Minutes (most recent)
Minutes
Thirty Eighth Meeting
North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council
Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, IN
November 13th, 2012, 1:30 PM. – November 14th, 2012, 3:00 PM
I. Call to Order:
The 38th meeting of NAPARC convened at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, IN. The Chairman, Rev. John Bouwers, called the meeting to order at 1:38 PM November 13th, 2012. Rev. Bouwers welcomed the delegates, observers and the members of various Interchurch Relations Committees who visited the meeting.. The Chairman read Psalm 87, led in devotions entitled The Glory of The Church, in the singing of #165 and in prayer.
Dr. Cornelis Venema, President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, was introduced by the Chairman, who then welcomed the delegates and observers to MARS.
II. Roll Call
The Chairman called the roll of member churches. The delegates from each church were introduced.
A. Member Churches:
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC): Rev. Rob Patrick, Rev. Jeff Kingswood, Rev. Lee Shelnutt, Rev. Tim Phillips.
Canadian Reformed Churches (CANRC): Rev. Peter Holtvlüwer, Mr. Jacob Kuik, Mr. Cornelis Poppe, Rev. Doug Vandeburgt.
Eglise Reformee du Quebec (ERQ): Rev. Bernard Westerveld, Dr. Jason Zuidema.
Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA): Rev. Jack Shoeman, Rev. Jack Koopman, Rev. Lawrence Bilkes, Rev. Carl Schouls
Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC): Rev. Mark Kelderman, Dr. Joel R. Beeke.
Korean American Presbyterian Church (KAPC): Rev. James Kim.
Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC): Mr. Mark Bube, Rev. Thomas E. Tyson, Rev. George Cottenden, Rev. John R. Hilbelink.
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): Dr. L. Roy Taylor, Rev. Craig Higgins.
Presbyterian Reformed Church (PRC): Rev. Michael Ives, Rev. Brad Freeman.
Reformed Church in the United States RCUS): Rev. Wes Brice, Rev. Maynard Koerner, Rev. Ron Potter, Rev. Michael McGee.
Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA): Rev. Bruce Martin, Mr. Drew Gordon, Rev. Matt Kingswood, Rev. Bruce Parnell.
United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA): Rev. John A. Bouwers, Rev. Bill Boekestein, Rev. Ralph Pontier, Rev. Casey Freswick.
B. Invited Observer Churches
Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin): Rev. Young J. Woo, Rev. Sung Chul Chun.
Bible Presbyterian Church: None
Protestant Reformed Churches: Rev. Garry Eriks, Mr. Dave Kregel, Rev. Ken Koole
C. Invited Guests: (None)
D. Reception of New Churches (None)
The Chairman announced the following break times: Tuesday 3:15 PM to 3:30 PM. Wednesday 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM. The Council will recess Tuesday between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. A Dinner and speech will be held at 6:00PM – 8:00 PM at Tiebel’s Family Restaurant, 1775 US 41,Schereville, IN. Wednesday the Council will convene at 8:30 AM, and recess for lunch between 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM and adjourn at 3:00 PM.
III. Election of Officers (Nominations from Interim Committee)
Interim Committee Recommendation #11: That the following slate of officers be presented to the plenary session of the Council.
Chairman: Rev. Rob Patrick
Vice Chairman: Peter Holtvlüwer
Secretary: Rev. Ron Potter
Treasurer: Rev. Maynard Koerner
Seconded. Carried.
Chairman Rob Patrick assumed the Chair and Rev. John Bouwers was thanked for his service.
IV. Reports from Member Churches
Interim Committee Recommendation #1: That the report of the KAPC be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council (Bylaws III.2.c). Seconded. Carried.
Interim Committee Recommendation #2: That the report of the PCA be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. (Bylaws III.2.c). Seconded. Carried.
A delegate from each member church presented their church report and the Chairman appointed a delegate from another church to pray for the reporting church.
Church Reporter Who Prayed
ARPC Jeff Kingswood Peter Holtvluwer
CanRC Peter Holtvluwer Ben Westerveld
ERQ Jason Zuidema Lawrence Bilkes
FRCNA Jack Shoeman Mark Kelderman
HRC Joel Beeke James Kim
Order of the day: Called by the Chair at 3:13 PM
Call to Order: The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:32 PM
KAPC James Kim Tom Tyson
OPC George Cottenden Craig Higgins
PCA Roy Taylor Brad Freeman
PRC Michael Ives Mike McGee
RCUS Maynard Matt Kingswood
RPCNA Bruce Martin Bill Boekestein
URCNA Ralph Pontier Tim Phillips
Order of the day: Called by the Chair at 5:08 PM
The body adjourned to a local restaurant for a banquet at 6:00 PM and a presentation by Rev. Daniel Hyde of the URCNA entitled: From Reformed Dream to Reformed Reality: The Problem and Possibility of Reformed Church Unity.
