 27,4 14.00

Balance ...... $12,385.00 The Committee was requested by the 44th General Assembly (Minutes, 44th Gen- eral Assembly, p. 70) “to prepare guidelines for the granting of travel compensation and to consider proposing an amendment to the standing rules of the Assembly which would provide for that Committee’s deciding questions of travel compensation rather than the full Assembly and to report to the next General Assembly.” The Committee’s response is found in the recommendations which follow. The Committee recommends: 1. That the Assembly accept the invitation of Geneva College to hold the 46th General Assembly on the Geneva campus beginning at 8:OO p.m., Thursday, May 17, 1979, with a projected terminus of noon, Friday, May 25, 1979. 2. That the Assembly request the churches to contribute to the General Assembly Travel Fund for 1979 at the rate of $3.25 per communicant member. 3. That this Assembly propose to the next Assembly that Standing Rule Chapter XI1 be amended as follows: a. Insert the word “ordinarily,” followed by a comma, before the words “Travel Compensation” at the beginning of the first sentence, and identify the resulting paragraph as Section 1. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 189

b. Add a new Section 2 to read as follows: “Commissioners who incur a loss of regular income in order to attend the General Assembly shall be given full travel cornperisation if they are in attendance on any five full days of Assembly business. Men in this category who attend for less than five full days shall lose travel compensation at the rate of 25% per day.” ELECTION The term of the Rev. Dennis E. Johnson expires at this Assembly. Respectfully submitted, James A. Bates Daniel E. McElwain Daniel H. Overduin

On separate motions the committee’s recommendations were adopted. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on Date, Place and Travel. Mr. Dennis E. Johnson was nominated. There being no further nominations, the Moderator declared Mr. Johnson elected. Mr. Oliver presented the report of the Committee on General Assembly Fund Review.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL ASSEMBLY FUND REVIEW 1. With regard to recommendation 4 of the Report of the Stated Clerk, the committee recommends that this Assembly constitute the Stated Clerk, the General Secretary of the Committee on Stewardship, and one person to be elected by this Assembly, as a committee to propose to the Forty-sixth General Assembly a procedure for management of the General Assembly Budget Fund. 2. With regard to recommendation 5 of the Report of the Stated Clerk, the committee concurs with the Stated Clerk’s recommendation. 3. The committee recommends that the following budget be adopted and that the Assembly request the churches to contribute $3.00 per communicant member to meet the budget.

BUDGET 1978-1979 Anticipated receipts Sale of Minutes $ 400.00 Proceeds from Knollwood Lodge 1,200.00 Special gift for conference room 1,000.00 Miscellaneous income 100.00 Contributions from the churches 28,066.40

Total $30,766.40 190 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Anticipated expenditures Deficit from preceding Assembly $ 2,431.00 Honoraria Stated Clerk 3,600.00 Assistant Clerk 225.00 Statistician 175.00 Historian 125.00 Printing and mailing of Agenda and Minutes, 45th G. A. 11,200.00 Miscellaneous office and secretarial expense 1,000.00 Assessments Reformed Ecumenical Synod 3,210.00 North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council 50.00 Committee expenses Arrangements, 46th G. A. 150.00 Book of Discipline and Directory for Worship 1,15 0.00 Chaplains 300.00 Divorce 100.00 Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations 3,500.00 Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards 500.00 Ministerial Training 1,000.00 Race 1,000.00 Trustees of the G. A. 50.00 Miscellaneous 1,000.40

Total $30,766.40 Respectfully submitted, Robley J. Johnston LeRoy B. Oliver

On separate motions the committee’s recommendations were adopted. The floor was declared open for nominations to the Committee on General As- sembly Budget Fund Management. Mr. Oliver was nominated. There being no further nominations, the Moderator declared Mr. Oliver elected. On motion the following resolution was adopted: FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 191

RESOLUTION OF THANKS The Forty-fifth General Assembly expresses its thanks to the Synod of the Chris- tian Reformed Church and to the officers and staff of Calvin College and Seminary for the efficient hospitality extended to us during our stay on Knollcrest campus. We are grateful for the splendid organization that made possible the concurrent meetings of the synods and assemblies of the five churches that participate in the North Ameri- can Presbyterian and Reformed Council. We are also grateful for the warm and gracious spirit of the whole staff at Knollcrest. Cheerful Christian service made our stay delightful and expedited our business. We wish to thank particularly Mr. Harry Faber and Mr. Clark Van Halsema for their coordination of arrangements.

On motion the Assembly instructed the Stated Clerk to remind each Presbytery and each special committee of this Assembly that overtures and reports (a) ought to be in the Clerk's hands as soon as possible, in order to allow adequate study time before the next Assembly (see also Standing Rule VI:8); and (b) must be in his hands before the next Assembly, in order to be available to the advisory committees at the very beginning of the Assembly. The minutes of the sessions of Thursday, June 22, and Friday, June 23, were approved as corrected. On motion the Minutes of the Assembly as a whole were approved. On motion it was determined that the Assembly be dissolved. The Moderator made the following declaration: By virtue of the authority delegated to me by the church, let this general asscmbly be dissolved, and I do hereby dissolve it, and require another gencral assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on the seventeenth day of May, A. D. 1979. The Moderator led the Assembly in prayer and pronounced the apostolic benediction. The 45th General .4ssembly closed at 9:53 a.m., Friday, Jun2 23, 1978. Respectfully submitted, Richard A. Barker, Stated Clerk PRESBYTERY OF THE DAKOTAS Stated Meetings - Fourth Tuesday of March and September The Rev. James L. Bosgraf, Stated Clerk

Added Removed CO". a Faith ."CI u 9.L Sunday School Ave. Attend. 2 v, d Per Week -Y a .-c c May Nov. < a 1977 1977 r 0 COLORADO T1 DENVER,Park Hill 1l:OO 178 183 116 67 2 5 7 1 0 5 2 -3 91 75 $22,762 $7,528 $2,428 $32,718 $419 $ 34 I1 Albion St. 6 :00 James L. Bosgraf (W. Benson Male, Assoc. Pastor)

DENVER(AURORA), Grace Chapel 11:OO 57a 57a 32a 25a 10,000 0 0 10,000 - s 6:30 5 DENVER(GOLDEN), Redeemer 1l:OO 13a 13a 6a 7a g Chapel 10,000 0 0 10,000 - b GRANDJUNCTION. Bcthcl 11:OO 41 44 29 15 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 25 22 12,424 1,813 117 14,354 495 inB Sunlight Dr. & 'B' Rd. 7:OO Donald J. Duff I- ;c THORNTON Imniait ti el 10.00 47 47 34 13 30 30 9,300 800 500 10,600 312 93rd & Clayton 3s. 7 :00 Richard Wynja

KANSAS CAREY,OPC'. V. lot40 45 45 32 13 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 -2 19 23 13,094 258 1,455 14,807 463 Vine St. 6 :00 (Dennis J. Prutow, Stated Supply) (J. Anthony Blair, Licentiate)

HUTCRINSON, Norf hside Presbyterian Cltaprl 9:45 20b 24b 19b 5b 0 lb 0 2b 0 0 0 2b 29 30 7.306 822 346 8,474 446 1413 E. 35th (No Mail) 7:OO (William J. Bomer, Stated Supply) Added Removed ~-

Conf. I Faith Ya .-0 Sunday School W - Ave. Attend. & 2 Per Week ... c 9 E c .I May Nov. a" a 1977 1977 G NEBRASKA LINCOLNFaith 9 :30 67 71 57 14 4 0 00 0 0 0 0 42 45 $19,006 $ 35 $3,148 $22,189 $389 1740 Wl Burnham 5 :30 Richard G. Mitchell OMAHA,OPC 11:oo 77 77 66 11 37 37 11,500 900 1.500 13,900 5019 Hickory St. 7 :oo Ransom L. Webster. Jr.

NORTH DAKOTA x CARSONBethel 10:30 51 49 38 11 0 0 00 1 1 0 0 16. 16 8,852 2,914 238 12,004 316 Jack $ Peterson 7:30 (Eve. Alt. with First, Lark) Fz LARK,First 9:oo 41 39 27 12 0 0 00 1 1 0 0 32 32 7,775 2,340 0 10,115 375 Jack J. Peterson 7:30 (Eve. Alt. with Bethel, Carson) b OKLAHOMA $ I~ARTLESVILLE, Westminster 9 :30 42 46 35 11 0 0 52 0 2 5 4 22 22 10,542 755 457 11,754 336 g 240 N.E. Fenway 7 :00 5 Dennis J. Prutow 4 OKLAHOMACITY, Knor 11 :oo 88 88 60 28 55 55 35,000 6,000 3,000 24,000 585 451 1 N. Independence Ave. 6 :00 William J. Bomer. Assoc. Pastor (C.Herbert Swanson, Licentiate) TULSA.Grnre 11 :oo 24 35 22 13 I0 53 0 1 1 4 16 20 14,433 769 886 16,088 73 1 6540 "K" E. 21st (No Mail) W:S:OO Roy L. Kerns S:7:00

SOUTH DAKOTA BANCROFT.Murdock Memorial 11 :00 48 49 36 13 2 2 00 1 0 0 -2 21 18 5,928 477 254 6,659 185 Edward A. Eppinger BRIDGEWATER.Trinity 9:30 67 67 45 22 0 0 00 1 0 0 1 43 37 7,985 1,427 11,010 20,422 454 - Maurice Riedesel 7:30 v)w a 2F FG*&! 5: g a. qj s a, cd.' 022g ?Z k%< MP :$ g> ;.g 2. a s CJ ?$ jn v

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t76 1 WYOMING CHEYENNE,Praise Evangelical 0 30 3,580 535 0 4,115 - Chapel 10:30 810 Fremont Ave. (No Nail) TOTALS 1,231 1,281 922 359 14 14 46 8 6 17 11 5 702 707 $285,303 $56,200 $41,563 $383,066 $415

Average Contribution per Communicant Member $309 $61 $45 $415 a Tncluded with Park Hill, Denver Does not include bequest of e) $1,500 f) $177 g) 7,166 b Included with Knox, Oklahoma City c Included with OPC,Abilene

Licensures: C. Herbert Swanson, 9-28-77 Ordinations: Richard Wynja, 10-18-77 Ministers Received: Roy L. Kerns, from Presbytery of New Jersey, 9-27-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: James E. McFarland, erased at own request, 6-2-77 John W. Mahaffy, dismissed to Presbytery of The Northwest, 3-23-77 Changes in Congregations: First, Leith, N.D., dissolved, 3-24-77 Roll of Licentiates: J. Anthony Blair C. Herbert Swanson Gerald S. Taylor Ministers not in Pastoral Charge: (8) Glenn T. Black V. Robert Nilson Robert K. Churchill Huibert J. Vandenbroek Richard G. Hodgson John Verhage W. Benson Male Reginald Voorhees Total Number of Ministers - 23 Total Number of Churches - 18 Total Number of Chapels - 7 PRESBYTERY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC Stated Meetings - Third Friday and Saturday of April and September; Second Friday and Saturday of December Mr. Allan W. Bjerkass, 11012 Bushwood Way, Columbia, MD 21044, Stated Clerk Added Removed

Conf. -Ip 9 Faith .-5 .-a zdn Sunday School 2 UO - ’ Js Ave. Attend. 2 ,,, 4I PerWeek OY 2 $2 .9 ;;j VE CO u y:~y;Tj 9 g~ v) MARYLAND BALTIXORE.First 11:OO 65 49 39 10 0 2 0 1 1 3 6 -9 21 20 $11,100 $1,492 0 $12,592 $323 3455 Erdman Ave. 6 :00 Everett C. De Velde €3 URTONSVILLE. Cozenant 11:OO 157 172 107 65 5 1 3 6 0 2 0 2 110 116 46,934 17,816 0 64,750 605 4515 Sandv Snring Rd. 6:OO Barry R. Hofford COLUAIB I A, Prcsbytcrian Fellowship Oakland Mills Middle School (Barry R. Hoffard) GAITHERSBURG,Puritan 10~30 43 39 21 18 0 0 0 4 0 0 6 -2 0 0 23,662 255 $225 24,142 1,150 Whetstone Elementary School 6:OO Centerway Rd. at Thompson Farm Rd. (No Mail) \\’allace W. Marshall, Jr. SILVERSPRING. Knox 1l:OO 326 313 234 79 7 1 3 3 2 11 10 -4 133 129 48,853 40,961 0 89,814a 384a Granville Dr. 81 Sutherland Rd. 7:OO Charles H. Ellis Leonard N. Stewart, Assoc. Pastor NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH,OPC 11:OO 16 11 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 -3 14 10 11,657 . 582 0 12,239 1,113 Women’s Club Bldg. 7 :oo 0 Crornwell G. Roskamp, Home Missionary VIRGINIA HARRISONBURG,Bcrco 11:OO 29 34 23 11 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 25 27 12,120 806 260 13,186 573 609 West Market St. (No Mail) 7:OO Timothy H. Gregson, LEESBURG,Bethel 11:oo 105 112 80 32 3 3 2 3 0 7 0 3 50 53 28,640 6,091 1,634 36,365 455 212 S. Kina St. 7 :00 Edwin C. Urban Edward L. Kellogg LYNCHBURG,Grace 11:oo 44 41 26 15 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 39 30 12,721 140 2.263 15.124 582 1723 Wards Ferry Road 6:30 Andrew E. Wikholm MANASSAS,Calvary, V. 11:OO 40 40 22 18 25 25 $8,700 0 $200 $8,900 $405 9212 Lee Ave. 6 :00 ROANOKE,ValleyPresbyterian 11:OO 31 39 21 18 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 5 45 47 11.752 0 1.308 16,060 765 Central YWCA 6:30 605 First St. (No Mail) ?1 Richard L. Homer 0 VIENNA,Grace V. 11:OO 140 154 109 45 6 6 7 0 1 3 0 -1 86 91 43,885 $6,476 7,311 57.672 529 5 2381 Cedar Lane 9 :oo 7 WILLIAMSBURG.Westmisstar 9:15 65 85 62 23 4 0 1 8 0 1 0 S 25 -34 19,286 693 403 20.382 329 3 406 Jamestown Rd. (No Mail) H. Morton Whitman 3 TOTALS 1,061 1,089 755 334 27 13 18 28 4 33 22 1 573 572 $282,310 $75,312 $13,604 $371,226 $492 s Average Contribution per Communicant Member ' $374 $100 $18 $492 a). Does not include bequest of $10,000 Licensures: Michael Bushell, 4-18-77; Stephen A. Hake, 4-18-77; Craig Lins, 9-17-77 Ordinations: Leonard N. Stewart, 4-18-77; Stephen R. Hake, 9-17-77 Ministers Received : Edward L. Kellogg, From Presbytery of Southern California, 12-10-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: Richard A. Nelson, dismissed to Presbytery of New Jersey, 10-31-77 Changes in Congregation: Grace Church, Vienna, Va. divided to form Grace Church, Lynchburg, Va., 12-10-77 Roll of Licentiates: Michael Bushell Craig Lins Ministers not in Pastoral Charge (5) : Robert H. Countess David M. Moore Stephen R. Hake Laurence N. Vail Robert M. Lucas

