ARP News Update – Synod Live

First Moderator from MS Valley Presbytery in 60 years

Larry Littlejohn from French Camp was nominated by Rev. Charles Todd. It was seconded by Rev. Andy Putnam. He is the first Moderator from the Mississippi Valley Presbytery in 60 years. He has two sons and four grandchildren. Littlejohn has served as clerk of session, taught his adult Sunday School class for 25 years. He has served on minister and his works and as moderator of his Presbytery.

Littlejohn has been an assistant principal and taught math and drama. Todd says that teaching drama would help prepare him for what might happen on the Synod stage. “He is a long distance runner so if Synod meetings last long, he has the lungs for it,” Todd said.

Littlejohn was very thankful for the kind words from Charles Todd and Andy Putnam. “My desire is the Lord will be glorified in what we do,” Littlejohn said. When I was first asked about the possibility of my name to be placed if it is a way to be of service to Lord and the church but I am not looking for another job. “I don’t see it as a job but as an opportunity to serve and opportunity to know you who are serving his church.”

Littlejohn nominated Lee Shelnutt for vice-moderator. With no other nominations, it was approved that the motion passed.

ARP News Update – Synod Live

Standing Ovation for Erskine/ARP Synod Relations

The General Synod received the report of the Special Committee on the Synod-Erskine Relationship, as presented by committee chairman Kenneth B. Wingate.  The recommendation was approved to reaffirm Erskine College and Seminary as a “valuable agency of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church” and to “continue to maintain a close working relationship with ongoing financial, spiritual and educational support for the institution,” as well as requesting that the Erskine Board of Trustees adopt a similar statement.

Additionally, the Synod strongly encouraged the Board of Trustees in its search for a new president, to hire an individual subscribing to Synod’s definition of an Evangelical and the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and having the necessary qualifications to pursue Erskine College and Seminary’s stated mission.

They also reaffirmed the Nominations Committee in selecting quality trustees for the Board. In cooperation with the Erskine Board of Trustees, the Synod approved the revision of the charter of Erskine College and Seminary in regards to the removal of board members and revised the Synod’s Board Member Removal Policy, so as to be uniform across all its boards, agencies and committees.

Synod referred the committee’s recommendation regarding Erskine Theological Seminary to the Board of Trustees.  The members of the special committee and the members of the Board of Trustees who worked on the charter changes received a standing ovation from the Synod, in appreciation for their diligent work on the Synod-Erskine relationship.  Finally, the Synod passed a motion commending the committees for their work and dissolving the special committee.

ARP News Update – Synod Live

Women’s Ministries: Looking Back, Journeying Forward

Reflecting on her year as president, Sherry Bartlett says she has spent a lot of time looking back – reflecting on the works of God through the centuries. Now, on the last steps of her journey as WM president, she again looks in the rearview mirror.

She sees a young girl, whose mother led her led her by example as a Titus 2 woman and actively taking part in the women’s ministry of the ARP Church. Years later, as the girl followed in her mother’s footsteps, she gladly accepted the changes within the Women’s Ministries organization. This brought her in contact with WM Coordinator Elizabeth Burns, who helped her plan her first Women’s Retreat in her Presbyterial, and became a valuable mentor.

She praised Burns for serving as a base of continuity between the members of WM’s constantly changing board and the agencies of the ARP Church. “Elisabeth has provided our women with biblical inspiration and guidance through seminars and as a retreat speaker. She has been a God-send for WM.”

In that same rearview mirror, Bartlett also sees other ARP women of varying backgrounds and faith journeys – each bringing her own experiences, ministries, talents and needs. “One woman said she married into the ARP, and had not felt part of the church until she found Women’s Ministries.”

Looking now in the windshield, Bartlett sees a panoramic view of the road ahead – and where God is leading Women’s Ministries. With social media, for instance, you can read results instantly. One church plant member posted, “Women’s Ministries is great! I don’t know where I would be without my covenant sisters. I love each one of them. We are family!”

With WM approaching its 100^th Annual Meeting in 2014, Bartlett says we will certainly be looking back, yet again to those who have gone before us and paved the way. “They did not know what they were building, but God did, and now, 100 years later, He is still building ARP Women’s Ministries.

