Studies & Actions
of the General Assembly of
The Presbyterian Church in America
JOINT STATEMENT ON JOINING & RECEIVING
Report of the Ad Interim Committee to Discuss
Areas of Agreement,
Differences and Difficulties with
The
Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
The Reformed Presbyterian Church,
Evangelical Synod
and The
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
[9th General Assembly (1981), Appendix M, page 304.]
The Ad Interim Committee to Discuss ... has endeavored to fulfill a mandate
given it by the Eight General Assembly in order to inform the members
and friends of the Presbyterian Church in America and to make recommendations
concerning the "joining and receiving" of the denominations that have
responded to the invitation of the Eight General Assembly to effect one
church.
With gladness and gratitude to God we report that two sister denominations,
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, by action of the
Synod, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, by action of its Committee
on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations, have answered our invitation,
by expressing a sincere desire to pursue the possibility of a "joining
and receiving" which will bring the three denominations into organizational
unity under the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America. Further,
we have discovered that these churches are fully committed to the Westminster
Standards and Presbyterian polity. Though the representatives of each
of the three denominations readily confess to various weaknesses and failures
in their denominations, this Committee believes that we are truly one
in our commitment to obey Jesus Christ, the King and Head of His Church,
who governs us by His Word and Spirit.
Aware that there are differences among us in the practical application
of the principles of Presbyterianism, we have given careful attention
to these and are pleased to report that no difference in practice or emphasis
seems to present an insurmountable obstacle in the way of effecting one
church. Obviously, however, these differences will require mutual patience
and forbearance as we adjust to each other and learn to profit from the
interchange of the insights and experience brought to the union by the
three bodies. (In one section of this report we attempt to illustrate
how some of these differences may be overcome by suggesting possible procedures
our presbyteries and committees might follow in the movement of the denominations
into the Presbyterian Church in America.)
The Committee entered into extensive discussions with the Committee on
Fraternal Relations of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod,
and the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church. The exchanges were made with the utmost honesty,
candor, and openness in an atmosphere of mutual respect, Christian love,
and sincerity.
At the final meeting of the Ad Interim Committee of the Presbyterian Church
in America, the Committee on Fraternal Relations of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Evangelical Synod, and the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch
Relations of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the following joint statement
was approved.
JOINT STATEMENT |
We have sought to fulfill the mandates given us
by our respective major assemblies in order to make recommendation
concerning the reception and joining of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Evangelical Synod and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
in and with the Presbyterian Church in America.
With joy and thankfulness to the Lord of the Church we recognize
that our churches have a common and sincere commitment to the
inerrant Word of God and to the Westminster Standards as faithfully
expressing the system of truth taught in Holy Scripture. Further,
we recognize that our churches are Presbyterian in their order
and practice. But above all, we find clear evidence that each
of our churches desires to be faithful to our primary standard,
the Bible, and to our secondary standards as true to the Bible.
We acknowledge our weaknesses and failures, but we are one in
our commitment to obey the Lord Jesus Christ in His rule over
us through His Word and Spirit.
We recognize, however, that due in part to differences of historical
development, there are differences among us as to how our common
Presbyterian convictions are applied in practice. We have given
careful attention to those that have been referred to us, and
have provided a comparison of similarities and differences that
we have discussed. No doubt there are variations of practice that
have little or no theological significance, but would require
mutual forbearance and understanding during a period of adjustment
in the augmented church. It is also true that there are differences
of emphasis among our churches that are to be found within each
of them, as well as between them; some of these have their roots
deep in the history of Presbyterianism.
It is apparent to us that, just as within our churches there has
been a deep and continuing desire to be constantly reforming ourselves
in conformity to the Word of God, so too in the augmented Presbyterian
Church in America this commitment would be not only continued,
but heightened by the reception of the other churches. These churches
whose ministry would be joined with that of the Presbyterian Church
in America would be called upon to follow the faith and order
of the church that they enter; the Presbyterian Church in America,
on the other hand, would further strengthen its life and witness
by welcoming the insights and experience represented by the entering
churches and seeking to profit from differences in striving for
a more perfect Biblical faith and practice.
In receiving these denominations, the Presbyterian Church in
America recognizes the history and the respective denominations
as part of her total history and receives their historical documents
as valuable and significant material which will be used in the
perfecting of the Church.
We, therefore, as committees of our churches, recognize that unity
of faith and practice which our churches have through the grace
of God. This unity must draw us together as the body of Christ
and enable us to remove the barriers that would prevent us from
full communion of life and love in an undivided church. We also
recognize our need for the grace of the Spirit and the love of
Christ as we seek to reconcile differences and remove practical
barriers. We, therefore, do severally and jointly:
1. Commend to our respective churches that we become one in organization
in accordance with the invitation of the Presbyterian Church in
America;
2. Urge upon our respective churches the necessity of resolving
in the thus-augmented church the differences among us, and others
that may arise, in kindness and forthrightness begotten of love,
with the determination that by the grace of the Spirit of God
through the teaching of His Word we shall "all come in the unity
of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto ... the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 'Eph. 4:13)
And further, we, as committees of our respective churches, do
severally and jointly agree that the above committees of the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical
Synod shall recommend to their respective major assemblies in
1981 that the necessary constitutional actions be taken to begin
the process required to join the Presbyterian Church in America
in accordance with its invitation; that the above-named committee
of the Presbyterian Church in America will, if the invitation
is accepted by either or both of the other churches, recommend
to the General Assembly that the acceptance(s) be approved, that
the procedures stated elsewhere be followed for the incorporation
of the several agencies of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod into the Presbyterian
Church in America; that out of respect for these churches' integrity
the approval of their acceptance of the invitation shall be understood
to honor such commitments as the several churches may have, and
to continue the ministries presently conducted by the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod and the Orthodox Presbyterian
Church, subject to the review of the permanent committees and
the approval of subsequent General Assemblies, and that the incorporation
of agencies shall endeavor to provide for just treatment of those
who may not be able, for reasons of conscience, to participate
in the acceptance of the invitation.
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