Total Number of Ministers- 17 Total Number of Churches - 12 Total Number of Chapels- 1 c W 4) c. PRESBYTERY OF THE MIDWEST \o Stated Meetings - Second Friday and Saturday of March; 00 Second Monday and Tuesday after Labor Day The Rev. David A. George, Stated Clerk

Added Removed Conf c. Faitb Q

onu 0- u tE ;fF ILLINOIS CHICAGO,Trirtity Chapel 10.45 14a 18a 10a 8a 2a 0 0 0 0 0 0 2a 0 20 $6,218 $312 $320 $6,850 $685 4624 N: Pulaski Rd. (No Mail). 6:OO ' (Francis E. Mahaffy, Home Missionary) 1 DECATUR.Trinity Chapel 11:oo 2a 9a 6a 3a 0 0 4a 0 0 0 0 3a 0 0 5,925 0 127 6,052 1,009 $ 1150 W. Pershing X HANOVERPARK, Grace 10:45 84 84 48 36 57 57 17,100 700 0 17,800 371 6954 Hanover St. 6:30 ? David B. Cumrnings r MUNDELEIN,Hope Chapel 9:30 32d 47d 29d 18d Id 0 6d 3d 0 0 0 5d 31 40 16,157 488 0 Kracklauer Park Adm. Bldg. 6:OO Karl G. Dortzbach TINLEYPARK, Forest View Chapel 10:45 36a 34a 19a 15a 0 0 0 0 0 0 la -la 31 38 8,739 2,717 783 15460 S. Oak Park Ave. 6 :00 Leslie A. Dunn, Home Missionary WESTCHESTERWestminstn 9 :30 212 219 136 83 7 5 4 1 0 7 1 -2 104 110 43,784 3.007 3,404 50,195f 497f 2418 S. Wdf Rd. 5 :oo Ivan J. DeMaster Frances E. Mahaffy, Home Missionary WEEATON.Betel 9:45 215 250 183 67 8 3 14 6 1 4 0 9 149 180 64,649 12,833 2,283 79,765 436 1401 S. NaperviUe Rd. 6:OO Robert W. Harvey

IOWA CEDARFALLS, Cedarloo 10:30 70 64 42 22 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 -1 38 35 23,942 1,871 2,938 Presbyterian 6 :00 4710 Cedar Heights Dr. George W. Hall, Jr. Added RC~OT~ Conf. Faith cSLI)

XI I CHICAN GLADSTONE,Pilgrim Presbyterian 9:30 1 lb 17b 9b 8b 0 0 lb 2b 0 lb 0 4b 15 17 7,031 451 0 7,482 831 Chapel 6:OO 300 S. 10th St. (No Mail) Henry D. Phillips

GOWEN.Spencer Mills. V. 10 :oo 115 134 97 37 3 6 12 0 3 2 2 5 34 34 32,000 3,700 0 35,700 525 17 Mile & Lincoln Lk. Rds. 6:OO

GRANI?RAPI~S. Grandville 11 :oo Included with Griggs St. O.P. Chapel 2,626 0 0 2,626 - Ave. Gospel Fellowship (Chapel) 5:00 Hall & Grandville S.W. Henry Buikema

GRANDRAPIDS, Griygs St. 9:45 1le 47e 29e 18e 28 32 3,033 22 0 3,055 196 OP Chapel 6 :00 306 Griaas St. S.W. P Henry Biikema

WISCONSIN r4 CSDARCROVI, Calvary 9:OO 539 546 412 134 2 16 0 5 4 6 1 -5 198 191 39,049 32,222 14,400 85,671g 208g 136 W. Union Ave. 7 :45 Henry H. Fikkert

GREEN lhY, OPC 10:30 77 88 49 39 . o o 4 1 o 2 o a 52 53 $22,901 $4,534 $100 $27,535 $562 130 Winchester Way 6 :00 David A. George June.-Sep. 7:OO

GRESHAM,Old Stockbridge 11 :oo 169 155 78 77 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 -6 24 23 5.545 1,456 1,000 8,001h 125h R.D. No. 1 7 :oo Gordon Peterson Service Times

Total Mem. 12-3 1-76

Total Mem. 1 2-31-77

Comin. Mem. 12-3 1-77

Rapt. Child. W 12-31-77

Adults

Ijapt. Child.

Reaf. Faith

Transfer U Death

Erasure or Iliscipline (kin or Loss Ilapt. Child.

General Receipts

13enevolence Receipts

Special Receipts

Total Receipts

Av. Contr. per Comm. Mem. Licensures: Jay E. Fluck, 9-20-77

Ordinations: Victor Atallah, 7-8-77; Gordon E. Peterson, 7-1 7-47

Ministers Removed from Roll: George W. Knight, dismissed to Midwestern Presbytery, RPCES, 1-31-77 John J. Barnett, erased after accepting call to Congregational Church, 12-1 1-77

Roll of Licentiates: Jay E. Fluck

Ministers not in Pastoral Charge (7) : Victor B. Atallah George E. Haney, Jr. Vincent L. Crossett Donald M. Parker John N. Fikkert Carl J. Reitsma Richard B. Gaffin, Sr.

Total Number of Ministers - 22 Total Numbs of Churches - 11 Total Number of Chapels - 9 PRESBYTERY OF NEW JERSEY Stated Meetings - Fourth Saturday of February, Fourth Tuesday of April, Fourth Saturday of September, and First Tuesday of December hlr. Richard A. Barker, 639 Shadowlawn Dr., Westfield, N. J. 07090, Stated Clerk Added Removed

Conf. .D Faith .-c

NEW JERSEY ~~LLMAWR.Immonuel 11:OO 178 126 78 48 0 3 0 0 1 0 26 -28 85 69 $22,026 $2.171 $5,838 $30.03 5 $385 Park Dr. & Market St. 7 :oo Kenneth J. Meilahn BRIDGETON,Calvary 11:OO 126 121 91 30 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 -2 57 49 17,875 12,890 3,705 34,470 379 Hitchner Ave. & Osborne La. 7 :OO Robert A. Cramp FAIRLAWN, Grace 11:OO 79 83 59 24 0 2 0 3 0 1 1 1 32 32 17,054 6,246 885 24,185 4 10 E. Amstcrdam Ave. at Ryan Rd. 7 :DO David W.Kiester 4 1 hiarsellus P1. 4:OO 107 105 7G 29 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12,000 2,100 0 14,100 186 CAIIIILD,Community, V. 10:45 OCEANCITY, OP Chapel 11:oo 32nd St. & Central Ave. 7:OO (No Mail) (John J. Johnson, Licentiate) XEPTUNE,Good Shepherd, V. 11:OO 76 79 45 31 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 43 58 21,251 5,594 635 27,480 573 3505 Asbury Ave. 6:30 PHILLIPSBURG,Calvary Coin- munity 10:45 394 401 251 150 9 2 0 5 2 7 2 2 166 146 36,599 3 1,898 0 68,497 273 Belvidere Rd.. H.D.2 7:OO George C. Scipione PITTSGROVE,Faith. V. 11:OO 97 94 74 20 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 71 71 21,603 9,114 2,887 33,604 454 Pole Tavern. Daretown Rd., 7 :oo Elmer RINGOES.CaIvory of Amwell 11:OO 76 77 64 13 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 29 25 9,670 2,313 1,272 13,255 207 Rts. 31 & 202 7:30 W. Lee Uenson STRATFORD,OPC 11 :oo 135 130 69 61 5 0 0 0 0 1 14 5 45 45 23,150 1,805 1,119 26,074 378 41 Warwick Rd. 7 :00 Steve G. Hohenberger SUCCASUNNA,Westminster, V. 10:30 17 17 11 6 19 19 10,300 0 0 10,300 - 126 S. Hillside (S. Dennis Kletzing, Supply) TRENTON,Grace, V. 11:OO 87 77 59 18 0 0 0 1 0 2 G -3 30 37 15,392 7,476 269 23,137 392 416 \Vhite Horse Ave. 7 :oo Richard A. Nelson, Pastor-elect -Added Removed Conf. P ). Faith Q ._ 8 P .-U 2

VINELAND,Covenant 11:OO 310 314 248 66 3 0 8 0 6 3 2 4 124 132 $28,373 $30,476 $14,207 $73,056 $295 1029 Landis Ave. 7 :oo Rohert W.Eckardt WESTCo~~in~~\~oo~,I1i11tiaiitcel 11:OO 111 112 99 13 5 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 46 51 21,161 13,755 0 37,916 383 Calvert L Elm Aves. 7:oo Albert I\'. Steever, Jr. WESTFIELD,Grace 11:OO 266 266 191 75 9 3 2 6 1 17 9 7 116 114 48,092 35,662 2,085 85,839 449 1 1bO I3otilevard 7 :oo Albert G. Edwards, I11 v WHIPPAXY,Enimanwel, V. 11:OO 160 154 94 60 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 -1 37 46 32,350 11,025 1,210 44,585 474 Whippany R. &.Park Ave. 7 :oo 5 (Lgrry C. Morrison) 7 WILDWOOD,CaIvary 11:OO 86 95 66 29 4 1 0 2 2 1 0 5 49 49 13,733 5,755 314 19.802a 300a 2 I19 E. Kio Grande Ave. 7 :00 -I Richard R. Gerber z TOTALS 2,305 2,251 1,578 673 35 11 10 23 18 43 62 -10 949 943 $353,629 $178,280 $34,426 $566,335 $359 Average Contribution per Communicant Member $224 $113 $22 $359 z a) Does not include bequest of $7,575 * Licensures: Dana L. Stoddard, 2-26-77 r Ordinations: David W. Kiester, 12-20-77 Ministers Received: Robert A. Gramp from Presbytery of the South, 10-15-77 John Davies from Presbytery of the Northwest, 12-6-77 Richard A. Nelson from Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, 12-6-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: Douglas W.Kittredge dismissed to Presbytery of Delmarva, RPCES, 4-26-77 (supersedes action of 7-9-75 to Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, never consummated) Roy L. Kerns dismissed to Presbytery of the Dakotas, 6-19-77 Roll of Licentiates: Douglas A. Felch (in transit) Chester H. Lanious Ministers not in Pastoral Charge: (18) Jay E. Adams George R. Cottenden George M. Kirkwood, Jr. Calvin A. Busch Allen D. Curry Meredith G. Kline Leonard F. Chanoux John Davies Robert L. Marshall George S. Christian W. Ralph English Richard A. Nelson Edmund P. Clowney Lewis J. Grotenhuis LeRoy B. Oliver Harvie M. Conn Theodore Hard Lendall H. Smith Total Number of Ministers - 28 Total Number of Churches - 16 Total Number of Chapels - 1 204 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

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In0 00 bfl F?o 0- Added Removed Conf. Faith $$ Suntlav School - h .L .- e ..C - MRV Nov. .- .-w.... - - _- 197i 1977 w. NEW YORK FRANKLINSQUARE OPC 11:OO 152 153 96 57 4 0 0 0 2 3 1 3 35 36 $31.384 $16,245 $2,541 $50.170 Franklin & Sobo hves. 7 :oo John C. Hills, Jr. XEWROCDELLE, OP Chapel 11:OO 12a 12a 9a 3a 175 Memorial Hwy. (Malcolm L. Wright, Stated Supply) I.lSnON, OPC 10:30 77 73 51 22 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 -2 43 44 26,705 115 3,008 29,831 585 Lisbon-Flackville Rd. 8 :oo Richard J. Wirth ROCHESTER, Covenant 11:OO 107 114 71 43 0 1 8 0 0 0 2 0 73 74 3,573 16,1537 2452 46,963 66 1 55 Hoover Dr., 6 :00 Theodore J. (Beorpian I\'OCHESTEH, MPrirorial 10:OO 223 211 162 49 1 0 1 1 1 3 11 0 35 34 28,209 9,778 1.865 39.857 246 650 Merchants Rd. EDST 7:OO Stephen L. Phillips EST 6:OO SCIIENECTADY.Calvary 11:OO 200 209 164 45 3 5 10 0 1 0 4 -4 84 92 46,250 6,342 1,504 53,996 3 29 Rugby Rd. at Clenwood Blvd. 7:OO H:iyinontl hI. Meiners Stuart R. Jones, Assoc. Pastor VERMONT RURLINCTON,Clzirrch of the Servant 3:OO 0 23 17 6 1 0 13 3 0 0 0 6 6 10 7,889 0 0 7,889 464 College St. Raymond E. Commeret TdTALS 1,540 1,552 1,061 491 18 17 37 9 7 16 36 -10 728 728 $325,593 $77,104 $21 240 $423,937 $400 r\vcragc Contribution per Conimunicant Member $307 $73 $20 $400 a Included with OPC, Franklin Square h Does not include bequest of $1,100 Licensures: Roger A. Ramsey, 6-4-77 Ordinations: Stuart R. Jones, 6-1-77; Roger A. Ramsey, 11-18-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: Lewis A. Ruff, Jr., dismissed to Presbytery of Southern California, 9-1 1-77 Elmer M. Dortzbach, dismissed to Presbytery of the South, 5-31-77 George J. Willis. deceased, 9-1-77 Changes in Congregation: OP Chapel, Burlington, Vt. constituted a particular congregation, Church of the Servant, 11-1 1-77 Ministers not in Pastoral Charge (7): Burton L. Goddard William E. Moreau Kelly G. Tucker Allen H. Harris, Jr. Charles G. Schauffele Malcolm L. Wright John H. Skilton Total Number of Ministers - 23 Total Number of Churches - 17 Total Number of Chapels - 1 EEP EZZ'PZ SZt

