MINUTES OF THE 159th GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EVANGELICAL SYNOD HELD AT COVENANT COLLEGE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE MAY 22-28, 1981 TABLE OF CONTENTS Index ........................................................ 3 Preface to Synod Minutes ...................................... 5 Actions for Presbyteries ....................................... 6 Minutes of the 159th General Synod ............................. 7 Statistics .................................................. 173 DIRECTORY SECTION Officers of Synod ............................... Inside front cover Synod Agencies ............................................ 211 Members of Agency Boards .................................. 212 Members of Service Committees ............................. 213 Members of Special Committees .............................. 214 Elders and Non-RPs on Boards and Agencies ................... 214 Presbyteries, Churches, Ministers ............................ 217 Index to Ministers ........................................... 264 Index to Churches (by State and City) .......................... 267 Psalm 133 .................................... Inside Back Cover INDEX Administrative Committee .......................... 20-21, 161-163 Archivist ............................................... 155-157 Attendance and Expense ................................ 152-154 Audit ....................................................... 16 Bills and Overtures, presented by title ........................ 13-14 A-U nified travel fund for annual synod meetings ......... 133-134 B-Clarify process for receiving an organized church into presbytery ................................ 134-135 C-Amend FOG re: examination of non-RPCES ministers .. 135-136 D-Amend FOG re: previously ordained college or seminary student. ............................... 136 F-Erect a study committee on the Sabbath .............. 136-137 G-For a study committee on the Scriptural obligations of Christian unity and fellowship .................. 137-138 H-Instruct Fraternal Relations Committee to pursue union with PCA and/or OPC ............................... 150 I-Instruct Fraternal Relations Committee to pursue a plan of union rather than the method currently employed14 7-148 J-Churches withdrawing may not form a continuing RPCES ............................ 150-151 K-Instruct presbyteries and sessions regarding Freemasonry .................................. 142-145 L-Issue complaint to Association of Evangelical Presbyterian Churches ......................... 145-146 M-Reconsider method of uniting ...................... 148-149 N-Call for a year of evangelism .......................... 149-150 O-Amend FOG to prevent a minister from exercising the duties of his office .............................. 146 Communication 1-from C. Ronald Beard (ARP) ............... 14 Communication 2-from Charles Winkler. .................... 14 Communication 3-from Francis Schaeffer. ............... 14-15 Board of Home Ministries .................................. 77-88 Budget, Synod Administration (1981 and 1982) ............. 1611-162 Chaplains, Committee on ................................... 46-48 Christian College in Africa, Committee ....................... 66,88 Christian Training Inc .................................... 138-141 Commissioners to Synod, 1982 ................................ 16 Corresponding Members, Seating of ............................ 12 Covenant College ............ '.' ........................... 66-72 Covenant Theological Seminary ............................. 27-32 Days of Prayer ............................................... 21 Digest of Synod Actions ....................................... 17 Directory: Agencies and Committees ................................. 211 Churches and Clerks of Sessions ........................... 217 Elders on Agencies and Committees ........................ 214 Ministers (Index on p. 264) ................................ 217f Presbytery Officers ...................................... 217f Special Committees ...................................... 214 Synod Officers ............................... Inside front cover Directory for Worship, amendments ............................ 17 Disability and Survivor Insurance Plan ..................... 108-109 Docket, Adoption of .......................................... 12 Elections ....................... 27, 31-32,88-89,129,151-152,161 Errata, Minutes of 158th General Synod (1980) ................ 15-16 Evangelism Committee .................................. 127-128 Form of Government Amendments Adopted ................................... 17-18 Proposed Amendments ........................... 135-136, 155 Report of Committee ...................................... 155 Foundation, Reformed Presbyterian ............................ 49 Fraternal Delegates, greetings from ............................ 49 Fraternal Relations Committee ......................... 49-72, 138 Guide to Proportionate Giving ............................ 162-163 Hospitalization ......................................... 115-117 Index of Synod Actions ....................................... 17 Judicial Commission .................................... 167-168 Lamb and Theological Fund .............................. 157-158 Magazine Committee .................................... 131-133 Memorials ............................................. 128-129 Ministerial Welfare and Benefits .............................. 108 Minutes, approval of ............................. 77,146-147,171 National Presbyterian Missions ............................. 22-27 Nominating Committee (see Elections) Pension Fund Committee ................................ 159-161 Presbyterian Church in America, Relations with ........... 52-65, 156 Presbytery Records Committee ........................... 163-164 Relation of Agencies and Churches, Special Committee ...... 130-131 Reformed Presbyterian Foundation .......................... 73-77 Resolutions Committee .................................. 169-170 Roll Call. ............................................. 8-12, 171 Ruling Elders, Study Committee .............................. 168 Sabbath, Study Committee ................................... 147 Stated Clerk's Report. ..................................... 15-18 Standing Committees, appointment of .......................... 13 Standing Rules, Amendments ............ 21, 27, 31, 72, 88, 138, 141 Statistical Tables ........................................... 173 Time and Place of 160th, 161 st, and 162nd Synods ............... 21 Treasurer of Synod, Report of ............................... 18-20 Trustees of Synod, Report of .............................. 164-167 Validity of Baptism Committee .............................. 32-46 Visiting Brothers, Seating of ................................... 12 Women's Synodical Report. .............................. 170-171 World Presbyterian Missions ............................. 121-126 WPM Letter to the PCA ..................................... 55-56 PREFACE TO SYNOD MINUTES The 159th General Synod took the historic first vote on the invitation of the PCA "to come with us for the purpose of effecting and perfecting one church among us." As we go to press, we have heard that the PCA has reaffirmed the invitation, as well as responding to the con­ cerns of WPM. We shall try to keep presbyteries and agencies abreast of further developments. May His guidance be just as clearly evident as committees and agencies, presbyteries and sessions seek 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" (ct. 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 by them and the Lord of the church magnified through them. -PRG ACTIONS FOR PRESBYTERIES AND SESSIONS The 159th General Synod acted on several matters which were sent down to presbyteries and sessions for action and information. Please take note of the following: A. FOR ACTION: 1. Joining and receiving by PCAlRPCES ................. pp. 52-65 2. Proposed amendments for the Form of Government. ............................ pp. 57-65, 155 B. FOR INFORMATION AND STUDY: 1. Overtures ................................. 133-137, 142-150 2. Report on Pictures of Christ. .......................... 89-107 3. Report on Validity of Baptism ........................... 32-46 6 MINUTES of the 159th General Synod Reformed Presbyterian Church,