The Chairman reopens Synod, asks those present to sing Psalm 122:2, reads from Scripture at Malachi 1 and leads in prayer. All delegates are present.

Synod adopts the following time schedule:

Monday to Fridays: 9.00am to 12.00 noon

1.30pm to 4.30 pm

7.30pm to 9.30pm

A proposal from the executive to place Acts of Synod also on the Internet is adopted, on the proviso that the matters of personal nature are excluded. Also in matters relating to other churches discretion will be used.

The final draft agenda is presented.

1. Opening by convening church
2. Signing of attendance list and examination of credentials
3. Election of officers
4. Constitution of Synod
5. Delegates agreement with Three Forms of Unity
6. Adoption of Agenda
7. Adoption of meeting procedure
8. Examination of sermon proposal – Dr Zuiddam
9. Incoming correspondence from:

1. FRC Kelmscott, appealing decision of their classis and second appeal church
2. FRC Byford, appealing Article 93 of Acts 1998
3. FRC Byford, appealing Article 122 of Acts 1998
4. Rev G VanRongen, requesting permission to use Synod acts
5. FRC Mt Nasura, regarding proposed change to Church Order
6. FRC Launceston, request for preaching examination for Dr B A Zuiddam
7. Appeal re decision of consistory and classis church
8. FRC West Albany, proposal date and place for next Synod
9. FRC West Albany, regarding report of Deputies Training for the Ministry
10. FRC West Albany, proposal regarding relations with the RCNZ
11. FRC Albany, proposal regarding relations with RCNZ
12. Appeal re classis church decision
13. FRC Mount Nasura, proposal regarding contact with RCA
14. FRC Mount Nasura, proposal regarding printing of Australian edition of Book of Praise
15. FRC Launceston, regarding Article 10 of Acts of Special Synod 2000
10. Instructions
11. Reports by classis churches
12. Reports of deputies and discharge of deputies

1. Archives and Library of Synods
2. Inspection of the Archives and Library of Synods
3. Synod Treasurer Report
4. Relations with other Churches
1. General Secretary’s Report
2. Deputies Relations Reformed Churches (Other Churches)
1. Reformed Churches of Australia
2. Reformed Churches of New Zealand
3. Free Reformed Church of the Philippines
4. Indonesian Reformed Churches (GGRI and GGMM)
3. Deputies Relations Presbyterian Churches
1. Presbyterian Church of Australia
2. Free Church of Scotland, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ireland, Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland
4. Deputies Relations Sister Churches
1. Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
2. Presbyterian Church of Korea
3. Canadian Reformed Churches
4. Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
5. Supplementary Reports
1. Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
2. Reformed Churches in the Netherlands
3. Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
4. Reformed Churches of Australia
5. Training for the Ministry
6. Nicene Creed
7. Pulpit Exchange
8. Civil Registration of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia
9. Formation of Classes
10. Church Visitation reports
11. Article 48 and 76 of the Church Order
12. Article 66 of the Church Order
13. Audit Report for the books of Deputies for Training for the Ministry
14. Synod Audio Equipment
15. Needy Churches
13. Audit of the books of the treasurer and discharge of the treasurer
14. Calculation of the percentages of the churches share of Synod costs
15. Appointment of deputies
16. Appointment of convening church and place and date of next Synod
17. Questions according to Article 41 of the Church Order
18. Personal Questions
19. Adoption of Acts
        19.1 Adoption of Acts Extraordinary Synod 1 and 2 March 2000
20. Approval of press release
21. Censure according to Article 47 of the Church Order
22. Closing of Synod

ADOPTED

Article 10

Committee Division and Tasks

The executive proposes the following committees:

Committee 1

Members: Rev de Boer (convenor), Rev Poppe, N Louw, B Bosveld, K Heerema and F Veldhuis

Items and Agenda numbers:

Agenda item 9.1: FRC Kelmscott appealing decision of their classis and second classis church

Agenda item 9.7: Appeal re decision of consistory and classis church

Committee 2

Members: Rev Veldman (convenor), Rev Bouwman, A Byl, H Olde, F Postmus and J van der Linden

Items and Agenda numbers:

Agenda item 9.2: FRC Byford appealing Article 93 of Acts 1998

Agenda item 9.3: FRC Byford appealing Article 122 of Acts 1998

Committee 3

Members: Rev van der Jagt (convenor), Rev van Delden, Rev Kroeze, F Bakker, J Plug and P Terpstra

 Items and Agenda numbers:

Agenda item 9.12: Appeal re classis church decision

Agenda item 12.9: Formation of Classes

ADOPTED

Article 11

Request for preaching examination for Dr B A Zuiddam

Agenda item 9.6: FRC Launceston request a preaching exam for Dr B A Zuiddam be arranged at this synod.

Proposal to agree to this request.

ADOPTED

Article 12

Sermon proposal Dr B A Zuiddam

Proposed that a printed copy of the sermon proposal by Dr B A Zuiddam be distributed to delegates before its delivery.

ADOPTED

Article 13

Appeal from FRC Launceston regarding preaching consent Dr B A Zuiddam

Material:

Agenda item 9.15: Letter from Launceston advising they cannot accept the decision of Article 10 of the Special Synod 2000 and ask for a revision.

Decision:

Not to grant the request of Launceston.

Grounds:

Although Br B A Zuiddam had been declared eligible for call in the sister churches (and therefore did not need to have his sermon checked), the Extraordinary Synod found his sermon proposal inadequate for ordination. In that situation it is not advisable to allow the brother to continue to preach without any assistance/guidance being offered. For that reason it was correct for the Extraordinary Synod to apply the guidance it did.

ADOPTED

 Article 14

Examination sermon proposal Dr B A Zuiddam

After requesting Synod to sing Psalm 23: 1-3, the Chairman invited Candidate B A Zuiddam to deliver his sermon proposal. The text was John 10:1-18. Following the completion of the sermon proposal, Synod went into closed session.

Synod decides that the proposal is satisfactory and approves the call extended to Candidate B A Zuiddam by Launceston.

Article 15

Adjournment

Synod resumes in open session and the Chairman announces the result of the examination. On behalf of Synod he extends congratulations to Br Zuiddam.

Rev Veldman asks Synod to sing Psalm 84:6 and leads in prayer. The chairman adjourns Synod.

 

Last modified: July 10, 2000