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Name _

"Life After Life"-Cont'dYour closing comments ending with

the Catechism (in the May issue of theGuardian) on the subject of "Life AfterLife," were just great, and "hit the nailon the head." I couldn't agree more.

It appears to me that my critics aremissing the point. I did not intend totalk about the joys or sorrows of eternallife - just the transition of getting there.Of course, every Christ-eonfessing Chris­tian will experience unlimited joy andhappiness with the Lord, but not I be­lieve until either the soul and body areseparated or judgment day itself hasarrived.

I am convinced that death is a penaltyfor sin, and that Christ has borne the fullpenalty for sin. But nowhere in Scrip­ture can I find that Christians or anyoneelse will be free from the pangs of death.

Why did God make man? Apparentlyfor fellowshi p and enjoyment, for Godvisited with Adam in the cool of the day(Genesis 3:8). Our infinite God wouldnot make man in his own image for atemporary situation. He ruade man, bodyand soul, to live forever in his image.

But it was Satan and sin that causedGod to pronounce the death penalty, sothere is a rupture of what God intended.There appears to be a reluctance of thesoul to leave the body, and we hear muchabout the will to live. The body does notwant to die; it was created to live.

My father suffered a stroke about amonth ago; he is nearly 95 years old. Inthis time, I have prayed with him manytimes. His mind has been affected, but hehas said several times. "The Lord is com­ing, the Lord is coming"; and, "Open thegate and let me in." He is ready to die.He has been dying for over a month, andit is agony. Why?

Many, many Christians have a veryhard death. Their joy is not in death butin the glorious presence of their Lordafterward.

Clarence RoskampCedar Rapids, Iowa

Note: Mr. Roskamp commented, in anearlier issue of the Guardian, on the cur-

rent best-seller, Life After Life, and hisown near-death experience.

"Millennial Question"I was going to let my subscription

lapse. But now that you have published"The Millennial Question" by Donald J.Duff (in the June issue) , I have changedmy mind. I want to see what kind of aresponse you receive to this article.

I am sure you will receive letters fromOrthodox Presbyterian ministers of thepremillennial persuasion. But I wouldjust like to add a comment myself. Itseems to me that Mr. Duff is confusingpremillennialism with Dispensationalism.Mr. Duff says, "Most premillennialistshave a different set of rules for interpre­tation to start with." He never states justwhat these different rules are, and I thinkhis accusation is unfounded unless he isreferring to Dispensationalists,

It is possible to be premil, amil, orpostmil, and still be thoroughly Re­formed. We ought to bear in mind thatgreat Bible students and theologians haveheld to all three of these views downthrough the centuries, and it is unlikelythat this question will ever be decided oneway or the other beyond a shadow ofdoubt.

Marshall C. St. John, pastorBible Presbyterian ChurchConcord, North Carolina

Ed. note: We're glad the article savedone subscriber! Just how much responsemay come has yet to be seen. We do havea promise of a reaction from one holdingto the postmillennial position, and wewould be glad to have one from the pre­millennial viewpoint. We tend to agreewith Pastor St. John that the question isnot likely to be settled - at least untilChrist returns to settle it for us. But wealso believe it is worth careful thoughtand discussion. Readers are invited tojoin in.

"Wild Animal" at bayAs a layman I have been chided, scold­

ed, and exhorted about my sins and life­style for more years than I care to re­member. Like a wild animal at bay, Ihave decided to turn on my tormentors- the Christian clergy - and ask a fewquestions of my own. Over the years afew have occurred to me, coming in no

(Continued on page 13.)

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The Presbyterian Guardian is published eleven times each year, every month except for a combinedissue in July-August. by the Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Corporation. 7401 Old York Road,Philadelphia, PA 19126. at the following rates, payable in advance, postage prepaid: $4.25 peryear ($3.75 in clubs of ten or more; special rate for "every-family churches" on request). Secondclass mail privileges authorized at the Post Office, Philadelphia, Pa.

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Page 2 The Presbyterian Guardian

Reformed Presbyterian Church,

Evangelical Synod

mented wine should not be used unless itis diluted with water.

7. Our churches should be sure to teachin a balanced way the Bible's teaching onquestions of conscience. Those who par­take in moderation must be counseled toexercise loving concern for those whoabstain out of conscience. Those who ab­stain must be counseled not to judgethose who partake in moderation. Aboveall, both have a responsibility to main­tain the peace and unity of the church injoyful hope in the Lord. A Reformationand Puritan motto expresses this well:"In things necessary, unity; in things notnecessary, liberty; in all things, charity."Knowingly to cause a weaker brother tosin is to sin against Christ. To raisescruples pharisaically is to condemn himwhom Christ has received. Both of thesesins should be dealt with in the churchwith careful, loving discipline. Ministersand ruling elders especially, as well asother church officers and leaders, have aresponsibility to be sensitive to the testi­mony of the Synod which commendstotal abstinence to our people as appro­priate for our cultural context and atthe same time does not teach that it isan absolute requirement of Scripture.

A Survey

In another basic decision, the Synodrefused to approve the ordination ofwomen as deacons. This action was inspite of a carefully prepared argument infavor of such ordination, one based noton the current liberal approach of deny­ing all sexual differences in the churchand society, but seeking to ground itsconclusions on careful study of Scriptureteaching. There was no attempt to in­clude the office of elder in the area ofparticipation by women.

The Editor

The question of the beverage use ofalcohol is one of the root issues thatcaused the infant Presbyterian Church ofAmerica to split in 1937, less than six

(Continued on page 10.)

The Church andALCOHOL

temporary American culture, in whichhighly alcoholic beverages are readilyavailable and in which the abuse ofalcohol is both prevalent and dangerous.It should be acknowledged that Scriptureneither makes total abstinence a mark ofholiness nor a universal requirement.

4. Our churches and presbyteries mustnot make total abstinence a requirementfor membership or office as a matter ofprinciple; this would be to go beyondScripture. As a matter of prudence, how­ever, under certain conditions, a localcongregation may deem it wise to decidethat only abstainers be elected to churchoffice. In like manner the partaking ofalcholic beverage in moderation mustnot in itself be made a matter of churchdiscipline. Church officers should giveserious consideration to the advisability ofpracticing total abstinence in view oftheir position and the influence of theirexample.

5. It is appropriate for our denomina­tional agencies, according to the judg­ment of those responsible for governingand administering them, to establish arule of total abstinence as a matter ofoperational or institutional expediencyfor a given time or place. In such cases itmust be made clear to those who submitthemselves to such a rule that it is as amatter of prudence, based on Christianlove, and not as a Scriptural command.

6. We recommend that our churches usegrape juice in the Lord's Supper, not toopen the possibility of an offense' to thosewho cannot safely take any alcohol. Fer-

. . . maintaining a testimonyrecommending total abstinence,

. . . a matter of prudence,based on . . . Christian love,in ... American culture . . .

Rather than a summary of actions of therecent Synod of the RPCES, we arepublishing a lengthy statement adoptedby Synod that should be of particularinterest to readers. The following resolu­tion was adopted by a vote of 146 to 34,following a lengthy and strenuous debateand several amendments to the orginalrecommended statement.

The Synod of 1976 had erected astudy committee on the subject of thebeverage use of alcohol. Membership onthe committee was intended to representwhat were thought to be widely differingviewpoints. But the committee's reportto the 1977 Synod was unanimous. Asfinally adopted, the resolution is asfollows:

Beverage Use of Alcohol

1. To be faithful to the Scriptural man­date to teach the whole counsel of Godour churches must teach what the Biblesays about the sinfulness of drunkenness.This should be done, as deemed appro­priate in the local circumstances, in thepreaching ministry, in the SundaySchool or other Bible classes, in thehomes, in the training of church officers,and especially to the young people. Casesof drunkenness must be disciplined.Those in our congregations who are af­flicted with alcoholism must be treatedwith loving care.

2. In light of the increasing serious abuseof alcohol in contemporary Americanculture, the Synod reaffirms its advocacyof total abstinence from the beverage useof alcohol. Dispassionate discussions ofthis and other Synodical statements andstudies might be held in Sessions to as­sist the ruling body of the local fellow­ship of believers in achieving consensusof policy in accordance with Scripture.The results of such discussions might beshared at Presbytery level for the sake ofconference and possible uniformity.

