Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church

National Presbytery Meeting

October 19-21, 2004

Throughout history, an occasion of ecclesiastical separation has elicited a declaration as to the reasons for breaking the unity once enjoyed.  In a similar fashion, we, as a manifestation of the church, believe that the present set of circumstances—a situation in which we cannot at this time pursue organic union with a sister presbytery—also requires a candid declaration as to the rationale for our determination.

We have enjoyed sweet fellowship with a number of men from the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hanover Presbytery.  We have admired their courageous stance for the Reformed faith.  As we have heard their strong advocacy for the Lordship of Christ in the life of the church, we have been strengthened in our own convictions regarding the application of that doctrine in terms of church polity.

That very affirmation of the regulative principle of polity has led us to reaffirm our commitment to historic Presbyterian government.  However, as we read the proposed document for merger between the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hanover Presbytery, and the American Reformation Presbyterian Church we are concerned that this document does not fully embrace Presbyterian polity.  Specifically, we lament that this document does not provide for the plenary authority of a broader court to rule definitively on matters which might be brought to its attention for adjudication.

We appreciate this skittishness regarding the power of higher courts.  Church history is littered with the wrecks of denominations that have foundered on the shoals of arrogant churchmanship and self-serving bureaucracies.  Nevertheless, we must not allow that understandable apprehensiveness regarding higher courts so to color our polity, that we thereby deny some of the Scriptural teaching on the subject.

The essence of Presbyterianism arises from the notion of the unity of the church.  The most familiar New Testament metaphor for the church is that of the body—the mystical body of Christ.  And the church, like a body, is one.  We confess, of course, that denominations are only a poor semblance of the ideal unity of the universal visible church.  Nonetheless, to the extent to which that unity comes to expression, there must be (God-ordained) structure to its life.  And, for this structure—for this governance—to be meaningful, it must be authoritative.  The court which has jurisdiction over the whole, must be able to rule authoritatively and definitively over the whole.  If a broader court may not render the judgment which should be rendered, then the affiliation which it represents is at most a federation of churches, not one church.

One other issue, we are saddened to note, also constitutes an impediment to further rapprochement with Hanover Presbytery at this time, viz., the allowance within Hanover Presbytery of members who hold membership in a Masonic organization.  Over the course of several decades, several denominations have borne testimony against Freemasonry.  These arguments are well-known and do not have to be rehearsed here.  Furthermore, we do not necessarily endorse all of the customary argumentation set forth in opposition to this fraternal movement.  Nevertheless, as a body, we cannot see our way clear to proceed further at this time down the path toward organic union with this sister presbytery.  We cannot proceed in such a way as to jeopardize our own unity and sense of calling—that would be irresponsible.  Our desire for wider unity must not be allowed to trump the necessity of our maintaining our own integrity as a manifestation of the church.

We live in a broken world, with a very broken church; and our gathering with like-minded brethren in Manassas, Virginia, was designed to try to find a way to heal some of that brokenness and to overcome some of the church’s fractured unity.  The fact that we have failed in this bid with Hanover Presbytery grieves us.  We wish it were not so.  We long for the unity of the faith in the bonds of peace.  And as we contemplate the full realization of the church’s unity, in glory, we pledge to continue to labor towards the end that, in history, we can more fully reflect our Savior’s prayer on the eve of His crucifixion, “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

We welcome ongoing dialogue and contact opportunities with our brethren in Hanover Presbytery and other like-minded groups with a view towards resolution of these concerns.

                                                                                                On behalf of the Presbytery, 

                                                                                                Rudy E. Poettcker, Secretary