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n e. 3 SUNNYVALE,Firs; 11:OO 148 137 92 45 0 1 4 0 4 5 2 -5 87 87 $37,513 $9,225 $3,174 $49,912 1210 Bernard0 Ave. 7 :00 $543 Donald C. Buchanan, Jr., rhoc. Pastor

TOTALS 698 661 454 207 11 10 9 7 6 25 23 -20 372 363 $187,658 $29,086 $14484 $231,228

Average Contribution per Communicant Member $413 $64 $32 $509 a) noes not include bequest of $155 Licensures: Phillip Gear, 4-30-77 Ordinations: Gordon T. Woolard, 7-8-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: Robert L. Atwell, dismissed to Presbytery of Ohio, 3-26-77 Roll of Licentiates: Philip Gear

Ministers not in Pastoral Charge (5): Gerald G. Latal Arthur G. Riffel Charles Y.Lee Jim West Melvin B. Nonhof Total Number of Ministers - 15 Total Number of Churches - 10 Total Number of Chapels - 0 IOS$ 6Z$ LOI$ s9r$ IOS$ ZSO'8IZ$ 09L'ZI$ 68Z'9P$ &00'6SI$ OSC IS& C SZ 11 Z SZ 61 E 8 f6t SfP 819

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E LW 889'1 I t9L'I LZt'Z OOS'L st SI c 0 0 0 0 I 0 z SI SP li S6Z$ OOZ'9$ OOS$ OOL$ & VNVLNON a Included with Mission Volley, Ronan b Included with OPC,Gladstone 5 Included with First, Portland d Does not include bequest of $551 Ministers Received: Calvin R. Malcor from Presbytery of Southern California, 4-22-77 John W. Mahaffy from Presbytery of the Dakotas, 4-22-77 Ministers Removed from Roll : Alan R. Moak by Erasure, 1-29-77 D. Robert Lindberg by Erasure, 1-29-77 John Davies dismissed to Presbytery of New Jersey, 9-23-77

Ministers not in Pastoral Charge : (3 ) Ronald J. McKenzie Eugene B. Williams George Y.Uomoto Total Number of Ministers - 11 Total Number of Churches-7 Total Number of Chapels-4

N 0\o PRESBTERY OF OHIO E Stated Meetings - Third Friday and Saturday, April and October 0 Mr. John C. Smith, 105 Sycamore St. W.,Pittsburgh, Pa. 15211, Stated Clerk

OHIO ALLIANCE.Christ Reformed 10:45 44 46 27 19 1 0 5 0 0 3 3 2 40 40 $14,244 $7,240 $1,020 $22,504 $833 Market St. at Arch Ave. 6 :00 (No RXail) David W. King 6:OO COLUMBUS,Grace Chapel DAYTON,Redeemer 11:oo 57 46 24 22 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 -6 28 17 10,541 1,281 1,502 13,324 555 5901 Charnbersburg Rd. 7 :oo (No Mail) Lawrence R. Eyres PENNSYLVANIA EOINBURG,Nashiro 11:OO 134 144 74 70 5 0 1 0 2 0 2 8 49 47 10,128 2,112 3,822 16,062a 217a R.D. 1 7:30 Robert L. Atwell GRWE CITY.Cuwmnt 11:OO 126 121 79 42 0 1 0 0 1 0 5 0 73 65 16,269 6,456 2,122 24,847 315 140 E. Poplar St. (No Mail) 7:30 Henry P. Tavares Cr ARR ISV ILLB, Calvary 11:OO 203 227 145 82 2 2 4 6 0 1 1 12 104 119 23,369 9,584 14,938 47,891 330 North on Route 8 7:OO 1.eonard J. Coppes HOLLIDAYSBURG.Westminster 11:00 0 17 8,105 719 590 9,414 - Presbyteriow Chapel 7 :00 (Mark R. Brown, Licentiate) P ITTSBURGH,Covenant 11:OO 235 222 139 83 1 1 2 4 2 5 6 -8 80 73 32,598 12,693 3,038 48,329 348 I608 Graham Blvd. 7:OO Edward L. Volz SEWICKLEY,Grace 11:OO 71 54 40 14 1 0 0 1 0 6 6 -7 17 17 23,640 3,082 1,219 27,941 699 Beaver Rd., Osborne 6:30 Charles G. Dennison TOTALS 870 860 528 332 10 4 12 11 5 17 26 1 391 395 $138,894 $43,167 $28,251 $210,312 $398 .4verage Contribution per Communicant Member $263 $82 $53 $398 a Does not include bequest of $200 Ministers Received: Robert L. Atwell from Presbytery of Northern California, 5-13-77 Minister Removed from Roll: John M. Frame, dismissed to Presbytery of Philadelphia, 10-16-76 Roll of Licentiates: Mark R. Brown Ministers not in Pastoral Charge: (5) Marven 0. Bowman, Jr. Arnold S. Kress Laurence C. Sibley, Jr. Lawrence Semel Willem A. Van Gemeren Total Number of Ministers - 12 Total Number of Churches - 7 Total Number of Chapels-2

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-mP w P N w W w w Av. Contr. pcr c 0N 6 00 P, cnQ) m01 wv) P m.b W 0 UW N 0P 2 Comm. Mmr. Con f. CIa Faith ."P m V .-I.n Sunday School 2 0 Ave. Attend. 0 Per - c s Week E .C May Nov. E Y ./, .+ 1977 1977 ii 5 hfIDDLETOWN, Calvary 10:45 260 249 171 78 3 6 0 2 1 14 0 -7 113 112 38,431 16,872 9,708 65,011 380 Spruce & Emaus Sts. 7 :oo Abe W. Ediger OXFORDBethany 11:OO 253 257 173 84 2 8 5 1 2 0 2 -8 145 140 $28,990 $16,688 $23,897 $69,575 $402 Rt. 13i, S. of Oxford 7:30 Tonathan F. Peters PHILADELPICIA,CkirrchoftheCity 9:30 87 106 84 22 9 0 14 1 0 5 6 6 20 20 23,981 18,036 0 42,017 500 4017 Chestnut St. (No Mail) James C. Petty, Jr. Thomas M. Corey, Evangelist P~~~A~~~~~~~,EmnianrcelChapol11:45 65a 67a 38 29 2 0 2 0 0 5 0 3 71 66 11,625 1,777 0 13,402 353 1162 S. 15th St. a.m. William C. Krispin, Evangelist \Vilson L. Cuinmings, Home Missionary SOUTHWESTPHILADELPHIA REFORMED FELLOWSHIP I 7014 Elmwood Ave. ~VILKES-BARRE,Covenant Chopd H. Leverne Rosenberger, Home Missionary TOTr1I.S 2,098 2,149 1,516 633 47 43 86 29 18 79 35 -22 1,044 1,092 $357,980$164,652 $64,598 $587,230 $387 2 Averagz Contribution per Communicant Member $236 $109 $42 $387 a On roll of Presbytery f h Does not include bequest of $322 r Licensures: Mark R. Brown, 1-17-77; Robert H. Tanzie, 1-17-77; William Fredericks, 3-19-77; Steven F. Miller, 5-16-77; John J. Johnson, 5-16-77; Paul Doriani, 5-16-77; Dr. W. David Laverell, 5-16-77 Ordinations: James R. Payton, Jr., 10-14-77; Steven F. Miller, 12-3-77 Ministers Received: John M. Frame, from Presbytery of Ohio, 1-17-77 Roll of Licentiates: William Fredericks; John J. Johnson; Dr. W. David Laverell; Jack L. Smith; Raymond L. Watrous; Douglas A. Watson Ministers not in Pastoral Charge: (30) Egbert W. Andrews Robert R. Drake Arthur W. Kuschke, Jr. Norman Shepherd Lester R. Bachman F. Clarke Evans L. Craig Long Leslie W. Sloat John F. Bettler John M. Frame John S. Mason Young J. Son John W. Betzold Richard R. Gaffin, Jr. R. Heber McIlwaine Robert B. Strimple Samuel S. Chang J3hn P. Galbraith David J. Miller Cornelius Van Ti1 Thomas M. Corey Kobley J. Johnston John J. Mitchell Paul Wooley Wilson L. Cummings Robert D. Knudsen Donald F. Ritsman D. Clair Davis William C.Krispin H. Leverne Rosenberger !2 Total Number of Ministers - 44 Total Number of Churches- 14 Total Number of Chapels - 4 w PRESBYTERY OF THE SOUTH !2 Stated Meetings - Fourth Friday/Saturday, April; Third Tuesday/Wednesday, October P The Rev. Thomas S. Champness, Jr., Stated Clerk

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FLORIDA FORTLAUDEBDALE, Bethel 11:OO 153 163 99 64 8 1 5 2 1 0 6 1 49 61 $28,627 $611 $200 $29,438 $297 1551 N.W. 47th Ave. 6 :00 Donald H. Taws HIALEAH,Sharon 11:oo 190 185 114 71 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 3 97 107 55,095 8,693 5,680 69,468 609 675 W.68th St. 7 :00 Roger W. Schmurr MIAMI Galloway V. 1l:OO 120 111 81 30 2 0 0 1 1 0 7 -4 43 44 35,388 2,712 972 39,072 482 9775 SlW. 87th Ave. 6:45 (Louis Kickasola) OCALA,Faith 17,085 4,595 2,803 24,483 453 600 S.E.58th Ave. John H. Thompson. Jr. ORLANDOLake Sherwood 11:OO 96 101 73 28 5 0 7 2 0 5 1 -3 69 70 29,219 3,333 3,691 36,243 496 W. Baldoa Dr. 7 :00 Larry G. Mininger TALLAHASSEE,Calvary 11:OO 34 47 34 13 0 1 1 7 0 1 0 5 50 75 12,140 2,988 14,078 29,206 859 814 N. Gadsden St. 7:00 Calvin K. Cummings

GEORGIA ATLANTARedeemer 11:OO 86 111 78 33 0 5 6 15 0 1 5 5 65 75 40,704 5,837 500 47,041 603 . 3930 Chkrnblee-Tucker Rd., N.E. 7:OO Thomas S. Champness, Jr. TOTALS 747 784 533 251 17 10 30 28 4 10 36 2 407 460 $218,258 $28,769 $27,924 $274,951 $516 Average Contribution per Communicant Member $410 $54 $52 $516 Ministers Received: Elmer M. Dortzbach, from Presbytery of New York and New England, 10-12-77 Louis KickasoIa, from United Methodist Church, 10-12-77 Minister Removed from Roll: Robert A. Gramp, dismissed to Presbytery of New Jersey, 10-12-77 Ministers not in Pastoral Charge: (7) Elmer M. Dortzbach Hendrik Krabbendam Clarence W. Duff Robert L. Vining David Freeman James K. Workman Louis Kickasola Total Number of Ministers - 13 Total Number of Churches-7 Total Number of Chapels - 0 216 FORTY-FIFTHGENEUL ASSEMBLY

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hfAN HATTAN BEACH,First 11 :oo 244 249 173 76 2 0 4 3 0 8 0 4 103 82 $60,125 $9,173 $1,939 $71,237 $412 500 Manhattan Beach Blvd. 6:30 Michael D. Stinnley William E. Wellmers, Assoc. Pastor OXNAR~.Chnbel 1I :oo 22b 33b 20b 13b 0 0 6b lb 0 lb 0 Sb 10 17 12,058 1,165 260 13.483 674 Freemont Way & 'hf' St. 6:30 (No Mail) Stephen D. Doe, Missionary SANDIEGO, OPC (Point Loma), V. 9:30 144 129 109 20 2 2 7 4 2 18 0 -10 46 41 28,845 9,558 8,452 46,855 430 4425 Valeta St. 6 :00 (George E. hfiladin) 4 SANTEE,OPC 11 :oo 36 49 35 14 4 0 8 7 0 3 4 1 31 27 14,436 1,544 365 16,345 467 7 10333 Mast Blvd. 6:OO Robert H. Graham z SOUTHPASADENA, OPC 11:oo 44 54 35 19 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 31 31 15,152 315 200 15,667 448 YAICA,.1605 Garfield Ave. 6:30 (No Mail) Salvador hI. Solis c;; '1'0T A L S 1,846 1,892 1,335 557 45 21 69 38 9 69 30 -19 952 980 $452,598$111,667 $60,638 $624,903 $468 g 9 verage Contribution per Communicant Member $339 $84 $45 $468 r

:I Does not include bequest of $6,020 rnP h Included with El Carnilto, Goleta mv1 Ordinations: Stephen D. Doe, 2-1 1-77; Thomas A. Foh, 6-19-77 Minister Received: Lewis A. Ruff, Jr., from Presbytery of New York and New England, 10-22-77 Ministers Removed from Roll: Calvin R. Malcor, dismissed to Presbytery of the Northwest, 4-15-77 Edward L. Kellogg, dismissed to the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, 11-15-77 Change in Congregation: Westminster, Los Angeles changed name and location to OPC, South Pasadena, 6-77 Ministers not in Pastoral Charges (13): Gregory L. Bahnsen Bruce F. Hunt Robert D. Raglin Bruce A. Coie Louis E. Knowles Wilson H. Rinker Larry D. Conard George W. Marston Sidney W. Van Camp Thomas M. Cooper Robert E. Nicholas Daniel van Houte Thomas A. Foh Total Number of Ministers - 29 Total Number of Churches - 14 Total Number of Chapels - 1 Rapt. Child. 12-31-77 I Adults 72

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812 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 219

SUMMARY OF MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS 1965-1977 Ministers* Comm. Mem. Bapt. Child Total Mem. 1977 237 10,683 4,862 15,782 1976 230 10,372 4,934 15,529 1975 224 10,129 4,874 15,266 1974 220 10,186 4,912 15,334 1973 210 9,940 4,893 ' 15,013 1972 205 9,741 4,925 14,915 1971 9,536 4,890 14,427 1970 9,401 4,898 14,268 1969 9,276 4,849 14.165 1968 9,197 4,841 13,972 1967 8,975 4,848 13,826 1966 8,789 4,790 13,546 1965 8,285 4,582 12,882 Note: Total membership in each year was revised in the following year's report and the revised figures are shown above. Figures for communicant members and baptized children were not revised so that their totals differ slightly from the revised total membership * Ministers included in Total Membership beginning in 1973.

