Definition of Evangelical

The following definition of evangelical was adopted by the 1976 General Synod (and set forth in the Manual of Authorities and Duties): “The word ‘evangelical’ comes from a Greek root meaning ‘good news’ and it refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a broad sense, evangelicals are people who believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word and that an individual can become a Christian only by accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Evangelicals believe:

1. The Bible alone, being God-breathed, is the Word of God Written, infallible in all that it teaches, and inerrant in the original manuscripts. (2008 Minutes of Synod).
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His Virgin Birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through the shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. That for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. In the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Abortion

We believe that the Scriptures clearly and plainly testifies to the infinite worth of human life by virtue of man having been created in the image and likeness of God, and that decisions about life and death are God’s prerogatives and not man’s, and that even in the case of rare exceptions such as judgments by medical personnel about highly technical medical problems, human judgement should always stand in submission to the divine judgement and wisdom of God.

We also believe the Scriptures point up a unique relationship between God the Creator and the unborn child. And, therefore, regarding the divine mysteries of the conception and development of human life, we dare make no other inference than the conclusion that it is not for men basically to be the determiners of life and death, even for the unborn child. Therefore, in all instances, one should seek to preserve the life of the unborn child.

(Minutes of the General Synod, 1981, p. 402 & 403)

WHEREAS, the dark and tragic night of abortion continues to overshadow our land, and

WHEREAS, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church has previously declared its opposition to the hideous practice of elective abortion, and,

WHEREAS, some 22 million preborn children have been “legally” executed in the United States of America since January 22, 1973, and

WHEREAS, God’s law is immutable and we His servants are called upon to be “salt and light”, and

WHEREAS, euthanasia and other practices which diminish the sanctity of human life are now gaining prominence in our nation,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Northeast Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, memorialize the General Synod of said church to designate the Sabbath nearest to January 22 of each year to be recognized as the “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday” in all churches of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and that every minister of said church be asked to mark the day with appropriate Biblical messages in which the members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church are exhorted to seek out and practice non-violent measures attempting to oppose abortion and to promote the sanctity of human life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Principal Clerk of this Church notify the Congress of the United States of America as to the action of this, the highest court of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
(Minutes of the General Synod, 1988, p. 567)

“Be it resolved that the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in its 192nd meeting, held at Flat Rock, N.C., June 10-13, 1996, reaffirm its strong position against abortion which was adopted in 1981, and, in light of the horrendous practice of partial-birth abortion being carried out in our society and being recently endorsed by the President of the United States, go on record to protest this evil which is nothing short of the murder of children and an offense to Almighty God in whose image all humanity is made.

“Be it further resolved that this protest be sent to the President of the United States with the humble but fervent request that he reconsider his position on this issue and that he do all that is in his power to save and protect these defenseless children.

“And be it further resolved that the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church be in prayer for the President of the United States, to the end that the One who holds the heart of the king in His sovereign hand might turn that heart to the path of justice and truth.”
(Minutes of the General Synod, 1996, p. 325)

Homosexuality

Sexuality, Sin, and the ARP – A Brief Explanation of the Statement
(Approved during the 2019 General Synod)

Our Shorter Catechism in Q.1 begins with a focus on the purpose of God’s making humanity out of nothing that centers our minds and thoughts on the relation between the Triune God and his creation. In every way God is God, and we are not. Therefore, when beginning to consider the question of humanity’s relation to one another in regards to the 7th Commandment all things must begin with his revelation to us.

William Whitaker, A Disputation on Holy Scripture, expresses it this way: “. . . Scripture has for its author God himself; from whom it first proceeded and came forth.Therefore, the authority of Scripture may be proved from the author himself, since the authority of God himself shines forth in it.”

While humanity was created without sin (Gen. 1:27-28), the Bible declares the way in which humanity fell into sin and misery (Gen. 3:6), and the manner in which we are to be redeemed from sin (Gen. 3:15, 21). The effect of sin is more than just the division between God and his creation. Adam’s transgression damages the image of God in humanity (Rom. 1:23), and thereby our ability to obey the law of God in heart and life (Rom. 2:15, 8:7). The work of Christ restores this image (Rom. 5:1-2, 17, 8:29). Part and parcel of the Christian life is the call to be transformed into the image of the Son (Rom. 12:1-2). This means that the believer is to love the Law of God and to loathe sin in all its forms (Rom. 13:14). This abhorrence of sin includes not just the physical separation of the Christian from those things that bring uncleanness, but also in our thoughts and desires (Matt. 5:28). The 10th Commandment marks out particularly the way in which our heart is involved in the violation of God’s Law (Ex. 20:17). This is especially the case when we consider our spiritual union with Christ (1 Cor. 6:15-20, 1 Peter 1:13). In the aforementioned thirteenth chapter of the Paul’s letter to Rome the Apostle makes it clear that the approach of the Christian is to be different from the world around them. In the closing verse cited above he writes, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Earlier in this same chapter Paul will list the 7th, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Commandments and testify that to sum them up in the 2nd greatest commandment (Matt. 22:39) means to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).

