33rd General Assembly - April 1966

146 Pages·2015·8.62 MB·English

The
Or t kodox Presbyterian Ch u reh
MINUTES OF THE
TH IRTY-TH IR D GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEETING AT
OOSTBURG, WJSCONS IN
-
APRIL 25 APRIL 28, 1966
Published by
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
7401 Old York Road
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19126
THIRTY-THGIRENDE RALA SSEMBLY 3
MINUTES OF THE
THIRTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE
ORTHODOPXR ESBYTERIACNH URCH
MEETINGA T OOSTBURGW, ISCONSIN
APRIL 25 - APRIL 28, 1966
TUESDAY MORNING, April 26
The Thirty-third General Assembly was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the Rev.
Robert W. Eckardt, Moderator of the Thirty-second General Assembly. Mr. Eckardt
constituted the meeting with a worship service. The Moderator readhed a sermon on the
subject, “A Good Servant of Jesus Christ,” using as his text I .r;Pmothy 4:16b.
It was moved and carried that to expedite the roll call, as each name is called,
requests in accordance with Standing Rule 58 be voiced and that action on these requests
be formulated into a single motion.
The roll of the commissioners follows:
Presbytery of the Dakotas
Ministers: Carl A. Ahlfeldt, Lionel F. S. Brown, Abe W. Ediger, Howard E. Hart,
Ronald E. Jenkins, Russell D. Piper, Robert D. Sander, Donald H. Taws, John
Vefhage, Reginald Voorhees
Ruling Elder: Roswell Kamrath
Presbytery of New Jersey
Ministers: Jay ,E. Adams, Calvin A. Busch, Edmund P. Clowney, Harvie M. Conn,
John Davies, Everett C. De Velde, Richard G. Hodgson, Rollin P. Keller,
Gordon D. MOUWL, eRoy B. Oliver, Arthur 0. Olson, Jack J. Pelterson
Ruling Elders: Richard A. Barker, H. Robert Keenan, Willard E. Nee1
Presbytery of New York and New England
Ministers: Leslie A. Dunn, Theodore J. Georgian, George E. Haney, Jr., Raymond
M. Meiners, William E. Moreau, John Murray, Wendell L. Rockey, Jr., Charles
E. Stanton, Bernard J. Stonehouse, George J. Willis
Ruling Elder: F. Kingsley Elder, jr., Ph.D. I
Presbytery of Ohio
Ministers: Calvin K. Cummings, Arnold S. Kress, Stanford M. Sutton, Jr.,
Henry P. Tavares
Ruling Elders: Arthur Armour, Lloyd L. Bailey, Perry G. Boermans, R. Melvin
Copeland, John C. Smith
Presbytery of Philadelphia
Ministers: Lester R. Bachman, Ivan J. De Master, Robert W. Eckardt, Charles
H. Ellis, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., John P. Galbraith, George W. Hall, Jr., John
D. Johnston, Robley J. Johnston, Robert D. Knudsen, Ph.D., John J. Mitchell,
William J. Rankin, Laurence C. Sibley, Jr., A. Boyce Sponer, Laurence N.
Vail, Paul Woolley
Ruling Elders: Newman De Haas, Robert G. De Moss, Clay Duggan, William
R. Ferguson, Robert M. Meeker, Lewis W. Roberts
Presbytery of the South
Ministers: Robert L. Atwell, George W. Knight, 111, John H. Thompson, Jr.,
Cornelius Tolsma, Robert G. Valentine
4 THIHTY-THGIERNDE RAAL SSEMBLY
Presbytery of Smithern California
Ministers: H. Wilson Albright, William J. Bomer, Ralph E. Clough, Edwards E.
Elliott, Lawrence R. Eyres, Robert 13. Graham, Edward L. Kellogg, Calvin R.
Malcor, Dwight H. Poundstone, Salvador M. Solis
Ruling Elder: Walter Flores
Presbytery of the West Coast
Ministers: Henry W. Coray, Wilson H. Rinker
Presbytery of Wisconsin
Ministers: Francis D. Breisch, Jr., Heilry H. Fikkert, George W. Marston, Donald
M. Parker, Menry D. Phillips, William A. Shell, Donald F. Stanton
Ruling Elders: Earl De Master, Ronald Mentink, Harold P. Rosltamp, Louis J.