KNOWN CHANGES IN PRESBYTERIAL STATISTICS SINCE DECEMBER 31, 1977 as of September 27, 1978

Presbytery of the Dakotas Minister received : Sidney W. Van Camp from P. of Southern California, 7-29-78 Ministers dismissed : Donald J. Duff to P. of Southern California, 6-15-78 Allen P. Moran, Jr., to P. of the Northwest, 7-29-78 Ordinations: Gerald S. Taylor, 4-26-78 C. Herbert Swanson, 4-28-78 J. Anthony Blair, 8-25-78 Installation : Sidney W. Van Camp at Park Hill, Denver, Col., 8-6-78 (to serve at Grace Chapel, Aurora) Church without pastor: Westminster, Hamill, S. D., 9-1-78 220 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic Ministers received: George W. Hall, Jr., from P. of the Midwest, 7-14-78? Allen H. Harris, Jr., from P. of New York & New England, 9-10-78? Licentiate received : Douglas A. Felch from P. of New Jersey, 4-22-78 Licentiate dismissed: Craig T. Lins to P. of New Jersey, 4-22-78 Installations: George W. Hall, Jr., at Grace, Vienna, Va., 7-14-78 Allen H. Harris, Jr. (Associate) at Covenant, Burtonsville, Md., 9-10-78 Presbytery of the Midwest No report received. Presbytery of New Jersey Ministers received: Douglas Rogers from P. of Pittsburgh, RPCES, 2-25-78 Larry C. Morrison from P. of Central Georgia, PCA, 2-25-78 Minister dismissed: Robert W. Eckardt to P. of the Midwest, 10-2-78 Ordination: Craig T. Lins, 9-29-78 Licensure : Robert Y. Eckardt, 4-25-78 Licentiates received : John J. Johnson from P. of Philadelphia, 2-25-78 Craig T. Lins from P. of the Mid-Atlantic, 4-25-78 Licentiate dismissed : Chester H. Lanious to P. of Louisiana, PCA, 9-16-78 Installations : Richard A. Nelson at Grace, Trenton, N. J., 1-22-78 Larry C. Morrison at Emmanuel, Whippany, N. J., 3-12-78 Douglas Rogers at Good Shepherd, Neptune, N. J., 4-2-78 Craig T. Lins at Faith, Pittsgrove, N. J., 9-29-78 Church without pastor: Covenant, Vineland, N. J., 10-2-78 Church divided: Covenant, Vineland, to form OPC, Ocean City, N. J., 5-1 1-78 Presbytery of New York and New England Minister received: Richard E. Knodel, Jr., 4-1 1-78 Installations: William E .Moreau at Bethel, Houlton, Me., 1-13-78 Richard E. Knodel, Jr., (Associate) at Covenant, Rochester, N. Y., to serve at Syracuse, N. Y. Presbytery of Northern California No report received. FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 221

Presbytery of the Northwest Chapels organized: Billings, Montana, 1-28-78 Kalispell, Montana, 1-28-78 Prr.sbyter.y of Ohio Minister received: Thomas M. Corey from P. of Philadelphia, 10-20-78 Minister erased: Arnold S. Kress, 5-24-78 Ordination: Mark R. Brown, 6-2-78 Church without pastor: Nushuu, Edinburg, Pa., 4-30-78

Presbytery of PIiiladelphia Ministers received: Stephen M. Reynolds from P. of the Philadelphia Area, Bible Presbyterian Church, 5-15-78 Daniel R. Morse from P. of the Mississippi Valley, PCA, 5-15-78 Ministers dismissed : Samuel S. Chang to Korean American Presbyterian Church, 5-15-78 Thomas M. Corey to P. of Ohio, 5-15-78 Ordination: Douglas A. Watson, 2-4-78 Licensures : Eric H. Sigward, 3-17-78 Robert P. Harting, Jr., 3-17-78 William 0. Rudolph, Jr., 3-17-78 John P. Smith, 5-15-78 Jay M. Milojevich, 5-15-78 Licentiates dismissed : William J. Fredericks to P. of the Northwest, 5-15-78 John J. Johnson to P. of New Jersey, 1-16-78 Installations : Douglas A. Watson (Associate) at Emmanuel, Wilmington, Del., 2-4-78 R. Heber Mcllwaine (Associate) at Emmanuel, Wilmington, Del., 4-9-78 Thomas M . Corey at Southwest Philadelphia Reformed Fellowship, Phila., Pa., 4-2-78 Church without pastor: Southwest Philadelphia Reformed Fellowship, 6-25-78 Church organized: Southwest Philadelphia Reformed Fellowship, 1-16-78

Presbytery of the South No changes. 222 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Presbytery of Soittherri Califorriin Ministers received : George C. Miladin from Southern P., RPCES,2-1-78 Donald J. Duff from P. of the Dakotas, 7-22-78 Dominic A. Aquila from P. of Delmarva, RPCES, on or about 9-17-78 Ministers dismissed: Salvador M. Solis to P. of Northern California, 3-5-78 Sidney W. Van Camp to P. of the Dakotas, 7-22-78 Tnstallations: George C. Miladin at Poirit Lormi, San Diego, Calif., 2-1-78 Robert W. Newsom at El Cnmino, Goleta, Calif., 4-23-78 Donald J. Duff at OPC, Bonita, Calif., 8-10-78 Dominic A. Aquila at Cerriios Valley, Artesia, 9-17-78 Churches without pastors: Westminster, South Pasadena, Calif., 3-5-78 Cerritos VaZley, Artesia, Calif ., 3-26-78

APPORTIONMENT OF 46TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY In accordance with Chapter I of the Standing Rules of the General Assembly, voting commissioners to the 46th General Assembly are apportioned as follows:

Presbytery Miriisters Ruling Eiders Dakotas 9 5 Mid-Atlan tic 6 4 Midwest 8 9 New Jersey 11 9 New York and New England 9 6 Northern California 6 3 Northwest 4 2 Ohio 4 3 Philadelphia 17 9 South 5 3 Southern Califonia 11 7 Moderator, 45th G. A. 1 Stated Clerk, 45th G. A. - 1 Total 91 61 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 223

MODERATORS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ASSEMBLY YEAR PLACE OF ASSEMBLY 1st 1936-J. Gresham Machen, D.D., Litt.D...... Philadelphia, Pa. 2nd 1936-J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D...... Philadelphia, Pa. 3rd 1937-John J. De Waard ...... Philadelphia, Pa. 4th 1938-R. B. Kuiper ...... Quarryville, Pa. 5th 1939-Alexander K. Davison. S.T.D...... Glenside, Pa. 6th 1939-Everett C. DeVelde ...... Glenside, Pa. 7th i 940-Paul Woolley ...... Cincinnati, Ohio 8th I94 I-Robert Strong, S.T.D...... Glenside, Pa. 9th 1942--John P. Clelland ...... Rochester, N.Y. 10th I943--0scar Holkeboer ...... Willow Grove, Pa. 11th I944-Edwiri H. Kian ...... Glenside, Pa. 12th 1945-Robert S. Marsden ...... Glenside, Pa. 13th 1946-Ned B. Stonehouse, Th.D...... Glenside, Pa. 14th 1947-John P. Galbraith ...... Cedar Grove, Wis. 15th 1948-Edward L. Kellogg ...... Wildwood, N. J. 16th 1949-Dwight H. Poundstone ...... Los Angeles, Calif. 17th 1950-Leslie W. Sloat ...... Glenside, Pa. 18th 195 1-Lawrence R. Eyres ...... Glenside, Pa. 19th 1952-Calvin K. Cummings ...... Denver, Colo. 20th 1953-John H. Skilton, Ph.D...... Glenside, Pa. 21st 1954-Rob~rt K. Churchill ...... Rochester, N. Y. 22nd 1955-Robert L. Vining ...... Glenside, Pa. 23rd 1956-Edward J. Young, Ph.D...... Denver. Colo. 24th 1957-Bruce F. Hunt ...... W. Collingswood, N. J. 25th 1958-Edmund P. Clowney ...... Oostburg, Wis. 26th 1959-Leslie A. Dunn ...... Glenside, Pa. 27th 1960-David L. Neilands, Esq...... Manhattan Beach, Calif. 28th 1961-John Murray ...... Glenside, Pa. 29th 1962-Kobert L. Atwell ...... Cedar Grove, Wis. 30th 1963-LeRoy B. Oliver ...... Vineland, N. J. 3 1st 1964-Glenn K. Coie ...... Silver Spring, Md. 32nd 1965-Robert W. Eckardt ...... Portland, Ore. 33rd I966--Richard A. Barker ...... Oostburg, Wis. 34th 1967-Henry W. Coray ...... Long Beach, Calif. 35th 1968-Arthur 0. Olson ...... Westfield, N. J. 36th 1969-Ralph E. Clough ...... Silver Spring, Md. 37th 1970-John J. Mitchell ...... Portland, Ore. 38th 1971-George W. Knight, 111. Th.D...... Wilmington, Del. 39th 1972-Jack J. Peterson ...... Oostburg, Wis. 40th 1973-Charles H. Ellis ...... Manhattan Beach, Calif. 41st 1974-Laurence N. Vail ...... Palos Heights, Ill. 42nd 1975-George R. Cottenden ...... Beaver Falls, Pa. 43rd 1976-Garret A. Hoogerhyde ...... Beaver Falls, Pa. 44th 1977-Wendell L. Rockey, Jr...... Oostburg, Wis. 45th 1978-Larry D. Conard ...... Grand Rapids, Mich. 224 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

CLERKS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

I Ass EM B LY STATEDCLERKS ASSISTANTCLERKS 1st Paul Woolley 2nd Leslie W. Sloat I 3rd Leslie W. Sloat 4th John H. Skilton 5th Leslie W. Sloat 6th Leslie W. Sloat 7th John P. Galbraith 8th Paul Woolley 9th Robert E. Nicholas 10th Leslie W. Sloat Edward L. Kellogg 1lth Edward Heerema LeRoy B. Oliver 12th Eugene Bradford Charles H. Ellis 13th Eugene Bradford Arthur W. Kuschke, Jr. 14th H. Wilson Albright Robert L. Vining 15th Robert W. Eckardt Raymond M. Meiners 16th Robert W. Eckardt Edwards E. Elliott 17th Robert L. Vining LeRoy B. Oliver 18th Robert L. Vining Ralph E. Clough 19th Henry D. Phillips Theodore J. Georgian 20th Raymond W. Meiners F. Kingsley Elder, Jr., Ph.D. 21st Raymond M. Meiners Elmer M. Dortzbach 22nd Robert S. Marsden LeRoy B.Oliver 23rd Robert S. Marsden LeRoy B.Oliver 24th Robert S. Marsden Raymond 0. Zorn 25th LeRoy B. Oliver Henry D. Phillips 26th LeRoy B. Oliver C. Herbert Oliver 27th LeRoy B. Oliver Richard A. Barker 28th LeRoy B. Oliver Richard A. Barker 29th LeRoy B. Oliver Richard A. Barker 30th Robert W. Eckardt Richard A. Barker 3 1st Robert W. Eckardt Laurence N. Vail 32nd Robley J. Johnston Edwards E. Elliott 33rd Robley J. Johnston Edwards E. Elliott 34th Robley J. Johnston Edwards E. Elliott 35th John J. Mitchell F. Kingsley Elder, Jr., Ph.D. 36th John J. Mitchell Ronald E. Jenkins 37th Robert E. Nicholas Ronald E. Jenkins 38th Richard A. Barker Robert E. Nicholas 39th Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 40th Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 41st Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 42ad Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 43rd Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 44th Richard A. Barker Stephen L. Phillips 45th Richard A. Barker James L. Bosgraf FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 225

STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

HOME MISSIONS AND CHURCH EXTENSTON Cfuss of 1981-MINISTERS: Larry D. Conard, James C. Petty, Jr., Thomas E. Tyson RULING ELDERS: Robert L. Ayres, William H. Kiester Cluss of 1980-MINISTERS: Robert W. Eckardt, Jonathan D. Male, Wendell L. Rockey, Jr. RULING ELDERS: Richard L. Hake, Theodore J. Pappas Cluss of 1979-MINISTERS: Robert L. Atwell, Lewis A. Ruff, Jr., Donald F. Stanton RULING ELDERS: Kenneth 1. Bosgraf, Garret A. Hoogerhyde Cerierul Secretary: The Rev. George E. Haney, Jr., 7401 Old York Rd., Phila., Pa. 19126

FOREIGN MISSTONS Class of 1981-MINISTERS: Harvie M. Conn, Litt.D., Leslie A. Dunn, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Th.D. RULING ELDERS: R. Gene List, D.D.S., Garret Van Der Heide Class of 1980-MINISTERS: Donald G. Buchanan, Jr., Donald J. Duff, Bernard J. Stonehouse RULING ELDERS: Norman E. Bycr, M.D., William A. Haldeman Class of 1979-MINISTERS: Theodore J. Georgian, Lewis J. Grotenhuis, Bruce F. Hunt RULTNG ELDERS: Newman de Haas, Willard E. Nee1 General Secretary: The Rev. John P. Galbraith, 7401 Old York Rd., Phila., Pa. 19126

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Class of 1981-MINISTERS: George C. Miladin, Donald M. Poundstone, Roger W. Schmurr RULING ELDERS: F. Kingsley Elder, Jr., Ph.D., Paul S. MacDonald Class of 1980-MINISTERS: James L. Bosgraf, Edmund P. Clowney, D.D., Leonard J. Coppes, Th.D. RULING ELDERS: Robert B. Ashlock, Lloyd P. Theune Cfass of I979-MINISTERS: Wilson L. Cumrnings, Charles G, Dennison, Kenneth A. Tronside RULING ELDERS: Peyton H. Gardner, William 0. Wilson, Jr. Gerierul Secretary: The Rev. Robley J. Johnston, 7401 Old York Rd., Phila., Pa. 19126

