R The Orthodox Presbyterian Church MINUTES OF THE FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AT MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 14 - MAY 19, I973 Pub I is hed by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 191 26 OFFICERS OF THE 40TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY Moderator : Kev. Charles H. Ellis, 3419 Stonchall Drive, Beltsville, Maryland 20705 Stated Clerk: Mr. Richard A. Barker, 639 Shadowlawn Drive, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 Assistant Clerk : Rev. Stephen L. Phillips, 21 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Stratford, New Jersey 08084 Statistician : Mr. Edward A. Haug, 46 Sandra Circle, Apt. A-1, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 Internal Revenue Number for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church: 237001990 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church MINUTES OF THE FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AT MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 14 MAY 19, 1973 Publ is hed by THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 7401 Old York Road Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19126 . FORTIETHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 3 MINUTES OF THE FORTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORTHODOXPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MEETINGAT MANHATTANBEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 14- 19, 1973 MONDAY EVENING, MAY 14 The Fortieth General Assembly was called to order at 8:lO p.m. by the Rev. Jack J. Peterson, Moderator of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly. Mr. Peterson consti- tuted the meeting with a worship service and delivered a sermon on the subject, “Led in Triumph,” based on I1 Corinthians 2: 14-17. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered by Mr. Peterson, assisted by the Rev. Ralph E. Clough, and by Elders Norman E. Byer (Manhattan Beach), John L. Kortenhoven (La Mirada), Robert A. Kramm (Westfield), Andrew Mitchell (Garden Grove), Morrison V. Penkoff (Long Beach), H. G. Peterson (Fort Lauder- dale), Herbert F. Pink (Beverly, Los Angeles), and George E. Smith (Bonita). The Assembly recessed, following the pronouncement of the benediction, at 9:38 p.m. , TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 15 Following a devotional service led by the Moderator, the Assembly reconvened at 8: 17 a.m. The Rev. John C. Hills, Jr., led in prayer. The Roll oj Coinmissioners follows. (Commissioners represent presbyteries. Loca- tions of ruling elders are for reference only.) Presbytery of the Dakotas Ministers: Glenn T. Black, Larry D. Conard, Donald J. Duff, John R. Hilbelink, Richard G. Hodgson, W. Benson Male, Richard A. Nelson, Russell D. Piper, Maurice A. Riedesel Ruling Elders: Melvin L. Bice (Winner), Ernest A. Covey (Hamill), Arthur F. Johnson (Park Hill, Denver) , Cyril T. Nightengale (Park Hill, Denver) , Virgil T. Seaberry, Jr. (Abilene) Presbytery of the Mid-Atlarttic Ministers: Charles H. Ellis, Barry R. Hofford, Richard L. Horner, Edwin C. Urban, Richard J. Wirth Ruling Elders: Sidney Bush (Raleigh) , Wayne J. Stevenson (Vienna) Presbytery of the Midwest Ministers: John J. Barnett, John F. Bettler, James L. Bosgraf, Ivan J. DeMaster, Henry H. Fikkert, George E. Haney, George W. Knight, IJI Ruling Elders: Sidney J. Bultema (Gowen), John N. Fikkert (Oostburg) , Charles M. Horne (Wheaton), Virgil Murphy (Gresham) , Clarence Roskamp (Cedar Falls), LaMont Ten Haken (Cedar Grove), Isaac Van Ess (Oostburg) 4 FORTIETHGENERAL ASSEMBLY Presbytery of New Jersey Ministers: Robert L. Atwell, Calvin A. Busch, Edmund P. Clowney, George R. Cottenden, Allen D. Curry, John Davies, Robert W. Eckardt, Robert L. Marshall, Kenneth J. Meilahn, LeRoy B. Oliver, Stephen L. Phillips, Lendall H. Smith Ruling Elders: Ralph H. Ellis (Vineland) , Sanford C. Garrison (Pittsgrove), Gar- ret A. Hoogerhyde (Fair Lawn), Rodney T. Jones (Trenton), Harold R. Keenan (Whippany) , Robert A. Kramm (Westfield), Samuel G. Parker (West Collingswood) , James E. Roush (Bridgeton), Davis A. Young (Westfield). Presbytery of New York und New England Ministers: Harold L. Dorman, Leslie A. Dunn, Theodore J. Georgian, John C. Hills, Jr., Donald R. Miller, William E. Moreau, Wendell L. Rockey, Jr., Bernard J. Stonehouse Ruling Elders: Thomas L. Eesley (Bangor), F. Kingsley Elder, Jr. (Covenunt, Rochester) , C. Steward Lind (Metnorial, Rochester), Herbert R. Muether (Franklin Square), Bertram R. Robinson, Jr. (Hamden) Presbytery of Northern California Ministers: Thomas S. Champness, Jr., Henry W. Coray, Carl E. Erickson, Hendrik W. Krabbendam, Richard M. Lewis Ruling Elders: George S. MacKenzie (San Francisco), David L. Neilands (Berke- ley), Nicholas Roorda (Manteca) Presbytery of the Northwest Ministers: Harold L. Baurer, Albert G. Edwards, 111, David J. Miller Ruling Elders: A. James DeLong (Bothell), Leonard W. Schmurr (Portland, Ore.) Presbytery of Ohio Ministers: Leonard J. Coppes, Calvin