RP Official Minutes for OCTOBER 28, 2017

The minutes are found online at this link:
http://www.reformationparty.org/rp/minutes/RP_Official_Minutes_for_OCTOBER_28_2017.pdf

2017 Reformation Party Essay Contest Winner Is.....

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Samuel on his award-winning essay for the inaugural Reformation Party Essay Contest.   Paper found here: http://www.reformationparty.org/rp/pdf_downloads/Establishment_Principle_Essay_Contest_2017.pdf

RP Official Minutes for FEBRUARY 18, 2017

REFORMATION PARTY, USA NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS

OFFICIAL MINUTES – FEBRUARY 18, 2017

 

 

1. Present at the meeting were Council members Brian Hanley and Mark Wallace, along with Party member J. Parnell McCarter.  The Council was informed by Party member J. Parnell McCarter that Council member Evan Kersten was unable to attend this meeting due to injuries sustained in a recent automobile accident, but Evan indicated for the Council to proceed with its meeting in his absence.  Meeting moderator Brian Hanley asked new Council member Mark Wallace, along with others present in the meeting, to explain his background.  He also asked Parnell to keep the meeting minutes.  After these informal introductions, the meeting officially opened with a reading of a Bible text from Psalm 46:8-10 by Brian Hanley and the opening prayer was led by Mark Wallace.  

 

2. Officers first discussed the essay contest on the topic of the Establishment Principle with a $100 prize.  Brian asked how many might be participating in the contest.  Parnell noted that he has heard of two who may be.  Beyond that, it is uncertain how many might submit an essay.  Essays are due at the end of February.  It was decided to wait and see how many, if any, might submit an essay, before deciding anything further on the topic.

 

3. Officers next discussed the Party blog.  Brian noted that there needs to be an updated blog entry since the last one was almost one year old. Brian agreed to submit one in March, and Mark indicated he would submit one 4 to 6 months afterwards.  It was decided regularly to update.

 

4.  There was next discussion of the list of current members of the Party and their status.  Brian asked Parnell to email the membership list to Council members, and Parnell indicated he would do so.

 

5.   Next discussed was an idea of Brian to start a Party Facebook page just for members.  It was agreed that Brian should spearhead such an effort.

 

6. Next discussed was an idea of Brian to create a Party YouTube video explaining the Party and its principles, especially the Establishment Principle.  It was agreed that Brian should spearhead such an effort.

 

7. Next discussed was an idea of Brian to seek that there be a public debate on the topic of the Establishment Principle.  It was decided to pray about this and consider ways it may effectively happen.

 

8. Finally the Council discussed an idea broached by Mark that he use MS Publisher to prepare brochures of some of the essays and articles at the Party website.  It was agreed that Mark proceed to do so.

 

9. The Council closed with prayer by Parnell.

 

Our First Essay Contest

The Reformation Party is very excited to have our first essay contest, which is to encourage young hungry minds to think about the importance of Jesus being King of the Nations and the advancement of the true religion. 

The topic for our first essay contest is:  ‘The Establishment Principle- a present need in the US today, and its Biblical rationale’

See the Rules by going here:  http://www.reformationparty.org/rp/minutes/Rules_For_Essay_Contest_2017_Final.pdf

Submissions should be sent to contest@ReformationParty.org . Winner of essay contest receives $100 award.

RP Official Minutes for NOVEMBER 12, 2016

RP Official Minutes for NOVEMBER 12, 2016

REFORMATION PARTY, USA NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS

OFFICIAL MINUTES – NOVEMBER 12, 2016

1. The Council meeting opened with a reading of a Bible text from Daniel 4:17 by Brian Hanley (who moderated the meeting) and the opening prayer was led by Evan Kersten.  J. Parnell McCarter kept the meeting minutes. Present at the meeting were Brian H., Evan K, and J. Parnell M.

2. Officers discussed the idea proposed by Brian of an essay contest with a $100 prize.  Children would be asked to write an essay explaining and defending the establishment principle.  Brian indicated he would be sending other officers his list of proposed rules relating to such an essay contest in order that at the next officer meeting in the first quarter of 2017 such rules could be discussed and acted upon.

3. There was a discussion of how the Party website has moved from Fatcow to iPage.   Parnell indicated he would email to the other officers the ftp and other information relating to the new webhosting platform.

4. Officers discussed and agreed to have a public posting that the Party will have an election once there are more than 3 members seeking to be on the three member Council of Officers.  Until then the current 3 officers will remain on it without election.  It was also discussed how there appears we may soon have 4 candidates, because it is appearing like member Mark Wallace may put forth his name as a candidate.  Brian and Evan requested information about Mark, and Parnell indicated he would email it to them.

5.  There was next discussion of what the Party strategy should be at this point in time, with these possibilities proposed by Parnell for publicly published strategies:

a)      Continue to hold up a public standard of where we believe the political order should move long term.  -  This item was supported by all 3 officers so approved.

b)      Help political leaders and politicians in other parties which will move political policy in the general direction we seek (albeit such do not generally embrace all aspects of what the Reformation Party aims for).  -  This item was disapproved by Brian and Evan for public publication but supported by Parnell, so this item was not accepted for public publication.

c)       Encourage Party members to get involved in local politics and even run for office when the time is opportune.  -  This item was supported by all 3 officers so approved.

Also as part of discussion of this topic Parnell noted that certain Reformation Party members have asked to attend a Party teleconference to discuss Party strategy.  It was agreed that the first quarter of 2017 Officer meeting would have this as a component of it.  It was approved to let members know of this.  Brian also suggested that if there were an Officer election in the future that we ought to consider a teleconference where members could ask the candidates questions.