PENSIONS Class of f98I-MJNISTER: John P. Galbraith RULING ELDERS: Garret A. Hoogerhyde, Harold R. Keenan Class of 1980-MINISTER: John W. Garrisi RULING ELDERS: John E. Dowling, William Wilkens Class of f979-MINISTER: Marven 0. Bowman, Jr. RULING ELDER: Edward A. Haug LAYMAN: Paul C. Kent 226 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

DTACONAL MINISTRIES Class of 1981-MINISTER: Lester R. Bachman RULING ELDER: Cyril T. Nightengale Class of 1980-MINISTER: Rollin P. Keller RULING ELDER: John K. Novinger Cluss of 1979-MINISTER: Leonard J. Coppes, Th.D. DEACONS: Daniel D. Herron, S. Frederick Lathom

ECUMENICITY AND INTERCHURCH RELATIONS Class of 1981-John P. Galbraith, Wendell L. Rockey, Jr. Class of 1980-Edmund P. Clowney, D.D., Norman Shepherd Class of 1979-Lawrence R. Eyres, LeRoy B. Oliver (Chairman)

DATE, PLACE AND TRAVEL Class of 1981-Dennis E. Johnson Class of 1980-James A. Bates Class of 1979-Daniel H. Overduin

TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Class uf 1981-MINISTER: John J. Mitchell. RULING ELDER: Willard E. Nee1 Class of 1980-MTNISTER: Abe W. Ediger RULTNG ELDER: Howard A. Porter Class of 1979-MINISTER: Robert W. Eckardt. RULING ELDER: Bert L. Roeber

COMMITTEE ON STEWARDSHIP Class of 1981-MINISTER: Barry R. Hoffard RULING ELDERS: Luke E. Brown, Jr., Robert M. Coie Class of 1980-MINISTERS: John C. Hills, Jr., Albert W. Steever, Jr. RULING ELDER: Edward A. Haug Class of 1979-MINISTER: Jack J. Peterson (Chairman) RULING ELDERS: Roger Huibregste, Robert A. Kramm

SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE FORTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

NEW COMMITTEE ON REVISIONS TO THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE AND THE DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP Donald J. Duff (Convener), Glenn D. Jerrell, Jack J. Peterson COMMITTEE ON PROOF TEXTS FOR THE CATECHISMS John H. Skilton, Ph.D. (Chairman), Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., Th.D., George W. Marston, Norman Shepherd FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 227

COMMITTEE ON MINISTERIAL TRAINING Class of 1981-MTNISTERS: Edward L. Kellogg, George C. Scipione Class of 1980-MINISTERS: Robert L. Atwell, Robert B. Strimple, Th.D. (Convener) Class of 1979-RULING ELDERS: Richard L. Hake, Robert W. Warburton COMMITTEE ON LINGUISTIC REVISIONS TO THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS Calvin A. Busch (Convener), Charles G. Dennison, Robert B. Strimple, Th.D. HISTORIAN D. Clair Davis, Th.D. COMMITTEE ON R.E.S. MATTERS Harvie M. Conn, Litt.D., John P. Galbraith, Richard B. Gafin, Jr., Th.D., Norman Shepherd (Chairman) MISSIONS CORRESPONDENT FOR THE REFORMED ECUMENICAL SYNOD John P. Galbraith COMMITTEE ON RACE Erwin Claerbaut, William C. Krispin, Cyril T. Nightengale, Michael Nunley, Carl. J. Reitsma (Convener) 1st Alternate-Gustavo Espino 2nd Alternate-Huibert J. Vandenbroek

COMMITTEE ON APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS I Class of 1981-Thomas E. Tyson Class of 1980-Robert W.Eckardt Class of 1979-John J. Mitchell ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN MEMBERS NAPARC COMMITTEE ON DIVORCE Charles G. Dennison, James R. Payton, Jr. John J. Mitchell (Alterrznte) ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN MEMBERS PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED COMMISSION ON CHAPLAINS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL Class of 1981-(vacancy) Class of 1980-Elmer M. Dortzbach, Ph.D. Class of 1979-Dennis J. Prutow COMMITTEE TO PROPOSE A PUBLTCATION One representative each appointed by the Committees on Christian Education, Diaconal Ministries, Foreign Missions, Home Missions and Church Extension, and Stew a rdsh ip COMMITTEE ON GENEKAL ASSEMBLY BUDGET FUND MANAGEMENT Richard A. Barker, John J. Mitchell, LeRoy B. Oliver COMMITTEE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 46th GENERAL ASSEMBLY Charles G. Dennison, Richard C. McGill, Henry P. Tavares (Chairman) 228 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

CLERKS OF SESSION Number Ruling Elders PRESBYTERY OF THE DAKOTAS COLORADO 6 Denver, Park Hill-Arthur F. Johnson, 740 Pearl St., Unit 301, Denver 80203 2 Grand Junction, Bethel-John A. Crosby, 1549 14% Rd., Loma 81524 1 Thornton, Irnmanrd-Geritt C. Vandenberg, 925 1 Ciancio St., Denver 80229 KANSAS 2 Caney, OPC-Elbert Baker, 203 N. State St., Caney 67333 NEBRASKA 2 Lincoln, Faith-Wayne B. Barmore, 4200 S. 38th St., Lincoln 68506 2 Omaha, OPC-David Piper, 530 S. 51st, Omaha 68106 NEW MEXICO 1 Roswell, OPC-L. Kammerood, 909 Mason Dr., Roswell 88201 NORTH DAKOTA 2 Carson, Bethel-Ernest J. Danzeisen, Box 273, Carson 58529 3 Lark, First-Ronald E. VandenBurg, Lark 58550 OKLAHOMA 1 Bartlesville, Westminster-Robert L. Ayres, Rt. 1 Box 20, Wann 74083 4 Oklahoma City, Knox-E. Myers Bearden, 2104 Churchill Way, Oklahoma City 73120 2 Tulsa, Grace-John Venema, 110 N. Elgin, Sperry 74073 SOUTH DAKOTA 3 Bancroft, Murdock Memorial-Don Wilkens, RR 1, Bancroft 573 16 3 Bridgewater, Trinity-Calvin D. Hofer, Box 146, Bridgewater 573 19 3 Hamill, Westminster-Duane Blare, R.R., Hamill 57534 3 Manchester, OPC-Glenn Foote, R.R. 3, Huron 57350 5 Volga, Calvary-Lester Kleinjan, R.R., Bruce 57220 4 Winner-OPC-Blain Fenenga, Star Route #6, Winner 57580 TEXAS 9 Abilene, OPC-Dr. Lawrence G. Hardwicke, 1625 Westwood, Abilene 79603

PRESBYTERY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC MARYLAND 2 Baltimore, First-L. Fred Baum, 425 Haslett Road, Joppa 21085 6 Burtonsville, Covenant-Richard L. Hake, 8495 Murphy Rd., Laurel 208 10 2 Rockville, Puritan-Edward Gummel, 101 6 Neal Dr., Rockville 2085 1 9 Silver Spring, Knox-Maurice E. Fox, 4129 Warner St., Kensington 20795 NORTH CAROLINA 2 Raleigh, OPC-Sidney Bush, 8824 O’Neal Rd., Raleigh 27612 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 229

VIRGINtIA Harrisonburg, Berea-Leon Lucas, 104 Breezewood, Bridgewater 228 12 Leesburg, Bethel-Col. Ross F. Rogers, 1426 Crowell Rd., Vienna 22180 Lynchburg, Grace-do The Rev. Andrew E. Wikholm, Rt. 2 Box 7, Forest 24551 Manassas, Calvary-David L. Rock, 371 Manassas Park Dr., Manassas 221 10 Vienna, Grace-Henry Jawish, 34 15 Barkley Dr., Fairfax 22030 Williamsburg, Westminster-Dalton Hylton, 10 Ringo Dr., Newport News 23606

PRESBYTERY OF THE MIDWEST ILLINOIS Hanover Park, Grace-Leonard M. Ferguson, 27 W 41 5 Devon Ave., Bartlett 6010 Westchester, Westminster-Guy Lundvall, 1248 Boeger Ave., Westchester 60153 Wheaton, Bethel-Joseph Spradley, 1207 E. Wakeman, Wheaton 601 87 IOWA Cedar Falls, Cedarloo-Dr. Robert H. Kyle, 1203 West 23rd St., Box 512, Cedar Falls 50613 MICHIGAN Gladstone, Pilgrim-Perry Verbeek, Rt. 2, Box 228, Rapid River 49878 4 Gowen, Spencer Mills-Robert H. Thompson, Rt. 2, Box 71, Sand Lake 49343 WISCONSIN 10 Cedar Grove, Calvary-Austin Voskuil, Route 1, Oostburg 53070 4 Green Bay, OPC-Dr. Robert Bush, 1941 Strawberry Lane, Green Bay 54303 3 Gresham, Old Stockbridge-Virgil Murphy, Route 1, Bowler 54416 3 Janesville, Christ-Robert J. Hilbelink, Route 2, Evansville 53536 4 Menomonee Falls, Falls-Donald Kerwein, 2957 Rolaine Pkwy., Hartford 53027 9 Oostburg, Bethel-Matthew van Stelle, 441 Center Ave., Oostburg 53070

PRESBYTERY OF NEW JERSEY Bellmawr, lrnmanuel-Edward M. Shindle, 25 Willis Dr., Tuckerton 08087 Bridgeton, Calvary-Russell S. Lodge, 28 Institute PI., Bridgeton 08302 Fair Lawn, Grace-c/o The Rev. David Kiester, 15 1 S. Broadway, Fair Lawn 07410 Garfield, Community-Richard Cantwell, 152 Hiawatha Blvd., Oakland 07436 Neptune, Good Shepherd-Jerome C. van de Sande, 714 wayside Rd., Neptune 07753 Ocean City, OPC-Paul S. Patterson, 609 12th St., Ocean City 08226 6 Phillipsburg, Calvary Community-Allan M. Brinkley, 720 Fourth St., Belvidere 07823 Pittsgrove, FaithCanford C. Garrison, R.D. 2, Monroeville 08343 Ringoes, Calvary of Amwell-Ralph Elder, R.D. 1, Box 41A, Hopewell 08525 Stratford, OPC-James G. MacDonald, 13 Elinor Ave., Stratford 08084 Succasunna, Westminster-Stephen W. Bruder, 66 Sand Shore Dr., Budd Lake 07828 4 Trenton, Grace-Robert I. Beam, 254 Sherwood Ave., Trenton 08619 9 Vineland, Covenant-Paul E. Heritage, 38 Columbia Ave., Vineland 08360 3 W.Collingswood, Zmmanue/-Willard E. Neel, 3 11 Sloan Ave., W. Collingswood 08107 6 Westfield, Grace-Richard A. Barker (Acting) , 639 Shadowland Dr., Westfield 07090 230 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

CLERKS OF SESSION Number , Ruling Elders (continued) 5 Whippany, Emmanirel-Donald A. Ross, 1 18 Green Ave., Madison 07940 3 Wildwood, Calvary-Thomas A. Jorgensen, 136 W. Lavender Rd., Wildwood 08260

PRESBYTERY OF NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND CONNECTICUT 3 Hamden, Westminster-Frank Emley, 79 Squire Lane, Hamden 0651 8 MAlNE 3 Bangor, Pilgrim-Paul S. MacDonald, R.F.D. 1, Box 182, Carmel 04419 3 Houlton, Bettiel-Allen Moody, R.F.D. 1, Houlton 04730 1 Lewiston, Trinity-W. Dana Perkins, Jr., 20 Huchinson, Portland 04206 Maple Grove and Presque Isle, Ernmaniiel-c/o The Rev. Charles Stanton, R.D. 1, Fort Fairfield 04742 6 Portland, Second Parish-Dr. Stephen A. MacDonald, 85 South St., Gorham 04038 3 Rockport, Lukeview-Thomas L. Eesley, Union St., Rockport 04843 1 Skowhegan, OPC-Fremont A. Moody, RFD 3 Box 372, Skowhegan 04976 MASSACHUSETTS 3 Cape Cod, Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod-Fred Buhler, 78 Webbers Path, W. Yarmouth 02673 1 Fall River, Grace-Clyde R. Durrell, RFD 3-Box 274C, No. Scituate, RI 02857 4 Hamilton, Firsf-Ralph S. Pearson, 10 Puritan Rd., Wenham 01984 NEW YORK 5 Franklin Square, OPC-Thomas G. Warnock, 437 Madison St., Franklin Square 11010 I 5 Lisbon, OPC-Delmar Putney, R.D. #2, Lisbon 13658

~ 5 Rochester, Covenant-William W. Parr, Jr., 137 Ledgewood Dr., Rochester 14615 4 Rochester, Memorial-Peter W. Schumacher, 77 Castle Acres Dr., Webster 14580 5 Schenectady, Calvary-Arthur L. Comstock, 11 Berwyn St., Schenectady 12304 VERMONT Burlington, Chirrch of rhe Servanr-c/o The Rev. Raymond E. Commeret, 309 College St., Burlington 05401

PRESBYTERY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA 3 Berkeley, Covenant-David L. Neilands, 160 I Cedar St., Berkeley 94703 4 Modesto, Grace-Richard Nielsen, 3324 John Lee Lane, Modesto 95350 2 Novato, Trinity-c/o David L. Neilands, 1601 Cedar St., Berkeley 94703 1 San Francisco, First-George S. MacKenzie, 2264 Gill Port Lane, Walnut Creek 94598 3 San Jose, Covenant-James Huizenga, 5935 Hosta Lane, San Jose 95124 2 Santa Cruz, Westnzitzster-Murray L. Nonhof, 3785 Vista Dr., Soquel 95073 3 Sonora, Culvary-Harold Bird, 1080 Mono Way, Sonora 95370 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 23 1

S. San Francisco, Brentwood-Robert P. Santo, 222 Del Monte Ave., So. San Francisco 94080 Sunnyvale, First-Arnold E. Larson, 2949 Jessie Court, San Jose 95124