Looking back in the mirror once again, she sees the girl is older, a little wiser – looking to God for strength. WM has been a God-send to her. The Apostle Paul knew that only women could fill the role of mentor to other women who are dealing with all sorts of trials and tribulations – when he instructed Titus to teach older, wiser Christian women to mentor to younger women.

Women’s Ministries provides this fellowship and Christian relationships. “The challenge for us is to unify, minister, mentor, and love those God has and will put in our path,” Bartlett said. “Looking forward through the windshield of the future, I pray we will keep it alive, well and kicking, for the women who will come after us – growing our church to all that God is calling us to for his honor and glory.”

ARP News Update – Synod Live

Jeff Kingswood’s Moderator’s Challenge

Using his theme for the coming year, Confessing Christ: What Does a Confessing Church Look Like?, Rev. Kingswood recalled the start of his ministry, 12 years ago, with a fledgling congregation at Grace (ARP) Church in Woodstock.

“I realized, like a child, we needed to to emphasize the basics of biblical preaching and prayer – of church discipline, and biblically-related worship. In a program-mad world, always eager for the next new thing – that seemed to be a bland diet.”

Author Ian Murray stated in The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones that many attempts by evangelicals to reform the church “had all failed to come to grips with the New Testament teaching on the nature of the church. They had put expediency before principle… if we are faithful, the Holy Spirit has promised to honor us and our testimony…”

Do we trust in God? Do we believe He will answer when we call? As a confessional church, we profess to believe in the use of God-appointed means, such as grace, prayer, sacraments, and propositional truth proclaimed. God has given us means of government and discipline, and a regulative principle of worship. “It is in the use of these means that God normally works. These are the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the life of the Church of Jesus Christ, and used by the Holy Spirit in those exceptional times of revival.

“We have a tremendous heritage as Presbyterian Christians. As we look at our Confession, Form of Government, Book of Discipline, Directory of Public Worship and the description of the work of the church they contain, and which we profess, we will find answers to most of the questions of the contemporary church, and the surrounding world.”

Moderator Kingswood said we all too quickly establish a committee to study problems when they arise at Session, Presbytery or Synod – when we should ask, “What do we already say we believe about this?” We are a confessional Church!

“In chapter 1 of our Confession, we find exactly what we believe concerning God’s Word and how it’s our ultimate standard for faith and practice.

“What does this mean for the ARP Church and our worship? … we have worked through the courts of the Church to rewrite, rework, and adopt a uniform standard to which we all subscribe. We have worked through the appropriate channels, and we have, through our Presbyteries and Synod, adopted a standard – not a suggestion.

“Our Form of Government is there to protect and guide the church in process and in justice, so our actions will be found to be faithful to the Word of God as summarized in our Confession.

“Brothers, the way to reform in the ARP Church is not through programs or politics. The way to reformation is principled confessional Presbyterianism in action – the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the faith – the truth of God’s Word!”

ARP News Update – Synod Live

The Gavel is Passed
Retiring Moderator Steve Suits presented Jeff Kingswood to Synod. Rev. Kingswood is the first Canadian to be elected to General Synod’s highest office in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He grew up in the First Reformed Church in Galt, Ontario, and went on to pursue additional Bible studies at Tyndale Seminary. He became pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church of Canada, and became pastor of Grace ARP Church in Woodstock in 2001. He continues to serve that congregation.

He and wife, Joan, have six grown children and seven grandchildren. Kingswood said the fact that the ARP Church embodied confessional Presbyterianism drew the Canadian Presbytery to this denomination 12 years ago. “The Word of God was central, preached, and used to make argument – and I felt I had come home. Thank you for welcoming the Canadian Presbytery.

Vice Moderator John Calvin Grier escorted Rev. Kingswood to the podium, where he was presented with the Moderator’s shield. The cherry wood gavel and board, crafted by Tirzah ARP Church member Jay Matthews. Kingswood then presented a Bible to Suits for his year of service as Moderator.

ARP News Update – Synod Live

Retiring Moderator Steve Suits Reflects on the Past Year

Wearing the gold Moderator’s medallion, and carrying the Moderator’s staff, Dr. Steve Suits approached the podium to address delegates for the last time as Moderator. “Getting to know so many of you during my term as Moderator has given me great joy, encouragement and edification,” said the medical doctor and ruling elder at First Presbyterian, Columbia.

