Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
April 14, 2008
In accordance with the following notice, a special called meeting of Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest was held on Monday, April 14, 2008, at DeTroye Electric, Oostburg, Wisconsin. The notice as sent via email ten days ago was as follows:
Per BCO E1:4B, a special called meeting of Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest is hereby called for Monday, April 14th, 2008, at 2:00 PM CDT, at DeTroye Electric, Oostburg, Wisconsin, for the following purposes:
1. To elect a Moderator for Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest.
2. To approve the resignation of Rev. Gene Osborne from the Session of New London Presbyterian Church (now Grace Christian RPC).
3. To deal with the ministerial status of Rev. Gene Osborne, and any business arising from it.
4. To consider a communication to the RPCGA General Assembly with respect to the upcoming mission trips to India in August and January.
5. To deal with any
other
correspondence that may come before the court.
6. To deal with
any matter that may arise from this business.
I am sending this notice with return receipt requested. Based on my oral conversations with the presbyters, unless I hear differently, I will assume that each of you has given consent. I accordingly will certify that a sufficient number of presbyters has given consent for this meeting, and that notice is hereby sent to the members of the Presbytery.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank J. Smith, Ph.D., D.D.
Stated Clerk, Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
Order of Business
1. Call to order
2. Invocation
3. Worship: Scripture, exhortation, prayer
4. Roll call: elders and visitors
5. Reading of previous minutes
6. Communications
7. Reports of standing committees
8. Reports of special committees
9. Adoption of the agenda
10. Unfinished business
11. New business
12. Miscellaneous (announcements, items, requests)
13. Adjournment
Call to Order, Invocation, and Worship
Because of the unavailability of the announced meeting place, the meeting was moved to the house of Pastor and Mrs. Frank J. Smith, W2941 County Highway A South, Oostburg, Wisconsin, with the consent of all members present. The Stated Clerk called the meeting to order at 2:09 PM and opened with prayer. He called upon Pastor Justin B. Stodghill, who read I Timothy 6, presented an exhortation, and led in prayer.
Roll Call
The following members of the Presbytery were enrolled:
Grace Christian Reformation Presbyterian Church, Menasha, Wisconsin
Pastor Justin B. Stodghill
Reformation Presbyterian Church, Oostburg, Wisconsin
Ruling Elder Ron DeTroye
Ruling Elder Al Wilson
Pastor Frank J. Smith
Not in attendance was Pastor H. Eugene Osborne.
A quorum was declared present.
Also in attendance was Mrs. Penelope Smith of the Oostburg congregation.
Reading of Previous Minutes
Since the minutes of the two previous meetings had already been approved, there was no necessity to approve previous minutes.
Communications
The following communications were received: letters from an RPCGA official, responding to Justin Stodghill’s request for information (see pp. 6-9); a letter from Alastair Matthews regarding the ecclesiastical text (p. 10); a letter from Frank J. Smith regarding the potential Louisiana mission work and the next Presbytery meeting (p. 11); a letter from Al Wilson regarding a deacon-in-training and church property (p. 12).
Reports of Standing Committees
There were no reports of standing committees.
Reports of Special Committees
There are no special committees, and therefore there are no reports.
Adoption of the Agenda
It was moved, seconded, and carried that the Presbytery proceed with the business as listed in the call to the meeting.
Election of a Moderator
It was moved, seconded, and carried that Pastor Stodghill be elected Moderator of Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest. The Moderator assumed the chair.
Gene Osborne’s Resignation from the New London Session
It was moved, seconded, and carried to approve the resignation of Rev. Gene Osborne from the Session of New London Presbyterian Church (now Grace Christian Reformation Presbyterian Church). (NOTE: The congregation has already concurred in his resignation, though “with regret”.)
Gene Osborne’s Ministerial Status
It was moved, seconded, and carried to take the following action:
We declare that Rev. Gene Osborne, by his failure to take the RPCGA ministerial vows in a timely fashion coupled with his expressed unwillingness to do so, is no longer a member of this Presbytery. We hereby grant him a general letter of standing. We wish him well in his continued ministry, and recommend that he consider joining either John Knox Presbytery (RPCGA) or the Reformed Presbyterian Church Hanover Presbytery.
