Olympia church hosts denomination’s international Synod

The Bible Presbyterian Church of Olympia hosted the 87^th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC) on its grounds on Sleater-Kinney Road in August. The Rev. Tito Lyro serves as pastor of the church, as well as President of the denomination’s seminary, Western Reformed Seminary in Puyallup.

The Rev. Casey Southerland served as Moderator of the event. Southerland is the Field Director of the denomination’s missions agency, Presbyterian Missionary Union, and Assistant Pastor of Grace Bible Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, OH.

The denomination consists of 35 churches and six church plants, spread across the nation, from Washington to Florida, Arizona to New York, as well as Canada. The BPC consists of four regional Presbyteries: Eastern, Florida, Great Lakes, and Great Western. It also engages in missions work in Brazil, Peru, and Southeast Asia.

Fifty delegates – pastors and elders – attended the event, with 100 people attending overall, together with members of the Olympia and Tacoma congregations. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church had an official presence at the synod; the two denominations have a full fraternal relationship, Lyro explained. There were also members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Brazil unofficially in attendance.

Lyro commented on the significance of the synod meeting. “The synod is the highest court of the denomination. It provides final appeal in matters of discipline. It also provides fellowship to pastors and elders who are spread throughout North America,” he noted.

The denominational website notes, “Present day synods are times of serious church business coupled with messages, devotionals, prayer times, and panel presentations on current issues.”

The synod, which took place August 1-5, included worship services, business meetings, committee meetings, reports from various affiliated organizations, and more. Some of the reports included Western Reformed Seminary, Presbyterian Missionary Union, Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, chaplains, and each of the four Presbyteries.

As for denominational policy, Lyro explained what the Synod accomplished. “The biggest action taken was the approval of 21 amendments to the Book of Discipline to bring it more in line with the Scriptures. It is always the BPC’s desire to be Reformed and always reforming. These 21 amendments will now go to the presbyteries for their approval. If approved by 75% of the presbyteries, they will become part of our constitution.”

The Synod also passed a resolution, “A Resolution to Seek God and His Mercy and Forgiveness.”

The visiting delegates spoke favorably of the Synod and the Olympia host church members’ work and welcome. “Several delegates expressed that this was the best synod they have ever attended in terms of organization, meals, and overall hospitality,” Lyro remarked.

In his message at the closing of the Synod, the Rev. Len Pine observed, “We’ve had a little taste of heaven this week, fellowshipping and encouraging our hearts.”

There were no meetings on Saturday or Sunday, although attendees were invited to worship with the Olympia church on Sunday. Moderator Southerland preached the Sunday morning sermon. The Rev. David Chi (Assistant Pastor of Bible Presbyterian Church on Grand Island, NY) preached the afternoon sermon.

Additionally, the Synod included nine other sermons, from the Reverends Kevin Backus (Grand Island BPC, NY), Bryan Prouty (Grace Fellowship BPC, Fort Collins, CO), Frank Liu (Cornerstone Reformed Church, Roseville, MN), Carl van der Merwe (Grace Reformed PC, Greeneville, TN), Steven Brinegar (Grace BPC, Cape Canaveral, FL), Jason Hutchinson (Grace BPC Cincinnati), G.W. Fisher (Tacoma BPC), Tito Lyro (Olympia BPC), and Len Pine (Providence BPC, Bonners Ferry, ID). The texts came from the Epistle of James.

The denomination was established in June 1937 in Philadelphia. The 1^st Synod took place in September 1938. It was founded, according to a report from that time, “For the sake of fellowship in the principles for which we stand, and as a testimony to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and because of the official apostasy of the Presbyterian Church in the USA.” The denomination has emphasized the centrality and authority of the Bible as the Word of God since its founding.