NR #1995-027: For Immediate Release Western Independent Churches Organize Regional Fellowship by John Van Dyk, Managing Editor, Christian Renewal Reported by Rev. Dick Wynia c 1995 Christian Renewal Distributed by Reformed Believers Press Service CALGARY, Alberta (March 6, 1995) RBPS - Following up on a recommendation made by the Alliance of Reformed Churches, eight independent Reformed churches in western Canada met in Calgary, Alberta on February 3 and 4 to lay the groundwork for a regional fellowship. The purpose of the fellowship, like those previously organized in Michigan and Ontario, is to serve as a vehicle for mutual accountability and assistance among churches in certain geographical areas. Mission projects, youth fellowship, pulpit exchanges, candidacy and ordination examinations, church visiting, and hearing of appeals are among the matters that could be brought to the meetings of these fellowships. Called by Edmonton Orthodox Reformed Church in Alberta and hosted by Bethel Independent Christian Reformed Church in Calgary, participating churches included Telkwa and Agassiz from British Columbia, Winnipeg from Manitoba, and Neerlandia, Edmonton, Ponoka, Calgary, and Lethbridge from Alberta. Churches in Lynnwood, Washington, Salem, Oregon, and Smithers, British Columbia were also invited. Although Smithers did not send representatives, the church did express its desire to be part of the fellowship. A newly formed church in Abbotsford, British Columbia, also sent greetings. The business of organizing the fellowship took up Friday evening. The assembly organized on the basis of proposed articles of fellowship closely modelled after those approved by the Lake Michigan Regional Fellowship and adopted as its formal name, "Western Regional Fellowship of Reformed Churches." The majority of the meeting, however, involved a discussion of the proposed church order presented to the churches at the November 1994 meeting of the Alliance of Reformed Churches in Lynwood, Illinois. A number of proposals included in the agenda became the subject of discussion. Proposals to change the church order included: 1. that biblical principles of church government, supported by Scripture references, be incorporated into the body of the church order itself; 2. that the church order be arranged to reflect the fact that Scripture demands the existence of the local church and specified its government but that the federation of local churches does not have the same Scriptural warrant; 3. that the church order be less prescriptive in areas where there is no biblical warrant. Examples cited were holding two worship services per Sunday, using the Three Forms of Unity in preaching, listing specific forms to be read for communion, and the preaching of preparatory and applicatory sermons; 4. that the role of the classis in the internal affairs of the church be modified; 5. that the church order make clear that baptized, non-professing members of the congregation are subject to discipline; 6. that the church order contain no theological assertions that are not clearly taught in the confessions. After a lengthy discussion focussing on proposal 3, delegates adopted a statement advising the church order study committee "to take a less prescriptive approach" and it was left up to individual churches to communicate specific concerns. The other proposals were adopted unanimously with little or no amendment. Discussion also focussed on the May 31 meeting called by Lynwood to discuss plans for federation. The consensus among the delegates was that that the meeting in May could be postponed until November of this year to save on the cost of travel. Among other business, the churches made decisions regarding the provision of financial help for needy churches, accepted the offer of Rev. Theo Hoekstra of Neerlandia to produce sermons for reading services, and asked Trinity Reformed Church of Lethbridge to study the question of a Youth Convention or retreat in Western Canada. Cross-References to Related RBPS Articles: #1994-039: Canadian Independent Reformed Churches Organize "Ontario Regional Fellowship of Churches" #1994-054: Lake Michigan Churches Ratify "Articles of Fellowship" #1994-060: Alliance of Reformed Churches Adopts Westminster Standards; Seceding Christian Reformed Congregations Move to Convene New Federation; Church Order Committee Avoids Explosion Over Federation Question; Sharply Divided Committee Reaches Unanimous Compromise on Inclusion of Westminster Standards in Alliance Purpose Statement; Independent Churches Decide to Federate Apart from Alliance; Unauthorized Letter to 600 PCA Churches and Leaders Prompts Protests in Presbyterian Church in America and Alliance of Reformed Churches; Alliance Declines Offer of Dordt College Board Position; Confessional Conference on Ecclesiology Scrapped for 1995; Other Matters: Yearbook Problems, Reading Sermons Proposal Rejected, Proposals on Ministerial Training, Revenue Canada, Contact Committee with CRC, Equalizing Travel Costs Voted Down, Alliance Stays in Chicago for 1995 Meeting, Julien Re-Elected Stated Clerk, P.Y. DeJong Addresses Alliance Contact List: John Van Dyk, Managing Editor, Christian Renewal PO Box 770, Lewiston, NY 14092 * O: (716) 284-7784 PO Box 777, Jordan Station, ON L0R 1S0 * O: (905) 562-5719 * H: (905) 562-3505 * F: (905) 562-7828 Rev. Dick Wynia, Pastor, Bethel Independent Christian Reformed Church 5824 Bow Water Crescent NW, Calgary AB T3B 2E2 * (403) 286-3195 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-027.txt .