Monday, June 27 Tuesday, June 28 Wednesday, June 29 Thursday, June 30

THE 174TH SYNOD IS UNDERWAY IN PENNSYLVANIA

JONATHAN WATT IS ELECTED MODERATOR

RETIRING MODERATOR SPEAKS ON GODLY DECISION MAKING

Psalm 133, a song of Christian unity customarily sung at the adjournment of
Synod, was sung tonight (June 27) to open the 174th Synod of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church of North America. Geneva College, the RPCNA college in
Beaver Falls, Pa., is the host for this year’s meeting.

Rev. Ralph Joseph, moderator of last year’s Synod meeting, preached for the
opening night’s worship service. With Synod delegates about to make a number
of important decisions, Rev. Joseph focused their attention on the godly and
ungodly decision making depicted in Psalm 1. The first psalm was read, sung,
and preached.

After the roll was called for the first time and the 100-plus delegates
responded, those present for the first time were introduced. Ruling elders
introduced were:

Don Lamont, Seattle, Wash., RPC
Bob Bibby, Lafayette, Ind., RPC
Terry Magnuson, 2nd Indianapolis, Ind., RPC
Charles Saunders, Triangle (Raleigh-Durham, N.C.) RPC
Mike Clark, Covenant (Meadville, Pa.) RPC

Two elders present for the first time as teaching elders were:

Richard Holdeman, Bloomington, Ind., RPC
Brad Johnston, Walton, N.Y., RPC

For this Synod on the Geneva campus, it was fitting that a Geneva professor
was elected moderator. Rev. Jonathan Watt was unanimously elected, after
having been nominated by Pastor Jeff Stivason, who called Watt his mentor.
Prof. Watt said he hadn’t anticipated the election, and would even have to
consider how to handle his summer classes this week in order to fulfill his
duties as moderator.

There was a brief memorial service for servants of the church who have
passed away since the last meeting of Synod. Those remembered included one
pastor/professor, Willard McMillan, and two missionaries, Marjorie Sanderson
and Geneva Patterson Rutherford. Also, four ruling elders and one pastor’s
wife were remembered.

The Business of Synod Committee presented its recommendations on the only
two communications, or papers, that were submitted this year. The first
communication asks that Synod appoint a committee to create a new directory
for worship. Just last year, a major Synod committee on worship finished its
work; but, prior to that, several attempts to draft a new directory for
worship failed to pass a Synod vote.

The second communication is an appeal of an action of Midwest Presbytery.
The Business of Synod Committee is recommending that this paper go to
Synod’s Judicial Committee, and that a special committee be appointed to
consider the first communication.

On this muggy summer evening, delegates met in air-conditioned John H. White
Chapel in Geneva’s Old Main. The rest of Synod’s meetings, through
adjournment Thursday afternoon, will be held in Skye Lounge of the Student
Center.

Tuesday’s long session is set to cover a plethora of reports, focusing on
the work of the RPCNA’s seven presbyteries, on educational ministries, on
interchurch relationships, and on administrative matters.

--Drew Gordon, editor
Reformed Presbyterian Witness