The general letter of standing will be appended to these minutes (see p. 13).
Communication to the RPCGA General Assembly Regarding India Mission Trips
It was moved, seconded, and carried for the Moderator to send a communication to the RPCGA General Assembly regarding mission trips to India. This letter will be appended to these minutes (see pp. 14-15).
Responding to Correspondence
It was moved, seconded, and carried to declare that, at this time, the way is not clear to establish a mission work in Louisiana, and therefore our previous action regarding this matter is, at this point, moot.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to approve Mr. Jonathan Ten Dolle as a deacon-in-training and to refer the matter of his training to his Session.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to approve the proposed agreement regarding church property found in Al Wilson’s letter, and to approve this for every congregation in the Presbytery.
It was moved and seconded to adopt the following statement as the official position of this Presbytery:
For the sake of our Protestant heritage in this generation and the generations to come, we hereby adopt this position in favor of an uncorrupted Scripture text. Only a Bible version which is translated from the providentially preserved text of Scripture (viz., the Old Testament Hebrew Masoretic text and the New Testament Greek Byzantine text form [particularly, the Textus Receptus]) should be used as a pulpit Bible. This Scripture text is that which has been “immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages” (Westminster Confession of Faith, I:8); and which underlies all the Reformation translations, including the Authorized Version (King James). Paraphrased Bibles and ones translated from a text produced by textual critics are unsuitable for being pulpit Bibles, since they represent a distortion of, rather than being, the actual Word of God.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to refer this matter to the next stated meeting of the Presbytery.
It was moved and seconded to respond to the correspondence from an RPCGA official in response to Pastor Stodghill’s inquiries, by adopting this statement:
We appreciate the time and effort which has been put into helping us to understand the RPCGA culture. Without prejudicing our position or hereby expressing our opinion with respect to the matter of whether we are a totally new presbytery, we hereby note that per the terms of the Provisional Covenant of Union, we retain the prerogative to withdraw from the RPCGA until December 31, 2009; and further that if we do not take positive action by that date to give final ratification to the Provisional Covenant of Union, we will no longer be in union with the RPCGA as of thirty days after a failure to act.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to refer the matter to the next stated meeting of the Presbytery.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
New Business
Pastor Stodghill gave a report on his congregation, whose name was changed recently from New London Presbyterian Church to Grace Christian Reformation Presbyterian Church, and whose focus of ministry has changed as of April 6, 2008, to Menasha, Wisconsin. It was moved, seconded, and carried to refer the matter of obtaining another elder for Grace Christian RPC to the next stated meeting of the Presbytery.
Miscellaneous
The Stated Clerk announced that, in accordance with the action of this Presbytery at its September 2007 meeting, the next stated meeting of this Presbytery is scheduled for September 12-13, 2008.
Finally, the Stated Clerk noted that he had changed a typographical error on p. 8 in this court’s September 14-15, 2008, minutes (“8:50 PM” has now been corrected to “8:50 AM”).
Adjournment
The Moderator closed the meeting with prayer and the pronouncement of the benediction. The meeting was adjourned at 4:16 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank J. Smith, Stated Clerk
[email, dated April 2, 2008]
Dear
Rev. Best:
Sir, per Dr. Talbot's advice, I am writing to
request the official position of the RPCGA on two important matters
(below).
First, could you please explain in a little detail
the office and function of the moderator at the Presbytery
level?
Can a Presbytery function without a
moderator? Can the
moderator be any elder, or should he be a minister in order to hold
the office? Is a consensus of presbyters required to call a
meeting of Presbytery or does the moderator have the authority to
call the meeting? Is there any precedent for the stated clerk
having the authority and performing the duties as moderator in the
absence of an elected moderator?
Second, when the Reformation
Presbytery of the Midwest (RPM) became a part of the RPCGA through
the Provisional Covenant of Union (PCU), did the RPM cease to exist
as an independent Presbytery and become, in essence, a new entity as
a Presbytery in the RPCGA? If that is the case, then is there
not historical precedent that a minister who was a part of RPM as an
independent Presbytery is no longer a minister in the RPM, RPCGA if
he did not take the RPCGA vows with the rest of the elders?
