Summary of URCNA Synod Wyoming 2016
Ordinarily every second year two delegates from each of the churches of our federation (the United Reformed Churches in North America) meet as a synod in order to deliberate on matters that concern all the churches. We provide this summary to help our members become better acquainted with our church family and some of the decisions that were reached.
· One of the first items of business was the unanimous ratification of the membership of our congregation, Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, MI.
· Synod rejected an overture (or request from a Consistory and its classis) to review and propose changes to our current Church Order. Synod advised the churches that they are welcome to submit overtures for making amendments to our current Church Order.
· In connection with previous action taken by Synod Visalia, Synod Wyoming received a report from a study committee on guidelines for the honorable support of ministers and committed the report to the churches for study.
· Synod re-affirmed its desire and intention to continue pursuing ecumenical developments with the Canadian Reformed Churchesacknowledging that formal steps forward will not take place within the next six years.
· After a nearly twenty year process synod approved a new songbook called the Trinity Psalter Hymnal which will be published with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and which will include the ecumenical creeds, the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. The Liturgical forms and prayers of the URCNA will be published in a separate stand-alone book. The Three Forms of Unity will also be published in a second, stand-alone book.
· Synod adopted a foreign missions manual, “URCNA Foreign Missions Manual,” which the Missions Committee has authored “as helpful guidelines to assist consistories, missionaries and church planters in the day-to-day activity of foreign missions.”
· Synod adopted official translations of the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism and Canons of Dort.
· Synod determined to not sustain the appeal of a brother who has been suspended and deposed from the office of Minister of the Word and Sacraments.
· Synod received a report from a study committee mandated by Synod Visalia 2014 to study and address the issue of members who seek to depart from our churches in irregular manners (ex. resignation). Synod gave pastoral advice to the consistories on how to handle these issues.
· Synod Wyoming scheduled the next synod to convene June 11-15, 2018 at Wheaton College in Illinois. This Synod will conduct its business concurrently with the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.