Minutes (most recent)
Minutes
Thirty Sixth Meeting
North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council
Free Reformed Church of Pompton Plains, NJ
November 16th, 2010, 1:30 P.M. – November 17th, 2010, 12:00 Noon
I. Call to Order
The Chairman, Rev. Lawrence J. Bilkes, called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM. Rev. Bilkes led in the singing of Psalter selection #266, then read James 1:1-27 meditating on verse 1 “ James a servant of God . . . “, and led in prayer.
The Chairman announced the break times as follows: Tuesday 3:15 PM to 3:30 PM. Wednesday 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM. The Council will adjourn at 5:00 PM Tuesday for dinner and a presentation at the Best Western Hotel at 6:00 PM and will convene at 8:30 AM Wednesday and adjourn at 12:00 Noon.
The Secretary circulated the delegate, observer and stated clerk listings and asked for updates to be given and corrections to be made.
II. Roll Call
The Secretary called the roll of the member churches. The delegates from each church were introduced.
A. Member Churches:
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC): Rev. Kyle Sims; Rev. Robert Erskine Patrick III; Mr. Henry Foster.
Canadian Reformed Churches (CANRC): Rev. Eric Kampen; Rev. Peter Holtvluwer; Dr. Riemer Faber; Mr. Jacob Kuik.
Eglise Reformee du Quebec (ERQ): Rev. Bernard Westerveld; Mr. Pierre Legault.
Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA): Rev. Lawrence J. Bilkes; Rev. Cornelis Pronk; Dr. Lawrence W. Bilkes.
Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC): Rev. Bartel Elshout; Rev. Johnny Serafini.
Korean American Presbyterian Church (KAPC): Dr. Steve Park; Rev. Ig-Yung Choi.
Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC): Rev. Tony Curto; Dr. George Knight III; Mr. Mark T. Bube; Rev. Jack Peterson.
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): Dr. L. Roy Taylor; Dr. Craig Higgins.
Presbyterian Reformed Church (PRC): Rev. Tim Worrell; Rev. Michael Ives.
Reformed Church in the United States RCUS): Rev. Ron Potter; Rev. Maynard Koerner; Rev. Jonathan Merica; Mr. John Heerema.
Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA): Rev. Bruce Martin; Rev. David Reese; Rev. Matt Kingswood; Rev. Ian Wise.
United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA): Rev. John Bouwers; Rev. Kevin Hossink; Rev. Jeremy Veldman; Rev. Casey Freswick.
B. Invited Observers:
The Secretary called the roll of invited observers.
Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin): (No observer present)
Bible Presbyterian Church: (No observer present)
Protestant Reformed Church: Rev. Garry Eriks; Rev. Ken Koole
C. Invited Guests: (None)
D. Reception of New Churches. (None)
The Stated Clerk of the URCNA advised that at URCNA Synod London 2010 the URCNA took action to ratify the decision of NAPARC to welcome both the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Presbyterian Reformed Church into the membership of NAPARC (Acts of Synod, Article 74).
III. Election of Officers
The Interim Committee recommended the following slate of officers:
Chairman: Rev. Bartel Elshout
Vice Chairman: Rev. John Bouwers.
Secretary: Rev. Ron Potter.
Treasurer: Rev. Maynard Koerner.
This recommendation was seconded. Carried.
IV. Reports from Member Churches
Recommendation # 1: from the Interim Committee report: That the reports of the FRCNA and the KAPC be approved for presentation to the plenary session (cf. Bylaws III.2.c), Seconded. Carried.
Church Reporter Who Prayed
ARPC Rev. Robert Patrick III Rev. Eric Kampen (CanRC)
CanRC Rev. Peter Holtvluwer Rev. Bernard Westerveld (ERQ)
ERQ Rev. Bernard Westerveld Rev. Lawrence W. Bilkes (FRCNA)
FRCNA Rev. Cornelis (Neil) Pronk Rev. Johnny Serafini (HRC)
HRC Rev. Johnny Serafini Rev. Ig-Yung Choi (KAPC)
KAPC Rev. Ig-Yung Choi Rev. Jack Peterson (OPC)
OPC Mr. Mark Bube Rev. Craig Higgins (PCA)
PCA Dr. L. Roy Taylor Rev. Michael Ives (PRC)
The Chair granted the Rev. Neil Pronk permission to address the Council regarding the availability of literature from the FRCNA.
Order of the Day was called at: 3:25 PM
The Chair called the Council to order at 3:40 PM
PRC Rev. Michael Ives Rev. Maynard Koerner (RCUS)
RCUS Rev. Jonathan Merica Rev. Matt Kingswood (RPCNA)
RPCNA Rev. Bruce Martin Rev. Casey Freswick (URCNA)
URCNA Rev. John Bouwers Rev. Robert Patrick III (ARPC)
V. Reports from Observer Churches.
Protestant Reformed Church: Rev. Ken Koole introduced the Protestant RC to the Council.
Moved that the report of the Protestant Reformed Church be published in the NAPARC Minutes. Seconded. Carried.
Moved that the Tuesday evening dinner expenses for the Protestant Reformed Church be paid by the Council, Seconded. Carried.
Rev. Bouwers, at the call of the chair, led in prayer for the Protestant Reformed Church.
VI. Adoption of Docket
Recommendation #5: from the Interim Committee. That the docket for the plenary session of NAPARC be approved as amended (cf. recommendation #2). Seconded. Carried.
VII. Election of Additional Members to the Interim Committee (see By-laws VI)
The following were elected by their delegations to the Interim Committee: Rev. Ian Kyle Sims (ARPC); Rev. Peter Holtvluwer (CanRC); Rev. Bernard Westerveld (ERQ); Rev. Lawrence J. Bilkes (FRCNA); Rev. Bartel Elshout (HRC); Dr. Steve Park (KAPC); Mr. Mark Bube (OPC); Dr. L. Roy Taylor (PCA); Rev. Michael Ives (PRC); Rev. Maynard Koerner (RCUS); Rev. Ian Wise (RPCNA); Rev. John Bouwers (URCNA);
VIII. Approval of Minutes
The 2009 Minutes of the plenary session of NAPARC were declared approved.
IX. Communications
A. NAPARC 2010 Delegate and Observer information was received from all churches except the KAPC.
B. Church Reports were received on time from all churches except the FRCNA and the KAPC.
C. E-mail correspondence received from Mr. Michael Braun (responded to by Secretary Sept 8, 2010 with the counsel of the Interim Committee)
D. E-mail correspondence was received from the Clerk of the URCNA advising that their Synod ratified the decision of NAPARC to receive the CanRC and the PRC into membership (Acts of Synod Article 74).
Recommendation #2: from the interim committee report. That item IX.E re: communication from the KPCA (Kosin) be added to the plenary session agenda. Seconded. Carried.
E. E-mail correspondence was received October 28, 2010 from Rev. Jim Alderman of the Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin) advising that no observer will be present this year and that the KPCA will apply for NAPARC membership in 2011.
Order of the Day was called by the Chair at 5:00 PM
The Chair led the Council in the singing of Psalter #200
Rev. Tim Worrell led the Council in closing prayer.
The Council met for dinner at the Best Western Regency Hotel in Pompton Plains NJ at 6:00 PM. Rev. Cornelis Pronk addressed the Council at 8:00 PM with a lecture entitled: “The Glory Has Departed.”
The Chairman called the Council to order at 8:35 AM on Wednesday November 17th, 2010.
The Chairman, Rev. Elshout led that Council in singing Psalter # 238, in devotions from Matthew 16:13-19, John 17:14-26, and in prayer.
The Chairman gave a few “housekeeping” announcements.
X. Treasurer’s Report/Auditors Report
The Treasurer, Rev. Maynard Koerner, read his report.
Moved that the Treasurer’s report be adopted. Seconded. Carried.
The Rev. Lawrence J. Bilkes presented the Auditors Report. Moved to adopt the Auditors Report. Seconded. Carried.
XI. Web Site Committee Report
Mr. Mark Bube presented an electronic tour of he NAPARC Web Site and the Web Site Committee report together with it’s request for a $500 budget.
Moved that $500 be budgeted for Web Site Committee expenses. Seconded. Carried.
Moved to adopt the Web Site Committee Report. Seconded. Carried.
