The Chairman asks Synod to sing Psalm 128:1-3, reads Malachi 2:10-17 and leads in prayer.

Synod goes in closed session to deal with appeals (agenda items 9.1, 9.7 and 9.12).

The acts of the closed session will be adopted in closed session at a later session.

Synod resumes in open session.

It is decided to invite Dr B A Zuiddam to sit in Synod as an observer.

Agenda items 12.4.4.1 and 12.4.5.1 Deputies report and supplementary report to Synod

1. To continue sister relations with the Free Reformed Churches of South Africa (FRCSA) according to the established rules.
2. To agree that it is desirable for deputies to aim to visit alternate Synods of the FRCSA.

1. The Free Reformed Churches of South Africa give evidence of continuing faithfulness to the Word of God, maintaining the Reformed Confession and Church Order.
2. The Free Reformed Churches of Australia and the FRCSA are both small bonds of churches confronted by very real challenges in this modern world. Their recent visit to us and our recent visit to them have shown that we can support one another, as well as learn from each other.
3. Synod 1990 decided "to concentrate on relations and contacts with churches who are geographically closer to us" (Acts, Art 58). Of our historic sister churches, South Africa is certainly the closest to us geographically.

Agenda item 12.4.4.2 Deputies report

To continue sister relations with the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin) according to the established rules.

No evidence has arisen suggesting that the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin) has departed from the Word of God, the Reformed Confessions or the Church Order.

Agenda item 12.4.4.3 Deputies report

To continue sister relations with the Canadian Reformed Churches according to established rules.

The Canadian Reformed Churches give evidence of continuing faithfulness to the Word of God, maintaining the Reformed Confessions and Church Order.

The Chairman reads a letter of greeting to Synod from the Canadian Reformed Churches.

Article 35

The Chairman asks Synod to sing Psalm 74:1-3.

Committee 3 presents its amended proposal.

Agenda Item 12.9 Deputies re: Classes Formation

Synod decides:

1. To thank deputies for their work.
2. To establish two classes instead of one.

Grounds:

1. Offer a two stage appeal process (Classis and Synod);
2. Allow for fewer delegates to Classis, giving more time for discussion and personal contact to the delegates;
3. Operate at a lower cost;
4. Give greater variety of persons delegates to Synod than the one classis model;
5. Will not quickly take on its agenda matters that belong to churches as a whole, and properly dealt with at Synod.

3. To change Article 41 Church Order so that it reads … "Classis shall convene at least once every six months in person …"

Grounds:

The great distances that lies between many of the churches and the high cost of travel discourages a classical meeting every three months.

4. To establish a boundary for the division of classes in the Metro area, and appoint the Tasmanian churches to Classis North, and the churches of Albany to the Classis South. From west to east, the border could run along Forrest Road, which runs into Armadale Road as far as the Albany Highway Junction. All churches established north or south of this line would belong to Classis North and South respectively. At this point of time, Armadale, Byford and Rockingham would be joined to the Albany churches, while Kelmscott, Mt Nasura and West Kelmscott would be joined to the Tasmanian churches.

The remainder of the proposals will be considered at the next session.

Last modified: July 10, 2000