Voskuil; Alternates: Audley Lemmenes, Adrian Buyze, Howard Le Mahieu,
Howard Veldlorst, Henry L. Lemmenes, &win Claerbaut, Herbert Risseeuw
On motion ilt was decided that for the purpose of determining full travel fund
1. compensation, attendance through the evening session of Friday, April 29, shall be deemed
to fulfill the requirement of attendance at every session of the Assembly.
Mr. Donald Stanton, the host pastor, reported for the Committee on Arrangements.
The Assembly recessed at 1O:Ol a.m. and reconvened at 10:17 a.m.
The report of the Stated Clerk was presented as follows:
REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK
Thc Minutes of the Thirty-second General Assembly are presented herewith. The
Minutes were published on September 22, 1965 and copies were distributed to all ministers
and sessions as well as to other churches with whom the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
is in correspondence. ’The Clerk has noted a number of typographical errors and calls
attention to an omission on page 6 as follows: After the first paragraph #the following
motion should be inserted: “On motion this matter was referred to the Committee on
Overtures and Communications.” In addition, on page 55 in the Report of the Committee
I on Foreign Missions under “Finances” the word “exclusive” in the first sentence should
i read “inclusive.”
t
The Thirty-second Assembly failed to take action to reappoint a Liaison Representa-
5I tive to the World Home Bible League and News and Missions Correspondents to the
1 Reformed Ecumenical Synod. Lacking good reason to suppose that this was anything
I but an oversight, the Clerk requested those who had served in these capacities to continue
their service for another year.
The Committee on a Thirtieth Anniversary Booklet, appointed by the Moderator after
the dissolution of the Thirty-second Assembly resigned en masse and consequently the
docket for the Thirty-third Assembly does not include a repoat on a Thirtieth Anniversary
Booklet.
In past years the Stated Clerk has communicated with churches with whom the
Orthodox Presbyterian Church is in correspondence, inviting them ,to send fraternal
delegates to our assembly. With the erection of a standing Committee on Ecumenicity
and Interchurch Relations, the Clerk was uncertain whether this practice should be
continued and the Committee on Ecumenicity :had not originally envisioned this as a
part of its regular activity. As a consequence, no such invitations were sent this
year. The Clerk recommends therefore, that the matter of the procedure to be followed
in inviting other churches to send fraternal delegates be referred to the Committee on
Ecumenicity and Interchurah Relations for its advice.
The Clerk acted as agent for the denorination in endorsing applicants for service
in the chaplaincy of the military services. Communications from the several dhaplains’
headquarters are received regularly, but the Clerk has neither the time nor r’he facilities
THIRTY-THGIERNDE RAALS SEMBLY 5
to make any effective use of the information provided in these communications. The
Clerk has performed such other duties as are required by Rules No. 19 and 20 of the
Standing Rules of the General Assembly.
The report of the General Assembly Fund is as follows:
GEN,ERAL ASSEMBLY FUND
Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements
July 1, 1965 to April 15, 1966
Balance July 1, 1965 ........................................................ $ 258.82
RECEIPTS
Contributions from 87 churches _______________________________________ $4,826.48
Sale of Minutes 378.48 5,204.96
L_______________________________________------------------------ ------ ------
$5,46 3.78
------
DISBURSEMENTS
Printing and mailing Minutes $1,688.53
Binding previous Minutes 233.40
Fees - Stated Clerk - 31st G.A. 150.00
Stated Clerk - 32nd G.A. 150.UO
Assistant Clerk _______r__________________________2 5.00
Statistician _______________________________________________c___________________-_---_--_---_---_- ________--------5--0--.-0-0-- ----
Stationery, Tele$hone, Postage 434.44
Secretarial expense 267.75
Gereformeerde Kerken - Letters, etc. ____________________-------- 75.08
Travel - Delegates:
Reformed Presby. - Evangelical Synod
1966 - Advance 95.00
Gereformeerde Kerken - 1965 2.33
Fraternal Delegates - 32nd G.A. 10.50
Committee expenses:
Stewardship .................................................................... 80.07
Radio and Television ____________________________________________________ 109.80
Baptism 26.46
Presbyterial Records ________________________________________--2--7--.-2--4-
To Confer with Christian Ref. Church ........................ 14.10
Travel Fund ................................................................. 7.00
Ecumenicity & Interchurch Relations 398.22
Reformed Ecumenical Synod
1966 Assessment _____________________________$_5_5__0_.0__0_ ___--
1966 Regional Conference ___________________________ 300.00
Misc. Expense ____________________________________________ 5.05 855.05 $4,699.97
$5,463.78
The recommendation of the Stated Clerk was adopted as follows: It was moved and
carried that the matter of procedure to be followed in inviting other churches to send frater-
nal delegates be referred to the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations for
its advice.