Call to order November 14th, 2012: The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:33 AM. Chairman Patrick read Philippians 2:1-11, led in devotions, prayed for several stated needs and concluded with the singing Psalter hymn #378. The Church’s One Foundation.
V. Reports from Observer Churches
Church Reporter Who Prayed
KPCA Young J. Woo Peter Holtvluwer
PRC’s Garry Eriks Maynard Koerner
VI. Adoption of Docket
Interim Committee Recommendation #12: That the docket for the plenary session of NAPARC be approved. Seconded. Carried.
VII. Election of additional members to the Interim Committee (Bylaws VI)
The following were elected by their delegations to serve on the 2012-2013 Interim Committee: Rev. Rob Patrick (ARPC); Rev. Peter Holtvlüwer (CanRC); Rev. Bernard Westerveld (ERQ); Rev. Jack Shoeman (FRCNA); Rev. Mark Kelderman (HRC); Dr. Steve Park (KAPC); Mr. Mark T. Bube (OPC); Dr. L. Roy Taylor (PCA); Rev. Michael Ives (PRC); Rev. Wes Brice (RCUS); Rev. Bruce Martin (RPCNA); Rev. John A. Bouwers (URCNA).
VIII. Approval of Minutes (2011)
The 2011 Minutes of the Plenary session of NAPARC were declared approved as corrected by the chairman.
IX. Communications:
The Secretary read the correspondence.
A. NAPARC 2012 Delegate and Observer information was received from all churches.
B. Church Reports for 2012 were received on time (Bylaw III.2.c) from all churches except the KAPC and the PCA.
C. Committee Reports were received on time (Bylaw III.2.c) from all Committees except the Committee of Review.
Interim Committee Recommendation #3 That the report of the COR be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
D. Correspondence received from the Presbyterian and Reformed Church October 2nd, 2012 responding to the CanRC inquiry re: joint Bible translation (2011 Minutes IX.E, p. 23).
Interim Committee Recommendation #4: That the correspondence from the Presbyterian Reformed Church re: joint Bible translation be received as information for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
The correspondence was read by the Secretary.
Correspondence received from Mark Bube October 3rd, 2012, re: Foreign Missions Consultation Report. (see XIV below)
X. Treasurer’s Report/Auditors Report.
The Treasurer, Rev. Maynard Koerner, read his report.
Moved that the Treasurer’s report be received. Seconded. Carried.
The Auditors report was presented by John Bouwers. It was moved and seconded to adopt the Auditors Report. Carried.
Interim Committee Recommendation #5: That the cost of the delegate’s lunch be paid out of the Treasury. Seconded. Carried.
XI. Web Site Committee Report
Mr. Mark Bube presented the Web Site Committee Report. It was moved and seconded to adopt the report. Carried.
Interim Committee Recommendation # 6: That the plenary session elect a 4th member to serve on the Web Site Committee and that Rev. Kyle Sims be thanked for his several years of service. Seconded. Carried.
Rev. Lee Shellnut (ARPC) was nominated. Moved to close nominations and elect by acclamation. Seconded. Carried. Rev. Shellnut was elected by acclamation.
Interim Committee Recommendation #7: That the budget request of $200 for the Web Site Committee be approved for presentation to the plenary session. Seconded. Carried.
XII. Interim Committee Report.
The Secretary read the Interim Committee report as follows:
Recommendation #1: That the report of the KAPC be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #2: That the report of the PCA be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried
Recommendation #3 That the report of the COR be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #4: That the correspondence from the Presbyterian Reformed Church re: joint Bible translation be received as information for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #5: That the cost of the delegate’s lunch be paid out of the Treasury. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation # 6: That the plenary session elect a 4th member to serve on the Web Site Committee and that Rev. Kyle Sims be thanked for his several years of service. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #7: That the budget request of $200 for the Web Site Committee be approved for presentation to the plenary session. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #8: That correspondence just received from the KPCA relative to certification of delegates be presented to the plenary session as part of the document package from the KPCA. Approved.
Recommendation #9: That the application for membership in NAPARC by the KPCA be placed on the plenary session docket. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation # 10: That the following churches be invited to observe NAPARC 2013: Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin); Protestant Reformed Churches; Bible Presbyterian Church. Seconded. Approved.
Recommendation #11: That the following slate of officers be presented to the plenary session of the Council. Chairman: Rob Patrick; Vice Chairman: Peter Holtvluwer; Secretary Ron Potter; Treasurer Maynard Koerner. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #13: That the arrangements for NAPARC 2013 be approved. Seconded. Carried.
Recommendation #14: That the terminus for the 2013 meeting of NAPARC be set at 3:00 PM on November 20th, 2013. Seconded. Carried.
It was moved to receive the report of the Interim Committee. Seconded. Carried.
XIII. Old Business
A. Membership application of Korean Presbyterian Church in America (2011 Minutes p. 24, IX.F.Rec.#5)
Interim Committee Recommendation #8: That correspondence just received from the KPCA relative to certification of delegates be presented to the plenary session as part of the document package from the KPCA. Seconded. Carried.
Interim Committee Recommendation #9: That the application for membership in NAPARC by the KPCA be placed on the plenary session docket. Seconded. Carried.
Order of the day: Called by the Chairman at 10:15 AM.
Call to order: By the Chairman at 10:38 AM.
Moved that the KPCA application for membership in NAPARC be received and submitted to the churches for approval. Seconded.
Moved to amend by substituting “commended” for “submitted.” Seconded. Defeated.
Move to amend by substituting “proposed” for “submitted.” Seconded. Carried.
Motion as amended now reads: Moved that the KPAC application for membership in NAPARC be received and proposed to the churches for approval.
By common consent voting is to be by delegation. Three minutes were given for delegations to caucus.
Voting results: ARPC: Yes; CanRC: Yes; ERQ: Yes; FRCNA: Yes; HRC: Yes; KAPC: Yes; OPC: Yes; PCA: Yes; PRC: Yes; RCUS: Yes; RPCNA: Yes; URCNA: Yes.
Motion Carried unanimously.
XIV. Reports on Foreign and Home Missions Consultations.
Mr. Mark Bube reported on the Foreign Missions consultation.
Rev. Bernard Westerveld reported on the Home Missions Consultation.
XV. New Business
Moved that the Web Site Committee be tasked to create and maintain a map featuring all NAPARC Churches with links to the individual web sites of the congregations where possible. Seconded.
Moved to refer this matter to the Web Site Committee to report back at NAPARC 2013. Seconded. Carried.
A. Report of the Committee of Review.
Interim Committee Recommendation #3 That the report of the COR be approved for presentation to the plenary session of the Council. Seconded. Carried.
Mr. Mark Bube presented the report of the Committee of Review summarizing its contents and setting forth its recommendations.
COR Recommendation #1: That the Council set apart up to an hour during the 38th (2012) Meeting for Delegates to ask questions of the Committee regarding its report and recommendations. Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #2: That the Council send the Committee’s report and recommendations to the interchurch relations committees of the Member Churches, asking those committees to communicate any suggested additional amendments (including by deletion) to those proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws to the Committee not later than April 1, 2013; that the Committee be requested to consider such additional amendments for possible incorporation into the final form of both documents; and that the Committee be requested to send the final form of the proposed amendments to the Constitution and the Bylaws to the interchurch relations committees of the Member Churches not later than May 1, 2013.Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #3: That the Council place on the Docket for the 39th (2013) Meeting the Committee’s proposed amendments (in their final form, see RECOMMENDATION 2) to the Constitution for consideration whether the Council should propose such amendments to the major assemblies of the Member Churches for adoption. Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #4: That the Council place on the Docket for the 39th (2013) Meeting the Committee’s proposed amendments (in their final form, see RECOMMENDATION 2) to the Bylaws for adoption by the Council. Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #5: That the Council propose to the 39th (2013) Meeting the following procedure for the consideration of the proposed amendments to the Constitution and the Bylaws: that the proposed amendments to the Constitution and the proposed amendments to the Bylaws each be considered as a whole; that the question be divided where any Member Church delegation would like to propose either a further amendment to, or the deletion of, a particular amendment in the final form; that, if there is more than one suggested further amendment or deletion, such be taken up seriatim; and that, following the consideration of all such further amendments and/or deletions, each document (as further amended) be considered as a whole for a second time. Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #6: That the Committee be requested to develop and/or assemble the various Informational Documents contemplated in the proposed Bylaws, VIII, including the drafting of appropriate committee mandates, etc.; to distribute them to the interchurch relations committees of the Member Churches not later than May 1, 2013; and to present the collection of Informational Documents to the 39th (2013) Meeting for approval. Seconded. Carried.
COR Recommendation #7:That the Committee be continued for an additional year to complete the business assigned to it (above), with a budget of $200.Seconded. Carried.
By common consent the meeting was extended to the completion of business.
B. Invitations to other denominations to send observers to NAPARC 2012
Interim Committee Recommendation # 10: That the following churches be invited to observe NAPARC 2013: Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin); Protestant Reformed Churches; Bible Presbyterian Church. Seconded. Carried.
The Council thanks the Lord for His servant Mark Bube and for His extensive labors on behalf of NAPARC, church co-operation and church unity.
XVI. Arrangements for next (2013) meeting
A. Host: Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (2011 Minutes,p.27; XVI. Rec. #12)
B. Place: Bonclarken Assembly Grounds, East Flat Rock, NC
C. Date: November 19-20, 2013
Interim Committee Recommendation #13: That the arrangements for NAPARC 2013 be approved. Seconded. Carried.
Interim Committee Recommendation #14: That the terminus for the 2013 meeting of NAPARC be set at 3:00 PM on November 20th, 2013. Seconded. Carried.
XVII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned on motion at 12:10 PM. Rev. Peter Holtvlüwer led in devotions from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 and prayed.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Ron Potter