PRESBYTERY MINUTES

December 18, 2004 

WELCOME:
Presbytery was called to order at 9:00 AM.
Rev. Wagner gave the welcome from the host church and Elder Forney opened in prayer.

ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and all members of Presbytery were present, except for Rev. Morrow on account of his illness, and Dr. Butler who had to work. Joel Butler, man under care, was also absent due to his attendance at the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburg, PA.

THE DOCKET:
The docket was approved with the following additions under New Business:

· Discussion about the Coolville, Ohio church planting ministry.

· Discussion about having the various ministers all write sermons or articles against popular errors that are currently plaguing the churches.

Psalm 150 was sung.

ELECTIONS:
Elections were held and the following officers were elected:

· Moderator Rev. DeBoer
· Vice-Moderator Elder Forney
· Clerk Rev. Calel Butler
· Treasurer Rev. Wagner

VISITORS:
Mrs. Dymond and James Walters were welcomed as visitors from the West Wyoming congregation.

CORRESPONDING BRETHREN:
It was suggested and approved to have the clerk send copies of the docket to corresponding brethren before all Presbytery meetings.

MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY:
The minutes of the September 2004 were approved as corrected.

THE CLERK’S REPORT:
The clerk reported on the following correspondence…

· A letter to the Presbyterian Reformed Church sharing our concerns about Dr. Young’s health.

· Responses to the e-mails that were received from persons, mostly Jewish, who confused us with the PCUSA and were displeased with the latter’s actions vis-à-vis Israel.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Rev, Dymond gave the Treasurer’s report which was received.

CHURCH REPORTS:
Rev. Calel Butler gave the church report for Coolville, Ohio. The other reports had been previously distributed and read. The reports of the churches were received.

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN PRESS REPORT:
Rev. DeBoer reported on the latest publications…

· Overcoming Evil With Good, a book for young people, is at the printer.

· Hymns, Heretics, and History, Rev DeBoer’s history of hymnody, is at the printer.

· The APP is planning to co-publish Rev. Schwertley’s latest book on the justification by faith controversy.

· The APP is preparing for publication Charles Hodge’s, "The Great Awakening," an excerpt from his "Constitutional History of the PCUSA."

Sales of books are down and the APP requested the prayers and support of the presbyters in the work of distribution and sales.

The hits on the websites continue to increase overall, with a decline in hits for the APP’s website and a significant increase in the traffic to the APC’s website. Total hits for the latter is about 7000/month and 4000/month for the former.

INTERCHURCH COMMITTEE REPORT:
Rev. DeBoer reported on his contacts with Rev. Bacon and Rev. Schwertley both before and after their attendance at the Micro-Presbyterian meetings in Manassas, VA back in October. No progress was made towards any union by any of the communions represented. Particularly the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church declined to pursue merger talks with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hanover Presbytery. The main issue was membership in Masonic Lodges which is tolerated by the RPCUS, Hanover Presbytery.

PUBLICATION OF OUR STANDARDS:
There was a brief discussion on how to proceed with the proofreading of the standards preparatory to their publication. It was decided that non-typo changes, such as changes to the proof-texts that do not affect doctrine, will be reviewed at the next meeting, for approval by presbytery.

Licensure Of Joe Butler:
Rev. Dymond noted the lack of communication between the presbytery and Joel and his inability to attend meetings of presbytery. The clerk was instructed to contact Joel Butler and encourage more regular communication.

Ministerial Retirement Fund:
It was reiterated, as previously noted, that those who wish to labor with Elder Forney on this project should do so.
Presbytery adjourned for lunch with prayer by Rev. Dymond.

PRESBYTERY SERMON:
When presbytery reconvened Rev. DeBoer opened in prayer and Psalm 115A was sung.

The presbytery sermon was delivered by Rev. DeBoer after the singing of Psalm 115A. The scripture lesson was from 1 Corinthians 11. The topic dealt with the issue of the frequency of communion. He reviewed the various practices of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations. After reviewing the various Scripture texts that speak to the issue he concluded that although we have no explicit command with respect to frequency, the practice of the Apostolic Church may have been weekly communion and certainly seems to intimate at least frequent communion. Similar testimony was quoted from the church fathers and from Calvin. The conclusion stated was that although the APC should continue to practice sessional control with respect to frequency of communion, that the sessions might profit from reviewing this issue and perhaps make this blessed sacrament available to the Lord’s people on a more regular basis. The sermon was followed by the administration of the Lord’s Supper and the service concluded with singing of Psalm 118C and the benediction by Rev. Wagner.

NEW BUSINESS:

Coolville, Ohio Home Mission Work:
Presbytery appointed Dr. Butler as an accessory elder to form a session with Rev. Calel Butler to provide direction for the work. Rev. Butler will disseminate a bi-weekly prayer ist so that the specific needs of the mission can be upheld in prayer. Rev. DeBoer is to add the Coolwillw work to the church’s website.

APC TESTIMONY AGAINST ERROR:
Rev. Wagner proposed that the members of presbytery prepare sermons or articles that would specifically combat many of the errors currently plaguing Presbyterian and Reformed churches. This was approved and the following assignments were volunteered for…

Rev. Wagner: Justification by Faith Controversy-Specifically errors of Shepherd and Gaffin.
Rev. Butler: Open Theism
Rev. DeBoer: The New Perspective on Paul
Rev. DeBoer: The Framework Hypothesis
Rev. Dymond: Sabbath
Elder Forney: The Theatre

The sermons or articles are to be distributed to the presbyters before the next meeting of presbytery.

REFORMATION DAY STATEMENT:
It was recommended that individual members of presbytery sign the Reformation Day statement on the Trinity Foundation Website, which has a strong endorsement of the historic reformation theology with respect to justification by faith alone and a rejection of the new errors of the Auburn Ave. Theology, the New Perspective on Paul, and the errors of Norman Shepherd. It was authorized to have Rev. DeBoer sign on behalf of the American Presbyterian Church.

THE STATE OF THE NATION:
Elder Forney read Ezekiel 33:1-6 and Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-6. He stated his extreme concern about the state of our nation and moved that we compose a "Redress of Grievances" to send to our government with respect to all the wicked actions of this administration. After discussion it was decided to consider composing a national call to repentance . This is to be discussed at our next meeting.

CHURCH GROWTH:
Rev. Wagner’s motion to discus Biblical means of church growth at our next meeting was approved.

ADJOURNMENT:
The following dates were approved for Presbytery to meet during 2005.

· April 9, 2005
· September 24, 2005
· December 10, 2005

The December date will be reviewed at subsequent meetings to determine if Presbytery has sufficient work load to warrant having a third meeting in 2005.

The April 2005 meeting is scheduled to be held at 9:00 A.M. in Bordentown, NJ, D.V.

Presbytery was adjourned by the singing of Psalm 148 and with prayer offered by Rev. Wagner.