PRESBYTERY MINUTES

Presbytery was called to order at 9:00 AM.

Rev. Wagner gave the welcome from the host church and Rev. DeBoer opened in prayer.

The presbytery devotion was delivered by Rev. Wagner. The scripture lesson was from Romans 3. The topic dealt with the current controversy in Reformed and Presbyterian churches concerning the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He noted that it is incredible that this doctrine could be questioned and that it needs to be revisited. He stated that certain distinctions need to be made to rightly understand this doctrine. He asked the rhetorical question do Paul and James actually disagree. He noted that some try to reconcile them by postulating salvation by faith plus works. The answer given is that true faith produces good works, and that faith justifies our person and our good works justify our faith and manifests our faith to men. That is Calvin says that we are justified by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness before the bar of God and James says that our faith is manifested before men by our good works. By contrast, in Matthew 7: 21-23, men appealing to their works for justification will told "depart from me ye that work iniquity." By way of example David was justified by God in spite of his terrible sins of murder and adultery and Jehu was not justified in spite of the fact that he did some good works. The Reformed teaching on justification was reviewed from chapter 11 of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Rev. Wagner then noted that this teaching was under attack by several groups. One group was identified as Professors Shepherd and Gaffin. A second group was identified as N.T. Wright and James Dunn, the latter teaching that obedience to the law s required for remaining in the covenant and obtaining the life to come. The Biblical doctrine was expounded from Romans 3 and 4 and it was noted that Shepherd and Gaffin taught from Romans 2 that men will be judged at the last day by their works, the latter explicitly affirming that this is a judgment of believers and not of unbelievers. Gaffin’s views were more thoroughly exposed by reading some of the transcript of John Kinnaird’s trial before the Philadelphia Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian church. As Romans 9 teaches, Israel failed to be justified because she sought it by works and not by faith. Works are involved in our justification, not our works, but the perfect work of Jesus Christ.

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

THE DOCKET:
The docket presented by the moderator was approved as amended by the following additions under New Business.

1. Discussion of APC relationship with the Reynolds Foundation.

2. Planning for 25^th Anniversary of the APC.

3. Licensure of Joel Butler

4. Letter to Presbyterian Reformed Church w.r.t. Dr. Young.

5. Support of Myamar Mission-Chin Psalter

VISITORS:
The following visitors were welcomed by the Presbytery. Deacon Barry Lyons of the Westminster congregation and Mr. James Walters and Mrs. Dymond of the West Wyoming congregation were seated as visitors, as was Rev. David Elmer of Manasquan, NJ Orthodox Presbyterian Church, who was granted the privilege of the floor.

MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY:
Minutes of presbytery for December 20, 2003 were read and approved as read.

THE CLERK’S REPORT:
The Clerk reported that all communications received for the Presbytery will be covered under the report of the Interchurch Committee. Dr. Butler read the letter he was commissioned to write on behalf of presbytery to extend our thanks to Robert Eisenzoph for his diligence and faithfulness in his care of Rev. Morrow during the latter’s prolonged illness.

THE TREASURER’S REPORT:
The Treasurer’s report was presented by Rev. Dymond, and received.

THE REPORTS OF THE CHURCHES:
The report of the Westminster congregation was read by Elder Forney, who also gave a report on the status of Rev. Morrow’s health. Rev Dymond led the presbytery in prayer for the Westminster congregation as did Dr. Butler for the West Wyoming congregation and Elder Forney for the Bordentown congregation. It was MSA to receive the reports of the churches.

THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN PRESS REPORT:
The Report was given by Rev. DeBoer the Editor of the APP. Due to his teaching position at Integritas Academy and other commitments, book sales have been down and publishing projects, such as the following, have been delayed.

· The publication of his book, "Hymns, Heretics, and History." The manuscript is in final stages of proofreading and editing, and an appendix reviewing the Trinity Hymnal is being added. .

· The publication of an extract from Charles Hodge’s "Constitutional History of the PCUSA" covering the Great Awakening and the Schism of 1741, containing his defense of the Old Side. The work has been scanned into an electronic copy and only the typesetting and the writing of an introduction remain to be done.

Statistics for hits on the websites were not available as the site that tracks them was down the week before Presbytery. Work on the websites has also been more sporadic because of Rev. DeBoer’s schedule however the following additions of new material have been accomplished…

· Dr. McIntire’s book, "The Death of a Church," documenting the continuing apostasy of the PCUSA after the conservatives separated, that culminated in the new confession of faith of 1967, has been scanned and posted on the APC website. This continues the series of posting electronic versions of books covering the history of Presbyterianism in America.

· A series of articles condemning the recent film, "The Passion of the Christ" and defending the historic Reformed with respect to idolatry, the meaning of the second commandment, and images of deity, were also posted on the websites.

· A number of new book reviews, some dealing with the ongoing controversy over justification by faith alone were also posted.

The Presbytery voted to disburse $500 for cover past expenses for and future advertising of the websites.

THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE REPORT:
Rev. Dymond, the Treasurer gave the report of the Investment Committee. The interest on all of Presbytery’s accounts are very low. It was MSA to receive the Investment Committee’s report.

THE INTERCHURCH COMMITTEE REPORT:
Rev. DeBoer presented the report of the Interchurch Committee. He presented a report from Rev. Bacon of the American Reformation Presbyterian Church on the status of that church as well as on their mission to Myamar. The latter continues to be plagued by the mindset of the "Reformed" community in Myamar that is disposed towards "rice Christianity." Rev. Bacon’s hope is for the coming generation of younger leaders that will share the vision of the three selfs…self supporting, self governing, and self propagating. Currently they have a Psalter for the Chin people in their own language (Falam) in typesetting as they plan to continue to support the Reformed community there with instruction, guidance, and Reformed literature in their own language.