Loving oneself in the context of the Christian life means self-control, by faith and trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, to sanctify the flesh and the heart (1 Thess. 5:23-24). There is no sense whereby we can separate these two realities. To sin in thought is to sin in act (Deut. 15:9). The Bible knows no doctrine which would make it acceptable to not only divide thoughts from acts, but that would make it acceptable to understand oneself as being able to accept certain sins as incapable of mortification (Col. 3:1-7). This goes for every one of the Ten Commandments, as thoughts and deeds are inherently linked. Likewise, the Apostle makes it clear that there is no part of our being which is outside the Lordship of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Therefore, teaching that it is possible to entertain sin in any form is to go against the counsel of God (Mark 7:21-22, James 1:14-15) and goes against our call of bringing those in danger of hellfire out from the flames (Jude 1:23), as well as truly loving ourselves enough to flee from unrighteousness and to love all that is good (1 Cor. 10:14, Amos 5:14-15, Rom. 12:9, Titus 1:8).

Thinking biblically about the particular issue of sexual orientation is itself grounded in the bonds of Gospel love of neighbor, self, and of God. If it be the case that the believer is to love the commandments (John 14:15), then any kind of intercourse outside the bonds of marriage set by the Lord Jesus Christ is in and of itself always sin (Gen. 2:24, Ex. 20:14, Lev. 18:22, Deut 7:2-4, Matt. 19:4-5, Rom. 1:24-27, 1 Cor. 5:1, 1 Cor. 6:18-20, 2 Cor. 6:14-5, Gal. 5:19-21, 1 Thess. 4:3-5, Heb. 13:4). As was noted before, this includes not only the act of fornication, but the consideration of concupiscence, i.e., the lusts of the flesh by the heart and the mind (Jer. 13:27). The only orientation recognized as lawful by the Holy Scriptures is that which places our being to the glory of God and His Word.

For the full statement, click here.

Scripture

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God without error in all that it teaches.
(Minutes of the General Synod, 1979, p. 23)

We believe Christ is the Son of God. We believe God the Father gave His Son to save us from our sins. We believe that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us through the Holy Scripture which is the Word of God written. While we do not have the original autographs as evidence, we believe on faith that God’s Word in its entirety was accurately recorded by the original writers through divine inspiration and reliably transmitted to us. We affirm that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone.
(Minutes of the General Synod, 1979, p. 76)

The position of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church on Scripture is that the Bible alone, being God-breathed, is the word of God written, infallible in all that it teaches, and inerrant in the original manuscripts.
(Minutes of the General Synod, 2008, p. 514)

New Perspective/Federal Vision Theology

Synod adopted the Position Statement from the Theological and Social Concerns Committee, Minutes of Synod 2009. Click here to read the statement.

Women in the Life of the Church

Everywhere there are winds of change in modern culture and society. In the secular world, time-honored role patterns for men and women have undergone considerable change as women have begun to fill roles which were traditionally reserved for men. The church has not been isolated from these changes and, because of this, the church is faced with both a danger and an opportunity. On the one hand, the church faces the ever-present temptation to conform to the dictates of modern culture. This must be resisted if God’s Word is to continue to speak with full authority to us. On the other hand, the church has the opportunity to reexamine issues that were long thought, perhaps wrongly, to have been settled. Through such reexamination, teachings of Scripture that have been hidden or distorted may be recovered and speak to us with a new power. This report will examine the role of women in the life of the church and the question of women serving in ordained church office.

Download the Women in the Church position paper (PDF).

Historicity of Adam

That The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church adopt the following affirmations and denials:

1. We affirm that Adam and Eve were special, unique direct creations of God, created in His image, with Adam being formed from the dust of the ground and Eve being made from his side; as such, they were real human beings and the first man and woman;
2. We affirm that the account of the creation of Adam and Eve as found in Genesis 1 and 2 is history;
3. We deny any teaching that claims that the account of creation of Adam and Eve, as found in Genesis 1 and 2, is mythology;
4. We deny any theory that teaches that Adam and Eve descended from other biological life forms and that such a theory can be reasonably reconciled with either the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church or Holy Scripture.
   (Minutes of the General Synod, 2012, pp. 503, 505)

Marriage

The General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church affirms the Biblical standard for marriage, one man and one woman.
(Minutes of the General Synod, 2012, p. 564)

Slavery and Racism

We, the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, do confess the sinful failings of our church in the past in regard to slavery and racism.

We reaffirm that all people are created in the image of God.

We also reaffirm our historic stance that the Gospel should be offered freely to all sinners regardless of race or ethnicity through the preaching and teaching of God’s holy, inerrant and infallible Word.
(212th General Synod, June 2016)

Report to Synod on Women Being Required to Register for Selective Service and Service in Combat

That the following position statement be adopted by the General Synod: The Word of God gives no warrant expressed or implied that women are to be conscripted into military service or required to participate in military combat. Therefore, the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church opposes the registration of women for Selective Service and the assignment of women to combat duty or to duties which involve a significant risk of engaging in combat.

