Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 04:30:21 -0500 (EST) From: Darrell128@aol.com Subject: NR 97108: ICRC Admits Seven New Denominations; Questions ARP Qualifications NR #1997-108: International Conference of Reformed Churches Admits Seven New Denominations; Questions ARP Qualifications Meeting October 16 in its first business session, the International Conference of Reformed Churches admitted seven new denominations, increasing its size from 14 to 21 members. Most of the new denominations are groups which previously pulled out of the Reformed Ecumenical Council due to concerns over theological liberalism. However, a history of objections to theological trends in the REC wasn't enough to satisfy all ICRC members that the applicants were sufficiently Reformed to be ICRC members. One of the new North American members, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, came in for significant criticism. NR 1997-108: For Immediate Release International Council of Reformed Churches Admits Seven New Denominations; Questions ARP Qualifications by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service SEOUL, South Korea (October 17, 1997) URNS -- Meeting yesterday in its first business session, the International Conference of Reformed Churches admitted seven new denominations, increasing its size from 14 to 21 members. Most of the new denominations are groups which previously pulled out of the Reformed Ecumenical Council due to concerns over theological liberalism. However, a history of objections to theological trends in the REC wasn't enough to satisfy all ICRC members that the applicants were sufficiently Reformed to be ICRC members. One of the new North American members, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, came in for significant criticism. "What I am concerned about is that the ICRC continue on its course giving due regard to our constitution," said Dr. Rowland Ward of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. "We are not a conference of people who are reforming, but of people who are Reformed." In response to questions from Ward and other delegates about toleration of freemasonry and a history of Barthianism, ARPC representative Rev. Jack Whytock presented a summary of the recent history of his denomination. "From 1978 onwards there has been a change of direction of the synod," said Whytock, noting that the ARP decision not to allow the ordination of women as ministers and elders proved to be the beginning of a conservative shift in the denomination that is now being reflected in the denomination's changing ecumenical involvements. "We have removed ourselves from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, we have been an active participant in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council," said Whytock. "Part of our desire is to join the ICRC to realign ourselves with likeminded Reformed Churches." Rev. Jack Peterson, chairman of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church's interchurch relations committee, explained why his denomination -- not generally viewed as tolerant of theological deviations -- chose to establish fraternal relations with the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, encourage their admission to NAPARC, and now sponsor them for ICRC membership. "Admittedly when we took this step it was a risk," said Peterson, describing the early history of OPC-ARP relations. "This is a church that was on the way out, down, in sad shape. The Lord has done a marvelous work." Assurances from the OPC weren't adequate for all ICRC delegates. "I did not quite hear an answer on how the church would deal with freemasonry, if there are officebearers involved in that," said Rev. C.J. Haak of the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Vrijgemaakt). "Are there precedents on the matter, decisions on this?" Whytock said the denomination had no formal position on affiliation with the Masonic Lodge and that such matters would be handled by the local elders, subject to church order procedures for handling any complaints or appeals against decisions by local churches. The concerns of Ward, Haak, and other delegates led to postponement of the vote on admitting the ARP from the morning to the afternoon session. The rest of the denominations applying for membership -- the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales, Gereja Gereja Masehi Musyafir NTT in Indonesia, Reformed Churches of New Zealand, Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, and United Reformed Churches in North America -- were admitted by unanimous vote. When the conference next took up the ARP application, the advisory committee on the matter proposed that the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church be admitted with the proviso that its delegate be asked "to take with him the concerns about the issue of Freemasonry as discussed in this meeting." That proviso didn't please either side of the debate. Prof. Clement Graham of the Free Church of Scotland moved that the ARP be admitted without specifying a qualification; Ward moved instead that the conference "rejoice in the positive report of the renewal and reformation in the ARPC, but defer reception of the application until it receives information to satisfy it that the integrity of the Reformed system of doctrine is maintained." After further concerns were raised about the ARP's addition of qualifying notes on the