Synod Day Six Report

Today Committee 3 presented its advice for treating several appeals to Synod having to do with doctrinal issues.

The first recommendation of the committee advised synod not to sustain three appellants. Classis East ruled in February of 2024 that the Consistory of Grandville PRC “erred when they made a judgment that Rev. Ken Koole was guilty of the public sin of teaching false doctrine without proving this from Scripture or the Confessions.” The three appellants asked synod to overturn this decision of Classis East. On the basis of two grounds synod approved the advice of Committee 3 not to sustain the appellants and to uphold the decision of Classis East. Ground 2 succinctly states, “None of the appellants have proved that Grandville’s original decision of April 22, 2021 was carefully grounded in Scripture and the confessions.”

The second recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain an appeal of Grandville PRC’s Consistory against a decision of Classis East. Grandville contended that Classis East did not give a proper ruling on a statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely,“Scripture teaches that something must be done that we may be saved.” Synod decided to adopt the advice the committee and made the judgment that the statement “a)…is erroneouswhen referring to our good works, and b) Rev. Koole’s explanation and use of [the statement] was erroneous” on two grounds.

The third recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain an appeal of Grandville’s Consistory against a decision of Classis East regarding a second statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely, “We must accurately distinguish between a right to life and the possession of life. The former must be assigned to the obedience of Christ, that all the values of our holiness may be entirely excluded. But certainly, our works, or rather these, which the Spirit of Christ worketh in us, and by us, contribute something to the latter.” Synod also approved this recommendation making the judgment that “a) Statement #2 is erroneous, and b) Rev. Koole’s promotion of the statement was erroneous” on two grounds.

The fourth recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod not to sustain an appeal of Grandville’s consistory against the decision of Classis East regarding a third statement quoted and explained by Rev. Koole, namely, “Hence, I conclude, that sanctification and its effects, are by no means to be slighted, when we treat of assuring the soul as to its justification.” Synod approved the recommendation and made the judgment that “a) this statement, although not a clear statement of orthodoxy, is not erroneous, and b) Rev. Koole’s explanation and use of the statement were not in conflict with Scripture, the confessions, and Synod 2018” on the basis of two grounds.

The fifth and final recommendation of Committee 3 advised synod to sustain Grandville Consistory’s appeal against a decision of Classis East advising the consistory “to publicly retract its decision to charge Rev. Koole with the public sin of teaching false doctrine.” Synod adopted the recommendation to sustain Grandville Consistory, which means that the consistory does not have to retract publicly its decision. The two grounds were adopted by synod with a lengthy section of explanation that is not copied here for the sake of space but should be carefully read when the Acts of Synod 2024 are published. The important points to be noted include 1) it was proper for the consistory to require of Rev. Koole a public apology for publicly teacher error, 2) there is no evidence that Rev. Koole deliberately or purposely was seeking to teach contrary to the Scriptures and the Reformed Confessions, and 3) Grandville’s Consistory never sought to use Articles 79 and 80 of the Church order to charge Rev. Koole with deliberately and persistently teaching contrary to Scripture and the Reformed confessions.

After concluding the advice of Committee 3 synod treated advice from Committee 2 that had been recommitted for reformulation. Synod adopted the recommendation of the committee to provide financial assistance to the Berean PRCP for a downpayment for a parsonage for the congregation.

Synod also adopted a recommendation from Committee 2 to provide each family in the PRCA with a total of three copies of the revised Psalter (earlier synod decided to provide each family with 1 copy and decided on 2 more copies today).

Professor Doug Kuiper read to synod a letter accepting its appointment for permanent tenure as Professor of Church History and New Testament in our seminary.

