All Articles For Examining Ecumenicalism

Last time I called your attention to the fact that the Reformed Ecumenical Synod (RES) reaffirmed its previous stand that the member churches ought not to join the W.C.C. (World Council of Churches) in the present situation. This decision was based upon the advice of a study committee which, in the majority report, set forth its reasons for the advice. In reviewing this report, we have already noticed how this committee points out the nature and the basis of the W.C.C. both of which give reason for the advice: do not join the W.C.C. 

In a former article our attention was directed toward that organization called “The Reformed Ecumenical Synod,” or, R.E.S. for short. To this body belong several of the Reformed and Presbyterian church denominations from various parts of this earth. We as Protestant Reformed Churches has also considered the possibility of sending observers to its Synods. Because of our own interest in this body, it is proper that we know what has been done by the R.E.S. in the past. It has made decisions, and has committees making studies, on various issues.

The R.E.S., during its brief history, has treated a variety of subjects of interest to the churches in common; it is in process of study on other subjects. One subject of special concern also to us is its study on social and political organizations and the Biblical principles governing these. Particularly there is the question concerning the stand of the church with respect to unionism. I wish to point out the stand of the R.E.S. on this subject in the present article. The quotations which follow are from the “Acts of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod — 1963”. 

Many comments and criticisms have been made about the World Council of Churches. Some of these comments are interesting and instructive—and usually reflect upon the person himself as well as that group of people for whom he stands as spokesman. In view of this, I would consider two expressions on the W.C.C. that recently came to my attention.

From July 4 through the 20th of 1968 the World Council of Churches met in its fourth assembly at Uppsala, Sweden. Some 235 church denominations were represented by 704 delegates in attendance. The theme of the assembly was, “Behold, I make all things new. In the following issues of the Standard Bearer I plan, D.V., to point out what went on at the assembly. The source of my information will be from the official Uppsala 68 Report, published by the World Council of Churches.

This past July 26-28 there was held a regional conference of churches of reformed persuasion, called by the three North American members of the R.E.S. (Reformed Ecumenical Synod), which met in the beautiful Calvin Seminary building at their Knollcrest Campus.  This conference was held in harmony with decisions taken at the last R.E.S. meeting in Grand Rapids in 1963. The following decisions were taken:

In a former article of this rubric was quoted a minister of the Christian Reformed Church who pointed out that failure of his denomination to join the W.C.C. was equivalent to “fiddling while Rome burns.” The decision of the last Synod of the Christian Reformed Church indicates that this denomination intends for the time being to continue “fiddling.” 

In the last issue I gave a brief review of a “regional conference” sponsored by the North American members of the R.E.S. (Reformed Ecumenical Synod). This was held at Knollcrest Campus of the Christian Reformed Church. 

Dr. James Daane, minister in the Christian Reformed Church, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, one of the editors of the Reformed Journal, is a well-known advocate for membership in the World Council of Churches. He continues to encourage membership for his denomination even though several Synodical decisions have strongly condemned such union. He and others, I predict, will continue this agitation for union with the W.C.C. until they succeed in their desires—and this success will be seen within a few years, if the Lord tarry. 

The above title is correct. On Tuesday evening, May 12, Father Groppi appeared on the platform of the Fine Arts Center at Calvin College. Twenty years ago such would have been an unheard of thing. There would have been principal objections against having such a man speak to the student-body of a Reformed college. It would have been unheard-of ten years ago—probably not because of principle, but from a fear of offending the more conservative element of the Christian Reformed Church farther west.