The following article first appeared on rpwitness.org and is reprinted here by permission.
Pastor Gabriel Wingfield (Oswego, N.Y. RPC) got the RPCNA Synod off to a hope-filled Wednesday morning, preaching a convicting message from John 21:15-19 entitled “Feed my Sheep.” He noted that the three queries of Jesus to Peter parallel the three denials Peter made about Jesus during His trial. Delegates were challenged to consider how their ordination vows drive implicitly at his core question: Do I love Jesus? Delegates are blessed to be feeding on the Word through the devotional theme this week.
After a coffee break with fellowship, Synod returned and took up a report on the Reformed Presbyterian Home. A special study committee appointed in 2024 led the Synod in consideration of the relationship of the RPCNA and the Reformed Presbyterian Home. They brought a single, important recommendation to this 2025 Synod. The committee’s recommendation, approved by the Synod, recommends to the RP Woman’s Association (governing body of the RP Home) that they transition ownership and governance of the facility to another entity able to continue their ministry to care for seniors. An RPWA representative indicated the RPWA Board has communicated closely with the special study committee through the course of the past year. Both groups believe such a transition is prudent. The RPWA pledged to proceed towards accomplishing such a multifaceted transition.
Later in the day, Synod was able to enjoy hearing from RP fraternal delegates from Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia (with whom we have full intercommunion), plus fraternal delegates from three other NAPARC denominations. Our denomination will host the 50th Anniversary of NAPARC at Hope Community Church and at Geneva College Nov. 11-13. Dr. David Whitla (RPTS) will speak at the devotional service and Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn will speak for the 50-year celebration, to which all are invited. There are 13 member denominations in NAPARC. Each one is saying in some way that they/we are in need of additional trained leaders. The committee is collaborating with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Heritage Reformed Churches to host a future NAPARC consultation on theological education.
The RP Global Alliance is a worldwide collaboration of RPs across the world with whom we share full intercommunion. The Alliance is announcing a Global Day of Prayer scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5. This day of prayer in the church will be preceded on October 4 with 24-hour, online prayer meetings in each of our countries. The theme for this year’s online prayer will be “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name.” The Alliance is also working on a simple and attractive document entitled “What it Means to be a Reformed Presbyterian.” This will also be published in coming months.
A study committee on female deacons was appointed by Synod 2023 with the assignment of studying Scripture’s teaching on the office of deacon and the subject of ordination and to evaluate the church’s position on female deacons. A woman deacon was first elected in the RPCNA in 1888. As the committee points out, no official position statement or rationale was included with Synod’s decision that female deacons are in harmony with Scripture, though statements pro and con were given by elders outside Synod, including in denominational publications. In response to a 2002 paper to Synod seeking the removal of female deacons, the Synod affirmed the current position.
Of the current communication that came to Synod in 2023, the committee commends the work of the paper’s authors in carefully searching the Scriptures on the topic. The committee said, “While the paper tips the argument in one direction, it ultimately ends in the only place it can, with an admission of ‘some degree of ambiguity’ and the caution against being ‘rigidly dogmatic.’ Nevertheless, the paper invites us to establish policy based on a degree of probability, which this Committee thinks is a less than satisfying conclusion, and one not likely to result in broad agreement.”
The committee had planned on a vote this year. Their recommendation would have taken the sentence about female deacons out of the Testimony, while leaving the allowance for female deacons in the Directory for Church Government. However, a provision of the Directory for Church Government stipulates that “a major change in the fundamental law” requires one year’s notice before the vote can be taken. The Female Deacon Committee is giving formal notice of its intention to propose in 2026 a major change to the fundamental law of the RP Testimony regarding women deacons.
Other reports heard today included:
Church History Committee
Last year, archivists Ralph Joseph and John Mitchell retired, which threatens a significant loss of institutional memory and a lack of consistent, long-term, and synodical oversight of the archive. To address this, the committee has decided it would be wise that the temporary membership of the seminary’s main librarian and church history professor be adjusted to become standing members of the committee.
Trustees of Synod
The Trustees of Synod is grateful to God for His provision and to His people for their generosity, as the Reformed Presbyterian Mission & Ministry fund exceeded its goal for 2024. The Trustees began a new program this year, matching grants for congregations needing repairs and property improvements.
Committee on Abortion
The committee’s discussion focused on the need for stronger wording on abortion in the RP Testimony while avoiding confusing or unclear language. There was a desire to keep to biblical principles, allowing room for elders to minister to those under their care. At the same time, there was a concern that the RPCNA should speak clearly to the culture in which she ministers.
Present wording: “Deliberately induced abortion, except possibly to save the mother’s life, is murder.”
Proposed wording: “The deliberate and elective termination of the life of an unborn child is murder. When medical intervention to remove the child from the mother’s body is necessary to preserve the life of the mother or the child, all medically reasonable measures should be taken to honorably care for both the mother and child’s life and body.”
However, concern to “get this right” led to a voting down of the committee’s proposals, and a later vote to create a five-man study committee to do greater theological research rooted in the ten commandments and their application across Scripture. This committee will be appointed at this meeting.
Stated Clerk
In the past calendar year, there was a 1.2% decrease in the denomination’s total membership from 6,990 to 6,906, despite a small increase in communicant membership. There was a net decrease of 1 congregation and 3 mission stations. Two congregations organized in 2024: Las Vegas RPC and River Valley (Monaca, Pa.) RPC.
Youth Ministries Committee
The main event-planning focus this year is for the Youth Leadership Conference this July 17-21 for ages 18-24. This year the committee also looks forward to hosting YLC West at Golden Bell Camp & Conference Center (Colo.) with help from the local Springs Reformed and Black Forest congregations. Talks and seminars will be led by Johnathan and Evelyn Kruis from Fresno RPC, and the theme will be “Taking Every Thought Captive.” Please pray for this event and spread the word to your college-age youth, who may apply at rpymcs.com/ylc.