“You see, it was getting beyond the limitations of a man-designed gathering of the elect – to witnessing the real lives of the elect in the places where they served that I found you, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Thank you from the depth of my soul!

The retiring Moderator acknowledged that Luke’s description of the church in Acts 2:42 was what he felt a church should look like. “I noticed the church in Jerusalem was a church of commitment. They didn’t give lip service to the teaching ministry, their fellowship, or their prayers, but devoted themselves to their church life.”

This committed group of believers was also devoted to the apostles’ teaching, he said. “As I have worshipped with many of you this past year, I’ve heard the apostles’ teaching from your pulpits – and I thank God for that. Let’s continue to place servants in our pulpits who know the Scriptures and can preach them, so we too can be described as a Church devoted to the apostles’ teaching.”

Dr. Suits continued with Luke’s description of the devotion of the early church to fellowship, including the breaking of bread. This was a deep fellowship characterized by taking care of one another’s needs. “While traveling among you, I have been blessed to fellowship with you – from shedding tears over a family tragedy to happily playing with a pastor’s children in their home.”

Again, just as the early church was also a praying church, Suits pointed out how he had been blessed to pray with so many members of the denomination – at a Presbytery gathering, one-on-one with a brother who was retiring from the ministry, with a family gathered around the table for devotions, or in his car on the way to a meeting. “Your prayers have sustained me. Thank you for allowing me to participate in your heavenly communications.”

In closing, Suits wanted delegates to know that the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well among the ARPC. “Just as none of us is perfect and complete, this side of the eschaton, neither are our congregations, presbyteries, or our Synod as a whole all that we ought to be.

“But the ‘already’ of Christ’s justification and the Spirit’s sanctification are taking us toward the ‘not yet’ of that perfection as the Bride of Christ. Thank you for enriching my sanctification by giving me the blessing of serving you and serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

ARP News Update – Synod Live

Opening Worship Service

Piano music filled the Youth Activities Building, as delegates and guests filed in for worship and communion. Greg Reynolds, music director at the Neely’s Creek Church, Rock Hill, SC, has been Synod musician for the the past four years.

“I have felt that the ministry of music is a servant to the gospel. It helps to focus worship on the Lord and softens the heart in preparation of the preaching. Reynolds says he tries to match the prelude music with sermon topics. “I have found that many times God puts things together before Synod week – and the pieces I have prepared fit beautifully with the context of the service.”

Reynolds has been a music director now for about 30 years, with over half of that time at Neely’s Creek ARP Church. “This church and the ARP denomination has been a blessing to me and my family. All four of my children have pretty much grown up at Neely’s Creek and the denomination through Bonclarken, Appalachia Missions, Wales Missions Trip, and Music Conference.

Dr. Derek Thomas of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, opened the worship service with a sermon based on Romans 8:31. “We are a family, Dr.Thomas said. “If the Spirit of God dwells in us, the Spirit helps us in our weakness…strengthens, ministers. Dr. Thomas closed the worship service with communion, assisted by Vice Moderator Ken McMullen.

ARP News Update: Synod

ONA’s Pizza and Discussion

More than 80 people attended an informal meeting last night at Pinecrest ARP Church for a discussion on ARP Confessional Heritage and Missional Challenge. “The meeting came out of a desire for a pre-Synod conference on evangelism,” said ONA Executive Director Alan Avera.

The idea began with a conversation between Clint Davis and Daniel Wells – after Davis attended the spring ONA Board meeting. “This is about faithfulness to Scripture and standards, plus evangelistic zeal,” he said. “This is about the heart – ours and the denomination’s,” Davis said in a prayer. “We have the answers for the hurting world, but don’t always know how to go about sharing it.”

ONA Board Chairman Wes Springs added, “We have a rich history – we should be leading in evangelism. This is motivational, not an educational issue.”

Panel members Matt Lucas of Reformation ARP, and Wayne Frazier of Back Creek ARP, and Erskine Seminary Professor R.J. Gore were introduced and told a little about themselves. Lucas said Reformation church is growing, “The Lord is the one who does the work of the ministry; we are human vessels who are amazed to see God’s grace.”

