The ARP Synod made history and has elected its first ever “foreign” Moderator.

Rev. Rob Patrick, Pastor of Bartow ARP, Bartow, FL, nominated Rev. Jeff Kingswood, Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Woodstock, Ontario, for Moderator for the 2013 Synod. Mr. Patrick noted that two years ago he nominated Rev. Andrew Putnam, who ran against Mr. Kingswood, but Mr. Patrick even then hoped that Mr. Kingswood, a native Canadian, would run again for Moderator because of his integrity and love for the Lord Jesus.

Mr. Putnam, retiring Moderator, seconded the nomination. Rev. Chuck Wilson moved that nominations be closed and Mr. Kingswood be elected by acclamation. Mr. Kingswood came before the Synod to give thanks to the court and express humility in being elected as Moderator for the 2013 Synod.

The Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church has been meeting June 5-7 at its Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC.