Written by Leonard W. Pine |
Monday, October 17, 2022
The Gender Identity Study Committee presented a written report to the delegates, The Historical Positions of the Bible Presbyterian Church General Synod on Gender Identity and moved to amend the final sentence of Form of Government 1:7 to read, “The Bible Presbyterian Church believes that marriage is limited to a covenant relationship between one biological man and one biological woman, that gender is biologically determined, and that there are only two human genders: male and female. We deny that gender is a fluid self-expression.” This amendment passed unanimously, and was referred to the presbyteries for approval.

In the midst of pleasant mid-summer weather in the Great Lakes region, delegates to the 85th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC) convened in Grand Island, New York, on August 4-8, 2022, on the campus of the BPC of Grand Island, pastored by Dr. Kevin Backus. Taking a cue from Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” the Synod docket reflected messages and fellowship that encouraged a thoughtful look at the past, present, and future of the denomination’s identity and mission. Characteristically enthusiastic worship marked the various services that were interspersed throughout the Synod’s business sessions. As is typical of Bible Presbyterian Synods and presbytery meetings, many of the delegates’ families were also in attendance, adding to the retreat feel the body often enjoys at its gatherings.
The delegates unanimously elected Rev. Jason Hutchinson, pastor of Grace BPC in Sharonville, Ohio, to the office of Moderator. Pastor Hutchinson ably led the Synod through its usual items of business with a warm, dignified approach that kept the docket moving forward on schedule. We were pleased to welcome Mr. Mark Bube from the OPC, who addressed us warmly and made the most of the fellowship during the time that he was present. Of note among the committee reports this year were those of three special study committees that had been appointed by 84th General Synod, namely, the Book of Discipline Study Committee, the Declaratory Statement Study Committee, and the Gender Identity Study Committee.
The Book of Discipline Study Committee’s object is to examine the Book of Discipline and possibly recommend changes related to simplifying procedures and potential deficiencies where the BoD is silent or minimal in some areas of process. The committee reported that the initial work of identifying areas to work on was completed, and assignments had been delegated to various committee members. A report will be given at next year’s Synod, D.V., regarding the progress of this extremely important work.
The Declaratory Statement Study Committee was formed in response to an overture at last year’s Synod to consider removing or editing the Declaratory Statement which has been included in the BPC’s constitutional documents for many years. The committee found that the Declaratory Statement, while it is of historical significance to understand the context and views of the men God used to establish the Bible Presbyterian Church, is not a part of the Westminster Confession of Faith, nor of the other parts which they adopted as the Constitution. The historic circumstances in which it was written and which it was intended to address have changed significantly. The committee recommended, therefore, for the sake of clarity, that the Declaratory Statement not be printed in future publications of the Constitution of Bible Presbyterian Church, be it in print or any other media, including the denominational website. The Synod adopted the recommendation. Provision was made in a subsequent vote to archive it among resolutions of the first General Synod.
Finally, the Gender Identity Study Committee presented a written report to the delegates, The Historical Positions of the Bible Presbyterian Church General Synod on Gender Identity and moved to amend the final sentence of Form of Government 1:7 to read, “The Bible Presbyterian Church believes that marriage is limited to a covenant relationship between one biological man and one biological woman, that gender is biologically determined, and that there are only two human genders: male and female. We deny that gender is a fluid self-expression.” This amendment passed unanimously, and was referred to the presbyteries for approval.
Resolutions are features of BP Synods that are somewhat unique in the Reformed world. These statements reflect the position of each individual Synod and are not binding on subsequent Synods, yet they serve a good purpose in providing a vehicle for addressing issues of the day. Among the resolutions passed this year were two of particular note. The first expresses praise and gratitude for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and an encouragement to the states to continue the movement toward ridding our country of the scourge of abortion. A second, related, resolution gives pastoral counsel and encouragement to those in the Church who have had abortions in the past, affirming the forgiveness of Christ for them as they come in repentance and a warm welcome to them among the larger Body of Christ.