Westminster Confession of Faith, Rev. Vern Pollema of the Reformed Church in the United States informed the conference that the RCUS had voted not to sponsor the ARP for ICRC membership due to concerns similar to those being expressed on the floor of the conference. The objections raised by Pollema, Ward, Haak, and others weren't sufficient for Rev. John Galbraith of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. "I think the letter of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church makes clear what is required for the ruling office in the ARPC," said Galbraith. "I don't think that the ICRC would be on good ground in rejecting this application without clear evidence that the standards of what is required are not being adhered to." In light of the concerns, Rev. Paul Den Butter of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland moved that the conference defer action until more information on the ARP is received by the conference, with the intent that Whytock might be able to provide that information later in the conference session. That wasn't any more acceptable to Galbraith than Ward's motion. "It's not going to do us a service to have this done because it is not a practical way to find out what this church believes," said Galbraith. "It's always nice to put off the day of decision, but I would appeal to the assembly not to put off the day but to act." By a 16 to 8 vote of the delegates, the ICRC voted against deferring action until later in the session, and then unanimously voted not to defer action until additional information could be more formally received. Finally, by a roll call vote of member denominations with each denomination having a single vote, sixteen of the nineteen ICRC member denominations present voted to admit the Associate Reformed Presbyterians without the proviso expressing concerns about freemasonry. Ward's Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia formally recorded their abstention, and two other member denominations abstained without formally recording their abstentions. Despite the lack of unanimity, some delegates said they thought the debate was good for the ICRC. Rev. A. de Jager of the GKN-vrij. told the conference that the discussion was helpful because it did send a good message to the member denominations about the importance of adhering to strict membership standards. Even though he had been placed on the "hot seat" in defense of his denomination, Whytock also agreed the debate was helpful and that he would be bringing the freemasonry concern back to the ARP's even apart from a formal request by the ICRC to do so. "I think this is valid to raise; it's helpful to our church," said Whytock. "There are questions we will have to wrestle with as an interchurch relations committee. It will force us to think this over clearly with regard to whether there is a consistency with membership in the church and of secret societies." According to Whytock, the last significant vestige of the ARP's former involvement in mainline ecumenical affairs is a fraternal relationship with the mainline Presbyterian Church (USA) that is quite informal and dates back to the denomination's much earlier history. "We no longer send fraternal delegates nor are we receiving them anymore," said Whytock. "If we are no longer doing that, the question is should we do some housecleaning." In any case, Whytock said that the ARP's major ecumenical connection now is with the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council, of which Whytock is currently the chairman. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1997-103: International Conference of Conservative Reformed Denominations to Convene Next Week in Seoul, South Korea #1997-106: Former Reformed Ecumenical Synod Moderator Opens Prayer Service for International Conference of Reformed Churches #1997-107: International Council of Reformed Churches Convenes in Seoul, Elects Korean Chairman Contact List: Rev. A. de Jager, ICRC Interim Committee Chairman Waelstedleanden 14, 7542 XL Enschede, NETHERLANDS O: (53) 4780496 Rev. Paul Den Butter, Delegate, Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland Oranjelaan 12, 3971 HG Driebergen, NETHERLANDS O: 03438-21101 Rev. John P. Galbraith, Delegate, Orthodox Presbyterian Church Rydal Park, Jenkintown PA 19014 H: (215) 885-7981 * E-Mail: jpgopc@erols.com Dr. Soon Gil Hur, President, Kosin Theological Seminary Amnan-Dong 34, Su-Koo, Pusan, 602-030, SOUTH KOREA O: [82] 51-2575131 * FAX: [82] 51-2535133 * E-Mail: KTSNET@chollian.dacom.co.kr Rev. Jack Peterson, Chairman, OPC Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations 1315 White Rock Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245 O: (210) 690-6360 * H: (210) 675-9097 Rev. M. van Beveren, Secretary, International Conference of Reformed Churches 13904 - 86 St., Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T5E 3C1 O/FAX: (403) 478-5852 * E-Mail: vanbever@compusmart.ab.ca Rev. Pieter Vander Meyden, Synod President, Free Reformed Churches of North America 946 Ball Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 O: (616) 456-5910 * H: (616) 458-3250 Rev. Jack Whytock, Delegate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 155 Charles Lutes Rd., Magnetic Hill, RR #7, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 8Z4 CANADA O: (506) 853-7898 * H: (506) 855-7722 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive97: nr97-108.txt .