3. In maintaining a testimony recom­mending total abstinence, our denomina­tion must continue to make clear that thisis a matter of prudence, based on theexercise of Christian love, in our con-

July-Aug. 1977 Page 3

44th General Assembly

OrthodoxPresbyterian Church

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It is only hoped that the "new blood"will search carefully for the wisdom ofSpirit-led men who have laid the founda­tions of the church these younger presby­ters have entered.

By way of example of such "radical"expressions, one could cite the strongdesire of some to see the church adopt a"two-office" view of the eldership with­out any real distinction between teachingand ruling elders; a proposal to decen­tralize foreign missions almost entirely,with presbyteries and groups of localchurches assuming the responsibilities ofsending and supporting missionaries; andthe strong reaction against a church"hierarchy" expressed in various ways.

A large denomination can and prob­ably should seek ways to decentralize itsactivities; only so will the members ofthe church have a vital interest and partin the church's total ministries. But asmall denomination must work moreunitedly if only because it lacks ade­quate resources to do otherwise. A spiritof independency, of local ingrown in­terests, without regard to national goals,can only reduce the effectiveness of achurch like the Orthodox PresbyterianChurch.

Organizing the assemblyFollowing the determination of the

roll of commissioners on Friday morning,the assembly proceeded to elect itsofficers. Despite some expressed concernover the delays in getting out the minutesand correspondence, the assembly re­elected Mr. Richard A. Barker as StatedClerk. It happily received the willingnessof Mr. Edward A. Haug to serve asStatistician. (And in general, the church

Moderator: I recognize you ... What'syour name?

semhly, to this reporter, possessed twonotable characteristics: (1) it was able todo major business efficiently when itchose (which was not always, but most ofthe time); and (2) it had a certainradical tone, at least as heard from somecommissioners.

That last remark calls for explanation.The "radical tone" was one of challengeto the status quo, to the "establishment"of the denomination, a .note of question­ing the "way we do things." Such an at­titude can be healthy indeed, particularlyif a church has settled into a rut oftraditional patterns. On the other hand,to call for change in every procedure,without examining the wisdom of thepast that led to those procedures, isradical, uprooting without sufficientreason.

In 1970, the "old guard" arrived at theassembly in Portland, Oregon, to discoverthat a new generation had taken over.Those men who had founded the denom­ination in 1936, or joined it in its forma­tive years, no longer were a majority.That was the first major change in gener­ations. At this 1977 assembly, nearlyfifty of the 124 voting commissioners hadattended their first general assemblysince 1970, and the church has alreadycome near to seeing a second new genera­tion in the majority.

At least to this reporter, the sense ofradical challenging can be explained bythe presence of these relatively newteaching and ruling elders. New blood isinvigorating, and the church can use it.

Meeting in what the Moderator describedto a fraternal delegate as "one of thesmall, rural churches" of the denomina­tion, the Forty-fourth General Assemblyof the Orthodox Presbyterian Churchconvened at Bethel Church (actually oneof the largest anywhere) in Oostburg,Wisconsin (but rural enough) on Thurs­day evening, June 2, 1977. Following anaddress by ruling elder Garret A. Hooger­hyde, Moderator of the Forty-third Gen­eral Assembly, and a communion service,the assembly recessed in order to beginbusiness sessions on Friday morning.

The assembly was again made up ofpresbyters commissioned by their respec­tive presbyteries according to a propor­tional representation. A total of onehundred and fifty-five are eligible underthe current rules, but only 124 wereactually present-81 ministers and 43 rul­ing elders. Though the proportion ofruling elders present has greatly im­proved under the representative system(in contrast to the time when everyminister and an elder from each churchwas eligible), concern was voiced to im­prove ruling elder attendance evenfurther.

The members of this "small, ruralchurch" managed quite easily to houseall the commissioners, provide transpor­tation to and from the airport in Mil­waukee, and provide more and richerfood than most commissioners reallyneeded. Hospitality in Oostburg, amongthe many Dutch names, is gracious in­deed. Supervision of arrangements wasunder the direction of Gordon Woolard,intern-pastor at Bethel Church for thepast year.

Character of an assembly

Statistics are important in characteriz­ing an assembly. But there are factorsthat color the style and manner of an as­sembly that go beyond figures. This as-

Page 4 The Presbyterian Guardian

is finding the services of senior rulingelders to be a valuable asset. Scarcelyany denomination depends so much on"lay" leaders who are thoroughly knowl­edgeable about their church.)

Nominations for Moderator providedthe first real excitement. Messrs. CalvinBusch, Thomas Champness, Larry Con­ard, Abe Ediger, Robert Eckardt, EdHaug, John Hills, John Mitchell, Wen­dell Rockey, Henry Tavares, ThomasTyson, and Robert Vining were nomin­ated. After speeches and several ballots,the Rev. Wendell L. Rockey, Jr. waselected-the first Moderator from thePresbytery of New York and New Eng;land. Mr. Rockey is pastor of the Presby­terian Church of Cape Cod, Mass,

The choice of Moderator was a happyone for the assembly. Mr. Rockey con­stantly pressed the assembly to moveforward, but did it with flashes of witthat delighted old friends and intriguednew ones.

Fraternal delegates

Representatives from those churcheshaving fraternal relations with the Ortho­dox Presbyterian Church were present, inseveral cases throughout the whole as­sembly. From the Presbyterian Church inAmerica were Dr. Carl Bogue, pastor ofa congregation in Akron, Ohio, and Dr.G. Aiken Taylor, editor of The Presby­terian Journal. The Rev, Robert Stuebbe,pastor of a congregation in Manitowoc,Wise" represented the Reformed Church,U. S. (Eureka Classis).

From the Christian Reformed Churchwere Ruling Elder Albert Bel, who hasnow attended five OPC assemblies, andthe Rev, John Hoeksema, pastor of acongregation in Sheboygan, Wise.

Present for less of the assembly, due tothe overlapping dates of their ownsynods, were the Rev. Charles B. Holli­day, III, from the Reformed PresbyterianChurch, Evangelical Synod, and the Rev.Lee Bittner, from the Reformed Presby­terian Church of North America. Alsopresent at the beginning of the assembly,but not as an official representative, wasthe Rev. Donald J. MacNair of theRPCES.

One delegate from each church ad­dressed the assembly during the course ofthe proceedings, The presence of severalof the delegates for most of the sessionswas helpful in their gaining a betterunderstanding of the OPC. With nextyear's assembly to be held concurrentlyat Calvin College with the assemblies/synods of these other churches, evengreater mutual understanding should re­sult.

July-Aug. 1977

Advisory committee work

One thing learned from the operationsof another church is the system of refer­ring all assembly business to temporaryadvisory committees. This procedure, longstandard in the Christian ReformedChurch, means that every report, over­ture, communication, or judicial case, willbe studied closely by a small group ofcommissioners before coming to the wholeassembly. This guarantees that at leastsome commissioners have studied eachmatter enough to have useful suggestions.

The assembly recessed early on Fridayafternoon to allow time for the advisorycommittees to meet. Those committeesdealing with reports from the variousstanding (or permanent) committees in­vited representatives of the respectivecommittees to confer and help explainthe reports. Any commissioner with aparticular concern for some item ofbusiness was also free to express his con­cern before the appropriate advisorycommittee.

The assembly reconvened on Saturdayafternoon and proceeded to hear the firstin a series of reports from major standingcommittees and from the various advisorycommittees dealing with those reports.

The church's outreach

Always first on the docket, after thehousekeeping and organizational businessis done, have been the reports from thethree standing committees charged withcarrying out the church's commission topreach the gospel in foreign missions,home missions, and through Christianliterature and instructional materials,

The Committee on Christian Educationpresented the first report (following aplan of rotation year by year) . This com­mittee's report was mainly concernedwith its involvement in Great Commis­sion Publications, Inc., the joint publish­ing venture of the OPC and the Presby-

Commissioner: I'm speaking over here,If I spoke over there, the Moderatormight hit me on the head with thegaveL

Second Commissioner: I so move.

terian Church in America. The new ven­ture has had one full year of operationand is publishing and expanding itsmaterials for Sunday school as well asTrinity Hymnal and the church bulletins.Expansion of the Sunday school cur­riculum into adult and pre-schoolmaterials, and a revised Vacation BibleSchool curriculum, are projected, Thecommittee, though primarily involved inGreat Commission Publications, is look­ing ahead to possible ministries for spe­cific Orthodox Presbyterian needs, (Theadvisory committee reviewing this reportexpressed its commendation of the stand­ing committee's work and urged prayerand financial support.)