The 211th meeting of the General Synod adopted a recommendation from the Committee on the Minister and His Work “That Synod have the Committee on Theological and Social Concerns study the matter of women being required to register for Selective Service and being required to serve in combat.”

Since the meeting of Synod the Defense Department has acted to open all combat roles to qualified women service members. Senior military leaders and members of Congress have recommended requiring women to register for Selective Service. This action removed the rationale used in the most recent Supreme Court decision upholding the restriction of Selective Service registration to men, and it is widely believed that changing the Selective Service Act to include women is only a matter of time.

The Committee on Theological and Social Concerns reviewed major reports adopted by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) regarding the matters assigned to us. These reports deal with exegetical, confessional, ecclesiastical, historical and practical issues related to women being drafted and/or serving in combat, and both clearly state opposition to both of these actions. However, both reports also serve to illustrate the complexity of these issues, and both reports included strong minority dissent. Among the issues raised was: whether or not the positions taken by the assemblies constituted counsel or mandates, matters which impact women who might volunteer for combat or for military service when involuntary assignment to combat was possible; and pastors, churches, and chaplains who counsel prospective or existing service members.

Subsequent to the adoption of the OPC and PCA reports, the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel, of which the ARP Church is a member, included in Section V of its handbook a helpful summary of those reports and guidance for chaplains which could also be useful to pastors and sessions. That summary and the OPC and PCA reports themselves are sufficiently comprehensive to provide the pastors and sessions of our General Synod with the information they need to counsel women on decisions regarding military service in the current situation, and appropriate links are attached to this report.

However, because the ARP Church has taken no position on the issue of women being required to register for Selective Service and serve in combat, our pastors and sessions are left without an official denominational policy to guide them in these matters, and perhaps more important, our women are left without an official denominational position upon which to assert a conscientious objection to such requirements.

In 2006, the Committee on Inter-Church Relations informed the meeting of General Synod that NAPARC had requested that member churches affirm the following statement: “The Word of God gives no warrant expressed or implied that women are to be conscripted in or employed for military combat roles, but rather they are to be defended by men and kept from harm’s way that they might fulfill their biblical callings and duties under God.” The first part of the NA- PARC statement is clear and well supported by the OPC and PCA reports, but the second part raises issues that are problematic. For example, does “kept from harm’s way” mean that women should be kept from serving in other potentially hazardous occupations? The ARP Church took no action on the request from NAPARC, but given the possibility that women members of our churches soon may be confronted with these issues, adopting a position is warranted.

Links to Documents: http://www.opc.org/GA/WomenInMilitary.html
http://pcahistory.org/pca/aiscwim.html#2
http://pcamna.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PRCCMP-

Virtual Communion

(Submitted June 2022 by Committee on Theological & Social Concerns to the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church.  This was approved as a position paper at Synod 2022.)

Communion (hereafter referred to as the Lord’s Supper), by its very name, is a coming together of the people of God in fellowship around a covenant meal, instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, at the Lord’s Table. During the pandemic of 2020, the use of live streaming and other media to broadcast worship services (“virtual worship”) became more prevalent in many of our churches. While this served as a stopgap measure for churches which may not have been meeting together in person, and while this may serve as an aid for those who are not able to attend public worship because of infirmity or similar reasons, the church must not regard such use of media and technology as an acceptable substitute for meeting together. Watching a public service through a TV, computer, or phone screen is not the same as gathering with God’s people for public worship on the Lord’s day, and sessions should encourage the members under their spiritual care to be present for worship whenever possible.
When it comes to the Lord’s Supper, this is especially true. The New Testament assumes that Christians will meet together, in person, to receive the sacrament. When Paul gives instructions to the Corinthian church on how they should be observing the Lord’s Supper, no fewer than four times he points to them meeting/gathering together, in person (1 Corinthians 11:18, 20, 33, 34). Furthermore, the Standards of the ARP Church require the sacrament to be administered by an ordained minister, an action that would be impossible through a video screen (WCF 27.4, 29.3; WLC Q. 169; FOG 9.6.A; DPW 8.c (3)). While extraordinary providential circumstances may prohibit the administration of the sacrament for a time, this should be a cause for lament and prayer by sessions, not a reason to seek out innovations. The public gathering of Christians for worship, including the Lord’s Supper, must be a priority for the spiritual welfare of congregations.
_________________

