PRESBYTERY MINUTES

Presbytery was called to order at 3:00 PM.
Rev. Dymond gave the welcome from the host church and opened in prayer.
Psalm 138 was sung.

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 responsibilities at the church he is serving. Elder Harold Forney was also absent, but was in route (He arrived shortly).

THE DOCKET:
The docket was approved as amended.

VISITORS:
Rev. Bacon of the ARPC was welcomed and granted the privileges of the floor. James Walters, the James Dymond family, and the Michael Baloga family, were also in attendance and welcomed.

REPORT ON JOEL BUTLER:
Rev. Wagner gave a report on the meeting to examine Joel Butler for licensing to preach. It was approved to conditionally license him while he completes the remaining parts of trial. The special meeting of presbytery for that purpose was then closed.

ORDINATION OF CALEL BUTLER:
Calel was questioned with respect to his call and gave his testimony regarding his call to plant an APC congregation in southeast Ohio. A discussion of his call and the situation in Ohio ensued. It was approved by presbytery to recognize and support Calel’s call to labor as gospel minister in Coolville, Ohio. It was also decided to have the individual congregations of the APC have a day of prayer and fasting for this work.

Psalm 119B was sung and the ordination sermon was delivered by Dr. Butler. The sermon was based on Leviticus 10 and discussed the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood and made application to Calel’s situation. Rev. Wagner asked the questions required by our standards of the candidate and this was followed by the laying on of hands by the presbyters and Rev. Bacon. These all then extended Calel the right hand of fellowship. This was followed by Rev. Dymond giving the charge to the candidate, from Joshua 1:6, 1 Timothy 3, and 2 Timothy 2. The ordinations service was closed with the singing of Psalm 119-the 13^th part.

ANNIVERSARY BANQUET:
Presbytery reconvened around 5:30 PM at the Victoria Inn and dinner was served about 6:00 PM. Mr. James Dymond said grace and the meal was enjoyed by all. This was followed by an APC trivia session conducted by Rev. Dymond after which Psalm 25 was sung. Rev. Bacon gave the after dinner address, opening with prayer and reading from Genesis 50, verses 22 through the close. It was a powerful exposition of this passage and greatly stirred and encouraged the brethren. The evening was closed with the singing of Psalm 15and by prayer and a benediction by Dr. Butler.

Presbytery was reconvened at 9:00 Am by the singing of a psalm and by prayer.

FRATERNAL GREETINGS:
Fraternal greetings were presented by several ministers from other communions. Rev. Elmer of the OPC, who had planned to attend, but was unable to come because of a funeral, sent fraternal greetings in a letter that was read by Rev. Dymond. Rev. Nelson, also of the OPC, gave his greetings in person, briefly addressing the assembly, as did Rev. Bacon of the ARPC.

HISTORY OF THE APC:
Rev. DeBoer gave his address where he reviewed the history of the American Presbyterian Church reviewing our roots in Scotch Presbyterianism, our exodus from the BPC, the struggles of our formation and the early years, and the course of the church up to the present. This was concluded by the singing of Psalm 136.

THE DISTINCTIVES OF THE APC:
Rev. Wagner gave a speech on the distinctives of the APC. This was not so much a delineation of these distinctives or a defense of them as much as it was scriptural defense of the importance of maintaining sound doctrine and all of God’s truth and being faithful to all the commands of Christ even when it means having denominational distinctives that separate us from other communions.

This was followed by a short time where brief testimonies were made respecting members of the American Presbyterian Church who have passed on to the next world. The morning session was then closed by prayer led by Elder Forney.

After lunch presbytery was reconvened with the singing of Psalm 1. A recording by Rev. Morrow, who could not attend by reason of his ongoing illness, was then played, wherein he sent his greetings for the 25^th anniversary of the APC and exhorted the brethren. Prayer for Rev. Morrow was then offered up by Dr. Butler.

THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE APC:
Rev. Dymond gave an address on the steadfastness of the American Presbyterian Church. He gave a definition of steadfastness, reviewed seven ways in which the APC has been steadfast, and referenced numerous scriptures including 2 Timothy 3:14, Romans 2:7, 2 Thessalonians 3, 1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Timothy 1:13, and Titus 1:9. This was concluded by the singing of a psalm.

THE FUTURE OF THE APC:
This address was given by Rev. Calel Butler. He opened with prayer, reviewed the current ministries of the APC such as the ministry of the churches, door to door evangelism, the testimony of the websites and the American Presbyterian Press, and exhorted the brethren to persevere in the preaching of the word of God and that the future of the APC was in persevering in these labors. This was concluded by the singing of Psalm 115.

THE REPORTS OF THE CHURCHES:
It was approved to receive the reports of the churches as previously distributed.

MINUTES OF PRESBYTERY:
The minutes of presbytery for April 24, 2004 were approved.

THE TREASURER’S REPORT:
It was approved to receive the treasurer’s report as previously distributed.

RELATIONSHIP OF THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TO THE REYNOLDS FOUNDATION:
Rev. Wagner read a proposed letter of resignation from the Reynolds Foundation for all the members of presbytery who are associated with it. This was discussed and approved and the letter, which reviewed the heretical teachings the Foundation’s founder, Dr. Stephen Reynolds, has come to embrace, repeatedly called it to repentance, and declared the resignation of all APC members from the Foundation, was signed by all the members of presbytery.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING:
There was a time of prayer when members of presbytery and Rev. Bacon offered up prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord for the twenty five years that he has raised up and preserved the American Presbyterian Church.

TIME AND PLACE OF THE NEXT PRESBYTERY MEETING:
It was approved to have the next meeting of presbytery in Bordentown, NJ, at 9:00 AM, on Saturday, December 18, 2004. The presbytery sermon will be by Rev. DeBoer.

Presbytery was adjourned by the singing of Psalm 23.