Concern over lack of cooperative workin Christian education with the Re­formed Presbyterian Church, EvangelicalSynod, was expressed. It was noted thatattempts to work out such cooperationhad been made in the past, but thatChristian Training, Inc., the RPCES cor­responding agency, had chosen to workin different areas and to develop a dif­ferent curriculum approach from that ofthe OPC committee. Despite this back­ground, the assembly urged the Com­mittee on Christian Education to explorepossible cooperation with its RPCEScounterpart,

Elections to the Committee on Chris­tian Education saw the Rev, Messrs.James Bosgraf, Edmund Clowney, andLeonard Coppes, and Ruling Elders

Page 5

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Robert Ashlock, Arnold Larson, andLloyd Theune placed on the committee.

The Committee on Home Missions andChurch Extension was next to report.This committee notes with gratitude theincreased involvement of presbyteries inhome mission efforts, but forecasts a con­tinuing need for support by the wholedenomination. The committee is en­couraged by the response to the conceptof a missionary-at-large at work with apresbytery and hopes to employ a de­nominational evangelist as well. Thoughnot a large part of its budget, funds forsummer workers and interns are seen asa significant factor in attracting ableypung men into the church's ministry.

The advisory committee reacted en­thusiastically to the idea of a denomina­tional evangelist-or perhaps more ac­curately to the work of the Rev. JohnFikkert in this area-and urged the as­sembly to direct the Committee on HomeMissions to make it a priority to secureMr. Fikkert on a full-time basis. With abit more cool, the assembly referred theidea to the committee, believing thatsuch matters, even when desired by all,were better done by the responsible com­mittee.

The Rev. Messrs. George Cottenden,Jonathan Male, and Wendell Rockey,and Ruling Elders Richard Hake andTheodore Pappas were elected to thehome missions committee. The Rev.Larry Comard was elected to fill thevacancy created by the resignation of Dr.George W. Knight upon his transfer tothe RPCES recently.

The Committee on Foreign Missions,shortly after the reconvening on Mondaymorning, presented its report. Majorchanges in the church's foreign missionprogram have taken place: the missionto Ethiopia has been closed down due to

Page 6

war conditions there; three veteran mis­sionary families have retired, one eachfrom Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. On theother hand, an exciting open door of op­portunity has been found in Egyptwhere the Rev. W. Benson Male has beenenthusiastically received by the evangcli-'cal church there (largely the result ofefforts by missionaries of the old UnitedPresbyterian Church). The Committeehopes to have a permanent missionary inEgypt (Mr. Male has been serving on aretired basis, largely at his own expense)and if conditions permit, also in Leb­anon, which would be another new field.

The advisory committee dealing withthis report expressed great concern overthe dwindling of the church's foreignmission force. Some of this is due to thecircumstances mentioned above, some ofit to lack of suitable candidates at times,and some of it to restrictions caused bylimited funds. To overcome this "Stagna­tion," the advisory committee urged acomplete rearrangement of mission sup­port and calling, with presbyteries andgroups of congregations to take the initi­ative. (The one existing example of suchan arrangement, that of the Presbyteryof New Jersey in jointly calling and sup­porting the Rev. Robert Marshall onTaiwan, hardly is the successful exampleneeded; less than one half of the Mar­shalls' support is being raised in thechurches of that presbytery.) In anyevent, the assembly simply referred theseproposals to the committee itself.

The assembly elected the Rev. Messrs.Donald Buchanan, Donald Duff, andB. J. Stonehouse, and Ruling EldersNorman Byer and William Haldeman tothe foreign missions committee.

The Stewardship Committee

Since its report deals with the Com­bined Budget for the three major stand­ing committees, the report of the Com-

Date, Place, & Travel: One commis­sioner requests early excuse to returnto his dairy farm.

Commissioner: We should excuse himas it is an utter necessity.

mtttee on Stewardship comes next on thedocket. But since that report was dis­cussed at length during parts of morethan one day, this summary of the as­sembly's actions will treat it here in onesection.

Concern with the recommendations ofthe Committee on Stewardship and thefunctioning of the Combined Budgetoccupied more time in the assembly thanany other subject. The committee's re­port recommended that the assembly ap­prove its proposal to employ a full-timegeneral secretary, on the grounds that thepart-time efforts being used so far werenot enough to carry out the committee'sfull responsibilities.

In addition to the committee's ownrecommendation, a special Committee toReview the Combined Budget, afterstudying the concept and operation of thechurch's system for supporting its variousgospel outreach efforts, had indepen­dently recommended the same course ofaction. The assembly's own advisorycommittee, having studied both the re­port of the Committee on Stewardshipand that of the special review committee,also unanimously urged adoption of therecommendation concerning a generalsecretary. Two of the three major stand­ing committees had also favored thiscourse.

Despite all this favorable support, thedebate in the assembly indicated a greatdeal of reluctance for the proposal. Thistook two approaches, (1) some being op­posed to any addition of executive em­ployees for whatever purpose, and (2)some being opposed because it mightstrengthen the operation of the Com­bined Budget. Others simply questionedwhether a full-time general secretarywould make that much difference orwhether the cost (estimated at $20,000)was worth it.

Debate on the subject began about 2p.m. on Monday. Just before the supperrecess, the assembly finally came to avote and resoundingly rejected the pro­posals for a full-time general secretaryby a vote of 47 in favor, 66 opposed.

The Presbyterian Guardian

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After supper the assembly did adopt, withno attempt to change the recommenda­tion, a Combined Budget for 1978 identi­cal to that approved last year for 1977, ora total figure of $664,000 for the threemajor standing committees. The assemblythen recessed for the evening.

A major turnaround

Those who favored the proposal for afull-time general secretary, believing itwas necessary if the church was to makesignificant improvements in its supportfor its gospel outreach, were dismayed bythe assembly's rejection. And overnight,apparently many commissioners hadsecond thoughts on the subject. Twomembers of the Committee on Steward­ship resigned, along with the committee'spart-time Administrative Assistant, andtwo of the General Secretaries of themajor standing committees were con­sidering similar action.

At any rate, when the assembly recon­vened on Tuesday morning, there was adesire to do something on the matter.One motion was proposed that wouldhave informed the people of their percommunicant share of the CombinedBudget, which the mover insisted was notthe same as the quota system employedin the Christian Reformed Church butwhich to this reporter certainly seemedessentially identical. That proposal even­tually died.

But then it was moved to reconsiderthe actions of the previous day in reject­ing the recommendations of the Com­mittee on Stewardship. In view of theoverwhelming vote against these, manycommissioners thought reconsiderationwas pointless. The assembly did agree toreconsider, but determined to do so laterin the docket to allow other urgentbusiness a fair hearing and, possibly, to

give time for reflection.The subject came up again finally on

Wednesday evening when the assemblycame to consider the report of the specialCommittee to Review the CombinedBudget. Ruling Elder Ed Haug, chairmanof the special review committee, pre­sented its report-and the debate was onin full force.

Since the review committee's principalconclusion was that the present Com­bined Budget system be reaffirmed andstrengthened (see reports on this in theMarch and April issues of the Guardian),debate focused on the principles for theCombined Budget and its actual opera­tion. A principal opponent of the pres­ent system was the Rev. John Galbraith(though General Secretary of the Com­

mittee on Foreign Missions, he spoke for

July-Aug. 1977

himself and not the committee).Speaking in favor of the Combined

Budget system were the Rev. Messrs.George Haney and Robley Johnston,General Secretaries of the Committees onHome Missions and Christian Education,respectively, and the Rev. John Mitchell,Administrative Assistant for the Com­mittee on Stewardship. Members of thereview committee also spoke, as did theRev. John Hills, reporting for the as­sembly's advisory committee dealingwith the whole subject.

After a series of complicated parlia­mentary maneuvers, the assembly af­firmed "that the present plan for theCommittee on Stewardship [including theCombined Budget system], in its essentialnature, be continued, and that the con­cept include the understanding thatthose charged with the responsibility ofpresenting the combined budget to thechurches, shall remind the people thatwhile the plan encourages designation to

the total work of the church, it also per­mits designation to the work of the in­dividual committees, and to individualneeds of the committees."

