September 16 Today in OPC History

On September 16, 1953, the Presbytery of the Datokas concluded two eventful days of meetings with the ordination of licentiates Takuo Hohri and Robert Knudsen to the gospel ministry. The day before Messrs. Hohri and Knudsen had submitted written requests for ordination to the presbytery. The Rev. Russell Piper read the letters of application, and the presbytery approved the requests. The presbytery then moved to reconsider the previous motion. After discussion, the original motion was moved and carried.

The presbytery then moved to examine Messrs. Hohri and Knudsen on the floor of presbytery. The Rev. Henry Tavares conducted exams in experimental religion, philosophy and church history. Mr. Piper conducted an exam in theology. The Rev. Reginald Voorhees conducted an exam in NT Greek and the Rev. Melvin Nonhof conducted an exam in Hebrew. The Rev. Benson Male examined the men in the Constitution, the Form of Government, and the Book of Discipline. The presbytery sustained all the exams, and passed a motion approving the order of service for the ordination of the Messrs. Hohri and Knudsen the following evening.

Mr. Tavares then entered the following protest: "The undersigned hereby respectfully protests against the action of Presbytery in effect intentionally setting aside the requirements in Chapter XV, Sec. 11 of the Form of Government, of a written discourse or discourses as part of trials for ordination in the case of Messrs. Knudsen, Hohri and Nilson."

The next morning the Presbytery started its new day of business at 9 a.m. and continued throughout the day until 7:45 p.m. when it entered into the ordination service for Messrs. Hohri and Knudsen. After the closing prayer by the Rev. Knudsen and benediction by the Rev. Hohri at 9:55 p.m. to conclude the service, the presbytery enrolled the two men as members of the presbytery and continued with their regular meeting into the night.

Picture: Robert Knudsen