We rejoice in the joyful fellowship and oneness of mind that was evident throughout this Synod, and pray for the magnifying of the work accomplished among our churches and beyond. The General Synod will reconvene, God willing, in Greeneville, Tennessee, at Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church, pastored by Rev. Carel Van Der Merwe, on August 3-7, 2023. More information regarding the Bible Presbyterian Church can be found at www.bpc.org. All glory be to God.
Leonard W. Pine is Pastor of Providence Bible Presbyterian Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho
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Comprehending the importance of celebration, commemoration, and confirmation in light of the festivity of the Table meal changes our relationship to how we approach the question of who is to be granted access to the bread and the cup. If those without faith should not come to the Lord’s Supper because they have not any of these gifts it is because they do not have warrant to come, as is remarked by Ralph Erskine in the last quote above. It’s why Paul bars any who cannot “judge the body rightly” from the supper meal in Corinth. It is an act of love to prevent harm to those who know not what the Table entails. We shouldn’t invite men to sin in worship.

As we move on to the second part of the talk on close communion, or again session-controlled communion in more recent parlance we need to start by thinking about what the Lord’s Supper is in order that we can better understand why there would even be a need to have a doctrine about who can and cannot partake of the covenant meal at a local church. It’s kind of like writing an essay on whether the banning of the shift has been good for Major League Baseball. Whether or not the reader knows what baseball is needs be a prerequisite before you can talk about the most recent rule change affecting the sport. In order to define for us communion we’ll follow our previously established pattern of limiting ourselves to ARP sources so that we can learn more about why and what the ARP once believed on the question at hand.
Biblically the Lord’s Supper was established by the example and command of Christ as He prepared His disciples before He went to the cross (Matt. 26:26-29). After His death, resurrection, and ascension we see the Church continuing to practice the eating of this meal in the context of worship in places like Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7, and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. A thing to consider, which will be important for later, is that whenever the people gather together for the purpose of breaking bread the word is always present. The reason why this matters is that we must always understand the Lord’s Supper to be tied into the preaching of the Word. It is not something we do separate from the ordinary life of the Church, nor is it something we do at random or without due consideration. In light of this let’s look at a few things from Ralph Erskine as to what he understands to be the purpose behind the ordinance. This will help us get in the right frame of mind as we move forward.
First, he remarks that it is a celebration as he says:
“Then, the doctrine I am upon, may give us some insight into the nature and end of this sacrament. Why, it is a just celebrating the memorial of the death of the man that is God’s fellow, when, as the glorious shepherd, he yielded himself a sacrifice to the awakened sword of justice, in the room of the sheep.”
Then, he notes it is a commemoration:
“This sacrament is appointed to be a commemorative sign of the death of Christ; ‘As often as  you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you shew forth the Lord’s death till he come. Do this in remembrance of me’; of me, who became a sacrifice to the sword of justice; by which sacrifice all spiritual blessings, peace, pardon, reconciliation with God, grace, glory, and all good things are purchased.”
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In our battle to protect the doctrine of justification by faith alone, the Law of God disappeared from the church, and then it disappeared from America as a country.  Christendom was first killed by the church and then by the civil magistrate.  We need to consider looking at these events as a result of corporate sin, and providentially a warning sign from God.  Mental health experts cannot save us.  Education cannot save us. Politicians cannot save us. Sadly, even the modern church today cannot save us. Revival and Reformation are the only things that can save us as a nation. 

Like most other people, I’ve spent a lot of time the last few days watching TV about the murder of 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas.  Everyone has an opinion.  Generally, the solution among the political and media elite ranges from a call for more gun-control, more mental-health expenditures, better security at schools, improved training for the police, and better police equipment for dealing with these calamitous and horrendous events.  I have not heard much about more education.  I think the modern generation has given up on education as a cure for all the evils in the world, except maybe for fighting against what they call racism.