Rev. Elmer was granted an opportunity to report on his church. He discussed the efforts of the New Jersey Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to pass a resolution condemning the theology of Norman Shepherd. He noted the confusion at the General Assembly of the OPC with respect to the Kinnaird case, and that the New Jersey Presbytery failed to pass Rev. Bancroft’s resolution respecting that case because they were confused at to what actually occurred at the Assembly in the Kinnaird case. It was MSA to receive the Interchurch Committee’s report.

REVIEW OF SESSION MINUTES:
Rev. Dymond and Elder Forney reviewed the session minutes of the Bordentown Church.

At this time the body recessed for lunch which was provided by the host church, and reconvened at 1:30 P.M.

Calel Butler:
Calel, who has been licensed by the Presbytery to preach, and has been assisting in the Bordentown congregation, is planning to relocate to Ohio. It is hoped that once he is established there, he will be able to labor towards planting an American Presbyterian Church there. Once he has a call to a church then he can be ordained. Calel discussed his plans with the Presbytery and Rev. DeBoer led the Presbytery in prayer for Calel.

Ministerial Retirement Fund:
Elder Forney spoke briefly on his proposal for financing such a fund. All who are willing and able to do so, may work with Elder Forney to implement his proposal.

Preaching by Ruling Elders:
Rev. Wagner spoke to the issue noting the Scriptural distinction between ruling elders and those who labor in word and doctrine. He also noted the historic practice of, whenever a teaching elder is not available, having a ruling elder read a sermon prepared by a teaching elder. Finally, he noted that our standards require a man to be licensed to preach before he may do so, and that ruling elders are not licensed to preach. Dr. Butler spoke to the other side of the issue, noting that the Pilgrim Church allowed ruling elder to preach based on the text that all elders are to be "apt to teach." After further discussion, a motion to study the issue further, and present papers on the matter, failed, and out current constitutional position was sustained without need for further study.

Setting the Time and Place of Presbytery Meetings:
It was MS&A to authorize the moderator to prepare a schedule for Presbytery meetings for the coming year to be presented to the body at the December meeting. This will replace the current method of deciding the time and place of the next meeting at the end of each meeting. This will allow for better long range planning.

Relationship of the American Presbyterian Church to the Reynolds Foundation:
Rev. DeBoer expressed his concerns about the heretical views being disseminated at a personal level by Dr. Reynolds, the founder of the Reynolds Foundation. Although these are not the official views of the Foundation, in the public mind this distinction may not be discerned, and this could seriously harm the reputation of the American Presbyterian Church, as several members of Presbytery are associated with the Foundation in one way or another. Rev. Wagner also expressed his concerns. The heretical views of concern included the following…

· Justification by works.

· Denial of original sin.

· Denial of God’s predestination of events.

· That God will grant some unconverted sinners a second chance at the last judgment.

· Open theology with respect to God, so that God can set aside his divine attributes, such as omniscience at will, and that God deliberately does so at times.

· That God created a non-Adamic race of women for Adam’s sons to marry to avoid the sin of incest.

Dr. Butler, who knows Dr. Reynolds the best, on a personal level, and has spent a great deal of time and effort counseling Dr. Reynolds with respect to these views, gave a report on Dr. Reynolds state in response to the conclusion of Rev. DeBoer that Dr. Reynolds must either be senile or apostate. Rev. DeBoer reiterated his concerns about the reputation of the APC should these personal views ever be published. Presbytery exhorted all members associated with the Foundation to use all their influence to prevent the Foundation from ever adopting or propagating any of these views and the understanding was reached that should that happen all APC members would resign from the Foundation.

The 25^th Anniversary of the American Presbyterian Church:
The American Presbyterian Church was founded in a meeting at the West Wyoming Church in September 1979. It was decided to hold the 25^th anniversary meeting of Presbytery there next September 18^th D.V. There will be an anniversary banquet the evening before and there will be special presentations on the history and work of the American Presbyterian Church. Reverends DeBoer, Dymond (Pastor of the host church) , and Wagner were appointed to a committee to make all the necessary arrangements.

Licensure of Joel Butler:
Joel Butler, a man under care of Presbytery, has just completed his second year of seminary studies, and is planning on a summer internship at a RPCNA congregation. As this may involve occasionally preaching he needs to be licensed to preach by the Presbytery. Rev. Wagner brought this issue before the body and recommended that Joel be examined on most parts of trial as soon as he returns from seminary and if possible receive temporary licensure so he can proceed with his training and internship. This was approved and will be scheduled with Joel at a mutually convenient time.

Letter to the Presbyterian Reformed Church:
Dr. William Young, pastor of the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Rhode Island, has been stricken ill and has been hospitalized recently and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. It was decided to have the clerk send a letter to the clerk of the PRC expressing our concern for the state of Dr. Young’s health and our prayers for his full recovery.

Support of the ARPC’s Mission to Myamar:
It was approved to send a $500.00 gift to support this mission to Myamar, especially to underwrite the production of a Psalter in the Chin language.

TIME & PLACE OF NEXT MEETING:
It was MS&A to meet, D.V., in West Wyoming, PA at 9:00 AM on Saturday September 18, 2005. (Note: An anniversary banquet is scheduled for the evening of Friday, September 17, 2004).

ADJOURNMENT:
Presbytery was adjourned by the singing of Psalm 133 and with prayer offered by Dr. Butler.