Synod ended the day by treating a number of recommendations from Committee 5. Some highlights:

1. Approved emeritation requests for retired ministers and their wives.
2. Approved of subsidy for 6 needy churches for 2025.
3. Adopted a budget for 2025. The total of budgeted expenses is $2,911,326. The synodical assessment per family in 2025 was set for $600, the same as in 2024. Note: the estimated number of families used for these assessments in 2025 was 2,100.
4. Appointed Faith PRC as the host of Synod 2025 to convene on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 8:00am. Faith looks forward to hosting synod for the examination of Seminarian Aaron VanDyke, a member of Faith!

Synod is in recess until 8:00 am on Thursday. Committee 4 will be working until then to prepare advice on the six protests of the decision of Synod 2023 to approve the hiring of a third-party organization to investigate sexual abuse within the PRCA.

I should have mentioned this earlier, but it must be said that Trinity PRC, the custodians and kitchen committee especially, has done an amazing job hosting the sessions of synod.

Please continue to pray for the delegates and the work of synod.

For Synod 2024,

Rev. C. Spronk, 2nd Clerk

And a lighter moment of synod. Rev. W. Langerak, president of Synod 2024, with a special cup.

Today, June 16, is the twenty-fourth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024, and another rest stop on our pilgrim journey through this world. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. ...I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. ...I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. ~ Psalm 140:1,2,6-8, 12,13

If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you; or you may listen online through one of the PRC's livestreams.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS 

• Last Sunday Rev. Nate Decker (Grandville, PRC, MI) declined the call to Loveland PRC. 
  
  
• Hope PRC-Redlands' Council has formed a new trio from which the congregation will call a new pastor: Revs. J. Engelsma (Crete PRC), G. Eriks (Unity PRC) and A. Brummel (Calvary PRC– Hull, Iowa). The congregational meeting will be held after the morning worship service on Sunday, June 23.
  
  
• Lynden (WA) PRC's Consistory presents the following trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. R. Barnhill (Heritage PRC), Rev. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC), and Rev. D. Lee (Kalamazoo PRC). A congregational meeting is planned for Sunday, June 23, after the morning service to call one of these men.
  
  
• Special note: Rev. H. Bleyenberg and Deb are in Singapore today and this week. He has been asked to speak at the CERC's annual church camp this week and is preaching both services today. The Bleyenbergs plan to return home, the Lord willing, on June 25.
  
  
• Rev. J. Mahtani's installation in Pittsburgh PRC is scheduled for July 7. He and his family plan to move the end of this month after his farewell at Hope PRC on June 30.

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. C. Griess and Rev. D. Holstege in Georgetown PRC; Sem. B. Feenstra led in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Sem. A. Van Dyke in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Loveland PRC; Cand. A. Havemen in Lynden PRC; Rev. E. Guichelaar in Pittsburgh PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. N. Decker in Zion PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

• Byron Center (MI) PRC: "The Community Bible Study meets this Thursday, June 20, at 7:30 PM at church to continue our study of the book of Philippians. Discussion will begin at chapter 2 verse 17. You would be welcome to bring friends or neighbors and join us!"
• Edgerton (MN) PRC: "What does it mean to be Reformed? Is it important today? Why are there so many Reformed denominations and how did they start? Come to Edgerton Protestant Reformed Church on Friday, June 28 at 7 PM to hear Pastor Matt De Boer answer these questions and encourage us to keep going back to the Bible."

Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI), host of this week's PRC Synod (see note below)

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• The Synod of the PRC met this past week at Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI. Daily reports may be found on these pages. Synod will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Continue to remember the delegates in your prayers as they deliberate important matters for the churches. 
   
• Denominational Website Logo Design Contest: The denominational website is currently being redesigned to improve our evangelism efforts and to make it more user friendly for all who visit the website. As part of this effort, we would like to create a new PRCA.org logo and we would like to have a contest so that anyone within the denomination can try their hand at designing our new logo. You may send your designs to the website committee (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) before June 30, 2024. The winner will receive a gift.

• PRC 100th Anniversary Celebration: All the members of the PRCA, our sister churches, and close contacts are encouraged to come together at Calvin University from June 2-6, 2025 (note the new dates) to participate in this commemorative week. Visit prca100.org for basic event information and to sign up for email updates.
  