[I
am think of Gordon Clark failing to take vows after a
J&R].
In other words, aside from an administrative comment in the minutes
stating that such-and-such minister is not a member of the RPM,
RPCGA, is there any further action required by the
Presbytery?
[For sake of background, I am of the position that a simple
annotation in the minutes will suffice and that absolutely no
disciplinary measures should be taken against a minister if, for
conscience' sake, he failed to take the vows upon adoption of the
PCU].
Thank you, Sir, for your patience, wisdom and counsel.
We are scheduled to have a Presbytery meeting on 14 April. If
at all possible, it would greatly assist us if you could answer our
questions prior to the convening of that meeting.
--
Very Respectfully,
Yours Aye and Semper Fidelis,
Rev.
Justin B. "Piper" Stodghill, Pastor
Grace Christian RPC
(Reformation Presbyterian
Church)
http://www.gracechristianrpc.org/
1015 Babcock
St.
Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 486-1822
(608) 774-7583
Office of Legal and Ecclesiastical Counsel
Dr. Kenneth Gary Talbot
P.O. Box 6321 / Lakeland, Florida / 33813
April 3, 2008
Rev. Justin B. Stodghill
Pastor
Reformation Presbyterian Church
Neenah, Wisconsin
Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
Dear Pastor Stodghill:
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is rich upon all that call upon His Name!
Rev. Reed Best, General Assembly Moderator, asked me to respond to the question that you sent to him concerning Mr. Gene Osborn as it relates to his standing in Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest since becoming a part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly.
According to the Provisional Covenant Union, Section A ‘Joining and Receiving’ Section 2, the Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest agreed to “abide by the Book of Church Order of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly, except to the stipulations as noted in this document.” This clearly denotes that once the Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest voted and signed the documents of Provisional Covenant Union and its officers who took vows with the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly, the Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest (independent) ceased to exist as an independent presbytery and was dissolved by the actions of its officers and was legally and ecclesiastically reconstituted as a ‘new presbytery’ with the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly. We discussed this with your committee in Atlanta, Georgia, as we covered the proposed union. Therefore, in following the directives of the Book of Church Order, under provisions B4:8 of the Book of Church Order entitled ‘General Qualification for Elders’, Section G states as follows: “He [elder] must relinquish his membership in any and all other churches or denominations since he must have only one ecclesiastical affiliation…”. This transaction of membership was triggered by the vows required of the officers in order to be received into the membership of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly (see B5:7). If someone is arguing that Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest exists as previously independent and as united to the denomination, that would be impossible! It would constitute dual membership which is in violation of the Book of Church Order. You will also find that in Section D4 entitled ‘The Presbytery’s Jurisdiction’, under Section 1A the Book of Church Order states: “The court of presbytery shall have jurisdiction over all church officers, who are on the roll of presbytery, and the members of each particular congregation. The names of officers shall be added or removed only by an order of the presbytery. No officer shall remain on the role of presbytery for more than two years without a call. Elders shall be suspended from voting privileges after one year without a call”. And further in Section B we read: “The court of presbytery shall consist only of those elders who are on the roll of presbytery.” Actually, the Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest left Mr. Osborn behind by voting to join with the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly and taking vows of membership. Since ‘jurisdiction’ is based on officers who have taken vows of membership with the denomination, and thereby are considered “on the roles of the presbytery” the fact is that Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest (RPCGA) does not have ‘jurisdiction’ over Mr. Osborn. Further, when I spoke to Mr. Osborn about his joining the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly, he clearly understood that by not taking the vows, he would lose his legal and ministerial standing as well as his credentials.
The Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest need only to make a footnote in its minutes that Mr. Osborn determined not to take vows of membership and transfer with the other officers of the presbytery into the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly. That he is therefore without a call, ordination, or legal standing in this denomination. Actually this action should have been taken as a matter of house cleaning when Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest voted to join the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly. Also, if Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest wanted to deal with issues concerning Mr. Osborn, it should have been done prior to voting to join and their taking of vows. The Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest cannot deal in a defacto manner now with Mr. Osborn. Legally and ecclesiastically, Mr. Osborn is not accountable to or a member of Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest (RPCGA). Since you have just dealt with this same type of issue coming out of the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, I am having a hard time understanding how anyone could think differently? This would be ‘precedence’ for the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church to argue that they still retain ‘jurisdiction’ over Reformation Presbytery, even though you have dissolved your relationship with them and reestablished your jurisdiction under the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly.
I hope this helps and I would encourage Reformation Presbytery to get on with the business within your bounds and authority.
As to your other question, I believe Rev. Best is answering that, but I would have you note that (1) the Book of Church Order makes not provisions for the Stated Clerk to assume the position ‘even temporarily’ as the moderator (see B11:6); Therefore, (2) B11:6A requires that there must be a moderator: “In the judicatories of the church (general assembly, synod and presbytery) there shall be a moderator as presiding officer in order that business may be conducted with order and dispatch.” Please note that the term ‘shall’ is not the same as the term ‘may’. Shall means ‘must’, it is not optional, it is a requirement (see The American Heritage College Dictionary). (3) Historically the ‘superintendent’ in the Scottish Church was a ‘minister’. The Committee of the BCO barrowed from this historic practice because due to the small size of our denomination in order to press forward in our ministry within the presbyteries and general assembly. The ‘precedent’ that has been set since the beginning of the RPCGA is to have a ‘minister’ serve in this capacity, and no other officer has ever served who was not a minister ‘pastor’. One of the reasons for this is because the Moderator is given the function to ‘advise elders’ essentially ‘shepherding shepherds’. Further, both John Knox and Westminster Presbyteries are proposing language to clarify this at the 2008 GA in Chattanooga, TN; (4) Presbytery may be called by either a Moderator or by two-thirds of the voting elders according to B11:6B and E4:B2.
Your servant in Christ,
Kenneth Gary Talbot
cc:
Rev. Reed Best (Moderator, General Assembly of the RPCGA)
Rev. Randal Talbot (Moderator, Westminster Presbytery)
Rev. Greg Poorman (Moderator, John Knox Presbytery)
4-13-08
Dear esteemed Elders, Brethren and Delegates,
I, Mr. Alastair N. Matthews, Licentiate of this presbytery, would like to formally propose that the Reformation Presbytery of the Mid-West review, then adopt in the interest of both present and future generations, the following textual statement:
“Protestant, reliable and uncorrupt Bibles for pulpit and pew are a translation of the providentially preserved Old Testament Hebrew Masoretic text and
the New Testament Greek Textus Receptus text which underlines all the Reformation translations including the Authorized Version (King James). Paraphrased Bibles, study Bibles with interpretive notes and ones translated from a text produced by textual critics (an eclectic text) are unsuitable for church use being an interpretation of, rather than the uncorrupted Word of God.”
Submitted with due sincerity and humility,
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Mr. Alastair N. Matthews
W2941 County Highway A South
Oostburg, Wisconsin 53070
(920)564-6207
April 14, 2008
To Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
Dear Fathers and Brethren:
First of all, let me bring to your attention a recent telephone conversation I had, which bears on action we took at our February 1, 2008, meeting. On March 28, 2008, I spoke with Mr. John Hogue of Newellton, Louisiana, with respect to his helping to organize a mission church in St. Joseph, Louisiana. Based on that conversation, I referred him to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (which has a new congregation in Calhoun, Louisiana), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church Hanover Presbytery.
Given this latest development, I believe that it would be appropriate simply to note that, at least at this time, the way is not clear for the establishment of a mission work under our auspices in Louisiana, and that our prior action at this point is moot.
Secondly, as we continue to get acclimated to the culture of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly, one factor which has become evident is that presbyteries do not have to meet very often in order for the efficient conduct of business.
