Dallas Presbytery Meets (May 31-June 2 2002)
From: Pastor Richard Bacon [mailto:pastor@fpcr.org]
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 8:03 PM
The Dallas Presbytery of the American Reformation Presbyterian
Church
(ARPC) held an historic meeting on May 31st and June 1st, 2002. It
was
the twelfth meeting of the ARPC since its founding in 1994. At the
meeting of November 2001, the ARPC established the Dallas Presbytery
of
the ARPC as its first regional presbytery.
The assembly received the report of Mr. Christopher Tuck of the
Trinitarian Bible Society (Australia). The ARPC is working in
conjunction with Mr. Tuck to prepare a new Mizo language translation
for
the people of Myanmar -- the former British colony of Burma. The
ARPC
allocated $11,000 in funds toward the project. $5000 will be spent
for
such startup items as computers and software, electrical generators,
and
other fixed assets. The remaining $6000 will spent at the rate of
$500
monthly to pay for regular expenses within the nation of Myanmar.
These
expenses will be for fuel for the generators, rent for study space,
and
salaries for scholars in residence to proceed with translation
chores.
Mr. Tuck estimated that his Myanmar counterpart, Dr. Tial Thanga,
will
require between two and three years to finish the first revision.
The court also examined Mr. Todd Ruddell for the third and final
time
toward his ordination as a teaching elder within the body. Mr.
Ruddell
completed the exam on Saturday and was ordained in a worship service
of
the First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett (FPCR) on Sunday June 2nd.
The
Rev. Mr. Ruddell was ordained and installed as assistant pastor of
FPCR.
He will have the important function of evangelism and church
planting.
The calling body, session of FPCR, has specifically tasked him at
the
present time with working in Princeton, TX.
Not only was this the first ordination to the office of Minister of
the
Word and Sacraments within the ARPC, it was accomplished in an
historic
manner. At the constituting meeting of the ARPC in October 1994, the
founding ministers and churches specifically adopted the language of
the
Westminster Form of Presbyterial Church Government and Ordination of
Ministers. The language adopted from that document reads inter alia,
"In these present exigencies, while we cannot have any
presbyteries
formed up to their whole power and work, and that many ministers are
to
be ordained for the service of the armies and navy, and to many
congregations where there is no minister at all; and where (by
reason of
the public troubles) the people cannot either themselves enquire and
find out one who may be a faithful minister for them, or have any
with
safety sent unto them, for such a solemn trial as was before
mentioned
in the ordinary rules; especially, when there can be no presbytery
near
unto them, to whom they may address themselves, or which may come or
send to them a fit man to be ordained in that congregation, and for
that
people; and yet notwithstanding, it is requisite that ministers be
ordained for them by some, who, being set apart themselves for the
work
of the ministry, have power to join in the setting apart others, who
are
found fit and worthy. In those cases, until, by God's blessing, the
aforesaid difficulties may be in some good measure removed, let some
godly ministers, who, being associated, may ordain ministers for the
city and the vicinity, keeping as near to the ordinary rules
fore-mentioned as possibly they may; and let this association be for
no
other intent or purpose, but only for the work of ordination."
In accordance with this constitutional document, the ARPC proceeded
to
ordain Mr. Ruddell with the help of the American Presbyterian
Church.
The APC delegated Dr. Charles Butler as observer to the ARPC
assembly
and to assist the ARPC in the ordination examination as well as the
actual laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Dr. Butler
concurred in
the examination of Mr. Ruddell, and with the Dallas Presbytery,
assisted
in the laying on of hands in accordance with the ARPC's
constitution.
Dr. Charles Butler and Dr. Richard Bacon were appointed as a
commission
for the specific purpose of laying hands on Mr. Ruddell the
following
day.
Last year the ARPC and the APC entered into a confederated
relationship
with one another. The confederation consists, at this point, of an
agreement to review one another's judicial cases in the event of an
appeal from either body. A copy of the 13 point confederation
constitution is available from either body. The ordination service
held
on June 2nd marks a new point of cooperation between the two church
bodies and was met with great enthusiasm on the part of the ARPC
members.
The Dallas Presbytery, having completed its business on June 1st,
adjourned until the next ad hoc meeting should be called. The ARPC
follows a view of Constitutional Presbyterianism that requires every
meeting of its courts above the kirk session to be called either ad
hoc
or pro re nata.
In other news, the session of First Presbyterian Church of Rowlett
also
ordained Mr. Mario Jimenez to the office of Deacon at the same
worship
service on June 2nd in which Mr. Ruddell was ordained by the Dallas
Presbytery.
______________________________
+Dr. Richard Bacon, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
8210 Schrade Road
Rowlett, TX 75088
+ Dr. Charles Butler
American Presbyterian Church
Clerk: Rev. Louis F. DeBoer
1459 Boston Neck Road
Saunderstown, RI 02874