This motion prevailed over a counter­proposal to establish another review com­mittee charged with studying biblicalprinciples bearing on the church's sup­port of its gospel works and also withstudying methods of support used in theother member churches of the NorthAmerican Presbyterian and ReformedCouncil (the CRC, the PCA, the RPCES,the RPCNA) . But once taken, the debatewas largely over. The various recom­mendations of the special review com­mittee designed to improve or strengthenthe stewardship plan (chief among thema strong recommendation to use someother name than "Combined Budget"with its cold, money-oriented sound)

were referred to the Committee onStewardship either for possible imple­mentation or future recommendation tothe next assembly. (The Committee onStewardship, in line with this, has al­ready determined to call the combinedprogram, the Worldwide Outreach,emphasizing the positive program ofgospel proclamation instead of budget­raising concerns.)

Having favorably acted on the reviewcommittee's report, the assembly returnedto reconsider the recommendations ofthe Committee on Stewardship that ithad earlier resoundingly rejected. Thedebate on the basic subject being fairlywell exhausted already, the assemblyrather promptly approved these recom­mendations for a full-time generalsecretary, and did so this time with verylittle negative votes expressed.

Why such a large change of mind?Everything that could be said in favor ofhaving a general secretary for steward­ship was said before the first vote. Per­haps it was the open dismay expressed byseveral of those most intimately con­cerned in the matter. Or perhaps it wassimply a matter of giving the subjectdeeper reflection. At any rate, whatseemed a dead end for the Committee onStewardship and the Combined Budgeton Monday night became a much morepositive outlook by Thursday evening.

Moderator: I don't know if it has any­thing to do with what we are doingup here, but some fuses downstairshave blown.

Page 7

Together with resignations and ex­pired terms, over half of the members ofthe Committee on Stewardship needed tobe elected. Chosen were the Rev. Messrs.John Hills (chairman of the temporaryadvisory committee), Albert Steever (aformer member of the stewardship com­mittee), Marven Bowman (incumbent),and Jack Peterson (representing thechurch's great "heartland"?), and RulingElder Ed Haug (chairman of the specialreview committee).

[In a meeting of the Committee onStewardship shortly after the close of theassembly, it determined to call the Rev.John J. Mitchell, its former part-time Ad­ministrative Assistant, to the full-timeposition of General Secretary. Readersshould be aware that this report iswritten by Mr. Mitchell, with whateverbias that may involve; he was certainlynot neutral in the assembly debate. Hehas not yet indicated an answer to thecommittee's call.]

New Form of Government

The second major item of assemblybusiness, and one with far-reachingeffects for the church, was the presenta­tion of a proposed new Form of Govern­ment. Work on this document begantwenty-nine years ago, and the com­mittee's chairman, the Rev. John P. Gal­braith, is the only member to serve allthose years.

The committee presented the productof its labors with more than a little trepi­dation, fearing that the process of ap­proval might degenerate into a parlia­mentary chaos of amendments andcounter-amendments. But the advisorycommittee reviewing this document pro­posed, and the assembly agreed to follow,a schedule of dealing with it that workedbeautifully.

Giving itself an open period of discus­sion only, the assembly went through thewhole document, chapter by chapter.Some parts took longer, others took notime at all. The questions and commentsclearly indicated some sentiment for dif­ferent approaches at places from those inthe committee's version. But it was under­stood that the committee would be con­tinued to deal with any porposed changesand that seemed to satisfy everyone.

At any rate, following this time of opendiscussion, the assembly voted on whetherto send the document down to the pres­byteries for formal constitutional adop­tion. The motion passed-to everyone'ssurprise-without one audible dissentingvote. If two-thirds of the presbyteries (bysimple majority votes) now approve, andthe next assembly approves by a two-

PageS

thirds vote (the two-thirds being requiredto make rather minor changes in thevarious ordination vows), the OrthodoxPresbyterian Church will finally have anew Form of Government.

What did the document do? For onething, the new Form is considerably ex­panded over the old, primarily in orderto spell out in some detail the proce­dures to be followed particularly inordinations of various church officers; thenew Form, in other words, is more of ahandbook. The whole process of receiv­ing and transferring ministers is given inwhat seems to be exhaustive detail,though certainly gaps are likely to befound once the procedures are put intopractice.

The second main characteristic of thenew Form was its tendency to steer amiddle course between differing viewsexisting in the church. The continuingcontroversy over the number of churchoffices (two or three) is reflected in thenew Form's flat statement at one point

Important statement: Daniel Hungdoesn't have a motorcycle.

Moderator: Let's have the speeches,and then the clerk will tell us how tovote.

that there are basically only two (eldersand deacons) and its equally plain pro­vision for a dear distinction in the elder­ship between those called ministers andruling elders. In fact, with separatechapters for pastors, teachers, and evan­gelists, some have fairly tagged the newForm of Government as being a five- orsix-office document. The resolution ofthe differences is in the fact that theScriptures nowhere clearly define what anoffice is even as they clearly distinguishbetween a large variety of official (God­called and church-recognized) functionsof ministry and service.

Those least satisfied with the newdocument were commissioners persuadedthat ruling elders, though they may not"labor in word and doctrine" full time,are nevertheless charged with pastoralresponsibilities similar to those of theteaching elder we call a pastor. A changein one chapter, made by the committee

during the course of the discussion, easedthis concern somewhat, by removing whatseemed to be an exclusive reference ofpastoral duties to the minister alone.

Certainly the church will have to livewith this new Form of Government forsome time before it can be sure it wantsany further substantive changes. Mean­while, a proposed new Book of Disciplineand Directory for Worship is waiting inthe Wings!

A judicial case

After forty years of experience with nojudicial cases reaching the assemblylevel, the church has had one in both thelast two years. In 1976, it was the case ofthe Rev. Arnold S. Kress, charged in re­lation to the matter of speaking intongues primarily. This year it was theRev. Robert H. Countess, charged witherror in practice and doctrine in relationto the Sabbath.

The background of the charges broughtby the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlanticagainst Dr. Countess, formerly a pastorin the presbytery and presently a chap­lain in the U.S. Army, was this minister'sinvolvement in a semi-pro soccer teamthat played on Sundays. Dr. Countess de­fended his activity, holding the "Con­tinental view" that the Fourth Com­mandment is not binding on Christians­a view he had expressed when being re­ceived into the presbytery.

In the judgment of this observer,neither the case against Dr. Countess northe defendant's own appeal of a guiltyverdict, were very well presented. Thebasic issue was clear enough: Would theassembly uphold its doctrinal standardswith their strong emphasis on a "PuritanSabbath"? The assembly would and didoverwhelmingly. It even rejected pro­posals urging the presbytel y to modifyits censure of suspension or even to delayimplementing it. Presumably Dr. Count­ess, unless he chooses to seek churchaffiliation elsewhere, will be suspendedfrom the exercise of his office.

One comment seems in order: Thereason the church has had so few judicialcases before the assembly is not becausethere were no disciplinary efforts beingmade. It was rather the case that, when­ever a lower court would move to insti­tute formal judicial process, the indi­vidual being charged would simply with­draw from the jurisdiction of the churchand go elsewhere, thus effectively preclud­ing further action. Both Mr. Kress andDr. Countess are to be commended forgoing "the whole route" even when theirparticular cases seemed to have a fore­gone conclusion. Whether the final de-

The Presbyterian Guardian

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cisions were right or wrong, the churchhas been able to do a difficult duty.

Other significant actions

Having nearly exhausted itself in con­sideration of these three major items, theassembly tended to move rather rapidlythrough remaining business. The dangeris that important decisions will be madewith little thought given to them. Someof the other reports and decisions arenoted here, at least in brief.

The Committee on Diaconal Ministries.(Having slighted this committee lastyear, let me make some amends now.)This committee serves the whole churchin the area of diaconal (deacon) con­cern, extending help and the ministry ofmercy where needed. Its ministries ex­tend both abroad, in various helps to theneedy, and at home both in specialemergencies and to those servants of thechurch in need.

Support for the work of this com­mittee comes mainly from funds given tothe local church deacons. Only about two­thirds of the congregations make anycontribution to the denominational com­mittee. Yet the support received has en­abled the committee to do a great dealof work.

At present, the committee's specialconcern is for the needs of pastors andtheir families; the desire is to have re­serves to meet emergency medical needs.The committee also seeks to provide moreadequate retirement income for someministers not provided for otherwise. Arecent effort has been to help refugeesfrom the dictatorial oppression inUganda.

This committee is requesting supportin the amount of $4.50 per communicantmember during 1977 and also in 1978, asit seeks to enlarge its budget from about$40,000 in 1976 to improve what it cando in these areas of genuine concern. TheRev. Rollin Keller and Ruling ElderJohn Novinger were reelected to thiscommittee.