6 THIRTY-THGIRENDE RAALS SEMBLY
On inotion Standing Rule 35 was suspended and the report of adhe Statistician
was ordered printed in the Minutes without being read orally. The report of the
Statistician is as follows:
REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN
To assist in understanding the Statistical Report for the year ending December
31, 1965, the following brief summary is presented.
MINISTERS AND CHURCHES
At the end of 1965 there were 151 ministers enrolled, two more than the year
before, returning to the high point of two years ago. The number of churches
increased by two, reaching a new high of 103. Churches without a pastor ran about
15% of the total which has been the general level. The number of chapels remained
at seven.
MEMBERSHIP
Total membership at the end of 1965 was 12,867 persons, a net gain of 310 during
the year or 2.5%. This compares with a gain in U.S. resident population of 1.2% for
the same period. A large part of the gain is attributable to growth in the Presbytery of
rhe South with the addition of the church at Harriman, Tennessee in June and in the
Presbytery of the West Coast with the addition of the church at Campbell, California
in October. A comparison of growth by presbyteries follows:
Percentage Change
Presbytery 1965 / 1964
Dakotas -1.4%
New Jersey -0.8
New York and New England 3.2
Ohio 0.6
Philadelphia 0.3
South 25.2
Southern California 1.4
West Coast 10.2
Wisconsin 0.9
----
Total 2.5%
The percentage of total membership represented by baptized children has increased
steadily over the years ,to a 36% level where it has stabilized since 1961. At five-year
intervals .the figures are:
Baptized Children CIS a %
Year of Total Membership
1950 28 TO
1955 33
1960 35
1965 36
Tthese figures suggest that the future of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Iests in good
measure with her youth and that, accordingly, proper instruction is important.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Total contributions (tithes and offerings) exceeded $l,609,oOO, an increase of 7.970
over 1964. This gain is the result of the rise in communicant members together with a
5.1 % increase in per member giving. By way of comparison, personal income in the
U.S. increased 6.8% during the same period.
THIRTY-THIRD GENERALA SSEMDLY 7
For the first time, contributions for general purposes exceeded $1 million. Giving
for benevolent purposes remained at 2270 of the grand total, a level which has been
maintained for each of the past ten-years.
A comparison of growth in total contributions by presbyteries follows:
Percentage Change
Presbytery 1965/1964
Dakotas 6.1 70
New Jersey 3.3
New York and New England -8.1
Ohio 12.4
Philadelphia -., 2.4
South 58.7"
Southern California 9.8
West Coast 13.5
Wisconsin 0.6
Total 7.9%
----
"caused by high giving level in the church at Harriman, Tennessee.
Giving per conimunicant member has risen steadily and substantially over the years.
During 1965 the figure was $194 per person - up from $185 the year before, $156 five
years ago and $108 ten years ago. These figures can only be interpreted as an index
of giving because the communicant membership which is used to derive them includes
all persons on the rolls of the churches regardless of their degree of attendance and
support. More refined figures are not attainable.
Giving by presbyteries follows:
Contributions
Presbytery per Comrnwzicant Member
Dakotas $177
New Jersey 193
New York and New England 190
Ohio 150
Philadelphia 174
South 303'
Southern California 193
West Coast 278
Wisconsin 154
----
Total $194
*caused by high level giving in the church at Harriman, Tennessee.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
The figures assembled for the Sunday schools of the churches seem to be cause
for serious concern. Both enrollment and average attendance figures, while higher than
in earlier years, have tended to show relatively slow upward movement in recent years.
Almost all businesses are planning their future operations around the very large number
of young people in the population. Presently more than one-third of the U.S. populatioll
is between the ages of 3 to 19, the ages at which the Sunday school has its greatest
opportunity. Of our 103 churches, about 40 reported a decline in Sunday school enroll-
ment and an additional 10 or so reported no change. This area represents the greatest
challenge facing the church.
EDWARDA . HAUG
Statistician
8 THIRTY-THGIERNDE RALA SSEMBLY
The Moderator declared the floor open for nominations for the office of Stated Clerk.
Mr. Robley Johnston was nominated. Since there were no further nominations, the
Moderator declared Mr. Johnston elected.