The church’s Website slogan is “We are seeking to be a church that is Christ-centered, gospel-driven and kingdom-focused.” Lucas advises going into your community and ask about the reputation of your church. “It’s a humbling experience,” he said:

1. Do they even know who you are? If not, your church is irrelevant.
2. Rebranding your church: do through love and acts of service.
3. Your job is not to build the church, but to focus on building the kingdom – let God build the church.
4. Network with other church’s – sometimes you have to agree with visitors that your church might not be for them.

Wayne Frazier told of the unusual way Back Creek has become a church plant: “It’s backward from the way most church plants start – “God dropped in a new community instead of a church planter!” The church has tried to reach out to this new community through prayer walks, concerts, outdoor festivals

“We want the community to ask, ‘Why are these people so gracious to me?’” Frazier says his most important emphases are discipleship and community – as well as connecting with the number of people who have no religious affiliation at all.

Genesis 12 (like the rest of the Bible) points to Jesus, Frazier said.

• Shows the gospel leaping over cultures and barriers.
• By 2044, Anglos will be the minority; we need to realize the demographic shift and G

Coming from a military approach, R.J. Gore said, “Mission equals task to accomplish. What goal are we trying to reach? For Christians, it’s the Great Commission. We must shape the battlefield in order to reach our goal or end state. The church hasn’t properly interpreted the battlefield.

“This generation has the largest number of high school graduates coming out of divorced families, and a second generation of latchkey kids. Their IQ is higher, but they don’t have intensive analytical abilities. Their knowledge is a mile wide, but an inch deep. Being missional and being confessional are critically related; because of what we believe, we have something to say to people in the midst of postmodern despair.”

Marty Taylor, who attended the discussion, said it’s a good start to a discussion that needs to continue – how we translate from confession to our mission.

ARP News Update – Live from General Synod

Views Prior to Synod
FLAT ROCK, NC – June 10, 2013:  The number of delegates showing up for Synod 2013 registration today was very sparse.  With high winds and torrential rains making appearances on and off throughout the day, many held off making the trip up the mountain.

With many issues to be brought before Synod, one in particular is still on the minds of many delegates.

Gary Letchworth, retired ARP missionary with World Witness, is disgusted that so many delegates have left Synod early for the last two years.  “It’s a shame, I hope this new arrangement [schedule] works – and if so, we should stick with what works!”

Letchworth says he has been looking forward to revival in midst of Synod for years.  “I prayed for that every year for many years when I was vice moderator. In those days, Synod was just like a camp meeting. If the Spirit of God would just fall among us.  We don’t need controversy; we need to stand for truth, with one heart, one mind – today.

Ron Beard, principal clerk of Synod, – after publishing an article on in The ARP last year when there were not enough ministers and elders present to constitute a quorum – has no expectations for this General Synod meeting.   “We’ll see how it works,” he said.

In the past, Beard says there were no quorum calls – it wasn’t necessary.  “It has become more acute over the past several years,” he said.  Why is this happening?  Beard believes “more and more ministers and elders come as a one-issue candidate,” he said.  “After the particular issue is handled, the delegate leaves.”

Some say the discussions in committees about quorum changes may lead to possible revamping of that issue and could possibly go before Synod next year.  Others say they hope to see changes coming, but not structural changes.  Another delegate sees a problem with some delegates coming from a different system of government, and less acceptance of decisions of General Synod on various issues.

Stay tuned for more ARP News Updates!

 

ARP News Update

Humes Family Loss
Please pray for Lonnie and Kathy Humes as they grieve the loss of their son-in-law, Stuart Cone, on June 5, 2013.   Pray for Kaitlin Humes Cone on the sudden loss of her husband, who was only 29 years old. The cause of death has not yet been determined, although Stuart had been ill for some time.  Pray for Lonnie, Ethan and Adrianna Humes as they travel back from Spain to be together as a family.  They will be staying at the First Presbyterian Church, Columbia Missionary House, 6714 Eastbrook Road, Columbia, SC 29206.  Praise God for Stuart’s final words on this earth: “God is good.”