The Lord’s work was done in a spirit of amity and joy at this year’s General Synod, which convened at the Bible Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, Washington, August 11-16. BP Synods are as much a Bible conference as they are a time for the conducting of the business of the Church, and as such they strengthen hearts and hands for the ministries to which the Lord has called us. Praise and prayer marked the sessions, and the Synod rejoiced in an excellent sacred concert on the afternoon of the Lord’s Day as well. This year’s theme was “Essential Connections: Our Union with Christ,” and Retiring Moderator Ch. Ben Robinson called the delegates to live out that essential union in the exercise of our charity toward others in every facet of our lives and ministries. That challenge was developed throughout the week by other speakers, and God’s Word powerfully affirmed in our hearts the necessity of demonstrating the reality of our union with Christ in the way that we relate with one another, our families, and other churches.

The business of the Church was simple and straightforward this year: correspondence received, reports given, resolutions produced and adopted, and so on. Rev. Tito Lyro, pastor of the Olympia, Washington, BPC, was elected as Moderator. A oneness of mind prevailed in the discussions and decisions made. We praise the Lord that there were no disciplinary cases to adjudicate. Items of note included the approval of a resolution that has been three years in the making, a Vision Statement that reflects the positive goals of the denomination; the receiving of greetings from a delegation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil with the subsequent approval to investigate a possible fraternal relationship with that body; and the approval to do the same regarding a relationship with the Heritage Reformed Congregations.

Resolutions from this year’s Synod will be available online at the BPC web site soon. Recordings of the messages may be obtained through the Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church. The Synod will reconvene in 2012 at the BPC of Lakeland, Florida, August 9-14, pastored by the Rev. James S. Blizzard. — Rev. Len Pine