  

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary has now completed its second semester and entered its summer break. Faculty, students, and staff will be busy with normal and special duties during these months, all in preparation for a new semester, which will begin, D.V., on August 26. Continue to pray for faculty, students, and staff as we labor during these next months.
• Senior seminarian Arend Havemen successfully sustained his examination before the PRC Synod this past week and was declared a candidate for the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the PRC and her sister churches. His graduation took place last Thursday, June 13, in Trinity PRC. We congratulate the brother and thank the Lord for his gifts and this gift to the churches of a new candidate.
• With joy the faculty of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary announces that it has licensed second-student Bruce Feenstra to speak a word of edification in the churches. We are grateful for the brother’s progress to this point in his training. All scheduling of Mr. Feenstra must be done through the seminary, either by sending a request to the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the rector, Prof. R. Cammenga (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• Sem. Aaron Van Dyke (entering his senior year) will intern in our Wingham, Ontario congregation, under the supervision of Wingham’s Consistory and the mentoring of Rev. Daniel Holstege. He and his wife Sarah and two children plan to move the end of this month. The internship begins July 1 and extends through December 31.  Continue to pray for Mr. Van Dyke and his family during his internship.
• Prof. B. Huizinga's first book has been published - Crowning His Gifts: Gracious Rewards in the Reformed Tradition (RFPA, 2024) - the fruit of his studies for the ThM degree through Calvin Theological Seminary. We thank the Lord for this work and pray that it will have wide readership. To order your copy, visit the publisher's website linked here or visit the seminary bookstore.
• The Spring 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal is now available. The digital editions (pdf and epub) have been posted on the journal page (visit the link here). This latest issue features three main articles, one dealing with the history of common grace at the 1924 Synod in the Christian Reformed Church (which led to the formation of the Protestant Reformed Churches), one involving another translation of H. Bouwman's work on the Reformed Church Order, and another chapter from Prof. D. Kuiper on the history of Classis West in the PRC. Plus, there is a good number of book reviews again, on a variety of subjects. If you want to be added to our mailing list (either print or digital) or wish to pick up a copy, contact Valerie Kleyn, the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 
• Advance Notice - Fall Seminary Conference: In 1924 the CRC Synod developed the Three Points of Common Grace. What are they? What led to their development? Why are they wrong? Is the early opposition to them by leaders of the PRCA relevant for us today, or is it merely a matter of past history? The seminary faculty would like to announce a fall conference observing the centennial of the development of the Three Points. This conference will be held the evenings of Thursday, October 31, and Friday, November 1, and the morning of Saturday, November 2, at Grace PRC. More details are coming.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website - and don't forget the blog!
  
  

Sister-church representatives at the PRC Synod this past week: Elder Tang (l) from the CERC in Singapore and Rev. V. Ibe (r) from the PRC in the Philippines

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  • Pastors J. Tan and M. Wee are faithfully serving the CERC. This special note is found in the "pastoral note" for today: "We thank God for the safe arrival of the Rev. and Deb Bleyenberg to Singapore, on Wednesday morning. They plan to be here with us till 25 June. ...In addition to leading in worship for 2 Sundays and speaking at the church camp, Rev. Bleyenberg is planning to give an introductory presentation to his family and his church, Immanuel PRC, in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. This will be held next Sunday 23 June, in between services. Do make plans to attend!"
    
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers is available - May 2024, #72, the second of this year!  Once again you will find a variety of articles on timely subjects in this issue! Written especially for young people and young adults, SS is edifying for all adults!

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully in the CPRC, Ballymena, N. Ireland - and beyond!
    
