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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Peter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In Box Hill we have taken the same line as Simon outlined, although here we are not talking about admittance of “non-reformed folk”. We have five adults and their three children who are of Reformed Baptist persuasion, and they are thoroughly Reformed. We have warmly welcomed them into membership, but have let the men know that they will not be able to serve in office. We have however allowed one to teach a Sunday School class. We identified the specific issues of doctrine they cannot agree with us on (infant baptism). Classes here are led by paired teachers who take blocks of lessons in turns, so lessons which address the covenant are fine, but when it comes to address baptism in the curriculum we follow, this person is required to step aside and the teaching partner will give that lesson(s). We talked this through openly with everyone involved so that everyone understood what we are doing and why. I don’t think we would take such an approach with anyone who is fundamentally non-reformed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Albert<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt'><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> mins-bounces@crca.org.au [mailto:mins-bounces@crca.org.au] <b>On Behalf Of </b>mins@crca.org.au<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, 3 April 2013 3:35 AM<br><b>To:</b> mins@crca.org.au<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Mins] Admittance of non reformed folk to membership<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Simon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Very helpful guidelines. Thanks very much<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Peter Kossen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> <a href="mailto:mins-bounces@crca.org.au">mins-bounces@crca.org.au</a> [<a href="mailto:mins-bounces@crca.org.au">mailto:mins-bounces@crca.org.au</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b><a href="mailto:mins@crca.org.au">mins@crca.org.au</a><br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 2 April 2013 5:14 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:mins@crca.org.au">mins@crca.org.au</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Mins] Admittance of non reformed folk to membership<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Hi Peter</span>,<br><br>In 2007, Classis NSW put together the attached guidelines for our churches in ACT/NSW. I'm not sure if this helps significantly, but it arose out of a similar set of questions to what you're asking.<br><br>Blessings,<br>Simon van der Wel<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 2/04/2013 6:51 PM, <a href="mailto:mins@crca.org.au">mins@crca.org.au</a> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi all</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Greetings in Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am seeking input from others about how their churches deal with the acceptance of non-reformed folk to communicant membership.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There appears to be two main models in reformed polity. One is that of confessional membership, and the other is where only the office bearers need to agree to the confessions (for example, OPC).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In the past we have admitted some folk from Baptist backgrounds to communicant membership with the proviso that they not be able to serve in office due to not being able to sign the form of subscription. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Presently we have several more families and individuals who wish to be part of our fellowship, yet either hold to a position of Adult Baptism, or cannot yet agree to the teachings of the doctrines of grace. They have gone through some catechism, they understand the issues, but cannot yet signify whole hearted agreement.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>In some of our forms (baptism and pro-faith), members are asked to signify agreement with the teachings of the Word of God as taught in this Christian Church. That is part of what confessional membership is.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>We want to embrace those who have sought to make our church their spiritual home, but who do not (as yet) fully appreciate or understand our churches confessional position. But we are not sure how to proceed, or what long term principles to put in place. We want to avoid a two tier system of first and second class citizens (full confessional members and associate members). We also do not want to act unilaterally as a church without regard to denominational practice.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>When such brothers and sisters are admitted to membership, how do we proceed when they wish to get involved in teaching Sunday School and getting involved in youth ministry. And even stickier - how do we deal with adult baptisms when the time arises, when adult baptism for them does not mean much more than a profession of faith. (These issues have not arisen yet).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Any input would be appreciated as our church council works through these issues</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks for your consideration and time.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Peter Kossen.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><pre>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Mins mailing list<o:p></o:p></pre><pre><a href="mailto:Mins@crca.org.au">Mins@crca.org.au</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>To manage subscription settings - <a href="http://crca.org.au/mailman/listinfo/mins_crca.org.au">http://crca.org.au/mailman/listinfo/mins_crca.org.au</a><o:p></o:p></pre></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>