The floor was opened for nominations for the office of Moderator. The following
were nominated: The Rev. Messrs. Peterson, Ahlfeldt, Fikkert, and .Ellis and Elder Barker.
The names of Mr. Peterson and Mr. Fikkert were dropped after the first ballot. Mr.
Barker was elected on the second ballot. The Moderator requested Mr. Hodgson to
escort MI. Barker to the chair. The Moderator welcomed Mr. Barker and Mr. Barker
responded with appropriate remarks.
The Moderator opened the floor for nominations for the office of Assistant Clerk.
Mr. Elliott was nominated. Since there were no further nominations, Mr. Elliott was
declared elected.
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAVEL FUND
Mr. Malcor presented a preliminary report of the Committee on Travel Fund as
follows:
TRAVEFLUN DR ECEIPTS
-
Balance, Previous Report 1965 _________________-_______$__ _1_5_9_._3_9_
Received but not included in 1965 Report 191.00
_--__-
Available for 1966 Assembly Travel Fund 350.39
L__________________________
Received from 79 churches ___________________________________7_,3_1_2_._0-9-- --------
Total $7,662.48
OVERTURES
The following overtures were presented:
From the Presbytery of the West Coast a5 follows:
Overture 1
From .the Presbytery of the West Coast as follows:
March 9, 1966
To the Thirty-third Assembly
Fathers and Brethren :
The Presbytery of the West Coast respectfully overtures tshe Thirty-third General
Assembly meeting in Oostburg, Wisconsin, April 1966, that because of the exceptional
qualifications of Mr, Wallace Bell for the gospel ministry the language requirement in
Hebrew be waived.
Cordially yours,
Thomas S. Champness, Jr.
Stated Clerk
Overtures 2 and 3
From the Presbytery of Philadelphia as follows:
April 16, 1966
To the Thirty-third General Assembly
Fathers and Brethren :
At its regular meeting on March 19, 1966, the Presbytery of Philadelphia adopted
the following overtures to be proposed to the Thirty-third General Assembly of the Ortho-
dox Presbyterian Church:
THIRTY-THGIERNDE RAALS SEMBLY 9
1. Whereas the Form of Government states that it is the province of the General
Assembly to superintend “the concerns of the whole church” (XI:5), and
Whereas a very important concern of the whole church is the training of young
men for its ministry,
’
Therefore, the Presbytery of Philadelphia respectfully overtures the Thirty-third
General Assembly to erect a standing Committee on Theological Education.
The function of the committee shall be to aid and advise the presbyteries with re-
gard to ministerial training for those preparing for or enoaoed in the ministry of
the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In the discharge of the Function it shall:
1. Communicate with such seminaries as it may deem proper, or as requested by
the General Assembly or any presbytery, with regard to the suitability of the
training given by such seminaries for service in the ministry of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church, and
2. Report its findings annually to the General Assembly, together with such ad-
vice as it may deem proper for the continuing improvement of ministerial
training for service in the church.
lThe committee shall be composed of nine members, at least five of whom shall be
ministers, and none of whom shall be officially connected with a theological in-
stitution; there shall be three members in cach of three classes, one of which shall
be elected each year.
2. The Presbytery of Philadelphia respectfully overtures the Thirty-third General
Assembly that whereas there exists no policy whereby churches without pastors may
be given the names of ministers and candidates who are seeking pastorates, and
whereas there is a need for pastors in such churches and in home missions work,
the Assembly elect a committee consisting of five members to report to the Thirty-
fourth General Assembly on a method of advising churches without pastors re-
specting candidates for the pastorate.
Respectfully yours,
Laurence N. Vail, Clerk
Overture 4
From the Presbytery of Wisconsin as follows:
April 2, 1966
To the Thirty-third General Assembly
Fathers and Brethren :
At the Adjourned Stated Spring Meeting of the Presbytery of Wisconsin held on
March 18, 1966 the following overture to the Thirty-third General Assembly was adopted:
The Presbytery of Wisconsin respectfully overtures the Thirty-third General Assembly
to begin proceedings toward ecclesiastical union with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in
North America, Evangelical Synod.
By the Stated Clerk,
William A. Shell
COMMUNICATIONS
The following communications were presented:
Commacnicath 1
From the Deputies of De Gereformeerde Kerkcn in NederlAnd for Ecumenicity
as follows:
I
10 THIRTY-THGIRENDE RALA SSEMBLY
December 15, 1965
I Tu the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Dcar Brcthren,
By order of the General Synod of the “Gereformeede Kerken in Nederland” you will
receive a number of copies of the report and conclusions concerning Ecumenicity.