PRESBYTERY OF THE NORTHWEST MONTANA Ronan, Mission Valley-Dan Stukey, RR # 1, Box 34, Polson 59860 OREGON Bend, Westminster-R. E. Jewel], 61839 Dobbin Rd., Bend 97701 Eugene, Oak Hill-Gary Brownlee, 522 Ful-Vue Dr., Eugene 97405 Gladstone, OPC-Thomas W. Allen, 12425 S.E. Main St., Portland 97233 Newberg, Trinity-M. Vanden Hoek, 2902 E. 2nd St., Nut Tree Space 110, Newberg 97132 Portland, First-Leonard W. Schmurr, 14639 S.E. Rhine St., Portland 97236

WASHINGTON 3 Bothell, Trinity-Albert G. Bender, 10433 N.E. 16th Place, Bellevue 98004

PRESBYTERY OF OHIO OHIO i 2 Alliance, Christ Reforrned-Robert A. Nisbet, 8472 Sharon Ave., N.W., N. Canton 44720 1 Dayton, Redeerner-William F. Shaw, 826 Doherty Rd., Galloway 43119

PENNSYLVANIA Edinburg, Nashzta-Wendell Miller, R.D. 1, Edinburg 16 1 16 Grove City, Covenant-Donald 0. Copeland, R.D. 2, Grove City 16127 Harrisville, Calvary-Wm. H. Kiester, R.D. 1, Boyers 16020 Pittsburgh, Coverranf-John C. Smith, 105 Sycamore St. W., Pittsburgh 1521 1 Sewickley, Crace-D. Lee1 Shields, 436 Beaver Rd., Edgeworth, Sewickley 15143

PRESBYTERY OF PHILADELPHIA DELAWARE 3 Middletown, Crace-W. R. Weldon Burge, 11 E. Redding St., Middletown 19709 5 Wilmington, Emmanifel-William A. Haldeman, 1 19 Hedgeapple Lane, Wilmington 19087

PENNSYLVANIA 2 Blue Bell, Conzmunity of Cetztre Sqircire-Dr. W. David Laverell, 337 Edgewood Ave., Horsham 19044 4 Fawn Grove, Faith-Daniel E. McElwain, R.D. 1, Fawn Grove 17321 5 Glenside, Calvary-Howard A. Porter, 329 Oak Rd., Glenside 19038 5 Hatboro, Trinity-Robert A. Kranim, 703 Beverly Road, Holland 18966 4 Jenkintown, Neic' Lifr-c/o The Rev. Ronald E. Lutz, 6133 N. Fairhill St. 19120 232 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

CLERKS OF SESSION Number Ruling Elders (continued) 4 Kirkwood, OPC-Wm. R. Ferguson, 132 Pine St., Oxford 19363 3 Lansdowne, Knox-Robert H. English, 116 W. Hillcrest Ave., Havertown 19083 1 Lewisburg, Tri-County-Harry H. Vogt, R.D. 1, Allenwood 17810 4 Mechanicsville, OPC-W. A. Haberern, 240 Hillendale Dr., Doylestown 18901 7 Middletown, CaZvary-John E. Fischer, Jr., 22 Maple St., Middletown 17057 6 Oxford, Bethany-John 0. Kinnaird, R.D. 2, Box 320, Nottingham. 19362 3 Philadelphia, Church of the City-Joseph Formica, 4404 Pine St., Philadelphia 19104

PRESBYTERY OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA 3 Fort Lauderdale, Bethel-Wayne Hays, 5160 S.W. 6th Ct., Margate 33063

3 Hialeah, Sharon-Calvin A. Duff, 13820 Kendale Lakes Drive, Miami 33183 ' 3 Miami, Galloway-Charles A. Rayfield, Jr., 10231 S.W. 16th St., Miami 33165 3 Ocala, Faith-Edward L. Jones, 600 S.E. 58th Ave., Ocala 32670 1 Orlando, Lake Sherwood-J. D. Phillips, 6012 Beau Lane, Orlando 32808 3 Tallahassee, Calvary-Ray Mason, 241 8 Williamette, Tallahassee 32303 GEORGIA 3 Atlanta, Redeemer-John P. Holland, 3054 Springdale Dr., Snellville 30278

PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA 2 Artesia, Cerritos Valley-Robert M. Coie, 13 142 Beach St., Cerritos 90701 2 Bonita, OPC-Dennis Remillard, 3837 Prarie Drive, Jamul 92035 1 Carson, Grace-John S. Atwell, 2570 Jefferson St., Long Beach 90810 5 Chula Vista, Bayview-Lacy P. Scott, 1115 Hemlock St., Imperial Beach 92032 3 Garden Grove, OPC-Andrew Mitchell, 10721 Vickers, Garden Grove 92640 4 Goleta, El Camino-A. M. Laurie, 909 Chelam Way, Santa Barbara 93108 1 Hacienda Heights, OPC-Donald H. Nathan, 3343 Glenmark Dr., Hacienda Heights 91745 5 La Mirada, Calvary-Glenn Warnpler, 12120 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada 90638 6 Long Beach, First-Douglas K. Robinson, 1507 Ruth Lane, Newport Beach 92660 4 Los Angeles, Beverly-Herbert F. Pink, 1272 La Loma Rd., Pasadena 91 105 5 Manhattan Beach, First-John K. Novinger, 3307 Johnston, Redondo Beach 90278 4 San Diego, Point Lorna-Kenneth D. Sharp, 1325 Santa Barbara St., San Diego 92107 3 Santee, OPC-James A. Bates, 244 Miguel Dr., Chula Vista 9201 1 2 South Pasadena, OPC-Laurence T. McHargue, 606 Meridian Ave., S. Pasadena 91030 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 23 3

MINISTERS OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Abbreviations (as used in parentheses below) : Status: CE-Christian Ed. Staff FM-Foreign Missionary HM-Home Missionary P-Pas t or PI-Pastor, non-Orthodox Pres. Church Prof.-Professor Re t .-Retired Tea .-Teacher SS-Stated Supply P-n-indicates number of churches served Presbyteries : D-Dakotas MA-Mid-Atlantic M W-Midwest NC-Northern California NJ-New Jersey NW-Northwest NY-New York & New England 0-Ohio Ph-Philadelphia S-South SC-Southern California

Abbot, Robert D. (P, NC)-2666 44th Ave., San Francisco, CA 941 16 Adams, Jay E., Ph.D. (NJ)-The Millhouse, R.D. 1, Juliette, GA 31046 Albright, H. Wilson (P, SC)-2805 S. La Plata Ave., Hacienda Hghts., CA 91745 Ames, Arthur G. (P, SC)-22515 S. Figurroa St., Carson, CA 90745 Andrews, Egbert W. (Ph)-P.O. Box 5-53, Koahsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China Aquila, Dominica (P, SC)-P.O. Box 547, Artesia, CA 90701 Atallah, Victor (FM, MW)-Box 1083, American University of Beirut, 11-0236/1083, Beirut, Lebanon Atwell, Robert L. (Ret., 0)-421 Summit St., Grove City, PA 16127 Bachman, Lester R. (Ret., Ph)--806 Dorsea Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601 Bahnsen, Gregory L. (Prof., SC)-l219 Pineview Dr., Clinton, MS 39056 Baurer, Harold L. (P, NW)-2543 Harris St., Eugene, OR 97405 Benson, W. Lee (P, NJ)-R.D. 1, Box 266, Ringoes, NJ 08551 Bettler, John F. (Ph)-2540 Edge Hill Rd., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Black, Glenn T. (HM, D)-3704 41st St., Lubbock, TX 79413 Blair, J. Anthony (HM, D)-29 W. 13th, Hutchinson, KS 67501 Bomer, William J. (P, D)-3161 William Dr., Grand Junction, CO 81501 Bosgraf, James L. (P, D)-2374 Dahlia St., Denver, CO 80207 234 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Bowman, Marven O., Jr. (PI, 0)-194 Cochran Rd., Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 Brown, Mark R. (P, 0)-1018!h Walnut St., Hollidaysburg, PA ,16648 Buchanan, Donald G., Jr. (P, NC)-1823 Foxworthy Ave., San Jose, CA 95124 Busch, Calvin A. (Ret., NJ)--123 Park Ave., Covenant Station, NJ 07961 Champness, Thomas S., Jr. (P, S)-2907 Townley Circle, Doraville, GA 30340 Chanoux, Leonard F. (Tea., NJ)-104 N. Lincoln Drive, Wenonah, NJ 08090 Christian, George S. (NJ)-11 Ramapo Rd., Pornpton Lakes, NJ 07444 Churchill, Robert K. (HM, D)-6206 Oxbow Trail, Amarillo, TX 79106 Clowney, Edmund P., D.D. (Prof,, NJ)-Westminster Theol. Seminary, Phila., Pa. 19118 Coie, Bruce A. (Ret., SC)4328S. Elm St., Apt. 2, Long Beach, CA 90807 Commeret, Raymond E. (HM, NY)-309 College St., Burlington, VT 05401 Conard, Larry D. (HM, SC)-607 Melrose Ave., Chula Vista, CA 92010 Conn, Harvie M., Litt.D. (Prof., NJ)-640 Central Ave., Ardsley, PA 19038 Cooper, Thomas M. (Ret., SC)-908 E. Hampton St., Tucson, AZ 85719 Coppes, Leonard J., Th.D. (P, 0)-Box 55, Harrisville, PA 16038 Coray, Henry W. (Ret., SC)-6647 El Colegio Rd., Goleta, CA 93017 Corey, Thomas M. (0)-R.D. I, Box 143, Hamlin, WV 25571 Cottenden, George R. (FM, NJ)-c/o Schutz American School, P.O. Box 1000, Alexandria, Egypt Crossett, Vincent L. (HM, MW)-P.O. Box 319, Wyanet, 1L 61379 Cummings, Calvin K. (P, S)414Sabal Court, Tallahassee, FL 32304 Cummings, David B. (P, MW)-116 Berteau Ave., Bartlett, IL 60103 Cummings, Wilson, L. (HM, Ph)-1533 S. Hicks, Philadelphia, PA 19146 Curry, Allen D. (CE, NJ)-15 Red Oak Rd., Oreland, PA 19075 Office: 7401 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19126

Davies, John (Ret., NJ)-Rt. #2, Box 281, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 Davis, D. Clair, Th.D. (Prof., Ph)-1241 Jericho Rd., Abington, PA 19001 DeMaster, Ivan J. (P, MW)-2418 S. Wolf Rd., Hinsdale, IL 60521 Dennison, Charles G. (P, 0)-804 7th Ave., Corapolis, PA 15108 DeVelde, Everett C. (P, MA)-2503 Roy Terrace, Fallston, MD 21047 Doe, Stephen D. (HM, SC)-653 S. “F” Street, Oxnard, CA 93030 Dorman, Harold L. (P, NY)-R.F.D. 3, Box 361, Skowhegan, ME 04976 Dortzbach, Elmer M., Ph.D. (Prof., S)-1701 Tanglewood Dr., Clinton, MS 39506 Dortzbach, Karl G. (HM, MW)-323 Cherry Valley, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 Drake, Robert R. (Ph)-3857 Orchard Ave., Robbinsdale, MN 55422 Duff, Clarence W. (Ret., S)-lSlO Mona Ave., Ocoee, FL 32761 Duff, Donald J. (P, SC)-3406 Fairway Dr., La Mesa, CA 92041 Dunn, Leslie A. (HM, MW)--15460 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, IL 60477

Eckardt, Robert W. (P, MW)-3214 Dallas Dr., Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Ediger, Abe W. (P, Ph)-37 N. Race St., Middletown, PA 17057 Edwards, Albert G., 111 (P, NJ)-1100 Boulevard, Westfield, NJ 07090 Elliott, Edwards E. (P, SC)-9826 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92644 Ellis, Charles H. (P, MA)-341 9 Stonehall Dr., Beltsville, MD 20705 English, W. Ralph (FM, NJ)-P.O. Box 184, Pusan, Korea 600 Eppinger, Edward A. (P-2, D)-P.O. Box 22, Bancroft, SD 57316 Erickson, Carl E. (P, NC)-356 Arroyo Dr., S. San Francisco, CA 94080 Evans, F. Clarke (Ret., Ph)-Dupont Pkwy. Apts., 108 Bldg. lA, 500 S. Dupont Hwy., .Newcastle, DE 19720 Eyres, Lawrence R. (P, 0)-2333 Alvarado Dr., Dayton, OH 45420 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 235