XII. Interim Committee Report.
The Secretary read the 2010 Interim Committee Report.
Recommendation #1 That the reports of the FRCNA and the KAPC be approved for presentation to the plenary session. Seconded. Carried. (Bylaw 3.2.c)
Recommendation #2: That item VI.E re: communication from the KPCA (Kosin) be added to the plenary session agenda. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation # 3. That invitations be sent to the Bible Presbyterian Church, the Protestant Reformed Church and the Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin) to observe NAPARC 2011.
Recommendation #4: That the following slate of officers be presented to the plenary session:
Chairman: Bart Elshout (HRC); Vice Chairman: John Bouwers; Secretary: Ron Potter; Treasurer: Maynard Koerner
Recommendation # 5: That the docket for the plenary session of NAPARC be approved as amended cf. recommendation #2). Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #6: That the invitation of the PCA to host the 2011 NAPARC meeting in Atlanta, GA, November 15-16, 2011, be received. Seconded. Carried.
Moved to adopt the Interim Committee Report. Seconded. Carried
XIII. Old Business
A. Report on approval of post 2009 NAPARC Meeting travel funds for NAPARC Committee of Review (Bylaws IV.4)
The Secretary reported that provision was not made for funding the NAPARC Committee of Review established in 2009. In consultation with the Interim Committee according to the provisions of Bylaw IV.4 these funds were approved for travel and accommodation. Take note.
B. Report on results of member churches voting re: membership in NAPARC (see IX.D.)
C. Ratification of action of 2009 Minutes XI. Recommendation #1 (Web Site Committee as an agenda item.) in accordance with By-Law VII (two-thirds vote required for Bylaw amendment).
Moved that the Web Site Committee be placed as a permanent agenda item on the docket for the docket of the plenary session of NAPARC. Seconded. Carried. (The Chair declared a unanimous vote).
XIV. Reports on Foreign and Home Missions Consultations.
Mr. Mark Bube verbally reported on the Foreign Missions Consultation held in Philadelphia in September 2009.
There was no Home Missions Consultation Report available.
XV. New Business:
A. Report of the Committee of Review.
Mr. Mark Bube presented the report of the Committee of Review together with its recommendations.
Recommendation #1: That the Rev. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey be invited to bring an address to the 37th (2011) Meeting of NAPARC on the theme of his article, A Reformed Dream. Seconded. Carried
Recommendation #2: That the projected terminus of the 37th (2011) Meeting of NAPARC be set back to 3:00 PM to allow sufficient time in the agenda for a discussion of the following two propositions: i) That we should continue to hold out before one another the desirability and need for organic union of churches that are of like faith and practice, and ii) that this remain a basic objective of NAPARC. Seconded. Carried
Recommendation #3: That the Committee of Review be continued for another year, with a budget of $3,500.Seconded. Carried
Recommendation #4: That a sixth member—from the PCA (to be selected by the PCA delegation to the 36th [2010] Meeting of NAPARC)—be added to the Committee of Review.
Moved to amend by releasing Rev. Reese from the current committee and adding a 5th member from the PCA (to be selected by the PCA delegation to the 36th [2010] meeting of NAPARC). Seconded. Carried.
Moved to adopt the Committee of Review Report. Seconded. Carried.
B. Invitations to other denominations to send observers to NAPARC 2011
Recommendation # 3: From the Interim Committee report. That invitations be sent to the Bible Presbyterian Church, the Protestant Reformed Church and the Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin) to observe NAPARC 2011. Seconded. Carried.
XVI. Arrangements for next (2010) meeting
That the invitation of the PCA to host the 2011 NAPARC meeting in Atlanta, GA, November 15-16, 2011, be received. Seconded. Carried.
A. Host: PCA
B. Place: Atlanta, GA
C. Date: November 15-16, 2011
Moved to extend the order of the day to the completion of business. Seconded. Carried.
XVII. Adjournment.
Vice Chairman Rev. John Bouwers led the Council in closing devotion from 2 Peter 1 and in prayer.
The Chairman expressed thanks to the host church for their work and labor on behalf of NAPARC.
The Chairman led the Council in the singing of the doxology.
The Council adjourned at 10:07 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Ron Potter
Secretary