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.

Fast and prayer day - last week of May

The Reformation Party Officers adopted the following: 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.
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Note From Current Officer Mark Hausam:

I regret to say that I will not be able to run for office in the Council of Officers for the 2015 term.  The reason is that I am currently switching denominations from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and, as of now, I have only adherent (non-communicant) membership status in the FPCS and no longer any status in the OPC, and therefore do not qualify for office (or even to be a voting member) in the Party.  I have felt for some time the need to make this switch, as I believe the FPCS's distinctive stands to be more biblical than those of the OPC--in areas such as exclusive psalmody, the Establishment Principle, etc.  I believe that it is important to join with that denomination whose distinctive stands give it an adequate warrant for continued separate existence from other denominations.

I continue to wholeheartedly endorse the foundation and goals of the Party, and look forward to continuing to work in partnership with all the members and officers of the Party to further those goals from the position of my new status.  And I recommend to other members of the Party who meet the qualifications (http://reformationparty.org/about.php) that you consider whether this might be a good time for you to run for office in the Council of Officers yourself.

Thanks!

Mark Hausam

Download, signing and mail the covenant...

Download, signing and mail the covenant...
go to:   http://www.reformationparty.org/rp/covenant.php

Now it is time to begin to prepare for the 2015 term.

We are thankful our God has been blessing the Reformation Party during term of operation in 2014.  Now it is time to begin to prepare for the 2015 term.  Each annual term we need voting members willing to serve on the Council of Officers.  If you are a qualified voting member and would be willing to serve on the Council for the 2015 term, please submit your name and information as a candidate soon to info@reformationparty.org.  This information will be posted at http://www.reformationparty.org/candidates.htm .  Subsequently there will be election of officers by voting members.
Also, if you are not sure whether you are registered as a member of the Reformation Party, please feel free to email your inquiry to info@reformationparty.org.   We want to make sure our Party membership records are complete.  For those of you who have "liked" the Reformation Party on Facebook, in order to be a member of the Reformation Party you still need to register as a member by emailing your information to info@reformationparty.org.

Resource: The Establishment Principle (External Link)

The Establishment Principle

				The Establishment Principle "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry" P...
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