The first in-person and second meeting of the new RPCNA Canadian Presbytery took place at the Ottawa RPC building from the 4th-6th October, 2022. All the congregations were represented by their minister and multiple elders. It was working Presbytery marked by highs and lows.
The highs included, after a considerable investment on the part of all the ministers and elders, the adoption of a new Constitution for the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Canada. The date for the formal establishment of the RPCC was set as the 24th of March, 2023. Reports from the congregations show that the Lord is blessing His church, including granting a desire for new elders in the Ottawa, Kitchener, and Toronto congregations. The fact that our sole student under care, Mr. James Zhou, passed his final three exams was also a cause for thanksgiving. We were further encouraged by reports from the Communications Committee of the work being done on the Presbytery social media platforms and the new Presbytery magazine to be published in January 2023. The plans revealed by the Camps and Conferences Committee for the new Outdoor Adventure Youth Camp to be held in the summer of 2023 were also an exciting development in the vision to provide more opportunities for the young people of the new national church to get to know one another.
The disorganization of the Edmonton RPC and the Redemption RPC congregations was undertaken with much sadness by the Presbytery. These extremely difficult decisions were taken after the Presbytery had considered the facts presented in the requests from the Edmonton RPC Temporary Governing Body and the Redemption RPC Session and followed serious, sober discussion.
The request of Vancouver Associated Presbyterian Church to join the future Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada was warmly received, and a committee was appointed to work through the details. The final act to the Presbytery was to arrange ‘Calls’ to be processed for Mr. James Zhao to the West Vancouver Chinese RP Mission Church and Mr. Kevin Jia to the Vancouver Chinese Mission Church. Upon these calls being accepted, these two men will be ordained (in the case of James) and installed (both James and Kevin) to the ministry.
(A word of thanks to Mr. Spencer Clafton, who catered for the men during the three days, Mr. Norm Fry, who served quietly, taking care of a number of needs and Mrs. Karin Foster, the Presbytery Admin Secretary, who sorted travel, hotel, and took care of technical matters.)
Thanks to Rev. Dr. Andrew Quigley, Clerk of Presbytery for writing this report.