In light of that reality, and in view of the fact that by today’s meeting we will have already had two meetings this year, I would suggest that we either cancel the next stated meeting (September 12-13, 2008), or at least postpone it until next year or beyond.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank J. Smith, Stated Clerk
W2721 County Line Road
Cleveland, Wisconsin 53015
(920)565-2833
April 14, 2008
To Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
Dear Fathers and Brethren:
As Clerk of Session of Reformation Presbyterian Church, let me bring two matters to your attention.
First, Mr. Jonathan Ten Dolle had been approved by our Session as a deacon-in-training. Since in the RPCGA ordination is under the auspices of the Presbytery, I would request that the Presbytery deal with how to handle his training.
Secondly, our Session has before it a proposal, “An agreement with respect to congregational property”, which reads as follows:
Per BCO E2:6, Reformation Presbyterian Church, through its Session, hereby makes the following provisions regarding congregational property.
1. If the congregation should withdraw per BCO B10:14, or should the congregation be separated from the RPCGA, all of the congregation’s property will go with the congregation.
2. If a majority of the congregation wishes to leave the RPCGA, but the Constitutional provisions for leaving are not met (as in there not being a two-thirds majority voting in favor of withdrawal, or in the case where the Presbytery or other higher court does not deem fit to find that there is a sufficient rationale for leaving), the assets of the congregation shall be amicably and equitably divided according to the percentage of those who desire to leave and those who desire to remain.
3. The elders of the congregation shall have authority to put these provisions into effect. Should the elders be unwilling or unable to act, the deacons (or others designated by a majority of the congregation) shall have like authority.
I would like you to approve or give advice regarding this proposal. Thank you!
Cordially,
Al Wilson
Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
W2941 County Highway A South
Oostburg, Wisconsin 53070
(920)564-6501
April 14, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
This is to certify that Pastor H. Eugene “Gene” Osborne has been granted a general letter of standing by this Presbytery. We wish him well in his continued ministry.
Very truly yours,
Frank J. Smith, Ph.D., D.D.
Stated Clerk
To the General Assembly of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly
Dear Fathers and Brethren:
At a special called meeting on April 14, 2008, the Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest voted to communicate with you our desire that the General Assembly of our denomination send a communique to the brethren in India to whom we are ministering. We realize that we cannot formally place a motion before you. We are accordingly approaching you in the spirit of the Provisional Covenant of Union C:5, which speaks of our ability to send "recommendations" to your attention. Attached, therefore, please find the proposed letter that I have written on behalf of the Presbytery.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
--
Yours Aye and Semper Fidelis,
Rev. Justin B. "Piper" Stodghill, Pastor
Grace Christian Reformation Presbyterian Church
Moderator, Reformation Presbytery of the Midwest
Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly
http://www.gracechristianrpc.org/
1015
Babcock St.
Neenah, WI 54956
(920) 486-1822
(608) 774-7583
We are grateful to King Jesus for your faithfulness and zeal, brethren, and pray that our Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will equip and strengthen you daily in the knowledge of His holy Word as you daily strive to establish faithful congregations for the worship of God and the proclamation of the Gospel of peace. We join you in praying daily for the spread of the Gospel in India as we pray daily for the spread of the Gospel in the United States and around the world. We join you with our prayers and love as you struggle each day with the threat and realization of persecution for the sake of the Gospel, particularly in Orissa. Be strong, dear brethren in the Lord, and be of good courage, knowing that Christ Jesus is the King and Head of the Church and His kingdom is sure and everlasting against which nothing shall at any time prevail. With the apostle Paul, therefore, we encourage you with these words:
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the Church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.” [Colossians 1:9-18]
For your encouragement and for the strengthening of your faith, we are sending our brother and fellow minister to you with the greetings and prayers of all the saints here with the full blessing of the General Assembly here gathered and agreed in the unity of fellowship on 16 June 2008. Be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ, brethren, knowing that He will both establish and develop you in the power of His Holy Spirit for the glory and honor of His holy Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is King of kings and Lord of lords to the glory of the Triune God and the furtherance of the kingdom of God and edification of His saints everywhere. In His blessed Name, therefore, we bid you peace. Amen.