The only person I heard who seemed to be asking the right question was Greg Gutfeld, not particularly one of my favorite TV personalities. He asked the question as to why these massacres were a such a common occurrence today and were not so just fifty to seventy years ago.  What has changed in America?  Well, he was at least getting close to asking the right question. It was a good question.  But, like most other commentators I’ve heard, he really does not have a clue as to the right answer.
Jesus was once asked about tragedy and massacres. In Luke 13: 1-5 he was asked about a tragedy in Galilee which occurred without any apparent reason. It just seemed senseless.  There was nothing evil done by the victims that would call for such carnage.  It appears that the people were just worshiping God, and suddenly their “blood was mixed with their sacrifices” (v. 10).   A bloodbath, of all places, in the house of worship.  He went on to speak about not only that tragedy but also about another dreadful event that killed 18 people at the tower of Siloam.
His answer today would seem rather abrupt and terse. He made sure first that they understood that such human disasters are not always correlated with some particular sin on the part of the victims. There was no sin on the part of these Galileans that was any greater than other Galileans.
But, what does he say?  I tell you “unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.”  He speaks to them not only as individuals, but also as a corporate people.  He goes on in the following verses (6-9) to give a parable about the barren fig tree, and how it will be cut down unless it starts to produce fruit. The caretaker of the tree asks for more time before the tree is cut down, and the owner appears to be compassionate and grants more time.  However, the owner reminds the caretaker that the tree’s day of being cut down will indeed come unless it produces fruit. That tree was cut down in AD 70 with the complete destruction and devastation of Jerusalem.
The reason for such providential injections of heart-rendering calamities into society is very often a result of the awful religious condition of that society. In other words, our culture has rotted, and senseless tragedies can be viewed as a warning sign.  Israel had rejected the Savior and they would face judgment unless they repented.  Such events as the Galilean catastrophe and the Siloam disaster cannot be tied to the condition of the victims in particular, but to the condition of religion in the nation as a whole.
America was once a part of Christendom.  Even though not everyone was Christian, the values of the Christian faith permeated not only the church, but also civil society as well. Her culture had a Christian base.  Our eighteen-year-old boys used to go off to war to fight for their country, but now some of them take up arms and murder our own people, especially our own children who are the most vulnerable of all.
Jesus’ answer can only be understood in terms of religion.  In a secular world, religious answers are not relevant, because religion is not relevant.  But as Christians, we know that the religious condition of the people is the most relevant issue of all.  We know why America has changed in the last 50-70 years.  America has cast off the Christian Faith as a nation, and we are suffering the consequences of that rejection.  Rampant divorce, broken homes, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, adultery, and mass-shootings are the result of a change in religion.  Unless we repent and turn back to the Triune God as a nation, things will only get worse.
Who then is to blame?  I blame the church.  The church has ceased to be the salt of the earth.  Liberalism captured the church in America in the early 20th century.  Rapturism captured the church in America in the mid-20th century.  Radical Two Kingdom Separation (R2K) has captured the church in America in the early 21st century.  We have now been told that the two kingdoms refer only to the battle between God and Satan, and how dare we cross over the holy line of telling the civil magistrate that he is accountable to the God of the Bible.  I believe that the Law was never meant to convert nations, but it can be a restraint on 18-year-old boys full of hate and anger.
In our battle to protect the doctrine of justification by faith alone, the Law of God disappeared from the church, and then it disappeared from America as a country.  Christendom was first killed by the church and then by the civil magistrate.  We need to consider looking at these events as a result of corporate sin, and providentially a warning sign from God.  Mental health experts cannot save us.  Education cannot save us. Politicians cannot save us. Sadly, even the modern church today cannot save us. Revival and Reformation are the only things that can save us as a nation.  And even if we see Revival and Reformation, it will take decades to see the resultant fruit that may be the only hope to recover our nation.  Get ready for a long hard ride!
Larry E. Ball is a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is now a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tenn.
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