¹Directory of Public Worship II.5 and Form of Government 1.2, 6.8.L and M, and 9.6.A.
²See DPW III.
³The DPW acknowledges that “other days of public worship may be provided besides the Lord’s Day, but it is both the happy privilege and the solemn duty of all God’s people to assemble for worship on the Lord’s Day as they are able” (see DPW IV.4). Such gatherings, however, should also be under the authority of the minister and session, per DPW II.5 (see also FOG 1.2, 9.6, 6.8.L.).
⁴See DPW III.
⁵Paul’s argument here seems to be that one of the God-given duties of the civil magistrate is to create a safe, civil environment in which godliness can prosper without the fear or hindrance of man, and through which men may worship God according to the liberty of a conscience ruled by God through the light of Scripture.
⁶The elements denote the actual activities of public worship (reading the Word, preaching the Word, praying the Word, singing the Word, and watching the Word). By circumstances of worship, we mean those attendant details that make worship possible (time, place, environment, musical accompaniment, length of service, dress code, health and hygiene practices, etc.)
⁷So for example, the Westminster Confession teaches that “there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed” (WCF 1:6).

Below is the updated Philosophy of Christian Higher Education

DOWNLOAD

The Board of Stewardship was instructed by the General Synod in June 2003 to respond to a memorial from Catawba Presbytery regarding “financial support and fund-raising in the local church.” Reporting in 2004, the Board of Stewardship recommended its response to be received as information and printed in the Minutes of Synod. General Synod recommitted the Response to the Board of Stewardship due to the fact that it was not presented as a “Position Paper.”

The Board of Stewardship reported back to the General Synod in 2006 and General Synod concurred with the conclusion of the Board of Stewardship:

“Inasmuch as the Bible does not explicitly speak about fundraising, the Board deems a “Position Paper” inappropriate. We believe that each Session must exercise wisdom in judging the propriety of fundraising. Furthermore, in light of the Board of Stewardship and the General Synod’s historical emphasis on tithing, we believe that each Session should promote tithing in the church and consider the merits or demerits of fundraising in its local context.”

General Synod 2006 directed the following: “that the historical Statements on Stewardship which Synod has adopted and/or received as information as printed in the 2004 Minutes of Synod pp 528-531, be posted on the Associate Reformed Presbyterian website.” (2006 Minutes of Synod, p. 491). Accordingly, the Response to the Catawba Presbytery Memorial is posted, with links to referenced documents.

RESPONSE TO CATAWBA PRESBYTERY MEMORIAL

Submitted to 2004 Meeting of the General Synod

…The Board identified two main themes in the memorial, namely tithing and fund-raising. Of the seven whereas statements in the memorial, statements 1, 3, 4, and 5 address tithing; statements 2 and 6 fund-raising, and statement 7 addresses both. The Board thought it best to address the two themes separately.

Tithing and the Tithe

Regarding the first theme of tithing, the Board reiterates that tithing is an agreed upon principle of Scripture, and the Synod approved method of “securing finances necessary for the work of the church.” This approval has been repeatedly emphasized not only by the Board of Stewardship since its inception and appointment in 1962, but also by the General Synod in both the past and recent years.

The very first Board of Stewardship report to the General Synod in 1963 included recommendations to the local church. The report was adopted by the General Synod including the first recommendation which was:

“We urge our ministers to preach yearly on the truth that tithing is the Scriptural minimum of Christian stewardship of money…”
(1963 Minutes, page 679)

The Board of Stewardship still believes this and urges/encourages the teaching of tithing on at least an annual basis. There are other good recommendations in that report as well that reflect the concerns in our denomination about biblical giving. The initial Board believed the concern was significant enough that it directed the following comment to Synod:

“We hope that someday, in the not-too-distant future, the Synod may have a full-time, trained director of a Department of Stewardship.”
(1963 Minutes, page 680)

The present Board agrees with the original Board that there is a need for a full-time, trained person to assist presbyteries and churches in this important area of Christian responsibility.

The very next year, 1964, the Board report to General Synod included feedback from a questionnaire. The report addressed two areas of stewardship: the organizational-educational area, and the spiritual area. There are some excellent findings in both areas that the current Board believes are still valid today. For example, under the heading of Organizational-education we find the following points:

• “It is found that most churches do not bother to have a stewardship campaign…”
• “There is strong evidence that the deacons, personally and as an organization, are not giving the calibre of leadership needed in the area of stewardship. Elders, generally, are brought into question at the same point, and ministers themselves sometimes admit their lack of force in relation to this emphasis.”
• “Reports show that very few church officers receive any instruction whatsoever, beyond a few words at the time of their installation…”
• “Stewardship is a subject that necessitates continued educational effort. Little can be accomplished in one year or by one successful campaign; but consistent effort over years will produce abundant fruit.”
  (1964 Minutes, pages 77, 78)

Given the nature of man, these findings no doubt still contain validity for our own day. There is a definite need for the leadership of local congregations to biblically step up to the ongoing stewardship challenge.

Moving on in the same report to the heading of Spiritual, the very first statement gets at the real issue.

