Wednesday Morning Business Juan Carlos Bonilla led worship on Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” we be a witness of Jesus through our lifestyle? How can we be a witness of Jesus with our words?” Bonilla asked. Bonilla challenged the delegates asking, “We preach and talk about missions but are we willing to cross the
street? When were you last part of a mission trip? We are disobeying the Great Commission if we aren’t reaching the ends of the Earth.” Bonilla closed in prayer, “May we be obedient and plant churches among your nations.” RPCNA Delegate brought greetings. Their Synod meeting is always the same time as our Synod. The Special Committee to Investigate Second Presbytery’s Handling of Allegations Against Chuck Wilson was next on the agenda. Parliamentarian Patrick Malphrus recused himself since he is a part of the Committee. Jeff -
presented 20 events that happened. Two of those were deviations from our Book of Discipline. Others were lack of records after requested and how things were handled. The recommendations from the committee were as follows • That Second Presbytery be dissolved as of September 1, 2024. • That the bounds of Catawba Presbytery be changed to include the entire state of South Carolina. • That the bounds of Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery be moved to include the entire state of Georgia. • That the general Synod encourage members of Second Presbytery to transfer their credentials to Catawba or Tennessee-Alabama presbyteries (depending on their geographical location).
• That the Moderator appoint a commission in order to oversee the transfer of assets and dissolution of Second Presbytery.
• That the General Synod encourage Catawba and Tennesee-Alabama Presbyteries to use assets received for the purpose of church strengthening, already existing church plants, and new church planting, giving special consideration to the geographical areas of the former Second Presbytery.
• That the General Synod review Catawba and Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery boundaries after a period of three years.
• That the Moderator appoint a committee to review and revise The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with special emphasis on the church discipline process in the Book of Discipline and special emphasis on the Form of Government, as it relates to judicial commissions. Due to the weight of this issue, James Almond offered prayer. A delegate tried to rule the report out of order
delegates worked through the direction to take. The order of the day approached and Phil Williams closed in prayer.
Wednesday Afternoon Business
Stacey Cox read from Titus 3:12-15 to begin the afternoon Worship. “What a time to be alive,” Cox said. It can be tough navigating things of this world.” “Paul was surrounded by Gospel men (pals). Who are your Gospel pals that walk with you and laugh with you? Paul had Titus, Ar-
temas, Tychicus, and Apollo. God places us in a community and in a family of believers with a variety of strengths that complement the weaknesses,” Cox said. “How appropriate that the hymn we opened with was ‘What a Friend We have in Jesus.’” Cox closed in prayer, “We are thankful for the friends who love us in the grind of life.” Orthodox Presbyterian Church delegate, Matthew Holst, brought greetings and encouragement. “Stay faithful, pursue peace, and continue to preach the Gospel,” Holst said.
Business continued with the Committee Handling Second Presbytery. One delegate said, “I don’t want to deal with this, but we
must.” Another said, “We have been doing this song and dance for ten years.” And another, “Give me a third option. Dissolve or wait for it to get better? Will it get better?”
The question was called and the vote for Recommendation #1, to dissolve Second Presbytery, passed 254 yes to 43 no. Philip Bunch offered a prayer for the meeting saying, “Though we have been heated, we have been guided by you. We trust and know
we are working together for good.” Delegates heard from both Catawba and Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery clerks that their presbyteries are willing to accept men as long as their views have not changed. These Presbyteries cannot decline a church. The following two motions were made to clarify the original recommendations from the committee’s report: of Second Presbytery and that the same commission study the best use of the remaining funds for the furtherance of the gospel in our denomination.
• That the moderator direct the commission to deal with funds of Second Presbytery and be allowed to deal with the dissolution of Second Presbytery and to handle any requests for churches in Second Presbytery to change from their new presbytery.
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