Fikkert, Henry H. (P, MW)-152 W. Union Ave., Cedar Grove, WI 53013 Fikkert, John N. (HM, MW)-1416 Climax, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Foh, Thomas A. (Chaplain, SC)-5884-A Adams St., Fort Knox, KY 40121 Frame, John M. (Prof., Ph)-1462 St. John Rd., Roslyn, PA 19001 Freeman, David, Ph.D. (Ret., S)-101 E. Darlington Rd., Holiday, FL 33589 Gaffin, Richard B., Sr. (Ret., MW)--54-1 Jung Hug Third Road Pei Tou, Taiwan 112, Republic of China Gaffin, Richard B., Jr., Th.D. (Prof., Ph)-2330 Pleasant Ave., Glenside, PA 19038 Galbraith, John P. (Gen. Sec., Ph)-Res.: 2345 Willow Brook Dr., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Office: 7401 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19126 Garrisi, John W. (HM, SC)-958 Eton Ct., Chula Vista, CA 92010 George, David A. (P, MW)-1948 Deckner Ave., Green Bay, WI 54302 Georgian, Theodore J. (P, NY)-65 Hoover Dr., Rochester, NY 14615 Gerber, Richard R. (P, NJ)-308 E. Hand Ave., Wildwood, NJ 08260 Goodard, Burton L., Th.D. (Ret., NY)--163 Chebacco Rd., S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Graham, Robert H. (P, SC)--10333 Moho Rd., Santee, CA 92071 Gramp, Robert A. (P, NJ)-65 Hitchner Ave., Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Greer, A. LeRoy (P, Ph)-R.D. 1, Box 37, Kirkwood, PA 17536 Gregson, Timothy H. (HM, MA)-1 139 Waterman Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Grille, Eugene P. (P, MW)-404 Somerset Dr., Janesville, WT 53545 Grotenhuis, Lewis J. (Ret., NJ)-Belvidere Rd., Box 299C, R.D. 2, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Hake, Steven R. (FM, MA)-P.O. Box 191, Taichung, Taiwan 400, Republic of China Hall, George W., Jr. (P, MA)-2416 Cedar Lane, Vienna, VA 22180 Haney, George E., Jr. (Gen. Sec., MW)-Res.: 1360 Arline St., Roslyn, PA 19001 Office: 7401 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19126 Hard, Theodore (FM, NJ)-P.O. Box 184, Pusan, Korea 600 Harris, Allen H., Jr. (HM, MA)-6305 Tamar Drive, Columbia, MD 21045 Harvey, Robert W. (P, MW)-1522 E. Harrison, Wheaton, IL 60187 Hilbelink, John R. (HM, MW)-1915 N. 7th St., Sheboygan, WI 53081 Hills, John C., Jr. (P, NY)-882 Garfield St., Franklin Square, L. I., NY 11010 Hinkson, Kent T. (P, SC)--14786 E. Mansa Dr., La Mirada, CA 90638 Hodgson, Richard G. (Prof., D.)-316 S. Main Ave., Sioux Center, IA 51250 Hofford, Barry R. (P, MA)-15627 Bond Mill Rd., Laurel, MD 20810 Hohenberger, Steve G. (P, NJ)-21 Bryn Mawr Ave., Stratford, NJ 08084 Horner, Richard L. (HM, MA)-5522 Lynn Dell Rd., Roanoke, VA 24018 Hubenthal, Karl A. (P, Ph)-311 N. Lansdowne Ave., Upper Darby, PA 19051 Hunt, Bruce F. (Ret., SC)--1624 Rockwell St., Abington, PA 19001 Ironside, Kenneth A. (P, NY)-ll7 Railroad Ave., S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Jenkins, Ronald E. (P, NY)-565 Shepard Ave., Hamden, CT 06514 Jerrell, Glenn D. (P, D)-1609 W. McGaffey, Roswell, NM 88201 Johnson, Dennis E. (P, SC)-2382 Roscommon Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91754 Johnston, Robley J. (Gen. Sec., Ph)-Office: 7401 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19126 Jones, Stuart R. (P, NY)-339 Consaul Rd., Schenectady, NY 12304

Kellam, Harold S. (P, NW)-2011 36th St., Missoula, MT 59801 Keller, Rollin P. (P, NC)-3416 Bellevue Dr., Modesto, CA 95350 Kellogg, Edward L. (Ret., MA)-3 Belmont Pl., Leesburg, VA 22075 236 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Kerns, Roy L. (P, D)-l954 E. 35th Place, Tulsa, OK 74105 Kickasola, Louis (Ret., S)-27415 S.W. 143 Ave., CT63, B2, Navanja FL 33032 Kiester, David W. (P, NJ)--151 S. Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 King, David W. (HM, 0)-747 S. Linden Ave., Alliance, OH 44601 Kirkwood, George M., Jr. (NJ)-104 Cutler Drive, Syracuse, NY 13219 Kline, Meredith G., Ph.D. (Prof., NJ)-36 Martel Rd., S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Knodel, Richard E., Jr. (HM, NY)-460 Wescott St., Syracuse, NY 13210 Knowles, Louis E. (Tea., SC)-3247 Roxanne Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808 Knudsen, Robert D., Ph.D. (Prof., Ph)-1341 Osbourne Ave., Roslyn, PA 19001 Krabbendam, Hendrik, Th.D. (Prof., S)-1301 Aladdin Lanc, Lookout Mountain, GA 37350 Krispin, William C. (HM, Ph)-ll62 S. 15th St., Philadelphia, PA 19146 Kuschke, Arthur W,, Jr. (Lib., Ph)-3263 Afton Rd., Dresher, PA 19025

Latal, Gerald G., Th.D. (PI, NC)-3291 Rupert Rd., Anderson, CA 96007 Lee, Charles Y. (Chaplain, NCI-HQ 2/67th ADA, AP Ncw York, NY 09086 Lewis, Richard M. (P, NC)-1623 Tacoma Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707 Lins, Craig T. (P, NJ)-R.D. 3, Elmer, NJ 08318 Lodge, Neil J. (P, Ph)-202 N. Broad St., Middletown, DE 19709 Long, L. Craig, Ph.D. (Ret., Ph)-406 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 Lucas, Robert M. (Tea., MA)-P.O. Box 212, Odenton, MD 21113 Lutz, Ronald E. (P, Ph)-6133 N. Fairhill St., Philadelphia, PA 19120

Mahaffy, Francis E. (HM, MW)-3010 N. Olcott Ave., Chicago, IL 60635 Mahaffy, John W. (P, NW)-611 E. Sheridan St., Newberg, OR 97132 Malcor, Calvin R. (HM, NW)-906 S. Holly, Medford, OR 97501 Male, Jonathan D. (P, D)-15 14 Glendale, Abilene, TX 79603 Male, W. Benson (Ret., D)-9161 Vine St., Thornton, CO 80229 Marshall, Robert L. (FM, NJ)-P.O. Box 191, Taichung, Taiwan 400, Republic of China Marshall, Wallace W., Jr. (P, MA)-921 3 Hummingbird Terrace, Gaithersburg, MD 20760 Marston, George W. (Ret., SC)-161-129 E. Orangethorpe, Placentia, CA 92670 Mason, John S. (FM, Ph)-American University of Beirut, 11-0236/1083, Beirut, Lebanon McIlhenny, Charles A. (P, NC)-1350 Lawton St., San Francisco, CA 94122 McIlwaine, R. Heber (Ret., Ph)-181 Brandywine Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19809 McKenzie, Ronald J. (SS, NW)-530 N.W. Trenton, Bend, OR 97701 Meilahn, Kenneth J. (P, NJ)-11 Park Dr., Bellmawr, NJ 08030 Meiners, Raymond M. (P, NY)-Il38 Parkwood Blvd., Schenectady, NY 12308 Miladin, George C. (P, SC)-2555 Evergreen St., San Diego, CA 92106 Miller, C. John, Ph.D. (P, Ph)-415 Walnut St., Jenkintown, PA 19046 Miller, David J. (P)-1912 Cobden Rd., Laverock, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Miller, Donald R. (P, NY)-18 Cleaves St., Auburn, ME 04210 Miller, Richard C. (P, NC)-8 Doris Drive, Novato, CA 94947 Miller, Steven F. (P, Ph)-203 S. 14 St., Lewisburg, PA I7837 Mininger, Larry G. (P, S)-3716 Westgate Rd., Orlando, FL 32808 Mitchell, John J. (Gen. Sec., Ph)-2450 Norwood Ave., Roslyn, PA 19001 Mitchell, Richard G. (P, D)-5635 Salt Valley View, Lincoln, NE 68512 Moore, David M. (FM, MA)-5-3-26 Kojirakawa, Machi, Yamagata Shi, 990, Japan Moran, Allen P., Jr. (HM, D)-239 S. Crestwood Drive, Billings, MT 59102 Moreau, William E. (P, NY)-57 Court St., Houlton, ME 04730 Morison, Patrick H. (P, NW)-106-219 P1. S.E., Bothell, WA 98011 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 237

Morrison, Larry C. (P, NJ)-120 Park Ave., Convent Station, NJ 07961 Morse, Daniel R. (P, Ph)-333 Cherry Lane, Glenside, PA 19038 Morton, George F. (P, Ph)-246 Surrey Rd., Warminster, PA 18974 Nelson, Richard A. (P, NJ)-3 Jamaica Way, Trenton, NJ 08610 Newsom, Robert W. (P, SC)-163 Alpine Dr., Goleta, CA 93017 Nicholas, Robert E. (Ret., SC)-421 Mission St., Apt. A, S. Pasadena, CA 91030 Nilson, V. Robert (D)-3500 N. 68th St., Lincoln, NB 68507 Nonhof, Melvin B. (Ret., NC)-2324 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Oliver, LeRoy B. (Admin., NJ)-Res.: 1074 Wynnwood Ave., Abington, PA 19001 Office: Westminster Theo. Seminary, Philadelphia, PA 191 18 Olson, Arthur 0. (P, D)-Box 296, Volga, SD 57071 Overduin, Daniel H. (P, SC)-12515 Renville, Lakewood, CA 90715 Parker, Donald M. (MW)-Rt. 1, Box 68 Dl, Grant Park, IL 60940 Payton, James R., Jr. (P, Ph)-42 Cavendish Drive, Ambler, PA 19002 Peters, Jonathan F. (P, Ph)-R.D. 2, Box 117, Oxford, PA 19363 Peterson, Gordon E. (P, MW)-R.R. 1, Gresham, WI 54128 Peterson, Jack J. (P-2, D)-Box 306, Carson, ND 58529 Petty, James C., Jr. (P, Ph)-4207 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phillips, Henry D. (HM, MW)-2605 Lakeshore Drive, Escanaba, MI 49829 Phillips, Stephen L. (P, NY)-42 Beresford Rd., Rochester, NY 14610 Piper, Russell D. (P, NW)-RR 1, Box B-4, Ronan, MT 59864 Poundstone, Donald M. (P, NW)-624 N.E. 63rd Ave., Portland, OR 97213 Poundstone, Dwight H. (P, SC)-5395 Paseo Orlando, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 Prutow, Dennis J. (P, D)-443 S.E. Queenstown, Bartlesville, OK 74003 Raglin, Robert D. (NC)-181 First Ave., Chula Vista, CA 92010 Ramsey, Roger A. (P, NY)-Box 38, Glen Cove, ME 04846 Reitsma, Carl J. (Tea., MW)-714 E. Emerson Ave., Lombard, 1L 60148 Riedesel, Maurice (P, D)-Box 25, Bridgewater, SD 57319 Riffel, Arthur G. (Ret., NC)-524 Hanover St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Rinker, Wilson H. (SC)-5509 Hersholt Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712 Ritsman, Donald F. (Ph)-924 Foulkrod Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124 Rockey, Wendell L., Jr. (P, NY)-498 Nottingham Dr., Centerville, MA 02632 Rogers, Douglas (D.Min)-l6 Denbo Dr., Neptune, NJ 07753 Rosenberger, H. Leverne (HM, Ph)-2979 Sunnycrest Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090 Roskamp, Cromwell G. (P, MA)-5600 Winthrop Pl., Raleigh, NC 27612 Ruff, Lewis A., Jr. (P, SC)-2734 Keen Dr., San Diego, CA 92139 SchaufEele, Charles G. (Prof., NY)-260 Chebacco Rd., S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Schmurr, Roger W. (P, S)-699 W. 69th Place, Hialeah, FL 33014 Scipione, George C. (P, NJ)-R.D. 2, Belvidere Rd., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Semel, Lawrence (0)-431 Boyles Ave., New Castle, PA 16101 Shepherd, Norman (Prof., Ph)-224 Candy Lane, Ambler, PA 19002 Sibley, Laurence C., Jr. (0)-c/o Logos Bookstore, 300 Main St., Nashua, NH 03060 Skilton, John H., Ph.D. (NY)-930 W. Olney Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19141 Sloat, Leslie W. (Prof., Ph)-Box 101, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060 Smith, Lendall H. (FM, NJ)-P.O. Box 191, Taichung, Taiwan 400, Republic of China . Furlough address: 520 Lawrence Rd., Havertown, PA 19083 Solis, Salvador M. (P, NC)-1085 Sargent Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Son, Young J. (FM, Ph)-95-3 Yunhi Dong, Sudaimoon Gu, Seoul, Korea 120 238 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Spencer, Duane E., D.D. (P, D)-3334 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78213 Stanton, Charles E. (HM, NY)-R.D. 1, Box 101C, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 Stanton, Donald F. (P, MW)-629 Center Ave., Oostburg, Wl 53070 Steever, Albert W., Jr. (P, NJ)-1300 Newton Ave., W. Collingswood, NJ 08107 Steltzer, Arthur J. (P, Ph)-1811 Gravers Lane, Wilmington, DE 19810 Stewart, Leonard N. (P, MA)-8300 16th St., Apt. 302, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Stingley, Michael D. (P, SC)-77 15th St., #I, Hermosa Beach 90254 Stonehouse, Bernard J. (P, NY)-85 Wiley St., Bangor, ME 04401 Strimple, Robert B., Th.D. (Prof., Ph)-207 Red Barn Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090 Sutton, Stanford M., Jr. (P, NY)-23 Neal St., Portland, ME 04102 Swanson, C. Herbert (P, D)-1201 N.W. 105th Terrace, Oklahoma City, OK 731 14

Tavares, Henry P. (P, 0)-311 State St., Grove City, PA 16127 Taws, Donald H. (P, S)-4740 N.W. 16th St., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33313 Taylor, Gerald S. (P, D)-521 Lincoln, Winner, SD 57580 Thompson, John H., Jr. (P, S)-1116 S.E. Terrace, Ocala, FL 32670 Tolsma, Cornelius (P, MW)-N86 W17295 Joss PI., Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 Tucker, Kelly G. (NY )-2734 Woodbine, Grandville, MI 49418 Tyson, Thomas E. (P, Ph)-151 W. County Line Rd., Hatboro, PA 19040

Uomoto, George Y. (FM, NW)-18-6 Nakayama 7 Chome, Sendai, 980, Japan Urban, Edwin C. (Tea., MA)-212 S. King St., Leesburg, VA 22075

Vail, Laurence N. (Asst. GS, MA)-Office: 7401 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19126 Home: 70 Twin Brooks Dr., Willow Grove, PA 19090 Van Camp, Sidney W. (P, D)--15180 Montview Blvd., Aurora, CO 80011 Vandenbroek, Huibert J. (HM)-916 Talbot Court, Cheyenne, WY 82001 Van Gemeren, Willem A. (Prof., 0)-101 Linda Dr., Clinton, MS 39056 van Houte, Daniel, Ph.D. (Ret., SC)--10308 S.E. D St., Milnuric, OR 97222 van Houte, Samuel, Ph.D. (HM, NW)--17377 S.E. Colina Vista Ave., Milwaukie, OR I 97222 Van Til, Cornelius, Ph.D. (Ret., Ph)-16 Rich Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 Verhage, John (Ret., D)-4755 E. Highline PI., Denver, CO 80222 Vining, Robert L. (Ret., S)-800 N. Hastings St., Apt. 12, Orlando, FL 32808 Volz, Edward L. (P, 0)-1608 Graham Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Voorhees, Reginald (Ret., D)-1925 S. 49th St., Omaha, NE 68106

