| Introduction Last week I traveled to New Jersey and Pennsylvania on denominational business. The purpose of the trip was to attend the meeting of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) and to meet with representatives of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) concerning full fraternal relationship. Tonight I would like to do three things: 1. explain to you why trips and meetings like this are important; 2. explain several terms that we use in talking about relationships between churches; 3. report on the trip and meetings. I. Trips and Meetings like This One Are Important and We Should Invest in Them. Every Christian is united to all other Christians through our union with Christ (Rom. 12:4-5, Eph. 4:25). This is a universal reality. We don't have to do anything about that because it happens at the moment we believe. We are also called to show this reality in public practice, Eph. 4:1-6, Jn. 17:20-21. Notice that Jesus's prayer goes beyond Christians congregating in a local church. It has a global aspect to it – "so that the world may believe." This means that we are called to a biblical ecumenicity, that is, we are called to efforts towards the visible and organic unity of different Christian churches in some form. Biblical ecumenicity does not involve compromise in doctrine or practice. Rather, a common faith drives it instead of ignoring differences. This is an important principle in Bible Presbyterian ecclesiology. Our Form of Government says, "The Bible Presbyterian Church declares itself to be a branch of the catholic visible Church of Christ and further declares its willingness to hold Christian fellowship with all other such branches of the Church" (FoG 2:4). To that end, our synod has established a committee to investigate and recommend potential relationships. The current members of the committee are Kevin Backus (Grand Island BPC), Len Pine (Providence BPC), Jim Blizzard (Lakeland BPC), Ben Robison (Wilson Presbyterian Church), and Morris McDonald (Suncoast BPC). II. Definition of a Term – Fraternal Relationship A fraternal relationship is an official relationship between two denominations that allows and facilitates cooperation in ministry. There are several levels of fraternal relationships in the BPC and in each level there could be negotiated variances. The first level is investigation. At this level, two denominations are willing to talk with one another to see if there is a potential for a deeper relationship. The next one is corresponding relationship. Fellowship here happens at the highest level of the denominations. Each denomination exchanges its minutes and delegates and extends consultation prior to serious constitutional changes. Full fraternal relationship is highest level of relationship. Delegates are exchanged at presbytery level as well. Cooperative missions, exchange of pulpit, transfer of membership of ministers and members, and diaconal ministries may happen without major obstacles. III. Report on the Trip and Meetings The NAPARC meeting took place Tuesday and Wednesday in Pompton Plains, NJ. This annual meeting provides ample opportunities for the representatives for each denomination to meet with each other in bilateral meetings. The plenary sessions are made up of reports from each denomination and questioning by assigned representatives. The following denominations are members of NAPARC: 1. Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC) – 33,263 members. 2. Canadian Reformed Churches (CANRC) – 18,679 members. 3. Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ) – 364 members. 4. Free Reformed Church of North America (FRCNA) – 4,968 members. 5. Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) – 2,171 members. 6. Korean American Presbyterian Church (KAPC) – 80,000 members 7. Korean Presbyterian Church in America (KPAC) 8. Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) – 31,191 members 9. Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) – 370,332 members 10. Presbyterian Reformed Church (PRC) – 300 members 11. Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) – 3,696 members. 12. Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (RPCNA) – 7,035 members. 13. United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA) – 23,935 members. We met with the Heritage Reformed Congregations and invited them to establish a corresponding relationship and they will recommend it to their denomination. The RCUS approached us and requested an initial investigation into a potential relationship. On Thursday, we met with the OPC's Committee on Ecumenicity at its headquarters in Willow Grove, PA. Their entire committee plus their stated clerk were there. They were very gracious and kind. They accepted our invitation to enter into full fraternal relationship and will recommend it to their General Assembly in June. http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2016/11/naparc-report.html |
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