6.   Parnell had proposed the following: 

"With the rising prominence of politicians like Trump and Farage, along with the success of Brexit, etc., nationalism has become a more prominent issue in recent years.  *If* we as a Board of Officers can reach unanimity on it, I would request that we put out a statement indicating our view that Protestant nationalism is consistent with and conducive to the ends of the Reformation Party.  If we cannot reach unanimity, then I would request we publish what is the majority and minority opinion on this topic.  We should make clear that no member is required to embrace Protestant nationalism in order to be a member of the Reformation Party, nor are we saying there is unanimity of view on this topic in the Party." 

After some discussion, this item was disapproved by Brian and Evan for public publication but supported by Parnell, so this item was not accepted for public publication.

                                                    

7. The Council closed with prayer by Parnell.

RP Official Minutes for SEPT 12, 2015

RP Official Minutes for SEPTEMBER 12, 2015

REFORMATION PARTY, USA NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS

OFFICIAL MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 12, 2015

This was our agenda for the meeting:

1. The Council meeting opened with a reading of a Bible text from Revelation 11:15-19 by Brian Hanley (who moderated the meeting) and the opening prayer was led by Evan Kersten.  J. Parnell McCarter kept the meeting minutes. Present at the meeting were Brian H., Evan K, and J. Parnell M.

2.  Officers discussed the upcoming election of Party officers for the 2016 term, and especially procedures if only three Party members run for the three officer positions.  The Council adopted the following motion proposed by Parnell: "In the event only three members run for the three-member Reformation Party Council of Officers for the coming term of office, and no member objections are raised regarding any of the three candidates, and hence it is an uncontested election, the three member candidates will automatically be declared as winners for the three-member Council in the coming term.  In the event an objection is raised by a Reformation Party member regarding any of the three candidates, the election must proceed to take place and none of the three member candidates will automatically be declared as winners for the three-member Council in the coming term.     This provision is being added to the Reformation Party by-laws."  Evan seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously upon vote.   It was noted by Brian that there are other issues related to the one addressed in the passed motion, involving objections to membership or candidacy of a Party member.  It was decided to table consideration of these other issues until a future meeting.  Parnell was authorized by the Council to proceed with soliciting candidates for Reformation Party office, making note of the newly passed motion and by-law provision.

3.  Brian raised the possibility of a Reformation Party member running for President of the United States as a write-in candidate.  He pointed out how Biblically speaking none of the candidates thus far in the race for President are qualified, and the existence of provisions in the law for alternative write-in candidates.  He feels a burden for this, and recommends that a Reformation Party member run for office in this way.  Parnell expressed his agreement that Biblically speaking none of the candidates thus far in the race for office are qualified, but expressed his reservations about any current members running for President, although noting their right to do so.  Parnell stated his opinion that current qualified members should focus their efforts on local candidacy, since no current members appear to have national stature, so as to make their candidacy known to most voters in a national election.  He expressed a concern that it may subject the Party and candidate to unnecessary mocking.  Evan stated his reservations regarding a Reformation Party member running for President of the United States, expressing his opinion that such an effort would not be taken seriously.  Brian noted his opinion that there is much we must do trusting the Lord, and ignoring the scoffs of the world.  It was agreed by officers to disagree on the advisability of a Reformation Party member running for President of the United States as a write-in candidate, but acknowledged by all of the right for any member to so run.

4.  Parnell discussed his own candidacy for local office in West Michigan in the upcoming elections, and solicited advice from the other officers.  Brian helpfully noted that if Parnell should have any meetings open to the general public where strong and possible raucous dissent was a real possibility, he suggests that such a meeting be videotaped as a means to keep the meeting more orderly and respectful. 

                                             

5. The Council closed with prayer by Parnell.

The meeting minutes can be downloaded from here:

http://www.reformationparty.org/rp/minutes/RP_Official_Minutes_for_SEPTEMBER_12_2015.pdf

RP Official Minutes for MAY 16, 2015

REFORMATION PARTY, USA NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS

OFFICIAL MINUTES – MAY 16, 2015

This was our agenda for the meeting:

1. The Council meeting opened with a reading of a Bible text from Psalm 2 by Brian Hanley (who moderated the meeting) and prayer by J. Parnell M. (who kept the meeting minutes). Present at the meeting were Brian H., Evan K, and J. Parnell M.

2.  Officers adopted the following motion proposed by Parnell: "The Reformation Party is commending its members in the USA to observe a fast and prayer day during the last week of May to beseech God for mercy and a turning away from the sin of sodomy and other grievous transgressions and not to adopt so called 'gay marriage' as the law of the land.  Already the HRC denomination has called a fast and prayer day during this period for that purpose, and members may suggest other churches do so as well."  Evan seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously upon vote.   It was noted how Brian had gotten this ball rolling with his work in the HRC.

3.  Brian indicated he would publish the decision above on the ReformationParty.org website, and Parnell indicated he would seek to publish it elsewhere.

4.  Evan explained his efforts to get a similar fast and prayer day in the NRC. He noted that the suggestion has met with positive reception by the NRC minister he discussed it with, who will in turn be bringing it before a larger body of NRC church officers.  

5. Parnell explained how he has requested the officers of the FPCS congregation in Houston (the only FPCS congregation in the USA) to consider calling such a fast and prayer day.

6.  Parnell also briefly explained efforts at petitioning local civil officials with the help of the consistory of a local NRC congregation which has supplied him with the wording for such a petition.

7.  It was noted how further matters could be discussed via email among the three officers.

8. The Council closed with prayer by Evan Kersten.