The Committee on Pensions had beensubject to rather strenuous criticism inrecent years as its pension fund invest­ments suffered from the general declinein the economy. But both a change inthe management of the funds and im­provements in the financial marketgenerally resulted in a substantial im­provement for each participant in theplan.

Changes also in the hospitalizationplan now provide improved coverage,both in life insurance features and major

July-Aug. 1977

medical expense. Costs have increasedfor the participants, but the protectiongained has been considered well worth it.

This committee, dealing with pensionsfor retired ministers, had become con­cerned with the need for housing pro­vision for retirees, many of whom haveaccumulated no equity over the yearsthey have lived in church manses. Thecommittee felt itself unable to take onanother area of work and urged the as­sembly to erect a special committee tostudy the needs.

The assembly agreed and proceeded toelect this committee. First nominated andreceiving the largest majority of voteswas the first woman to be elected to anycommittee of the assembly in the historyof the church, Mrs. Ada M. Galbraith, arealtor in Jenkintown, Pa. Also electedwere the Rev. Lewis Grotenhuis andRuling Elders Ken Bosgraf, Robert Coie,and John Kinnaird.

The Committee on Pensions also askedpermission to receive a special offeringin 1978 to supplement the benefits ofparticipants in the Pension Plan. Thisproposal was readily adopted, as com­missioners were well aware that existingpensions are indeed meager. In electionsto this committee, the Rev. Messrs. RogerSchmurr and John Galbraith and RulingElders John Dowling and William Wil­kens were chosen.

The Committee on Ecumenicit» and

Interchurch Relations has in formeryears presented reports that generatedlengthy debate. But no mergers or un­usual development seemed present thistime, though a number of significantactions were taken.

The assembly approved the establish­ing of fraternal relations with the As­sociate Reformed Presbyterian Church,a body of approximately 30,000 com­municants, located largely in PiedmontVirginia and the Carolinas, Florida, andArkansas. The church has a long history,but had suffered decline both in num­bers and in faithfulness to sound doc­trine. A recent influx of new ministers,mostly from Reformed Theological Sem­inary, has brought new life and a newdesire to draw closer to the more ortho­dox Reformed bodies. The ARPC is seek­ing membership in the NAPARC organ­ization also.

A proposal to authorize the committeeto present another plan of union withthe Reformed Presbyterian Church,

Announcement: Today is cleanup day(Friday). Lunch will be served down­stairs and you will be eating againeverything you ate this week.

Page 9

Evangelical Synod, generated some de­bate. After it was pointed out that thisstep did not constitute any sort of ap­proval of the merger in advance, theproposal was approved with the plan tobe presented in 1979.

The assembly also determined to acceptthe invitation of the Christian ReformedChurch to meet at Calvin College, GrandRapids, concurrently with other synodsor assemblies of the NAPARC churches;all five have now accepted, though thereis some stir in the Presbyterian Churchin America to reconsider the matter. TheOPC assembly will be held on June 15­24, 1978.

The most extensive debate in this areacentered on the church's membership inthe (international) Reformed Ecumeni­cal Synod. Negative criticism, both thisyear and previously, centered on the costof membership and of travel to thesynod every four years, and on the pres­ence of the Gereformeerde Kerken inNederland (Reformed Churches in theNetherlands) as an RES member church(the largest one) while also holdingmembership in the World Council ofChurches.

Discussion of the RES situation wasgenerated by a recommendation from theCommittee on Ecumenicity and from thedelegates to the 1976 RES that the as­sembly urge both the Presbyterian Churchin America and the Reformed Presby­terian Church, Evangelical Synod to seekRES membership. (The CRC, RPCNA,and ARPC are mernbers.) In effect, theassembly decided it was proper enoughfor the OPC to continue its membership,particularly as the RES itself sought topersuade the Dutch churches to withdrawfrom the WCC and to exercise disciplinein some notable instances of hereticalteaching in its midst; but to urge othersto join under the circumstances was notseen as appropriate, though the desirehad been to strengthen the more ortho­dox elements in the RES. (The Rev.Messrs. Edmund Clowney, John Gal­braith, and Norman Shepherd wereelected to this committee.)

The Committee on Date, Place, andTravel was directed to recommend per­manent guidelines on travel compensa­tion-to eliminate the annual wrangleover this matter.

A new special Committee on Appealsand Complaints was erected, in order togive better order in the handling ofjudicial matters, but not to make judg­ments on them. The Rev. Messrs. RobertEckardt, John Mitchell, and Thomas Ty-

Page 10

son were named to this committee.Various other committees also reported

and were continued in their tasks of ser­vice or study.

The Forty-fourth General Assembly ofthe Orthodox Presbyterian Church wasdissolved late in the afternoon of Friday,June 10, 1977, with the pronouncing ofthe benediction by the Moderator.

-John J. Mitchell

The quotations scattered throughoutthis report come from a collection ofwitty sayings in the assembly made byRuling Elder C. Wayne Hays of FortLauderdale, Fla.

THE CHURCH AND ALCOHOL

(Continued from page 3.)

months after the death of its leadingfounder, Dr. J. Gresham Machen. Thecontinuing body eventually took thename (under threat of court action bythe old Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.) ofthe Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Thegroup departing at that time became theBible Presbyterian Church.

The Rev. Carl McIntire was one ofthe principal leaders of those who left toform the Bible Presbyterian Synod. Hisleadership, however, was rejected by amajority of the Synod in 1956, the major­ity eventually taking the name of theEvangelical Presbyterian Church. Thisgroup united with the Reformed Presby­terian Church, General Synod in 1965 toform the present Reformed PresbyterianChurch, Evangelical Synod.

The struggle in 1937Though alcohol was only one issue in

1937, it was one that generated a gooddeal of passion. The Third General As­sembly of the Presbyterian Church ofAmerica was faced with several overtureson the subject. These may be character­ized as follows:

1. From the Presbytery of California(Overture #3). This overture openedthe debate in the church and called forchurch members "to abstain from all ap­pearance of such evils" as the use of "in­toxicating liquors, use of tobacco, andengaging in such questionable amuse­ments as theater-going, dancing and cardplaying," "in a determined effort to pres­ent a consistent, glorious Christiantestimony" (Minutes, 3rd G.A.,p. 7).

This overture plainly sees total ab­stinence as required under the circum­stances and would make it practically arequirement for church membership.

2. From the Presbytery of the ChicagoArea (Overture #2). This overture wasmuch longer, being rather elaboratelyconstructed with "whereases." It madethe historical point that the old church(PCUSA) had frequently gone on recordagainst the abuses of alcohol, and alsousing the argument about "avoiding eventhe appearance of evil" to urge total ab­stinence. The overture called upon theThird General Assembly to reaffirm thishistorical tradition. The effect was thesame as that of the overture from thePresbytery of California. (See Minutes,3rd G.A., pp. Sf.)

3. From the Presbytery of Philadelphia(Overture # I). This overture announcedthis presbytery'S rejection of the Cali­fornia overture and called on the As­sembly to emphasize the teachings of theCatechisms (especially, L.C. Questions91·148, S.C. Questions 37-81) in the areaof godly living. (See Minutes, 3rd G.A.,p.5.)

In addition to the rejection by thePhiladelphia presbytery, the Californiaoverture had also been rejected by twoother presbyteries and concurred in bytwo.

4. From the Presbytery Of New Jersey(Overture #6). This overture, after

denying that total abstinence was re­quired by Scripture, nevertheless urgedthat course "so as to give none offencenor occasion of stumbling"; the overtureinsisted that individual Christian libertywas not to be deprived, however(Minutes, 3rd G.A., p. 8).

Though the California overture hadbeen the first formulated, the one fromPhiladelphia-rejecting that from Cali­fornia-was the first (Overture # I) re­ceived by the Assembly. As such it hadpriority on the docket. The debate onthese overtures did not come up, how­ever, until after the Assembly had alreadybeen badly torn over the church's relationto the Independent Board for Presbyter­ian Foreign Missions. (The Assembly ineffect rejected the Independent Boardand determined to erect its own foreignmissions agency. The division over thissubject and that of total abstinence wasvery nearly identical.)

In the rather complicated parliament­ary maneuvering that took place in re­gard to these overtures, the Philadelphiaoverture was first moved. In due time, asubstitute was proposed, emphasizing

The Presbyterian Guardian

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The biblical principle is moderation.There is no other, unless it be theequally biblical principle that calls uponmen to rejoice in such good things fromGod as wine "that makes glad the heartof man," What the church should teachis enjoyment of God's good gifts inmoderation, positively, and not by grudg­ing negative emphases.

