CARPC Assembly Meeting Minutes

January 31st, 2004 Anno Domini

Meeting place of Grace Presbyterian Church

Grange Hall

Redding, California

 

10:00   Pastor David Stark called the meeting to order

            Wally Atten opened the meeting in prayer.

 

Introductions

Present at Roll Call by Signature:


Pastor John M DeKoekkoek

Pastor Wayne Leigh

Pastor David Stark

Pastor Geoff Donnan, Observer from CRPC/RCM

Wally Atten, Elder of GPC

David Farschman, Elder of ERC

Jack Holt, Elder of GPC

Steve Mintz, Deacon

Vern Dahlke, Deacon

Lou Pereyra, Deacon

Eric Orr, Deacon

Carl Miller, Deacon & Student Under Care

 

 


 

10:08   Reading of Covenant by Pastor Stark

10:10   Defining the Bar – Pastors & Elders

10:12   Pastor Leigh moved that deacons be welcomed, seated in the bar, and given privilege of the floor.  Motion passed by common consent.

10:13   Pastor Leigh nominated Elder Wally Atten for moderator.  Pastor Stark nominated Pastor Wayne Leigh for moderator.  Vote was called alphabetically.  Wally Atten received four votes.  Pastor Leigh received one.

10:17   Roll was taken by signature.

10:18   Elder Wally Atten read Psalm 62.

10:20   Pastor Leigh opened in prayer.

10:21   Pastor Stark nominated Pastor Leigh for vice-moderator.  The nomination was passed by unanimous consent.  Pastor Stark nominated David Farschman as recording secretary.  The nomination was passed by unanimous consent.

10:24   Pastor Stark moved that the agenda be adopted (see attached).  Agenda was amended to correct reference RPCUS to CRPC.  The agenda was adopted by unanimous consent.

10:27   Pastor Stark introduced Pastor Geoffrey Donnan of the CRPC and moved to seat him in the Bar and given the privilege of the floor.  This was passed by unanimous voice vote.  Pastor De Koekkoek moved that non-critical votes be done by voice vote.  The motion passed.

10:28   The deacons were recognized.

10:32   Pastor De Koekkoek reported on Faith Reformed Church in Seattle, Washington.  He requested prayers for church growth and property opportunities.

10:34   Pastor Stark prayed for God’s blessing on Pastor De Koekkoek and Faith Reformed Church.

10:35   Pastor Leigh reported on Evangelical Reformed Church in Sacramento California.  They have applied for building permits from the city of Sacramento.  He asked for prayer that the permits would be granted and for energy to forward general evangelism in the area.  He also reported on Love Them Both Ministries progress and request for prayer.

10:41   Pastor De Koekkoek prayed for God’s blessing on Pastor Leigh, his family, the church, and Love Them Both Ministries.

10:44   Pastor Stark reported on Grace Presbyterian Church in Redding.  November 11th, 2003 was the 6th anniversary of the church.  He reported on the Eglise Reformee de la Foi and delivered Pastor N’kulu’s greetings to the assembly.  Pastor N’kulu will be going up river to Likasi to look into the condition of the churches there and into a case of stolen church property.  Domestically, Grace Presbyterian is looking into the starting mission churches with thought to up-and-coming new pastors.  It has also started a children’s choir.  The church is also growing a building fund.

10:50   David Farschman prayed God’s blessing on Grace Presbyterian Church and the works God is doing in her.

10:57   Based upon the request of the session of Grace Presbyterian Church, Pastor Stark moved that Nicholas R. Butler be received as a student under care of the association.  The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.  Mr. Butler was recognized and welcomed by the Association.

11:01   Order of the Day: Worship Service (led by Mr. Carl Miller)

11:49   Worship service concluded.

11:50   Rev. Geoffrey Donnan addressed the meeting, bringing greetings from the CRPC/RCM (Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church/Reformation Christian Ministries).

            Their website is www.covref.org, and offers their directory of church order, their directory of church discipline, and their directory of church worship.

            He proposed establishing a means for working toward the establishment of and appropriate form of unity, committed to a confessional structure in opposition to traditional hierarchy and independency.  The next CRPC meeting is in Florida on February 17th and 18th.  Delegates of the CARPC are specifically welcomed.

12:24   Pastor Stark thanked Pastor Donnan for coming and expressed his hope for moving toward possible unity.

12:28   Order of the Day: meeting adjourned for lunch until 1:30.

12:30   Assembly would like to thank the ladies of Grace Presbyterian Church for the fine luncheon.

1:30     Moderator Wally Atten called the meeting back to order.

1:34     The assembly reviewed of Carl Miller’s written work.  Pastor Stark was asked to moderate by the Moderator during the review of Carl Miller’s written work.

2:30     Pastor Leigh moved to accept Carl Miller’s written work as satisfactory.  Motion carried.

            The assembly recessed for 15 minutes.

2:45     Carl Miller’s oral examinations began and continued through 4:00.  Questions covered Systematics, Christology, Anthropology, Soteriology, Church Government, Word & Sacraments.

4:00     The assembly recessed for 15 minutes.

4:15     Pastor Leigh moved to omit the oral examinations on Missions, Counseling, Pastor Leadership, and the English Bible.  Such question could be asked at the end of the examinations.  The motion carried.

4:17     The Oral Exam resumed and continued through 5:15.  Questions covered Evangelism, Eschatology, Creeds & Confessions, and Church History.

5:50     Pastor Stark moved that Carl Miller’s oral examinations be declared satisfactory and that he be licensed provisionally to preach the Gospel and to assist in the works of the ministry without the authority to accept a call for ordination and that he may be re-examined in homiletics and calling within two years.  The motion was accepted unanimously.

5:53     Pastor De Koekkoek prayed for Carl Miller.

5:55     Pastor Stark moved that the CARPC appoint ministers to work with the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (CRPC), if they are amenable, to investigate, to get to know each other, and to develop a constitutional basis for cooperation and fellowship between our two respective bodies, and to which other similar and likeminded Reformed and/or Presbyterian bodies could be invited, subject to approval and ratification by the CARPC and the CRPC.  Motion passed by unanimous consent.

5:59     Pastor Stark moved that the following greeting be sent to the CRPC by the CARPC:

                        On behalf of the Ministers and Elder Delegates of the CARPC we send our fraternal Christian greetings to our brother ministers and elders in the CRPC.  We thank God for your encouraging words to us through your representative Rev. Geoffrey Donnan.  We were strengthened and blessed by his gracious words to us, and for the call to us to seek a greater expression of the unity that Christ Jesus our Lord has given to His blood bought and beloved bride, the Church.  To that end we hope for an increase in our communications and contact as we seek His gracious will for our respective bodies.

                        May the Lord Himself bless you all and grant you increase in the enjoyment of His love and grace as you continue to seek His glory, honor, and praise.

                        January 31st, 2004

                        CARPC

6:01     Motion passed unanimously.

6:02     The assembly appointed as the contact committee between the CARPC and the CRPC Pastors Stark, Leigh, and De Koekkoek.

6:04     The assembly prayed the Lord’s Prayer

6:09     Pastor Leigh pronounced the benediction.

6:10     The assembly sang the doxology, closing the meeting.

            The assembly was adjourned to its next meet.

 

            The End