“Most of those answering the questionnaire placed their fingers precisely on the source of our stewardship difficulties. They indicated that our real problem is a spiritual ill… a half-hearted commitment to Christ and an inadequate knowledge of His Word produces token givers. When one has a personal encounter with Christ and understands His sacrifice on his behalf, then the love, gratitude, obedience, and worship, in response, produces a generous heart.”
(1964 Minutes, page 78)

Again, the current Board concurs that the stewardship dilemma is an issue of spiritual growth, or the lack of it. Resolution of this issue rests directly upon the local session, diaconate, and pastor. As the report previously noted there is strong evidence that deacons, elders, and ministers are “not giving the caliber of leadership needed in the area of stewardship.”

The Board of Stewardship issued a challenge in their 1964 report that included this:

“A continuing program of stewardship is needed. A thorough and detailed plan of budget-making, promotional work, personal contact, business procedure in record keeping, and follow-up are essential to success. The lay leaders are the only persons who can put across such a program.” (underline added)
(1964 Minutes, page 79)

In addition to the leadership difficulties on the local level, the Board’s 1965 report to the General Synod diagnosed another difficulty. That report started this way:

“The Board of Stewardship of the ARP General Synod was created by an action of the General Synod at its meeting in 1962… The Board of Stewardship began to function according to its concept of Presbyterian Law in which a board or committee of Synod works with the several presbyteries, and not directly with the local congregations. However, it soon became evident that with few exceptions, the presbyteries were not willing to take seriously their responsibilities in the area of Christian stewardship.”
(1965 Minutes, page 322)

Until presbyteries and local sessions provide serious biblical leadership in the area of stewardship, the church will continue to struggle with not only a lack of tithing but with non-giving Christians as well. This same point was made in a paper prepared by the Committee on Theological and Social Concerns on “The Tithe,” which was received as information by the 1978 General Synod.
(1978 Minutes, pages 718-720)

That position paper was prepared in response to a Synod-approved motion in 1977 that read:

“…that our Committee on Theological and Social Concerns be instructed to prepare a position paper on the matter of tithing, with all of its ramifications, in view of Malachi 3:10, and other related passages.”
(1977 Minutes, page 431)

In 1988 the Committee on Theological and Social Concerns in responding to two referrals on Capital Fund Campaigns made several statements as well on the tithe (reference 1988 Minutes, pages 572, 573).

In 1997 the Board of Stewardship prepared a one page “Concise Statement of Biblical Stewardship,” which was adopted by General Synod in which paragraphs VI and VII addressed tithes and offerings. (1997 Minutes, pages 581 – 582)

In view of all of the aforementioned reports and papers on tithing and biblical stewardship the Board of Stewardship believes another position paper would be redundant, but sincerely hopes that calling attention to these prior efforts will be helpful to the presbyteries and churches of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The only added point the Board would emphasize at this time is that the matter of generous and sacrificial giving with the tithe as the minimum standard is NOT a choice between to tithe or not to tithe, BUT rather a choice to obey or to disobey God’s direction and command. Many previous reports and papers point out the benefit of faithful tithing, such as:

“…our personal commitment to God gives us the opportunity to see the blessings of God and to obtain a closer walking relationship with Him.”
(1991 Minutes, pages 732, 733)

While these benefits are clearly true, so too is the other side of the coin, which is that we disobey at our own peril. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)

Fund-Raising

The second theme in the memorial from Catawba Presbytery is whether fund-raising is a proper means for securing the finances necessary for the work of the local church. Since there is not an abundance of study nor reports on this particular subject, and because biblical principles are being sought, the Board of Stewardship requested at its fall meeting that the Executive Board of Synod authorize the Committee on Theological and Social Concerns to act as a resource committee to the Board regarding this issue.

The Committee on Theological and Social Concerns reviewed the memorial and made the following observations.

“The term fund-raising is very general and could cover many activities. Whatever the definition, fund-raising is still governed by the biblical principles and policies discussed previously in this report and its various attachments.”

In particular, the Committee on Theological and Social Concerns believes that paragraph 9 of the Synod-approved 1965 Statement of Policy of the Board of Stewardship is a concise and strong statement, yet one that avoids a rigid legalism. This statement is also included in the memorial and reads:

“The Board of Stewardship shall continue to express its opposition to fund-raising schemes such as bazaars, bake sales, etc., recognizing that in most (if not all) such cases, such efforts represent an effort to escape our responsibility to adhere to the principle of stewardship presented in the Bible.”
(1965 Minutes, page 325)

References:

Memorial on Stewardship

Memorial

Catawba Presbytery

WHEREAS in the meeting of our General Synod in 1997, a “Concise Statement on Biblical Stewardship” was approved, which statement emphasizes the tithe and benevolent offerings as means appointed by God for the financial provision for the ministry of His church; and

WHEREAS the General Synod in 1965 approved the following Statement of Policy: “The Board of Stewardship shall continue to express its opposition to fund-raising schemes such as bazaars, bake sales, etc., recognizing that in most (if not all) such cases, such efforts represent an effort to escape our responsibility to adhere to the principle of stewardship presented in the Bible.” (Minutes, page 325); and