The 1977 action by the Synod of theRPCES, despite some very helpful clarif­ications, reopens an old quarrel. Approvalof this resolution, at least with all itsamendments, can hardly do much tofoster the merger of the OPC and RPCESwhich the 1976 Synod called for. We areback to 1937 all over again.

-John J. Mitchell

claimed, for example, that Jesus madeunfermented grape juice at the weddingin Cana. It also rejected the sort of argu­ment from the cultural context of todaythat would make the dangers of alcoholicabuse so serious as to require Christiansto abstain totally-rather neatly ignoringthe tremendous problem of drunkennessthroughout the Roman world of NewTestament times.

The resolution passed by the Synod ofthe RPCES is, in effect, the 1937 over­ture from the Presbytery of New Jerseyto the Third General Assembly of thePresbyterian Church of America. Itcalls for total abstinence, but insists thatthis is not a biblical requirement. It callsfor total abstinence, but insists that thereis liberty of conscience in the matter.This was precisely the position of theNew Jersey overture rejected in 1937.

Or to put it another way, the RPCESresolution insists on liberty of consciencebut allows local churches, church boardsand agencies, to require total abstinenceof its officers or employees. It upholdsliberty in the matter but permits variousrestrictions in practice. It warns againstjudging these who use alcholic beveragesin moderation but denies the right of alocal church to use fermented wine in theLord's Supper-or if it does, requires thewine to be watered (most commercialwine is well watered down already) .

Wanted: Vos materialsMinister seeks class notes, syllabi, sermons,

personal letters, erc., from students of Prof.Geerhardus Vos of Princeton TheologicalSeminary. Contact: Rev. J. T. Dennison, 213W. Vincent, Ligonier, PA 15658. (Note: Abibliography of Vos's work, prepared by Mr.Dennison, appeared in the Westminster The­ological Journal recently.)

liberty of conscience (Confession ofFaith, XX, 2, 3) and certain statementsfrom the Larger Catechism condemningimmoderation in all things, and assertingthat no "further statement" was calledfor.

The Chicago Area overture, with itscall to reaffirm the historical tradition infavor of total abstinence found in theold Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., wasnext proposed and eventually was de­feated, 24 in favor, 65 opposed.

The Assembly, after closing off furtherdebate, finally approved the substitutefor the Philadelphia overture. And, ap­parently fed up with the subject, it de­termined to consider neither the Cali­fornia or New Jersey overtures. A strongprotest against this decision was made byseveral members of the Assembly later on.

lt was immediately following theaction to close off consideration of theother overtures concerning abstinencefrom beverage use of alcohol that severalcommissioners left the Assembly, later toform the Bible Presbyterian Synod.

The Third General Assembly rejecteda reaffirmation of the historical traditionof the old Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.,favoring total abstinence as a matter of"avoiding even the appearance of evil."lt rejected a somewhat stronger positioncalling for total abstinence as necessary,also to avoid "all appearance of suchevils," and to lead a consistent Christianlife in today's world. It further rejectedthe much milder approach of the NewJersey overture, which called for totalabstinence "as a matter of expediency,"but not as one of Scripture requirementor binding on the conscience.

Though only the first of these was re­jected by direct vote, the latter two wereeffectively rejected by the decision notto consider them. What was adopted wasa statement affirming liberty of con­science and urging moderation in allthings. These decisions were oneelement that led to the separation of1937 and the formation of the BiblePresbyterian Church, and its successor inpart, the Reformed Presbyterian Church,Evangelical Synod.

The "Resolution on the Beverage Useof Alcohol," adopted by the 1977 Synodof the Reformed Presbyterian Church,Evangelical Synod, opens up this old de­bate again. It must be recognized thatthe resolution is clear enough in statingthat total abstinence is not a biblical re­quirement on anyone. It has, in effect,rejected those erroneous arguments infavor of requiring total abstinence that

July-Aug. 1977

Reformed Presbyterian Churchof North America

the Associate Reformed Presbyterian,Christian Reformed, Orthodox Presby­terian, Presbyterian in America, Re­formed Presbyterian/Evan. Synod, andReformed, U.S. (Eureka Classis) churches.

Synod determined to meet next year,June 16-23, at Calvin College, GrandRapids, concurrently with the otherNAPARC churches.

)

The Synod of the RPCNA (the "Cov­enanter Church") met at Geneva College,June 3-10, 1977. Dr. Lester Kilpatrick,pastor of the First Church in BeaverFalls, Pa., was elected Moderator. Sevennew ministers and ten ruling elders wereenrolled. Among minister commissionerswere four, now serving in America, whowere born abroad; one each from Ghana,Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

Revised "Testimony"

In addition to the usual WestminsterStandards, the RPCNA maintains a "Tes­timony" of doctrines. Concern for ashorter, more popularly written versionof this had led to a special committee ofwhich the Rev. Kenneth G. Smith waschairman. The committee reported itswork, a seven-year project, in thirteenchapters. Twelve of these were approvedby a two-thirds vote; one was recommit­ted. The approved portions are to bestudied by the churches.

Major changes

Three other changes in the church'sstandards had been referred to the ses­sions last year. All three had passed.

The first provides for session-controlled(but otherwise "open") communion, in­stead of the former "closed" communionin which only members of the RPCNAwere eligible to participate. The new ar­rangement, or "close" communion, allowsfor a local session to admit others whomake a profession of faith acceptable tothe session.

A second major change was in the re­quirements for church membership. TheRPCNA has long required subscriptionto its doctrinal standards on the part ofall who were coming into communicantmembership (unlike almost all otherPresbyterian bodies). The change permitsan individual to join who, though havingdoubts about some points of doctrine, isprepared to submit himself to the teach­ing of the church.

A simplified procedure for amendingthe church standards was also adopted.

Page 12

Study reports

" A lengthy report of the Bible teachingabout the office of elder was presented.The question, Are there two distinctiveoffices within the eldership or only one?The report was returned for furtherstudy, but only after the Synod agreedthat the Bible teaches one office of elderwith two distinct functions (the "Thorn­well view").

Another report dealt with "public cov­enanting." The discussion turned on theprinciples used in interpreting Scripture.This report was sent back also for moreexegetical study of Scripture itself.

Church agencies

The church's seminary in Pittsburghreported its call to Dr. J. Renwick Wrightto service as professor of New Testament,consequent on the coming retirement ofDr. S. Bruce Wilson. Synod approved thecall.

Geneva College is launching a specialdevelopment program, seeking $500,000from the church in a total campaign for$15 million. A similar campaign a decadeago had gained $8 million in improve­ments for the college.

The Board of Education and Publica­tions nominated the Rev. Lee Bittner tocontinue as its part-time director (in ad­dition to work for Geneva College);Synod concurred.

Missions, finances

The RPCNA operates both a homeand foreign missions program. New worksare in progress at home, but with increas­ing support by presbyteries. Abroad, thechurch has work in Japan, is turningover properties in Cyprus to the autono­mous church now organized there, and isseeking possible openings in Taiwan.

Contributions fell some $36,000 shortof goals, though part of the deficit wasmade up otherwise. Congregations areasked to provide $245,000 during 1978.

Interchurch relationsFraternal delegates were present from

Much of the above report is taken froma summary prepared by the Rev. KenSmith for the Covenant Fellowship Con­gregation in Pittsburgh, of which he ispastor.

ITEMS

Silver Spring, Md.-At a service of ordina­tion on May 17, the Presbytery of theMid-Atlantic ordained Leonard N. Stew­art to the gospel ministry and installedhim as associate pastor of Knox Churchhere. Participants in the service includedthe Rev. Charles H. Ellis, pastor of KnoxChurch; the Rev. Barry R. Hottord, pas­tor of Covenant Church in Burtonsville,Md.; the Rev. William A. Mahlow, pastorof the Evangelical Presbyterian Church(RPCES) in Annapolis; Ruling ElderRobert Morrison of Knox Church; andthe Rev. Edwin C. Urban, pastor ofBethel Church in Leesburg, Va.

Gowen, Mich.-The Spencer Mills Ortho­dox Presbyterian Church announces anew schedule of worship services for thesummer: Morning worship at 9:30 andII a.m.: the Labor Day Weekend serviceat II a.m. will be held at Lincoln PinesResort. Evening service is at 7 p.m.

