Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/64

Contributor - W. Spaans

Title - Layman or Ordained Office Bearer?

Topic - Elders and Deacons

Elders and Deacons are commonly called "laymen" in our Reformed Church. My question is, whether this is right and proper? The more I think about it, the more it becomes a contradiction in words.

First of all, what is a "Layman"? I have checked the word in several dictionaries, and found the following explanations:

"One of the laity, or people; one who has not taken holy orders; one who is not an expert in a branch of knowledge." (Collins New English Dictionary, 1936)

"One of the people as distinguished from the clergy; one not of a stated profession." (Websters Illustrated Dictionary, 1961)

"One of the laity; an outsider or man or not a member of some particular profession." (The American College Dictionary, 1962)

"One of the laity; an out or non-expert, especially in relation to law or medicine." (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 1959)

When I check the meaning of clergy" it comes to stand for "the body of men ordained for the services of the Christian Church.', While the meaning of "profession" is: "public avowal, occupation, or calling; persons engaged in a particular kind of work." The rest is self explanatory, I believe.

Now, if Elders and Deacons are "laymen" how can they "faithfully discharge their offices"? e.g., how can the Elder, according to Art. 6, section 1-8, R.C.A. Constitution, have regard to the teachings of the Ministers of the Word, if he is just a "layman"?

Consequently, we expect a man who did not take holy orders, (Ordination is not a fake, is it ? !) who is not an expert in a branch of knowledge, to see to it that the Minister "preaches the Word of God in truth and faithfulness"; (Art. 8, section 20) and "according io his call". (Art. 2, section 1-6).

Secondly, in the Proposed Provisional Liturgy, which is presented to the churches for consideration and study, we find in the Order for Ordination and Installation a reference to Titus 1:7 and 1 Tim. 3:5 where we are told what kind of men Elders and Deacons should be in behavior and spiritual knowledge and insight.

In the same text the Elder is called a "bishop". Our R.C.A. Constitution calls only Ministers "bishops", or "overseers". If I compare the explanation of the word "layman" with Holy Scriptures, where the Offices of Elders and Deacons are so beautifully explained, it then seems to me that our church is off the track somewhere. When it only would be in name, to distinguish one from another, it would not be so serious; but it seems to be much more than that. Some Officebearers seem to be mere laymen.

It often happens that Ministers are overworked and under a continuous strain, simply because they refuse to see the Elders as fellows-overseers. Also, in Classes and Synodical meetings, even though Elder delegates are on several Committees, often all they are asked to do is to sign their name under some document (report) they did not study nor read before. I have heard it said, Elders are never able to get fully acquainted with Classis matters since they only attend once in a while. But I ask, does one have to be present every time to be sufficiently informed? Besides that, whenever I attend Classis meetings, I also meet Elders who were there ten years ago, but hardly ever the same minister of ten years ago.

Some people say that the word "layman" is Roman Catholic. However, the Roman Catholic Church does not call her Ordained Men - those not belonging to the Priesthood - "Laymen"; they are called "Brothers" or "Nuns" (in Dutch "religieuses").

Recently, the members of our Consistory received a booklet, entitled, "Ordained Laymen". This is a valuable booklet for consistory members, providing one ignores the word "Lay" - so that it becomes "Ordained Men"; and this throughout the book; otherwise the information of this booklet contradicts itself from one sentence to the other.

Although I have dealt only with the Office of Elder, it of course does not mean that I consider the Office of Deacon of less value. Elders and Deacons are of equal importance; they both are Ordained Officebearers.

Also, I may have given the impression that I accuse Ministers of discrimination against Elders and Deacons, but this is not so; I hasten to state that we all have wronged, Elders and Deacons included. Often e.g., the Offices are considered to be important only for Sundays and one or two evenings during the week. True, as Elders and Deacons most of us have to do manual labor in order to make a living, but so did the Apostle Paul, making tents. An Ordained man is an Ordained man, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

We are fortunate to have Ministers, who are working hard every day, to do the work of God's Kingdom. However, this does not mean that Elders and Deacons are only "part time workers". On the contrary! The Church shall only profit if Ministers, Elders and Deacons, and the Congregation as a whole, shall take serious the vows made by Elders and Deacons when they were Ordained and Installed as such.

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