WHEREAS recent research by the Barna Research Group indicates that evangelical Christians in the year 2000 contributed only 2.5 percent of their income to charitable organizations; and

WHEREAS review of the financial statistics of the churches of our Synod would seem to indicate that Associate Reformed Presbyterians by and large are not faithfully tithing to their local congregations; and

WHEREAS many of our congregations are struggling under financial pressure, in some cases due to the rising cost of health insurance for church employees, and seem hard pressed to meet financial obligations, all the while members may not be faithfully tithing; and

WHEREAS in some congregations there has been historically and also recently the practice of raising funds for the support of the church and its work through the engagement of the church or its organizations in the selling of products or merchandise in the name of the church within the community to which the congregation ministers; and

WHEREAS this matter has been divisive in some congregations, with some believing such practice undermines proper understanding of stewardship and commitment to support the work of the church through tithing and making sacrificial offerings, and further that it may have a negative affect on the mission and witness of the congregation within its community, while others believe such practice is an extension of biblical stewardship and a means of making proper use of God-given skills and talents;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Catawba Presbytery memorializes the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in its meeting in June 2003 to instruct its Board of Stewardship, through whatever means of advisement or counsel it may require, to make study of the biblical and pragmatic issues involved in the matter of financial support and fundraising in the local church, and to present to the General Synod for its approval at its meeting in June 2004 a position paper setting forth biblical principles guiding the practice of the local church in regards to proper means for securing the finances necessary for the work of the church.

Adopted: June 9, 2003
By: Catawba Presbytery
Guy H. Smith, Jr., Stated Clerk

Board of Stewardship Report 1963

REPORT OF BOARD OP STEWARDSHIP
To the 1963 Meeting of the General Synod of
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

This is your Synod’s most recently established Board.

Your Board of Stewardship held its organizational meeting in August 1962 at the Bonclarken Assembly Grounds.

For our immediate goal your board set the encouragement of total Christian family stewardship in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod.

Every church of the General Synod was sent the Presbyterian U.S. packet on “Every Member Canvass Supplies” and encouraged to use it.

Your moderator, Dr. C. R. Younts, was asked for permission to have a Stewardship speaker at the next meeting of the General Synod. By the time the Program Committee of the Synod approved this request, your board felt it too late to secure a competent speaker.

A denominational handbook prepared by the Rev. Mr. W. P. Grier was sent to every church of our Synod. It is reported that these were well received.

Our first meeting (after organizing) was held at the First A.R.P. Church in Rock Hill, S. C., on January 80, 1963. The Rev. Mr. W. P. Grier was elected chairman of the board. The Rev. Mr. Baron Nowak was elected Secretary-Treasurer.

The board members have been encouraging the spirit of stewardship on the Presbytery level.

Your board is still in a state of plasticity for we are still becoming a board. We would appreciate any constructive suggestions as to how we may become a Board of Stewardship that will be of most benefit to this branch of the Church of God.

Your Board recommends the following:

LOCAL CHURCHES

1. We urge our ministers to preach yearly on the truth that tithing is the Scriptural minimum of Christian stewardship of money. (If a minister does not believe this, we urge him to restudy the Word.)

2. We urge our ministers to preach on Stewardship on Sabbath mornings In November.

3. We recommend that the board of deacons and the session have a training session on Christian stewardship of money and the duties of elders and deacons in relation to it.

4. We recommend that the women’s stewardship study be made congregation-wide by having it either on a Sabbath or prayer meeting evening.

5. An accurate survey, not guesswork but by tithe cards, should be made to see how many tithers each congregation has in order that accurate records may be secured.

6. Each church is urged to work out and execute a program of Every Member Canvass, pledging and budgeting which will enable the congregation to develop in Christian stewardship.

PRESBYTERY

1. We recommend that Presbytery’s representative on Synod’s board emphasize stewardship in his respective Presbytery, and that said board member be chairman of a Presbytery committee on stewardship.

2. We recommend that each Presbytery have at least three laymen elected to work together with Synod’s board member in emphasizing stewardship in the Presbytery.

3. We recommend that each Presbytery (or state or district, if the Presbytery is wide-spread) have a Stewardship rally in September or October, with, a dedicated layman or minister speaking on what tithing and Christian stewardship have meant to him, and or panel discussions, or question-answer Sessions on the practical aspects of having and developing a stewardship program. The speaker would be appointed by the Presbytery’s Stewardship Committee. A program for the Rally might be worked out by your Synod’s Board.

4. Each Presbytery have Every Member Canvass workshop. Canvassers would be familiarized with materials. This might be in place of the rally mentioned above.

SYNOD

1. November is to be designated as Stewardship month. Canvassing, pledging budgeting, preaching, and follow-ups should be completed by the end of November.