The translation of these documents into English has taken much time, since our
translator was obliged to give up her work. It appears that translating church documents
is not an easy matter. Besides printing took a long time, so that we would kindly request
you to excuse us for this long delay. Owing to a misunderstanding the dispatch, in its
turn, has not been executed in due time.
As you will see in the resolutions, our report and conclusions are offered to your
Synod for kind attention. Deputies of the General Synod will be glad to receive your
possible reactions to the address of the undersigned.
With brotherly regards,
for the Deputies for Ecumenicity,
P. G. Kunst, Chairman
Coinmwwnication 2
Two letters from Mt. Charles S. Apple of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church of
Ualtimorc, Md. protesting certain actions of die Committee on Home Missions and
Church Extension relative to the First Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Md.
Cornnzunication 3
From the Free Church of ScatIand as follows:
February 17, 1966
The Stated Clerk,
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Dear Sir,
The Assembly Arrangements Committee of the Free Church of Scotland instructed
me to convey Christian greetings to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the United States.
We pray that your work and witness for Christ may abundantly prosper.
I have been asked to mention that the General Assembly of the Free Ohurch of Scot-
land meets in Edinburgh from May 24-27. Should it so happen that any Minister of your
Church is to be in Scotland at that time we will be happy to welcome him if he is
commissioned as a delegate to our Assembly.
Otherwise we shall be glad to have from you a letter of greeting which may be >ead
to our General Assembly.
With Christian regards.
Yours fraternally,
W. J. Cameron
Principal Clerk of Assembly
Communication 4
From the General Sccretary of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod as follows:
February 28, 1966
To the Ortliodox Presbyterian Church:
The Treasurer of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod, Mr. Lester Ippel, has informed
mc that he received from you the assessed amount your church agreed to pay to the annual
espenditures (1965) of the RES. I wish to express my appreciation for your payment of
this money.
At the present time I would send you a gentle reminder that the Treasurer would
also like to receive, at your convenience, the assessed amount for 1966. Your church is
assessed for $550, or 5% of the budget.
THIRTY-THGIERNDE RAALS SEMBLY 11
I would also bring to your attention that the Interim Committee decided that the
employment of the General Secretary should become full time as of January 1, 1967 and
asked the member churches to increase their annual contribution accordingly. The total
budget for 1967, therefore, will be $17,000 of which your church will be asked to pay
$850.
There are many signs that the RES is becoming a ready instrument in the Lord's
hands to attain its goal. Under his guidance it can become a greater blessing still as the
work expands.
Sincerely,
Paul G. Schrotenboer
Communication 5
From the General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches as follows:
March 19, 1966
To the General Assembly of the
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Esteemed Brethren :
The 1965 General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches instructed me to sub-
mit to your meeting the following comniunication :
The General Synod decided:
A. to appoint Deputies to take up contact with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
B. to kindly request the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church also
to appoint Deputies to meet with ours.
Synod took this decision after studying a Report concerning the Orthodox Presbyterian
Church submitted to her by the Regional Synod of Ontario. On the basis of this Report
Synod considered that
A. It is our calling to initiate an investigation concerning fihe Orthodox Presbyterian
Church since the Orthodox Presbyterian Church: a. as a Presbyterian church originated
in the Calvinistic Reformation; b. has confessional standards and a church government
of a distinct Calvinistic nature; c. in this century vigorously has opposed the influence of
Liberalism in the Presbyterian Church of America; since geographical proximity an?
language allow maintaining of correspondence with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
B. It is also necessary to initiate an investigation concerning the Orthodox Presbp-
rerian Church, 1, since the Report indicated that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and
our churches differ in confession and church government; 2. since the Orthdox Presbyterian
Church and our churches differ with rcspect to correspondence with other denominations.
In view of the above Synod instructed our Deputies as follows:
1. To advise the Orthodox Presbyterian Church via her Deputies conccrning our con-
fession and church government, and to enquire whether the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
can accept the Canadian Reformed Glurches on the basis of their confession and church .
government as true churches of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
2. To discuss with said Deputies the distinctions in confession and church government
existing between the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and our Churches, and to exanline
these divergences in the light of the Word of God;
3. To indicate to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church via her Deputies our concept of
church correspondence, and to familiarize themselves with the viewpoint of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church in this matter;
4. To discuss the correspondence with other denominations presently maintained by
the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and our Churches;