Bonita, Calif.-The congregation at Bon­ita has broken ground for its new build­ing. It has been meeting in a local school.The pastor of the church is the Rev.John Garrisi. The Bayview Church inChula Vista is hoping to break groundsoon also for a new gymnasium and otherfacilities, to be used by Covenant Christ­ian School.

Cono, Iowa-The Rev. Max Belz, founderof the Cono Christian School, and a long­time father in the Reformed PresbyterianChurch, Evangelical Synod, has been suf­fering serious physical infirmities. Doctors,including the one who worked with Dr.Robert Rayburn of Covenant Seminary,say the condition is manageable but re­quires regular trips to Waterloo for treat­ment. Prayer is asked for Mr. Belz.

The Presbyterian Guardian

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LETTERS

(Continued from page 2.)

particular order.I. Do you chide your congregation

about chasing the almighty dollar, givingthem one of your "birds of the air andlilies of the field" sermons-while yourwife takes an outside job for forty hoursa week?

2. Do you rail at corrupt politiciansand policemen "on the take"-while youlook for doctors and dentists who give50% discounts to clergymen, not to men­tion free admission to movie theaters,half-fare railroad tickets, etc.P

3. Do you see that you are included inevery seminar or travel junket that getsyou around at church expense?

4. How deep is your commitment tothe ministry? When our government em­barks on one of its periodic crusades tosave the world for democracy, and yourdraft number was looming on the hori­zon, did seminary then look particularlyinviting? Did it beat taking over thefamily farm?

5. Do you avoid making sermons onbiblical subjects that seem to be in con­flict with scientific knowledge? (E.g.,Joshua's commanding the sun to standstill.)

6. Do you choose biblical passages se­lectively and make tortured translationsof the same in order to make the Biblecome out the way you want it to comeout?

7. If you smoke, do you have a framedpicture of the Savior in your study witha cigaret drooping from his lower lip?

8. Do you foster church cliques by as­sociating primarily with those of yourown age group? the influential and afflu­ent? the college educated?

9. On your home visitation calls, youare asked a cogent, provocative question.Do you start to dissemble, give 'em thedummy act? the "I didn't understandyour question" bit? Do you stand up,mumble "I'Il pray for you, ,., and takeyour leave?

10. Do you abuse and neglect yourhousehold pets? Your Christian ministryextends to animals as well.

II. You are orthodox. . . You consideryourself a bastion of conservatism, butyou have long hair. This was a symbol ofdefiance to establishment mores intro­duced by a group of degenerate Britishmusicians (?) whose greatest contribu­tion to 20th-century culture was trashmusic, bawdy lyrics, hallucinogenic drugs

July-Aug. 1977

and group sex. (See 1 Corinthians 11:14, 15.)

12. You take your twelve-year-old son tothe ballgame, Reggie Jackson drops ahomerun right in your lap. What do youdo with the ball?

This is just a sampling of questions thatmay be asked. I have seen the clergycome up short on every question exceptthe last one. I shall try to witness thatsome day if possible. I am curious to seehow that one will be (whoopsl) fielded.

I am hoping you will see fit to publishthis letter. Any comments, pro or con,are invited.

Roland PriemMenominee Falls, Wisc.

Ed. note: We published it. And the com­ments are welcome.

Warns of AACS influenceI was saddened to see an advertisement,

larger than a half page in the May issue(p, 11), for what called itself "An Inter­national Christian Political Conference"to be held at Dordt College, August 26through 29, 1977.

I have read writings of the proposedspeakers and can assure the readers of theGuardian that none of them have disasso­ciated themselves from the Bible-denyingleadership of the Association for the Ad­vancement of Christian Scholarship(AACS) , of which this group is simply abranch. Some of the speakers themselveshave written and taken positions concern­ing the Bible that are in direct opposi­tion to the Westminster Confession; not­ably so, some of the articles by Dr. PaulSchrotenboer in his periodical (The in­ternational Reformed Bulletin) - and heis one of the speakers.

There can be neither political actionnor common agreement unless an in­spired and inerrant Bible constitutes thebasis of the "Christianity" said to under­lie the proposed party. What is done can­not really be that which the Lord Jesuswould have, unless it is done by thosewho are born again through faith in theatoning blood of Jesus Christ and whobelieve him to be very God and veryman - the promised Messiah - God comein the flesh.

Supporting Hendrik Hart when hewrites, "Biblical living can never besummed up in rules for faith and con­duct or faith and morals" (p. 123, TheChallenge of Our Age); accepting andpromoting "The Cosmonomic Idea" ­i.e., that all law arises from our observa­tion of creation and NOT from God's re­vealed law in the Bible, which is asserted

to be only for that age and culture inwhich they were written; and castigatingthose who preach the gospel because itrenders people "saved" instead of work­ing for change - all this guarantees thatas a political party this is not Christianin any biblical or redemptive sense.

These are not "orthodox" positions de­serving of the backing of Orthodox Pres­byterians or true Bible-believing Re­formed Episcopalians. What these well­meaning but misguided proponents ofCosmonomic doctrine are trying to docan only be done, actually, by true evan­gelism and not by dreamed-up politicalaction.

Robert K. Rudolph, Th.M.Reformed Episcopal SeminaryPhiladelphia, Penna.

A Ministry in HoustonThe Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amer­ica of Houston, Texas, desires to minister tothe needs of any who would welcome our min­istry and who are here to undergo treatmentin the Medical Center. If you have peoplewho need the ministry of other loving Chris­tians, contact: Rev. Laurie Jones (713-497­774) or Rev. Tom Hoolsema (713-495­7891), or write to the church at 2110 GrayFalls o-, Houston, TX 77077.

A Ministry in MemphisEastland Presbyterian Church (PCA) of

Memphis, Tenn., desires to minister widelyin the Mid-South area. Those moving to thearea, or those temporarily in the area formedical or military reasons, are urged tocontact the Rev. Robert L. Mabson (901­323-6578), or write to the church at 3741Jackson Avenue, Memphis, TN 38108.Services are held each Sunday 11 o.m., 5:30p.m., and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

FOR SALEFarmettes, 10-acre and larger - 35 milesfrom Washington, D.C. in beautiful ruralVirginia, near growing Orthodox Presbyterianchurch and fine Christian school, grades K­12 - 10% down, $3200 per acre, financ­ing available. For information write: CLEARSPRING FARMS, P. O. Box 1556, Leesburg,VA 22075 (703-777-7957 or -7959>.

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Page 13

..

~Genesi« 2:22

How responsible is a wife, who doesnot work outside the house, for tithingthe family income - especially when thehusband controls the purse strings?

-Would-be tither

Dear Would-be:From your letter I take it you are a

Christian and believe in tithing and yourhusband either is not a Christian or doesnot believe in tithing. I'll answer on thisassumption, since there would be noproblem otherwise.

You can do any number of things de­pending on the circumstances in yourhome. First of all, God requires a titheof all our income and if a man is theonly one earning an income and will notgive to the Lord, the woman is not re­sponsible for her husband's attitude oractions.

However, most every woman receivesat least some kind of allowance to runthe household on. A prudent woman canfind a way to tithe that sum and still beable to provide for her family in a wayacceptable to all. A wife should never besneaky about this, if her husband shouldobject. If her husband forbids her togive to the church anything that he earns,then she must not do so.

H this happens to you, try asking yourhusband if he will go along with an ex­periment - similar to that of Daniel andhis friends. Ask him to give you a trialperiod to use your house allowance inany way you see fit, reserving a tithe forthe Lord, and see if he is satisfied withthe job you do and will not then willing­ly let you continue. Ask God's help first,of course!

And a woman can also find ways evenwithin the strictest rules by sharing foodwith others who need it, for instance.Few men are tyrants to the extent of notallowing a woman to take a meal to some­one in need. Or, do you knit, sew,crochet? Use these talents and makethings to give to others who need them,as Dorcas did. Or even sell such things

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and give or tithe your income.If you cannot give money because you

have none, you can certainly find anynumber of ways of tithing your timefor the Lord. Service in the church.Baby-sitting for someone else so she canserve the Lord or learn of him. Howabout asking your pastor if you can dosomething to help him - type, file, ad­dress envelopes, make phone calls?

Don't overlook gifts of money that aregiven to you personally. These belong toyou. What joy many have expressed tome when they have been able to give oftheir very own to the Lord!

Let these be seed thoughts to producea harvest of further ideas.

-Sarah.

God's Plan

God gave us a Book to readand told us to talk to Him.

How uncomplicatedI

But man, in his arrogancehas dessicated that Book.