2. Books, pamphlets, and study guides recommended by your board to be used by the churches are:

The women’s stewardship guide

Presbyterian U.S. Stewardship materials

Money and the Church, by Luther P. Powell

Stewardship in Contemporary Theology, edited by T. K. Thompson

Stewardship Studies, by Roy L. Smith (devotional)

3. A program on Stewardship will be held at Bonclarken during the Conference in August with a guest speaker.

4. We hope that someday, in the not-too-distant future, the Synod may have a full-time, trained director of a Department of Stewardship.

Tracts distributed: 6000 in First, Second, Catawba, Mississippi Valley Presbyteries; 500 to Ladies’ Synodical Union; 200 at Elders’ meeting.

Coins sold: 825 in 7 different congregations.

Two talks on Stewardship were made at the Seminary.

Testimonials have been received from local churches, attesting to the effectiveness of the stewardship emphasis of this Board.

Tracts were also available for the delegates of Synod.

The Board of Stewardship requests a minimum of $450.00 for its 1964 budget.

Respectfully submitted,

BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP

Board of Stewardship Report 1964

REPORT OF THE MODERATOR’S COMMITTEE ON STEWARDSHIP
To The General Synod, June 1-5, 1964

The report of Synod’s Board of Stewardship was the only paper to come into our hands. Our committee reviewed and approved this report, except that the following items on page 3 of the report were amended to read as follows:

Item 2, 4, at top of page 3 was amended to read “Engage in a thorough Stewardship program annually and give serious consideration to conducting an every member canvass.

Under the caption “It is further recommended that:,” the following amendments were made:

Item 1: ‘Every church be urged to send a representative,” etc.

Item 3: “That each Presbytery consider the advisability of having a Stewardship Workshop and urge the Finance Committee and others of each local church to attend.

Item 4: “The minister and Finance Committee chairman be urged to study and use,” etc.

Item 6. “The Synod reaffirms its adherence to the scriptural method,” etc.

Our committee recommends that the budget request of the Board of Stewardship be referred to the Finance Committee.

A copy of the amended “Report of Board of Stewardship” with the changes approved by this, the Committee on Stewardship, is appended hereto.

Respectfully submitted,
H. H. Long, Chairman,
Guy H. Smith, Jr., Secretary

REPORT OF BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP
To The General Synod, Due West, S. C. June 1-5, 1964

AN APPRAISAL OF THE SITUATION

Replies to a recent questionnaire have given valuable information in helping to evaluate the stewardship picture in our denomination, both from the standpoint of finances and in other respects. Some comments on this information follow. Two areas of the stewardship program will be considered: The organizational-educational and the spiritual.

Organizational-education: It is found that most churches do not bother to have a stewardship campaign. A. great majority of the churches feel that the adoption of a church budget is all that is necessary for a stewardship program. Quite often, these budgets represent little real thought or Christian imagination. Most frequently these are a hasty re-hash of the budget for the previous year. Often pledge cards are passed out which can be signed and turned in if the members of the church are disposed to do so, The people are asked to tithe.

A sermon or sermons on stewardship are generally preached; although many ministers get the feeling that such messages do not receive a sympathetic hearing. Most churches do not have a study course for the congregation on the subject of stewardship. It is evident that considerably more than half of the active members of the denomination did not receive one promotional pamphlet on the subject of stewardship last year. Little is being done throughout the church to encourage the children to know the meaning of Christian stewardship or to participate in this part of the church program.

There is strong evidence that the deacons, personally and as an organization, are not giving the caliber of leadership needed in the area of stewardship. Elders, generally, are brought into question at this same point, and ministers themselves sometimes admit their lack of force in relation to this emphasis. Few congregations had representatives at the Stewardship Conference last summer.

Most ministers feel that they are doing a reasonably good job on educating the people regarding the causes that are represented in Synod’s budget. But there is a strong desire to have more-and more imaginative-material on the subject (something more than a “percentage pie” or a table of figures). They want a budget clothed in flesh and pulsing with challenge.

It is evident that most churches are making a conscientious effort to get an accurate record on the number of tithers they have. Perhaps this is due to the good work of the Moderator of Synod on this subject. There is a small number of churches that do not keep an accurate record of individual giving. These churches are encouraged to be more systematic in their record keeping. Their present practice is both unscriptural and unbusinesslike.

Reports show that very few church officers receive any instruction whatsoever, beyond a few words at the time of their installation. To permit such gross ignorance to exist in the church leadership is not conducive to an aggressive church program, in respect to stewardship or any other place of responsibility. There is almost unanimous agreement that such a course is greatly needed.

Stewardship is a subject that necessitates continued educational effort. Little can be accomplished in one year or by one successful campaign; but consistent effort over the years will produce abundant fruit.

