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Zoeken > Literatuur > Oene, W.W.J. van, With common consent, 1990

A practical guide to the use of the Church Order of the Canadian Reformed Churches

auteur(s): Oene, W.W.J. van
genre: Commentaren
bundel:
tijdschrift:
jaargang:
uitgever: Premier Publishing
plaats: Winnipeg
jaar: 1990
druk: 1
ISBN/ISSN: 0-88756-050-4
aantal pagina's: 365
  • Preface
  • Table of Contents
  • With Common Consent
  • Article 1. Purpose and Division
  • Article 2. The Offices
  • Article 3. The Calling to Office
  • Article 4. Eligibillity tor the Ministry
  • Article 5. Ordination and Installation of Ministers of the Word
  • Article 6. Bound to a Church
  • Article 7. Recent Converts
  • Article 8. Exceptional gifts
  • Article 9. From One Church to Another
  • Article 10. Proper Support
  • Article 11. Dismissal
  • Article 12. Bound for Life
  • Article 13. Retirement of Ministers
  • Article 14. Temporary Release
  • Article 15. Preaching in Other Places
  • Article 16. The Office of Ministers of the Word
  • Article 17. Equality Amoung the Ministers of the Word
  • Article 18. Missionaries
  • Article 19. Training for Ministry
  • Article 20. Students of Theology
  • Article 21. An Edifiying Word
  • Article 22. The Office of Elder
  • Article 23. The Office of Deacon
  • Article 24. Term of Office
  • Article 25. Equality to Be Maintained
  • Article 26. Subscription to the Confessions
  • Article 27. False Doctrine
  • Article 28. Civil Authorities
  • Article 29. The Ecclesiastical Assemblies
  • Article 30. Ecclesiastical Matters
  • Article 31. Appeals
  • Article 32. Credentials
  • Article 33. Proposals
  • Article 34. Proceedings
  • Article 35. President
  • Article 36. Clerk
  • Article 37. Jurisdiction
  • Article 38. Consistory
  • Article 39. Consistory and the Deacons
  • Article 40. Constitution of a Constistory
  • Article 41. Places without a Consistory
  • Article 42. Meetings of Deacons
  • Article 43. Archives
  • Article 44. Classis
  • Article 45. Cousellors
  • Article 46. Church Visitors
  • Article 47. Regional Synod
  • Article 48. Deputies of Regional Synod
  • Article 49. General Synod
  • Article 50. Churches Abroad
  • Article 51. Mission
  • Article 52. Worship Services
  • Article 53. Days of Commemoration
  • Article 54. Days of Prayer
  • Article 55. Psalms and Hymns
  • Article 56. Administration of Sacraments
  • Article 57. Baptism
  • Article 58. Schools
  • Article 59. Baptism of Adults
  • Article 60. Lord's Supper
  • Article 61. Admission to the Lord's Supper
  • Article 62. Attestations
  • Article 63. Marriage
  • Article 64. Church Records
  • Article 65. Funerals
  • Article 66. Nature And Purpose of Church Discipline
  • Article 67. Consistory Involvement
  • Article 68. Excommunication
  • Article 69. Repentance
  • Article 70. Readmission
  • Article 71. Suspension and Deposition of Office-bearers
  • Article 72. Serious and Grievous Sins on the Part of Office-bearers
  • Article 73. Christian Sensure
  • Article 74. No Lording It Over Others
  • Article 75. Property of the Churches
  • Article 76. Observance and Revision of the Church Order
  • Appendix I. Regulations for the Election of Office-bearers
  • Appendix II. Letter of Call
  • Appendix III. Form of Subscription
  • Appendix IV. Credentials
  • Index
    		•

    Places without a Consistory

                  Places where as yet no consistory can be constituted shall be assigned by classis to the care  of             a neighbouring consistory.


    [195] If there is one thing the provision of Art. 41 does not mean, it is that here we give a classis the right to do what is in the province of a consistory.

      A classis is never allowed to do that. What comes to the fore in Art. 41 is the concern of the churches for all who are living "in the dispersion," so to speak. They want to make sure that no one is neglected, that no one is left to his own resources without any help from the brotherhood. All must be tak­en care of, and that is the point in this article.

      A decision as meant here will not have to be taken very often in our days. When members move to an area or settle in it, quite a distance from the "nearest church," they usually ask that church to take the supervision over them and give to that church the attestation they received when leaving their previous congregation. Our members know whom to contact, where to find the address, and to approach the church which is "least far away."

      The situation was vastly different in the days after the Reformation. The Romish church did not have elders or deacons in the Scriptural sense. It knew no consistories. And to whom were the wandering sheep to turn? Where could they find food and guidance? Even the persecutions could not prevent that the churches paid due attention also to those who were "wan­dering like sheep without a shepherd."


      Let us see what already the first synod, the one of Emden 1571 decided.

    The ministers and elders of the classes which are under the cross

    shall diligently investigate in all cities and villages in their area and

    surrounding region whether there are any who are inclined towards

    the true religion in order to exhort them to fulfil their duty. Therefore

    they shall endeavour to gather churches or at least the beginning

    of churches. In order to execute this the better those classes shall

    divide the neighbouring cities and villages among themselves, in

    order that nothing be neglected, (emphasis ours)

     

      Sometimes a minister was sent to gather the believers. Nowadays these

    ministers would be called "Home Missionaries." Still, these men are basically

    not missionaries but ministers sent to gather scattered members and to try

    to come to the organizing of a church.

      The task of such a minister, the Synod of Dordrecht 1578 declared, is to engage the most pious believers to serve him with counsel and to assist him with the administration of the alms. He should also endeavour that his hear­ers come to making public profession of faith so that, when the congregation has somewhat increased in size, he may arrange for the ordination of elders

    [196] and deacons in the proper way. This is still the aim of the help which the

    "nearest church" extends.

      As soon as possible an attempt will be made to have one or two brothers

    elected as elder who, nominally, are elders of the church that takes care of

    the "group." We spoke of such a situation in connection with the previous

    article.

      We usually refer to such a group as a "House Congregation," since the

    brothers and sisters come together on the Lord's Day, when a sermon is read by one of the brothers. We thereby mean a not-instituted congregation

    which, however, strives to have as "normal" a church life as possible. In case it becomes obvious that there is practically no growth but rather a decline in membership, the brothers and sisters should be advised and urged to move away to a place where they can participate in regular church life. A situation when there is no proclamation of the Gospel, only mutual edification, no ad­ministration of the sacraments except on an occasional Sunday when they have a minister and an elder in their midst, should not be continued indefi­nitely.

      When members move to a region far from one of the churches, this should not be reproved. It may be part of the mandate to fill and to subdue the earth. One certainly sacrifices many things when following this course. There is the impossibility to attend the worship services regularly, to take part in the various activities in the midst of the congregation, to have one's chil­dren attend catechism classes and to have them attend a Reformed school. Such a move should, therefore, be considered very carefully.

      But when years go by without any significant increase in the number of believers and when it becomes evident that, humanly speaking, there will never be a possibility of instituting a church, it is not only prudent but manda­tory to move away and seek for a place closer to a church. Meanwhile, the various classes are to ascertain that also those who are scattered are being taken care of. The believers need help and guidance. This ought to be given.

     

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