This article was first published in ‘a little strength’ Periodical for the Atlantic Presbytery of the RPCNA. Used by permission.
The Atlantic Presbytery met in Ridgefield Park on March 20-21, and the theme of our meeting was quickly established as theological students and new contacts.
After a few years of going easy on the new guys, the presbytery decided it was high time to elect one of the newer pastors as moderator. Hunter Jackson nosed out Andrew Kerr by a single vote. He groused, got up, and did a great job. That was the only close vote of the meeting.
Pastor Jackson introduced Micah Jack and recommended that he be received as a student under care (potential pastor in training). If you look carefully, you may see a pattern, since Pastor Howe brought Michael Howarth before us a few years back.
Our students under care are now James Allmond, Michael Howarth, Micah Jack, Dan Roggow and Stephen Sutherland. Elder David Klussman is taking examinations towards being licensed for more regular preaching. Having this many students to examine is a good kind of busy. Either we are only receiving capable students, or perhaps we are going soft. All the students passed their examinations, and none of them received even a single no vote. There’s always the fall meeting.
The presbytery dealt with a variety of other matters. Bill Edgar wrote a paper critiquing the work of Synod’s Women Deacons committee. Presbytery endorsed the paper by a 15-4 vote and forwarded it to Synod. We discussed how to address matters of concern at Geneva College and in another presbytery.
We also learned that Coldenham (formerly Coldenham-Newburgh), is hoping to call a pastor in a few weeks. So is White Lake. Elkins Park celebrates its 175th anniversary on May 2.
Perhaps the highlight of the meeting was the arrival of a group of Chinese-speaking brothers from the Queens Borough of New York City. After some consideration, the presbytery approved the recommendation of the Ridgefield Park session and made Reformed Covenant Church a mission church of the Atlantic Presbytery. If you know Chinese-speaking Christians in Queens or Brooklyn, please point them their way. We will also examine the man presently preaching for them, as we seek to bring their situation into regular order. We are glad that we have Chinese-speaking pastors elsewhere in the country who are able and eager to help.
Please pray for Reformed Covenant Church, and also for the Oneonta Mission Church in upstate New York. Pray for the men listed above, and for the Cambridge, White Lake, and Coldenham congregations as they look for pastors. Finally, please pray earnestly for God to revive the Walton, Coldenham, and Ridgefield Park congregations.
John Edgar
