The Committee on Appeals and Complaints of the #OPCGA reported on a request to withdraw Complaints #2-6. However, the Assembly recessed for the night and will return to the question of the request to withdraw those complaints.
The #OPCGA turned to Complaint #10 which originally came from within a congregation in the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania. Very simply, the complainant alleges the Session of said congregation effectively made Christmas Eve a holy day.
After the dinner recess, the #OPCGA reconvened, the fraternal delegate from the Reformed Churches in South Africa, Gerben Meijer, greeted the body. We then returned to the report of the Committee on Appeals and Complaints.
After much deliberation on Appeal 2, the #OPCGA sustained one of the three specifications of error and as such modified the judgment of the Presbytery of Dakotas, decreasing the censure to one of less severity.
Following a break in which the group picture was taken, the #OPCGA reconvened. We saw a short video from a fraternal delegate from Nigeria who could not be here in person. Then we returned to the deliberations concerning Appeal #2 from the Presbytery of the Dakotas.
The previous moderator of #OPCGA, Brian De Jong, assumed the chair as the current moderator serves on the Committee on Appeals & Complaints. The body considered Appeal #2, an appeal of the judicial judgment of the Presbytery of the Dakotas by a minister.
Up next for #OPCGA is the report of the Committee on Appeals and Complaints. There are two judicial appeals and nine complaints (there had been ten, but one was withdrawn). Please pray for the presentation(s) and deliberation(s). Pray that Christ is honored throughout.
Following the lunch recess, the #OPCGA heard from Rev. Benjamin Glaser, the fraternal delegate from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. After that we finished the report of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations.
The Report of the Committee on Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations was presented to #OPCGA. "In obedience to the Lord, we seek to enter into and to promote closer fellowship with other churches, where it is consistent with biblical unity and... 1/2
The Committee on Diaconal Ministries presented its report to #OPCGA. The Assembly recessed for a break and prior to returning to the Committee's report, we heard from the fraternal delegate from the Free Reformed Churches of Australia, Dirk Poppe.
Next up for the #OPCGA was the report of the Committee on Christian Education. There are matters of controversy related to the work of the committee, but that will be taken up at a later time during the Assembly, likely on Monday. 1/2
With regard to the motion from the floor, AC1 recommends that the General Assembly call a season of prayer and fasting during the week beginning September 13, 2026, to ask the Lord of the Harvest raise up and equip men for the gospel ministry at home and abroad.
At the conclusion of the report the Committee presented a resolution of thanks to the retiring General Secretary Rev. Douglas Clawson who has served Christ's Church in the work of foreign missions for more than 24 years.
The Assembly went into recess until Friday morning.
The #OPCGA heard the report of the Committee on Foreign Missions. The Assembly heard a brief report from a couple of our missionaries. The need for missionaries & pastors is great. 1/2