Spiritual: Most of those answering the questionnaire placed their fingers precisely on the source of our stewardship difficulties. They indicated that our real problem is a spiritual ill: “Lack of a sense of total commitment”; “Failure to realize the meaning of stewardship of life”; “Not enough tithers”; “Need more stress on benevolent giving”; “Need of spiritual life”; “Lack of consecration”; “Failure of people to accept the spiritual plan for giving.” This is the crux of the whole matter – a half-hearted commitment to Christ and an inadequate knowledge of His Word produces token givers. When one has had a personal encounter with Christ and understands His sacrifice in his behalf, then the love, gratitude, obedience and worship, in response, produce a generous heart. The total commitment of life to Christ must be an unceasing emphasis for the sake of personal joy and liberality. This message must be so clear and so strong that “wayfaring men though fool should not err therein.”

Most churches reporting indicated they were giving 20% or more to benevolences outside their congregations. Some churches requested a reconsideration of the 20% for Synod’s benevolence regulation. Through various contacts with other Presbyterian bodies it is leaned that our churches do not give nearly as much to benevolences as other Presbyterian congregations do. (One Presbyterian church of 500 members-not a particularly outstanding church-gives more than twice as much to benevolences as our largest contributor to Synod’s budget.

A CHALLENGE

The laymen of the denomination are lauded for their emerging role of leadership in the church. Their gift of time and talent is commended. It is hoped that the limited number of laymen who unselfishly serve at the Synod level will be able to fire the imagination of the whole host of local leaders to the realization of the meaning of the stewardship life. A 100% cooperation is needed from all local leaders in a commitment program which starts with the heart of man and reaches out to all of his resources. A continuing program of stewardship education is needed. A thorough and detailed plan of budget-making, promotional work, personal contact, business procedure m record keeping and follow-up are essential to success. The lay leaders are the only persons who can put across such a program. The well-being of the entire church, local program and benevolent causes is dependent upon the acceptance of this challenge. The Scripture furnishes a guide and the Holy Spirit the enabling power. ‘Rise up, O men of God.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Ministers are urged to assume a stronger role of leadership in the emphasis on stewardsh4p, especially in the area of spiritual instruction and counseling. This may be accomplished in the following ways:

a. The minister (and Sabbath School teachers) should stress the fact that our relationship to Christ is one of total commitment. Adequate interpretation should be given this truth.

b. The minister should give thorough instruction to all newly-elected officers regarding all matters related to their office and personal life.

c. The minister is challenged to use the stewardship material he has in his hands or helps available in assisting his officers to plan a thorough stewardship program.

d. Ministers should provide continuous encouragement and leadership in the program of stewardship education, For an adequate promotion of an emphasis on the stewardship of life, this is essential.

2. Officers are challenged to:

a. Search their hearts before God in relation to their personal Stewardship commitment

b. Share with others the blessings of salvation.

c. Recognize that the elders and the deacons must work together in any effective stewardship program in the local church.

d. Engage in a thorough stewardship program and give serious consideration to conducting an every-member canvass (more than 67% of the reporting churches had no every-member canvass for 1964).

e. Assist your pastor in setting up an officers’ training course in your church.

f. Have a re-study of the nature and mission of the church so that a more benevolent attitude may be developed.

g. Be represented at the Synod Stewardship Conference at Bonclarken during Laymen’s Weekend, August 7-9, 1964.

It is further recommended that:

1. Every church be urged to send a representative to the Stewardship Conference at Bonclarken during Laymen’s Weekend, August 7-9, 1964. Dr. George Long, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church Tupelo, Mississippi, will direct this emphasis. Dr. Long has served in various capacities at Synod and Presbytery levels in Presbyterian U. S. stewardship work. Mr. John Welford an outstanding layman of a Presbyterian Church in Memphis, will be one of the speakers. Reverend Baron B. Nowak is in charge of this conference.

2. Stewardship season begin with the Stewardship Conference at Bonclarken and run until Thanksgiving. Thorough study, planning, organization, promotion and commitment efforts are urged.

3. Each Presbytery consider the advisability of having a Stewardship Workshop and urge the Finance Committee and others of each local church to attend.

4. The minister and finance chairman be urged to study and use the folder of stewardship material that, again, will be sent out by the Presbyterian Church, U. S., at our request.

5. The study book for the congregational emphasis on stewardship this year be “Stewardship Unlimited,” the same book being used by the women.

6. The Synod reaffirm its adherence to the Scriptural method and express its opposition to all sorts of money-making schemes, such as rummage sales suppers and anything that smacks of the bazaar.

The Budget asking for this Board for 1965 is as follows:

For conference and workshop expense $300
Stewardship material folder 100
Materials and film strip 50
Travel 150
Miscellaneous 100
TOTAL $700

The officers of the Board of Stewardship are:

W. P. Grier, chairman, A. R. Presbyterian Church, Mooresville, N. C.; J. B. Hendrick, vice-chairman, P. 0. Box 475, York, S. C.; and Mrs. R. Y. Williams, secretary-treasurer, 640 Meadowbrook Lane, Rock Hill, S. C. The other members are: F. R. Cates, Mrs. J. D. Chesnut, Mrs. Marvin W. Clemons, Baron R. Nowak and P. L. Wilson, Jr.

Respectfully submitted,
Baron R. Nowak, Secretary (1964)