April 26 Today in OPC History

After a devotional service led by the Rev. Abraham W. Ediger, the Thirty-Fourth (1967) General Assembly reconvened on this day with prayer by the Rev. Arthur Olson. Among the major items of business for the day, the Assembly elected the Rev. Dr. Edward J. Young, the Rev. Dr. John H. Skilton, and the Rev. George Marston to the Committee on Proof Texts for the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. Also, the Rev. LeRoy B. Oliver, General Secretary of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension, reported that the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension had experienced a downturn in financial support. Mr. Oliver noted that CHMCE had received in the previous year $101,015 in general fund contributions, which was $15,000 less than been budgeted. Orthodox Presbyterian sources had given $61,306, the Presbytery of New York and New England had given $5,975, non-Orthodox Presbyterian sources had contributed $3,688, and the CHMCE portion of the Thank Offering had totaled $29,518. Given the fiscal situation of the Committee, OPC Church Planters in their first year of service were scheduled to receive a base salary of $3,000 per year. If a manse was not provided, additional housing support up to a maximum of $125 would also be provided.

Picture: LeRoy Oliver (right) and J.I. Packer in 1965