The most contentious part of the evening was recommendation 6, to appoint a study committee to “explore and define ‘confession,’” and recommendation 7 to “reconsider the status of the Belhar Confession for adoption” in 2015.

This is why so many Presbyterians treat the Westminster Divines the way most Americans regard the founders — these are the heroic founders of our religious and political institutions. Noting the problems and flaws that haunted these folks is not what most people want to hear. They’d rather contemplate the genius, commitment, and courage that led to the triumph of good over bad

The Assembly will consider a constitutional amendment clarifying the process whereby a minister may serve beyond the age of 70. The Assembly will be asked to combine the Student Ministries and College Ministries Committees into a single ministry. The Assembly will welcome fraternal guests Reverend Seth Yi representing the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Reverend Woody Markett representing the Presbyterian Church in America.

The OPC is known for having hearty discussion on the floor of its assemblies, and several commissioners noted this year that the expression of strong convictions can be maintained together with “the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) as the tenor of the debates can testify.

Synod also directed the council of Maranatha CRC to contract immediately for ongoing oversight of the healing ministry at the church by an independent, accredited agency, because, it said, “Council, comprised of laypersons, is not capable of such oversight.”

Proposed Definition: Doctrinal Affirmation: A Doctrinal Affirmation is an interpretation of the Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity on a specific point of their teaching. It serves the churches by directing them to the Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity, applying them in response to doctrinal questions that have arisen in the churches. It should be received by the churches with respect and submission, and it may not be directly or indirectly contradicted in preaching or in writing.

We will spend the bulk of our time over the next two days dealing with areas that do not fall directly under the Confession’s stated functions for a synod. I wonder why we spend so much time on what has little to do with the purpose of a synod according to our Confession. At the Synod level, we are doing more than the Confession calls for.

At the 2011 Synod meeting, the Erskine board was directed to revise its charter and bylaws to clarify the relationship between church and schools and acknowledge that the Synod…has the power to remove board members when necessary. In February, the board…refused to make the necessary changes to the charter and bylaws.

A new “Covenant of Officebearers” to be signed by all CRC officebearers is coming before synod 2012 to replace the current Form of Subscription. This will be the third time a Covenant has come before synod.

The result is that we have a committee presenting conflicting motions to the General Assembly. We have two different minorities arguing the opposite point. Paedocommunion will be one of the hot issues at the 40th General Assembly.