Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 11:58:16 +0000 From: Darrell Todd Maurina Organization: Christian Renewal/United Reformed News Service Subject: NR 99067: Protestant Reformed Synod Contact with Orthodox Presbyterian Church Leads to More Questions than Answers NR #1999-067: Protestant Reformed Synod Contact with Orthodox Presbyterian Church Leads to More Questions than Answers The United Reformed Churches aren't the only denomination meeting with the Protestant Reformed Committee for Contact with Other Churches. Since both denominations held their 1999 denominational meetings in West Michigan, the Protestant Reformed committee accepted an offer by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church's Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations to meet in Grand Rapids on June 1, immediately before the OPC General Assembly. As requested by the OPC, the Protestant Reformed explained the 1998 decision of the Protestant Reformed synod to stop sending observers to the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. The OPC asked the Protestant Reformed to reconsider that decision and to specify to NAPARC the difficulties that the Protestant Reformed have with member churches that it views as obstacles to NAPARC membership. The Protestant Reformed committee reported that "our initial face-to-face meeting was productive and the discussion we had indicated other items that it would be profitable to discuss further," and therefore asked synod to "authorize the Contact Committee to continue to discuss with the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations of the OPC the issues that separate us." That recommendation led to major questions at the Protestant Reformed synod. While the advisory committee recommended approving the Contact Committee's conference with the OPC, the recommendation for further OPC discussion was sent back to the advisory committee to produce "recommendations on specific matters for discussion." NR #1999-067: For Immediate Release: Protestant Reformed Synod Contact with Orthodox Presbyterian Church Leads to More Questions than Answers by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service HOLLAND, MICH. (June 9, 1999) URNS - The United Reformed Churches aren't the only denomination meeting with the Protestant Reformed Committee for Contact with Other Churches. Since both denominations held their 1999 denominational meetings in West Michigan, the Protestant Reformed committee accepted an offer by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church's Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations to meet in Grand Rapids on June 1, immediately before the OPC General Assembly. As requested by the OPC, the Protestant Reformed explained the 1998 decision of the Protestant Reformed synod to stop sending observers to the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. The OPC asked the Protestant Reformed to reconsider that decision and to specify to NAPARC the difficulties that the Protestant Reformed have with member churches that it views as obstacles to NAPARC membership. Synod 1998 of the Protestant Reformed Churches cited as grounds for its decision that "the important doctrinal differences between us and the member churches make membership in this organization impossible," that "we ought not to continue sending observers if we have no intention of joining," and that although previous synods had voted differently, "it is not right to send observers merely to seek contact with other Reformed churches." That 1998 decision adopted the recommendation of the PRC Contact Committee to stop sending observers, but in doing so it rejected the advice of its advisory committee and two previous synods. Synod 1994 sent observers because "it gives us an opportunity to keep in touch with the most conservative churches in North America" and "it gives us an opportunity to speak privately to delegates from some of these churches and perhaps cultivate future contacts;" Synod 1997 did so because "our presence at NAPARC continued to give us opportunity to make contacts with other Presbyterian and Reformed churches and to learn firsthand of what is happening in these denominations." The 1998 advisory committee also noted that "in light of the fact that NAPARC has taken a stand to expel member churches which do not uphold the teachings of Scripture and the confessions, it would be unwise at this time to discontinue sending observers." According to the Protestant Reformed interchurch relations committee report, "the men from the OPC expressed deep regret over the decision of the PRC to cease sending observers and appreciation for our presence at past meetings of NAPARC." As previously agreed, the OPC's interchurch relations committee explained "their view of the official status of the doctrine of the well-meant offer of the gospel" - a crucial issue for the Protestant Reformed Churches, which argue that the doctrine of the well-meant free offer of the gospel undercuts Calvinism by postulating that God desires to save all people. The 1948 OPC General Assembly sent two reports to its presbyteries and churches "for earnest study": the majority report advocated the doctrine of the free offer of the gospel but the minority took issue with that report. "The committee from the OPC expressed their conviction that the doctrine of the free offer of the gospel is not binding doctrine in the OPC," wrote the Protestant Reformed interchurch relations committee. "They did grant that open opposition to the doctrine of the free offer, without pursuing complaint through the church courts, would undoubtedly be viewed as schismatic." The Protestant Reformed committee reported that "our initial face-to-face meeting was productive and the discussion we had indicated other items that it would be profitable to discuss further," and therefore asked synod to "authorize the Contact Committee to continue to discuss with the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations of the OPC the issues that separate us." That recommendation led to major questions at the Protestant Reformed synod. While the advisory committee recommended approving the Contact Committee's conference with the OPC, the recommendation for further OPC discussion was sent back to the advisory committee to produce "recommendations on specific matters for discussion." "Speaking to the motion to hold another conference with these men, I wonder if our churches told them what we think about the well-meant offer," said Prof. David Engelsma, rector of the Protestant Reformed Seminary. "This position of the OPC resulted in the expulsion of men like Dr. Gordon Clark and even now is resulting in the persecution of men of God within the OPC. I wonder if our committee told the OPC of our views of the well-meant free offer, that it is damnable heresy." "We wanted them to understand that this is a significant and crucially important matter that separated us," said synod president Rev. Ron Cammenga, who also serves as secretary of the Contact Committee. "We wanted to make clear that our position on the well-meant free offer is binding on us whatever its status may be in the OPC. It was our position that eventually we could only have significant relations with those churches with which we are substantially agreed." Cammenga emphasized the preliminary nature of the OPC contact, especially in comparison to the URC conference which had been prepared long in advance with a detailed agenda. "This was only an afternoon conference, very preliminary, and not at all like the discussion we had with the United Reformed Churches where we loaded them down in advance with documents," said Cammenga. "This was only a first step." Elder Don Lotterman of Grace PRC in Standale, Mich., said he had serious problems with the OPC. "What is to be our position in contact with the OPC with obvious Arminianism within its ranks, and persecution of men who are faithful to the gospel?" asked Lotterman. "I speak frankly, I am not much interested in contact with the OPC, and not only that, I don't see much happening with this. There are vast differences between us on matters of church government, on matters of worship, and not the least, matters of discipline." Rev. Wayne Bekkering of Pella PRC moved to recommit the matter of OPC contact to the advisory committee, but didn't object in principle to that contact. "I would like to see us, if at all possible, meet together with them, discuss the issues, and see what their response is," said Bekkering. "I was amazed at the response of the URC and their willingness to discuss these issues. Do we have that with the OPC? We don't know unless we talk." Cross-References to Related Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Rev. Wayne Bekkering, Pastor, Pella Protestant Reformed Church 1314 Main St., Pella, IA 50219 H/O: (515) 628-4747 * E-mail: bekering@kdsi.net Rev. Ron Cammenga, Secretary, Protestant Reformed Committee for Contact with Other Churches 4895 Ivanrest Ave., Grandville, MI 49418 O: (616) 532-6876 * H: (616) 532-4846 * E-mail: 74631.2535@compuserve.com Prof. David Engelsma, Rector, Protestant Reformed Seminary 4949 Ivanrest SW, Grandville, MI 49418 O: (616) 531-1490 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/reformed/archive99: nr99-067.txt .