K. Cummings, Lawrence R. Eyres, David W. King, Donald M. Poundstone Ruling Elders: J. Elmer Baird (Dayton), John C. Smith (Pittsburgh), Raymond M. Waggoner (Sewickley) Presbytery of Philadelphia Ministers: Egbert W. Andrews, D. Clair Davis, Abe W. Ediger, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., John P. Galbraith, Ronald E. Jenkins, Robley J. Johnston, Rollin P. Keller, William C. Krispin, Arthur W. Kuschke, Jr., John J. Mitchell, James C. Petty, Jr., Norman Shepherd, Robert B. Strimple, Thomas E. Tyson, Paul Woolley Ruling Elders: William A. DeJonge (Kirkwood), William R. Ferguson (Kirk- wood) , William A. Haldeman (Wilmington) , John Tolsma (Hatboro) , Chris- tian H. Walmer (Middletown, Pa.) Presbytery of the South Ministers: Arthur 0. Olson, A. Boyce Spooner, John H. Thompson, Jr., Cornelius Tolsma, Robert G. Valentine Ruling Elders: J. A. Durrenberger (Valdosta), Fred D. Herron (Harriman), H. G. Peterson (Fort Lauderdale), Peter A. Struyk (Ocala) FORTIETHGENERAL ASSEMBLY 5 Presbytery of Southern California Ministers: Edwards E. Elliott, Bruce F. Hunt, Kent T. Hinkson, Edward L. Kellogg, George W. Marston, Daniel H. Overduin, Dwight H. Poundstone, Roger W. Schmurr, Salvador M. Solis, Edward L. Volz. Ministers (alternates) : Bruce A. Coie, Robert W. Newsom Other ministers present: H. Wilson Albright, Ralph E. Clough, Calvin R. Malcor Ruling Elders: Norman E. Byer (Manhattan Beach) , Richard deRue (La Mirada) , Jack R. Harvey (Manhattan Beach) , Lawrence T. McHargue (Westnzinster, Los AngeIes) , Morrison V. Penkoff (Long Beach) , Herbert F. Pink (Beverly, Los Angeles), Thomas Sayer (OPC, Point Loma, San Diego) Ruling Elders (alternates) : John L. Kortenhoven (La Mirada), John Reynolds (Manhattan Beach) , Duane E. Heft (Manhattan Beach) , Joseph A. Garrisi (Beverly, Los Angeles) Ex Oficio Minister: Jack J. Peterson (Presbytery of the Dakotas) Ruling Elder: Richard A. Barker ( Westfield, Presbytery of New Jersey) RECAPITULATION Ministers Ministers Elders Elders Presbytery Apportioned Present Apportioned Present Dakotas ........................ 9 9 9 5 Mid-Atlantic ..................... 6 5 3 2 Midwest ........................ 7 7 7 7 New Jersey ..................... 12 12 10 9 New York and New England ...... 9 8 6 5 Northern California .............. 5 5 4 .3 Northwest .....:. ................ 4 3 2 2 Ohio ........................... 5 5 3 3 Philadelphia ..................... 16 16 7 5 South .......................... 5 5 4 4 Southern California ............... 10 10 7 7 Ex officio ....................... 1 1 1 1 - - - Total ........................... 89 86 63 53 Total voting commissioners present: 139 Mr. Clough presented a report of the Committee on Arrangements. On motion, Dr. Davis’ request to be excused at the close of the Thursday morning session was granted. On motion, Mr. Waggoner’s request to be excused at the close of the Thursday afternoon session was granted. Mr. Barker presented the report of the Slated Clerk as follows: 6 FORTIETHGENERAL ASSEMBLY REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK The Minutes of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly are presented herewith. The Minutes were transmitted to the printer in July, 1972, and were published and dis- tributed in November, 1972. Three minor errors have been reported to the Clerk. They are the second longest minutes to date. Publication of the Minutes required two months less than the previous Minutes. The Clerk’s goal is to reduce this period still further, even though factors not under his control influence the time required €or publication. The deadline that the Clerk had set for distribution of the Agenda for the 40th General Assembly, namely, April 13, was missed by ten days. Even so, the reports of several committees, and the statistical report, had to be included in a Supplementary Agenda. The Clerk has done all that seemed reasonable to him to do to comply with Standing Rule, Chapter IVY Section 3.e., yet has not met its stipulation that the agenda “should be mailed to commissioners one month prior to the Assembly.” If the distribution of the Agenda is to comply with the requirement of the Stand- ing Rules, reports must be in the Clerk‘s hands earlier. In both 1972 and 1973, com- mittees have been asked to submit their reports on or about February 15. In both years, the bulk of the reports, and especially the longer reports, were not received until after March 1. This leaves too little lead time for all that must be done between receipt of the reports and publication of the Agenda. The Clerk therefore makes recommendation ( 1) below. The implementation of a representative General Assembly has proceeded, from the Clerk’s vantage point, smoothly and with commendable cooperation from the presbyteries and their Clerks. For the purpose of fully implementing the advisory committee system, it is desirable in the future that commissioners be selected, and the Stated Clerk advised, earlier than most presbyteries did this year. Since this is the first year under the representative