Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/66

Contributor - J. Van Kuiken

Title - Family Visitation - Part 1

Topic - Ministry

At the extra meeting of Classis Ontario, Canada, at Hamilton, the twelfth day of January, 1966, one of the elders asked for information about Family Visitation. Some days later as Consistories we received for our elders an "Elders' Manual for Family Visitation", approved 1965 by the General Synod (of the) Reformed Church in America'.

Family visitation however is not alone an important thing for our consistories and for our elders but also for all our church members and church families.

On the inside of the front cover of the Manual there is a remark, 'A limited number of Additional Copies may be secured from the Stated Clerk (of the) Reformed Church in America, 475 Riverside Drive, New York'.

Therefore knowing that there are many officers and laymen in our churches here in Canada who are eager to hear more about .this subject we bring it via 'Ambt en Opdracht' to your attention. The Manual was prepared for the Theological Commission of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America by Rev. James C. Eelman D.D., Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Theology, at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

The Manual further is an outgrowth of the study by the Commission to increase the relevance and effectiveness of Constitutional Inquiry, Question Five, which states, 'Do the minister and elders carefully inquire at least four times a year before the celebration of The Lord's Supper concerning the faith and conduct of members as required in the Constitution?' (Art. 10, Sec. 12).

The Manual then starts with an Introduction. "The Apostle Paul calls the Christian Church the body of the Lord, to which all who believe in him belong (1 Cor. 12 : 12). If this is true, then all who belong to him are also members of each other and have a specific responsibility for one another's welfare.

Every Christian is called to serve Jesus Christ and his neighhour, especially those who belong to the household of faith. Some members are called of the Lord to fulfill a special service through the exercise of a particular office. The Reformed Church in America recognizes four offices: pastor, professor of theology, elder a deacon, and believes that it pleasing to the Lord to build and sustain his Church through these offices.

There is today a renewed interest in the elder's duty of family visitation. Through this essential part of his task the elder fulfills his pastoral duties as outlined in the Constitution of the Church. These duties are designed to assist every member of the church, both individuals and together, to live a life worthy of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. The elder is to assist the pastor in building and preserving the church in the world.

The specific duties of the elder are spelled out in the Constitution and Liturgy of the Church. The following quotations have special reference to their pastoral duties: The office of Elder is, together with the ministers of the Word, to take oversight of the Church which is committed to them and diligently to look whether everyone behaves worthily of the Christian vocation ... They shall assist in performing visitations . . . (Const. Art. 6, See. 1 d, e).

These duties are re-stated in the service of the elder's ordination and installation: It belongs to the office of the Elder to join with the Minister of the Word in the spiritual oversight of the church which is committed to them, and diligently to look whether everyone properly deports himself (Acts 20 : 28); to admonish those who be-. have themselves unseemly and to prevent as much as possible the sacraments from being profaned (Titus 1 : 7; 1 Tim. 3 : 5).

In order then that the pastoral duties of the elder may be more effectively carried out, the Manual is offered.

Then we read about Motive and Purpose of family visitation. "Why should an elder do pastoral calling? Does he do this simply because the Constitution of the Church demands it? Of course not. What then moves a man to devote several evenings a month to call on people, some of whom may be more or less unknown to him? A dedicated elder calls out of a genuine Christian love for his neighbour. He is moved because he cares for the spiritual welfare of his fellow men. If he calls for other reasons then these, he can never do this work effectively. No matter how refined the techniques may be, they are no substitute for genuine personal interest and concern.

The elder cares because he has first of all experienced the love and care of God in his own life. In his calling he also expresses the love and concern of the whole church, for the church has chosen and commissioned him for this task. The purpose of his call therefore is to discover how God's grace and power are active in the homes of those who profess membership in Christ's Body. Even as the Word of God has been proclaimed in the pulpit, so it must be pastorally discussed in the homes of the parish. Consequently, the elder will seek to find out how the preaching of the Word is bearing fruit in the daily life of the members. The church cannot find out how its members live unless its officers fulfill their calling through faithful visitation upon all members of a congregation. The whole person in relationship to God and man is of interest and concern to the calling elder.