Theologian, scholars, haveargued, questioned, doubted,

And some have destroyedthe beautiful messagecontained therein.

Try it.Read it.

Listen.Pray.

And I assure you,"Mountains will be moved!"

Mountains of hate, greed, lust,doubt, fear, misunderstanding.

"Only believe,"the Book tells us.

"Faith as a little child,"Jesus said.

"The blind shall see."Your eyes will be opened,

To see the unusual in the usual­the great in the commonplace.

It's

MY GRAIN!" 't "t?" " "Isn I.

Julie Stone

I first came to grips with the "dying as agrain of corn" idea when I had a car-lessson who had a 7 a.m, class at a hospitalten miles from home. After this two-hourclass ended, he had thirty minutes to

"Cast out your netsand launch into the deep."

You will know the joyof faithfulness,of glorifying God,of pleasing Him.

"The hungry will be fed."The searchers,the spiritually hungry,

Will be fed that Wordof peace, assurance,comfort, strength, and grace.

"I nave come that you may havelife more abundantly."

Yours will be a life ofthe abundance of loving

and whole relationships,the abundance of worthwhile tasks.the abundance of needs to be met,

And the joy of satisfying those needs.

"Seek ye first His Kingdomand all these thingsshall be added unto you,"­

When you claim Christas your personal Savior and Lord,

And read His Book and talk to Him.

Dorothy G. Hake

Mrs. Hake is a member of CovenantOrthodox Presbyterian Church in Bur­tonsville, Maryland - and the mother ofStephen Hake, preparing to go as a mis­sionary to Taiwan.

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make his next class at school - ten milesfrom the hospital. This kept me on theroad a great deal during the morninghours!

Now, I'm what my husband sometimesdescribes as "disgustingly cheerful" earlyin the morning. So, the hour wasn't myproblem. It so happens those same hoursare my most productive - and I wasspending them in my car.

I keep a Bible in the car to read dur­ing moments when I'm waiting to pickup kids. One morning I was anotherJonah as I complained under my Toyota­gourd roof.

"Lord, you know I'm busy. I have

BOOK REVIEWSMary Lou Clemenson

Some Ways of God, by C. Stacey Woods,Inter-Varsity Press, 1975 ($2.95, paper).

The author weaves together some ofhis own personal history with that of theInter-Varsity Christian Fellowship andthe International Fellowship of Evan­gelical Students, with which he has beenassociated most of his life. But the bulkof the book is a commentary on the stateof evangelism, the church, and the in­dividual Christian, with good remediesprescribed for their ills. There are helpfulchapters on "Knowing the Will of God,""Christian Contentment," and "TheChristian in a Materialistic Society," thelatter two being especially needful in ourday.

For Reformed Christians, who some­times have little contact with funda­mentalist society, there are eye-openingglimpses of what wrong doctrine is lead­ing to in the lives of certain individuals.Equally interesting are the statistics onthe longevity of "converts" of popularevangelism.

Mr. Woods sometimes quotes with ap­proval certain preachers who happen toagree with him on a particular point but

July-Aug. 1977

four children at home. I do church work.I work at school. I garden. I sew. I callon the sick, wounded, and elderly. I doLadies' Missionary work. I'm tired. Myhealth isn't that good, and I need morerest...."

I'm sure I was impressing God withmy many activities! I was warming upto a much longer list when suddenly this"grain of corn" thing came into my mind.And reluctantly, I stopped my "prayer"and opened my Bible to read:

Truly I assure you, unless a grain ofwheat drops into the earth and dies, itremains single; but if it dies, it producesa rich yield. The one who hates his life

who, I am sure, would disagree with himon m~ny things he himself would con­sider important. This may mislead somereaders.

This book can be easily read in oneevening (if the kids are spending thenight at Grandma's and your husband isaway on a business trip), but it is longenough not to be superficial. It is a good"review" book of the Christian life andwill provide a quick but helpful "brush­up" for busy Christians. I wish especiallythat many of the "Four-Easy-Steps" typeof professing Christians would read itand heed its solid biblical teachings.

The Valley of Vision, A Collection ofPuritan Prayers and Devotions, ArthurBennett, Ed., The Banner of TruthTrust, 1975 ($4.95, paper).

Being relatively new to Calvinism, Iam revelling in the newly discoveredwritings of the Puritans, but had not yetcome across a collection of their prayers,nor had it occurred to me to look forone. And now here it is-another goodgift from our Heavenly Father! Theseprayers are those of citizens of theHeavenly Country and they will take youthere along with them. I would part withvery many of my books before I wouldpart with this particular treasure. Praisethe Lord again for The Banner of Truth!

Mrs. Clemenson is from Bridgeton,New Jersey, and attends the CalvaryOrthodox Presbyterian Church there.

in this world will preserve it to eternallife (.John 12:24, 25).

The Lord seemed to say to me, "If youneed more rest I'll take care of that.Right now it is important for you to taxiMatthew. Instead of wasting my timecomplaining, why not use this drivingtime praying. I'll take care of you. Julie,you need to die a lot more to self."

You know, I never resented the timein the car after that morning, eventhough that schedule lasted for two se­mesters. I went back to praying as Idrove.

For years I've prayed aloud when I'mdriving alone. (I've learned to switch tothinking silently at stop signs after sev­eral people obviously took me for alooney!) And since that day I've given alot more time and effort to "dying" to my­self. I find it's something I need to workon a lot. It was difficult to stop protectingmy "grain." It was difficult to plant it soas to bear fruit. But every step of theplanting process has been rewarding inthe spiritual sense.

Do you have the same problem? Giveup your "grain of wheat," friend. It willonly rot while in your keeping.

Mrs. Stone is a member of the GardenGrove (Calif.) Orthodox PresbyterianChurch.

Contacts in PhoenixHope Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCES)is seeking to establish itself as a strong Pres­byterian and Reformed witness in the south­east area of greater Phoenix, ond desirescontacts in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe, Ariz.If you know of persons who would welcomethis ministry, please call the Rev. Tom Trox­ell at 602-967-4242 or write the church atBox 27282, Tempe, AZ 85282.

Contacts in Illinois, MichiganThe Church Extension Committee of thePresbytery of the Midwest (OPC) is seekingto contact individuals who might be interestedin helping establish Orthodox Presbyterianchurches in Decatur, Illinois; Jackson, Michi­gan; and the Detroit metropolitan area. Ifyou know of any prospects, contact the Rev.Don Stanton, Oostburg, WI 53070, or call414-564-2581 (home) or 414-564-2300(office).

Page 15

Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to

7401 Old York RoadPhiladelphia, Pa. 19126

Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church ofWestfield, New Jersey, put a float in theMemorial Day Parade. It had never beendone before. It was a wild idea-but itworked.

The float turned out to be the onlyone in the parade, which was made upotherwise of marching bands, scouttroops, and various patriotic organiza­tions. But Grace Church had a float.

The idea of the float was initiated byTom and Dorothy Hannan, joint spon­sors of the Junior High Machen League,together with Neil and Janet Franklin. Itwas quickly picked up by the youngpeople and a number of other persons inthe church.

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Since the parade theme had to do withpatriotism and history, the winning ideafor the float was Kathy Hannan's,"Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is theLord:' A large Bible with that verse fromthe Psalm, as well as a global map of theearth, were constructed out of tissuepaper flowers fastened to chicken wire.

An enormous amount of work went in­to the project. Loud speakers on a bor-

Second Class Postage PaidAt Philadelphia, Pa.

rowed dump truck blared out Christianhymns and patriotic music played by abrass band, as the truck towed the float.

People all along the route clappedvigorously as the float went by. Youngpeople and their sponsors, riding on thefloat and in the dump truck, respondedwith equally vigorous waving. The townenjoyed the float, and those who made ithad a great time.

The impression was certainly giventhat Grace Church, with its clear com­mitment to Scripture and its vigorous as­sertion that Jesus is Lord, was not anaustere, stand-offish group, but one thathad enjoyment in life and somethingvery important to contribute to it.

The Westfield Memorial Day Com­mittee Chairman summed it up this wayin a letter: "I would like to take thisopportunity to inform you how pleasedthe Memorial Day Committee was withyour float. It was simply outstanding....I sincerely hope you can store the floatand use it again in 1978. Sincerely yours,A. Bruce Conlin, Jc"

This report comes from the Rev. AlbertG. Edwards, pastor of Grace Church. Thephotos are by courtesy of Mr. GeorgeKondak.

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