  • 2024 BRF Family Conference: Join Reformed believers from around the world at the 2024 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Cloverley Hall Conference Centre in Shropshire, England, from Saturday, August 3, to Saturday, August 10. Our speakers, Prof. Brian Huizinga and Rev. Ron Hanko, will lecture on “Then Comes the End: The Reformed Doctrine of Eschatology.” For information and booking forms, see the website ( www.brfconference.weebly.com ) or contact Briana Prins (616-214-2779; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
  • The April 2024 issue of "Covenant Reformed News" is now available! Read the articles by Rev. A. Stewart on "The Truth Is According to Godliness" (3) and Rev. R. Hanko's response to a question about David, Amasa, and Joab.
    
  • The CPRC YouTube channel may be found here.

• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work in various places:
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Elders Espiritu and Penaverde led us her worship services today. "Our pastor and Sis. Melody plans to return home [from USA] on Thursday [June 20, 2024], God willing." And, "The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon Nueva Ecija will join us in our worship services today, via livestreamed on our official Facebook page."
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Officebearers led her worship services today. Let's remember this vacant congregation and her needs in our prayers.

REFORMED RESOURCES for EDUCATION, EDIFICATION, and EVANGELISM

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!

• This month - June 2024 -  the RWH is broadcasting five gospel messages by Rev. W. Bruinsma, continuing his series on women in the Bible. Today's message is titled "Hannah's Prayer for a Son"based on 1 Samuel 1:9-18.
  
• The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet. These printed sermons are a great blessing to many and are distributed all over the world, including to many prisoners in the U.S. If you or your Evangelism Committee would like to receive these, let the RWHC know and they will add you to the mailing list (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

What does true, biblical Calvinism teach? What are the doctrines of grace according to God's Word? Read this resource to find out!

• The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville (3472 Harvey St.). Visit the store and browse the variety of resources for your Reformed-Christian faith and walk, including many children's titles. They are open Tuesday-Friday, 10-5, and Saturday 10-1. 
  Special notice: "Celebrate with us! On Friday, June 21 at 7PM, the Reformed Book Outlet will be hosting an official launch party for the RFPA summer releases, Journey Through the Psalms by Mike Velthouse and Erinn Kuiper, and Songs of Our Pilgrimage by John Heys. All, especially readers age 9-13, are welcome to attend for ice cream, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and an author reading from Journey. All RFPA books (except the 2 new releases) will be 25% off for attendees. Hope to see you there!"

• In need of sound biblical and Reformed catechism materials for children and young people? Check out the PRC's full curriculum of materials here. Call the PRC Seminary for help with any of these materials (616-531-1490).
  
  
• For sound, distinctively Reformed literature on a variety of subjects and for all ages - including church history and Bible study materials - visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association website or stop in at their Jenison (Michigan) location.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

 "God is Father of His people; this is the basic relationship in which He stands towards us. Although this is more fully revealed in the New Testament, it was made known already in the Old Testament. When God was about to redeem Israel from Egypt, He told Moses to say to Pharaoh: 'Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, even my firstborn' (Ex. 4:22). Psalm 103 makes explicit comparison between our fatherly attitude towards our children and God's attitude towards His children: 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so Jehovah pitieth them that fear him' (v. 13). The New Testament reveals this fully. Not only in the address of the Lord's Prayer, but also all the way through the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5 - 7, Jesus teaches us that God is our Father. Time and again, the New Testament compares the acts of the Heavenly Father and the acts of us earthly fathers. Luke's account of the Lord's Prayer does this regarding the answering of the petitions of children: 'If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?' (Luke 11:13). Hebrews 12:1-13 compares God's Fatherhood and ours as regards the discipline, or chastisement, of children: 'If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?' (v. 7).

God's Fatherhood is the original Parenthood; ours is derived from His. He is the original Father in His own Being in that the First Person of the Blessed Trinity begets the Second, as eternal Son. He is the original Father in His relationship, in Christ, to His people, whom He adopts as children and begets in His own image. Our parenthood, derived from His, is called to reflect His.

~ Taken from the pamphlet "As a Father Pitieth His Children: Reformed Child-Rearing" by Prof. D. Engelsma