Although not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, it is implied there that the elder takes responsibility to see that the congregation assembles regularly around the Word and sacraments. Every local congregation can develop its own system of taking attendance at the service of worship but through planned family visitation the elder may discover why a particular member or household is lax in attendance at the weekly services. Too many Christians fail to keep their promises to be regular in worship. In such a case the elder must seek to determine the motives and reasons for this neglect. Obvious excuses must not be readily accepted, but a deeper penetration must be made into the spiritual impoverishment which is alienating the negligent from the total life of the Christian fellowship. In our age many neglect the weekly services, because they no longer understand the real significance of Christian worship. This maxes it necessary for the elder to explain that the real meaning of our presence at Sunday worship lies in the fact that the Lord himself is present where two or three are gathered in his name. Wherever such a meeting takes place, he guides and instructs his people through Word and sacrament. Therefore the elder must warn the members of the congregation that all who despise God's goodness and neglect the hour of worship will suffer in the development of their Christian life.

The visitor must seek to understand the underlying causes for continual absence from the services or irregularity in attendance, so that a clear report may be made at the meeting of the Board of Elders. Only then can the elders determine what steps to take for further pastoral ministry.

It is, of course, possible that the elder may learn of some seemingly valid complaints about certain aspects of the ministry of the church, and it should be the duty of all the elders to keep these in mind when seeking to attain a more effective witness.

The elder's call also affords opportunities to determine how the abilities of a family may be used in the program of the church so as to encourage as much active participation as possible by every member of the family in the service of the Lord.

Since the life of the church is not confined to its assemblies but is active wherever its members live and work, questions may also be raised about a Christian's daily work and witness in the world. Christian work and witness are not restricted to church buildings. Furthermore, not everyone is drawn to a program of activities. Some men spend more time with their families, at their work or in community activities. The kingdom of God cannot be confined to church programs. The purpose of family visitation is not to bring the whole world under the roof of the church but that all of life may come under the rule of God's Word. The elder can be most helpful when he assists his fellow Christians to witness in the world so that the praises of God may be heard in all of life.

In the Reformed Church, family visitation has in the past been a means of exercising discipline in connection with the celebration of holy communion. In John Calvin's Geneva a visitation was conducted before each celebration of the holy supper, "so that the ignorant may be instructed, the erring ones rebuked, and the fearful comforted." This purpose is still valid. The solemn inquiry which the Board of Elders must make at least four times a year before the celebration of the Lord's Supper was not intended to be substitute for pastoral visitation. Such an inquiry can be meaningful only when faithful family visitation is carried out consistently. The elder is entrusted with the proper observance of the Lord's Supper. In his visitation he should therefore assist the family to approach the Lord's table in the proper way.

The preparatory Service in the Liturgy calls the believers to self examination so that they may come to the holy table with a right attitude and be counted "worthy partakers of the table of our Lord Jesus Christ." The elder must therefore understand what is 'Meant by "worthy" participation of the Lord's Supper. The use of the word "worthy" in the Liturgy stands in antithesis to Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 11 : 27 "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord". Unworthy participation is failure to discern the Lord's body or to partake Of the elements in the Lord's Supper for other reasons than the purpose for which it was instituted. To be a worthy participant means to come to the Lord's table in a humble faith which accepts God's gracious forgiveness of sins "for the sake of the passion and death of Jesus Christ." In every way the Christian family should be reminded that holy communion is a celebration of great joy and expectation.

Some families may also need better instruction in the meaning of baptism. The elder should have some knowledge of the doctrine so that he may give instruction if necessary. He should inquire whether the parents are faithfully carrying out their baptismal vows by educating their children in the Christian faith. Are the children attending the Church School and other training classes provided by the church? Is the Bible read and explained regularly through family devotions and discussions? Are the children taught to pray? This does not mean that perfection must be demanded; it does mean that the elder should determine what honest efforts are being made and how with other officers of the church he may offer help.

The elder will also call upon the sick, the shut-ins, the injured and the dying. Whatever the occasion or specific purpose may be, all visitation is done in order that Christ's Church may be strengthened in faith, hope and love. Jesus Christ himself acts through his servants, the pastors and elders, so that every member may remain . in Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life".

(To be continued)

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