MINUTES OF THE 158th GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EVANGELICAL SYNOD HELD AT SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY SEATTLE, WASHINGTON JULY 4-10, 1980 TABLE OF CONTENTS Index ........................................................ 3 Preface to Synod Minutes ...................................... 5 Actions for Presbyteries ....................................... 6 Minutes of the 158th General Synod ............................. 7 Statistics .................................................. 185 DIRECTORY SECTION Officers of Synod ........................................... 220 Synod Agencies ............................................ 221 Members of Agency Boards .................................. 222 Members of Service Committees ............................. 223 Members of Special Committees .............................. 224 Elders and Non-RPs on Boards and Agencies ................... 224 Presbyteries, Churches, Ministers ............................ 227 Index to Ministers ........................................... 269 Index to Churches (by State and City) .......................... 272 Psalm 133 .................................... Inside Back Cover INDEX Administrative Committee .................................. 19-23 Admission to Communion (1963 report) ....................... 137f Apostasy and Ecclesiastical Separation, Study Committee ... 100-124 Archivist. .................................................. 181 Attendance and Expense ................................ 152-154 Audit ....................................................... 18 Bills and Overtures, Complaints, and Appeals ................. 12-16 Overture A-Recommend Disability Insurance Program ...... 144f Overture B-Recommend Disability Insurance Program ....... 145 Overture C-Recommend Favorable Consideration to Merger with PCA. ....................................... 132-134 Overture D-Erect a Study Committee on Issue of Theonomy .. 130f Overture E-Clarification of Westminster Larger Catechism No. 109 Re Use of Pictures of Christ. .................. 131 f Overture F-Clarify Exception Clause Re Total Abstinence .... 146f Overture G-Recommend Filing an Amicus Brief on Behalf of OPC in San Francisco ................................ 135f Overture H-Revise FOG Re Call of a Pastor. ............ 140-143 Overture I-Amend FOG Re Licentiates Who Transfer ........ 143 Overture J-Amend FOG to Require Field Experience for Licentiates. .. 143f Overture K-Establish Procedures for Certifying Ruling Elderss to Preach ........................................... 160f Complaint #1-Dr. R. Laird Harris vs. Midwestern Presbytery .. 161 f Overture L-Consider Merger with ope If Three-Way Merger Does Not Materialize ............................. 133-134 Overture M-Clarify Position on Covenant Children Partaking of Communion ................................... 136-138 Overture N-Reconsider Questions for Church Membership .. 145f Overture O-Support California Overture Re Amicus Brief ..... 136 Overture P-Support for Idea of Merger Invitation from PCA. .. 133f Overture Q-Divide Delmarva Presbytery in Two ............ 134f Overture R-Clarify Meaning of "In a Known Tongue" in WCF .. 132 Overture S-Require Presbyteries to Review Their Rolls ...... 138f Complaint #2-Rev. A. F. Moginot vs. Midwestern Presbytery .. 139f Board of Home Ministries .................................. 80-95 Budget, Synod Administration (1980 and 1981) .................. 21f Chaplains, Committee on ................................ 166-174 Christian Training Inc ...................................... 30-34 Commissioners to Synod, 1981 ................................ 17 Corresponding Members, Seating of ............................ 11 Covenant College .................... '..................... 35-41 Covenant Theological Seminary ............................. 95-99 Days of Prayer ............................................... 20 Digest of Synod Actions ...................................... 18f Directory: AgenCies and Committees ............... , ................. 221 Churches and Clerks of Sessions ........................... 227 3 Elders on Agencies and Committees ........................ 224 Ministers (Index on p. 269) ................................ 227f Presbytery Officers ...................................... 227f Special Committees ...................................... 224 Synod Officers ........................................... 220 Directory for Worship, amendments ........................... 18f Disability and Survivor Insurance Plan ....................... 78-80 Docket, Adoption of .......................................... 11 Ecclesiastical Separation, (Apostasy), Study Committee ..... 100-124 Errata, Minutes of 157th General Synod (1979) ................... 17 Evangelism Committee .................................... 41-43 Form of Government Amendments Adopted ..................................... 18f Proposed Amendments ................................ 174-176 Report of Committee .................................. 174-176 Foundation, Reformed Presbyterian ......................... 59-62 Fraternal Delegates, greetings from ......................... 19,51 Fraternal Relations Committee ........................... 63-71,99 Guide to Proportionate Giving ................................... 6 Homosexuality, Study Committeee .......................... 43-50 Hospitalization ............................................ 72-80 I ndex of Synod Actions ....................................... 18f Judicial Commission .................................. 13-16, 182f Koinonia Declaration, Study Committee .................... 177-179 Lamb and Theological Fund .............................. 148-150 Magazine Committee ....................................... 154f Memorials ............................................. 125-128 Ministerial Welfare and Benefits ............................ 72-80 Minutes, approval of ..................................... 95, 183 National Presbyterian Missions ............................. 26-30 Nominating Committee ....................................... 17 North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. .......... 67-69 Pension Fund Committee ................................ 162-165 Presbyterian Church in America, Relations with ........ 64-67, 70f, 99 Presbytery Records Committee ........................... 150-152 Reformed Ecumenical Synod .................................. 69 Relation of Agencies and Churches, Special Committee .......... 22f Reformed Presbyterian Foundation .......................... 59-62 Resolutions Committee .................................. 179-181 Responsibility and Authority of Ruling Elders, Study Comm ittee ...................................... 155-160 Revision of Westminster Standards ............................ 67 Roll Call. .................................................. 8-11 Ruling Elders, Study Committee ........................... 155-160 Stated Clerk's Report. ..................................... 17-19 Standing Committees, appointment of ....................... 11-12 Standing Rules, Amendments ................................. 80 Statistical Tables .......................................... 184ff Time and Place of 159th, 160th, and 161 st Synods ................ 21 Treasurer of Synod, Report of ............................... 23-26· Trustees of Synod, Report of ................................. 177 4 Utilization of Laymen, Special Committee ..................... 128f Validity of Baptism Committee ................................ 181 Visiting Brothers, Seating of ................................... 11 Women's Synodical Report. ................................. 181 f World Presbyterian Missions ............................... 51-58 PREFACE TO SYNOD MINUTES The 158th General Synod took some dramatic actions which merit the serious consideration not only of commissioners but of the whole membership of the RPCES. After a whole day of debate, on the invita­ tion of the PCA "to come with us for the purpose of effecting and perfecting one church among us," there could be no doubt but that the Holy Spirit of God was exercising His sovereign control in the assembly. May His guidance be just as clearly evident as committees and agencies, presbyteries and sessions seek to understand the will of God for the future. These minutes, according to action of the 153rd General Synod, are to be distributed free to all ministers, "one copy to every church (whether for clerk of session or church library), plus additional copies for each $50 contributed to Synod during the last fiscal year up to a total number of elders" (cf. p. 19f). Having made the calculations with the assistance of Treasurer Charles W. Donaldson, the Stated Clerk has sent copies to the pastor of each church. In addition, the 154th General Synod authorized sending copies to each elder commissioner who was in attendance at Synod (p. 17). Additional copies are also available at a nominal charge for others who wish to have them from the Office of the Stated Clerk. When quoting Minutes of Synod, caution should be exercised as to whether the reports were merely received or if they have been adopted. In some cases, study papers have been assigned and they are the product of the particular committee unless the action stated by the minutes is that they were adopted as the position of the church. When they are sent to presbyteries for study, it still may not be con­ sidered the position of the church. These minutes are published with the prayer that the church of the Lord may be edified