Wagner, Roger (P, NC)-21948 Crystal Falls, Dr. W., Sonora, CA 95370 Warren, William E. (P, NC)-3314 Elaine Dr., San Jose, CA 95124 Watson, Douglas A. (P, Ph)-301 N. Porter St., Seaford, DE 19973 Webster, Ransom L., Jr. (P, D)--1330 S. 31st St., Omaha, NE 68105 Welmers, William E., Ph.D. (Prof., SC)-2272 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064 West, Jim (PI, NC)-1451 Revere Ave., San Jose, CA 95118 Whitman, H. Morton (P, MA)-P.O. Box 12 17, Williamsburg, VA 23 185 Wikholm, Andrew E. (HM, MA)-Rt. 2, Box 10, Forest, VA 24551 Williams, Eugene B. (NW)-8625 S.W. 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97219 Winward, Douglas C., Jr. (P, Ph)-R.D. 1, Fawn Grove, PA 17321 Wirth, Richard J. (P, NY)-Box 243A, R.F.D. 2, Lisbon, NY 13658 Woolard, Gordon T. (P, NC)-2244-C Capitola Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Woolley, Paul, D.D. (Ret., Ph)-505 E. Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia, PA 191 18 Wright, Malcolm L. (HM, NY)-P.O. Box 201, Lake St., North Salem, NY 10560 Wynja, Richard (P, D)-9161 Vine St., Thornton, CO 80229 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 239

INDEX

Advisory Committee # 1 Appointed, 27 Matter referred to, 27 Report and recommendations, 77; action on, 78 Advisory Committee #2 Appointed, 27 Matter referred to, 27 Report, 91 Advisory Committee #3 Appointed, 27 Matters referred to, 27 Report and recommendation, 51; action on, 51, 147 Advisory Committee #4 Appointed, 27 Matter referred to, 27 Report and recommendations, 99; actions on, 99, 100 Advisory Committee #5 Appointed, 27 Matter referred to, 27 Report and recommendations, 183 & 184; actions on, 184 Advisory Committee #6, not used, 27 Advisory Committee #7 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report, 108, 171 Advisory Committee #8 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28, 123 Report and recommendations, 122, 147, 162; actions on, 123, 147, 162, 186 Advisory Committee #9 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report and recommendations, 129-130, 133, 142, 147 Advisory Committee # 10 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report and recommendations, 133-135, 146; actions on, 135 Report made order of the day, 91 Advisory Committee # 1 1 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report and recommendations, 159; actions in re, 159 240 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Advisory Committee # 12 Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report and recommendations, 185; actions on, 185 Appeals and Complaints, Committee on Members elected, 183; listed, 227 Report, 174 Apportionment of 46th General Assembly, 222 Arrangements for the 46th Assembly, Committee on Listed, 227 Assistant Clerk, appointed, 13; listed, 2 Assistant Clerk, Temporary, appointed, 6 Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 113, 121 Communication (9) from, 23; action in re, 29

Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Committee on Report and recommendations, 148ff.; actions in re, 28, 159 Book of Discipline (See Revisions to the Book of Discipline, Etc.) Budget, Combined (See Committee on Stewardship) Budget Fund, General Assembly Budget (1977-1978), report on, 9 Budget ( 1978-1979), presented 189-190; action in re, 190 Contribution for 1978-1979, set, 190

Christian Education, Committee on Members, elected, 91; listed, 225 Minutes approved, 175 Report, 78ff.; actions in re, 27 Request to, in re proof texts for the Catechisms, 142 Resignation of General Secretary reported, 9 1 Christian Reformed Church Communication (5) from 20; action in re, 29 Fraternal Delegate from, enrolled, 142 Clerks of Previous Assemblies, listed, 224 Clerks of sessions, listed, 228ff. Combined Budget (See Report of the Committee on Stewardship) Committees: Special See: Appeals and Complaints Arrangements for the 46th Assembly Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 24 1

Chaplains and Military Personnel, Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Divorce General Assembly Budget Fund Management Historian Housing for Retired Ministers Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards Ministerial Training Proof Texts for the Catechisms Race Reformed Ecumenical Synod Matters Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Worship Revisions to the Form of Government Listed, with membership, 226-227 Committees, Standing See: Christian Education Date, Place and Travel Diaconal Ministries Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations Foreign Missions Home Missions and Church Extension Pensions Stewardship Trustees of the General Assembly Listed, with membership, 225-226 Committees, Temporary, 45th Assembly See: Advisory, #I through #12 General Assembly Fund Review Overtures and Communications Presbyterial Records Standing Committee Records Communications, text of, 18ff.; actions in re, 14 Complaint, text, 25-26; actions in re, 14, 27, 183-184 Convening, Recessing and Reconvening Actual times noted, 3, 26, 29, 78, 91, 99, 108, 109, 123, 129, 133, 135, 142, 146, 159, 162, 163, 172, 181, 182, 184, 185, 187, 191 Times set for, 26, 129 Corresponding members of Assembly listed, 5

Date and Place of 46th Assembly determined, 189 Date, Place and Travel, Committee on Members appointed, 29 Members, elected, 189; listed, 226 Minutes approved, 175 Recommendations of, irt re: Date and Place of 46th Assembly, 188; acted on, 189 Travel Fund, 29-30; actions on, 31, 142-143, 182 Reports of, 14, 29-30, 142, 188-189 242 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

DeJonge, William A., Complaint (1) from, 25-26; actions in re, 14, 27, 183-184 Devotional services, 3, 91, 129, 146, 172, 187 Diaconal Ministries, Committee on Members elected, 109; listed, 226 Minutes approved, 175 Report and recommendations, 1OOff.; actions in re, 28, 108 Directory for Worship (See Revisions to the Book of Disciplines, Etc.) Dissolution of Assembly, 191 Divorce, NAPARC Committee on Orthodox Presbytcrian members elected, 182; listed, 227 Recommendation to participate in, 121, 182 Docket, adoption of, 26

Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Committee on Instruction to, 123 Members, elected, 123; listed, 226 Minutes approved, 175 Report and recommendations, 109ff.; actions on, 28, 123 Ex officio commissioners listed, 5

Foreign Missions, Committee on Members, elected, 78; listed, 225 Minutes approved, 175 Report, 52ff.; action in re, 27 Request made to, 77, 78 Form of Government Adopted and in effect, 27 Amendments proposed to, 129 Form of Government (See Revisions to the Form of Government) Fraternal Delegates to the 45th Assembly See: Christian Reformed Church Korean American Presbyterian Church Korean Presbyterian Church (Hopdong) Korean Presbyterian Church ( Kosin) Reformed Church in the United States Reformed Churches of Australia Reformed Churches of New Zealand Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod Fraternal Delegates to Other Bodies See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 109-1 15

Galbraith, John P., addresses Assembly, 78 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 243

General Assembly Date and Place for 46th Assembly determined, 146 General Assembly Funds See: Budget Fund, General Assembly Travel Fund, General Assembly General Assembly Budget Fund Management, Committee on Proposed, 8; erected, 190; member elected, 190; members listed, 227 General Assembly Fund Review, Committee on Appointed, 29 Matters referred to, 29 Report, 189-190; action on, 190 Goleta Youth Ministry, 133

Historian Recommendations concerning, 130; actions on, 147 Elected, 147; listed, 227 Report of, action in re, 28 Home Missions and Church Extension, Committee on Members elected, 51; listed, 225 Minutes approved, 175 Overture (1) from, 14; actions in re, 28, 185 Overture (5) referred to, 51 Report, 31ff.; action in re, 27 Hospitalization Plan (See Pensions, Committee on) Housing for Retired Ministers, Committee on Report and recommendations, 163ff.; actions in re, 28, 172

Korean American Presbyterian Church Representatives introduced, 142; address Assembly, 142 Korean Presbyterian Church (Hopdong) Fraternal delegate from enrolled, 177; addresses Assembly, 178 Korean Presbyterian Church (Kosin) Communication (6) from, 20; action in re, 29 Fraternal delegate from, introduced, 172; addresses Assembly, 172

Linguistic Revisions to the Westminster Standards, Committee on Continued, 189; members listed, 227 Report and recommendation, 143; actions in re, 28, 143

Ministerial Training, Committee on Members, elected, 147; listed, 227 Report and recommendations, 143ff.; action on, 28, 146-147, 162 Ministers of the Church, listed, 233ff. 244 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Minutes, 45th Assembly, approved, 29, 109, 142, 182, 191 Moderator, 44th Assembly, address by, 3 Moderator, 45th Assembly, elected, 14, 26; listed, 2 Rulings of, 51, 146 Moderators of previous Assemblies, listed, 223

National Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 116 I North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 116-121 Committee on Divorce, 182 Joint prayer and praise service, 26 Study Commission on Christian Ethics, action on recommendation in re, postponed, 182

Ordination of Women as Deacons, Conference on, authorized, 186-187 Overtures, texts, 14ff.; actions in re, 14 Overtures and Communications, Committee on Appointed, 28 Matters referred to, 28 Report and recommendations, 178; actions on, 181-182

Parliamentarian, appointed, 26 Pensions, Committee on Members elected, 142; listed, 225 Minutes approved, 175 Report and recommendation, 135ff.; actions in re, 26, 28 Report made order of the day, 26 Presbyterial Records, Committee on Appointed, 28 Report, 172-174; actions in re, 174 Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel Orthodox Presbyterian members elected, 182; listed, 227 Recommendations concerning, 8, 28, 180-181; action on, 182 Presbyterian Church in America See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 115 See Reformed Ecumenical Synod Matters, Report of Committee on, 161 Recommendation concerning, 161; action in re, 163 Presbyteries Dakotas Communication (12) from, 24-25; actions in re, 28, 135 Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 3 Statistics, 192-195 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 245

Mid-Atlantic Minutes approved, 174 Overture (4) from, 16-17; action in re, 28, 181 Roll of commissioners, 3 Statistics, 196-197 Midwest Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 3-4 Statistics, 198-201 New Jersey Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 202-203 New York and New England Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 204-205 Northern California Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 206-207 Northwest Minutes approved, 174 Overture (2) from, 15; actions in re, 187 Overture (5) from, 17; actions in re, 27, 51 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 208-209 Ohio Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 210-21 1 Philadelphia Communication (10) from, 23; action in re, 28, 135 Communication (13) from, 25; action in re, 27, 183-184 Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 4 Statistics, 212-213 South Minutes approved, 174 Roll of commissioners, 5 Statistics, 214-2 15 Southern California Minutes approved, 174 Overture (3) from, 15; actions in re, 28, 185 Roll of commissioners, 5. Statistics, 216-217 246 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY

Proof Texts for the Catechisms, Committee on Members listed, 226 Report and recommendation, 142; actions on, 28, 142 Publication, Committee to Propose a Erected, 185; listed, 227

Race, Committee on Matter referred to, 123 Members elected, 177; listed, 227 Report and recommendations, 175ff.; actions in re, 28, 177 Recessing and reconvening times set for, 26 Reformed Church in Japan, Communication (8) from, 22; action in re, 29 Reformed Church in the U.S. Fraternal Delegate from, enrolled, 91 ; addresses Assembly, 100 Reformed Churches in the Netherlands See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 121 Reformed Churches of Australia Communication (3) from, 19: action in re, 29 Fraternal Delegate from, enrolled, 51 , 52; addresses Assembly, 78 Reformed Churches of New Zealand Communication (2) from, 18; action in re, 29 Fraternal Delegate from, enrolled, 5 1 , 52; addresses Assembly, 78 Reformed Ecumenical Synod Communication (1) from, 18; actions in re, 28 Communication (4) from, 19; action in re, 29 Communication (7) from, 21; actions in re, 28, 185-186 Communication (1 1 ) from, 23-24; action in re, 28 Missions Correspondent for, report of, 187ff.; action on, 28; listed, 227 OPC portion of budget for, set, 163 Report of Committee to Study the Matter of Abortion sent to, 181 Request to General Secretary of, 159 Reformed Ecumenical Synod Matters, Committee on Matter referred to, 182 Members listed, 227 Report and recommendations, 159ff.; actions in re, 28, 162-163 Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod See Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, Report of Committee on, 115 See Reformed Ecumenical Synod Matters, Report of Committee on, 161 Communication from, 182 Communication to, 147 Fraternal Delegates from, enrolled, 99, 100; addresses Assembly, 100 Recommendations concerning, 161; action on, 163 Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Action in re, 123 FORTY-FIFTHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 247

Reformed Theological Seminary, address on behalf of, 162 Revisions to the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Worship, New Committee on Dissatisfaction with Chapter 1 :2 expressed, 133 Members listed, 226 Report and recommendations, 131ff.; actions on, 28, 133 Revisions to the Form of Government, Committee on Report and recommendations, 123ff.; actions in re, 129-131 Thanks expressed to, 131 Roll of Assembly, 3ff.

Standing Committees (See Committees, Standing) Standing Committee Records, Committee on Appointed, 28 Report and recommendations, 174-175; actions on 175 Standing Rules Amendments adopted, 27 Amendments proposed, 8, 188-189; actions in re, 189, 190 Stated Clerk, 44th Assembly Report and recommendations, 6ff.; actions on, 10, 28, 29, 186, 189-190 Stated Clerk, 45th Assembly Actions in re, 13, 191 Elected, 13; listed, 2 Statistical Report, 192ff. Summaries of statistics, 218-219 Statistician Elected, 13; listed, 2 Report, 10ff. Stewardship, Committee on Members elected, 100; listed, 226 Minutes approved, 175 Plan the Committee Stewardship revised, 97, 100 I for on Requested to provide data, 100

I Report and Recommendations, 92ff.; action in re, 27, 99, 100

Thanks, Resolution of, 190 Travel Fund, General Assembly See Date, Place and Travel, Reports of Committee on Actions it1 re, 6, 26 Contribution for 1979 set, 189 Offering designated for, 6 Trustees of the General Assembly, The Members elected, 13; listed, 226 Minutes approved, 175 Report and recommendations, 13ff.; actions in re, 13

Westminster Theological Seminary, address on behalf of, 147