Gordon Clark: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION, 1936 (OPC Minutes)

Members of the Committee on Christian Education, Class of 1936: N. B. Stonehouse, Calvin K. Cummings, John P. Clelland, Robert L. Atwell, R. Laird Harris, Gordon H. Clark, J. Gresham Machen, Ex Officio

1936. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. Minutes of the Second General Assembly. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. November 12-14. Pgs. 23-24

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 

In presenting its report, the Committee on Christian Education wishes to express its conviction that the triumph of unbelief in the old organization was due in no small measure to the prostitution of existing educational agencies through compromise with unbelief, on the one hand, and to the lack of a full-orbed and consistent system of Christian Education on the other. Consequently, if the Presbyterian Church of America is to be a truly reformed Church, activities in the sphere of education, however humble, cannot be initiated too soon. Certain truly evangelical and Reformed publications and projects which are already available can be utilized, but it will be necessary also to take steps toward the development of a comprehensive program of Christian Education. With the prayer that God may guide the Presbyterian Church of America as it enters upon this great task, the fellowing recommendations are presented: 

1. That the General Assembly urge sessions to supervise carefully the materials used in the Sunday School in view of the fact that so much literature designed for the Sunday School is tainted with unbelief or is defective in its presentation of the doctrinal position of our church. Favorable attention is called to the materials published by the Instructor Publishing Company of Zeeland, Michigan. 

2. That the General Assembly urge pastors and sessions to advise with young people's societies in their particular churches in the interest of securing the attendance of the young people upon the regular services of the Church; the adoption of a positive program of study of the scriptures and of the doctrines of the Church, and of Christian fellowship and testimony; and the avoidance of all modernistic or other compromising alliances. 

3. That the General Assembly call the attention of the churches to the need of caring for the training of Sunday School teachers and other Christian workers in a knowledge of the Bible and the doctrines of the Church. Individual churches or, where it is practicable for a number of churches to co-operate in such an endeavour, groups of churches may establish a Bible School (or schools) on a distinctively Reformed basis, to accomplish these purposes. 

4. That the General Assembly urge that in the worship of the Church, hymns and hymnals be selected which are in harmony with the teachings of Scripture and of the Reformed Faith. While not recommending every hymn found in THE HYMNAL as published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1895 and revised in 1911, it recommends this hymnal as the best available to meet the needs of the Church until such time as it may be feasible to publish our own hymnal. Attention is called to a Christian Song book which is true to the Reformed Faith and is suitable for family worship and popular meetings, THE NEW CHRISTIAN HYMNAL, published by Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

5. That the General Assembly recommend to pastors and congregations to support Westminster Theological Seminary with their prayers and generous financial gifts.

6. That the General Assembly recommend to pastors and members of the Church the formation of Christian School societies, which shall have as their purpose the establishment of Christian daily Schools.