With some of my own presbytery stuff as well as a weekend in the wilderness to refresh the soul I have gotten a bit behind on these summaries. So, with apologies for not getting it out before hand, we join this meeting already in progress…
 

The 209th Stated Meeting of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church convened with worship yesterday afternoon, 11 June, at Bonclarken in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The schedule for the meeting, which runs through tomorrow evening, is posted on the Meeting web page. UPDATE: Business was completed a day early on Wednesday afternoon and the Synod adjourned. The best way to follow is through the official updates on the ARP News blog with good comments and links to new stories on the official @ARPMagazine Twitter account. There are additional unofficial regular tweets by others including Clint Davis (@cleetus74) and Marty Taylor (@rev_marty). The hashtag is #synod2013. Documents related to confessions and polity can be found on the Documents page, including the Form of Government, the FOG 2012 Draft, the Book of Discipline and the Directory for Public Worship.

Regarding the business there are two high-profile items that I am aware of. The first is the continuing discussions between the ARPC and it’s school, Erskine College and Seminary. The report of the Special Committee on the Synod-Erskine Relationship was presented this morning and according to the ARP News the Synod adopted revised procedures for removing members of the Board of Trustees and expressed their desire that the College would adopt a matching policy. In addition, it encouraged the team searching for a new president of the College to select  someone who’s views are the same as the Synod’s on the definition of an Evangelical [capitalization as in news report] and subscribing to the ARPC Standards. The Synod also encouraged the cooperation to continue and that the two bodies would have a close working relationship.

The second item is the continuing revision of the Form of Government, with a draft on the web site, as well as the Book of Discipline with special committees reporting on each of these. It will be interesting to hear the reports on the discussions and actions on those documents.

Finally, the ARP News reminds us of a continuing issue at the Synod — that of commissioners leaving early so that few are left to the last items of business and that a quorum is probably not present. A bit of concern and despair has been expressed about this and while this year they are depending on appeals to commissioners’ sense of responsibility there are mentions of possible structural changes to address this next year.

And so, our prayers continue for the General Synod and best wishes to all the commissioners in their deliberations. May they and the new Moderator, the Rev. Jeff Kingswood, be guided by the Holy Spirit as they are about the business of the Body of Christ.