Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/82

Contributor - Bouwe Visser

Title - Elder's Training

Topic - Elders

Throughout the churches in Classis Ontario, there is an awareness of the necessity of training our elders. Too many elders come into office without any knowledge of the duties of an elder, and therefore, without any idea of what is expected of them. The general understanding is that consistory takes care of the daily business of the church at monthly consistory meetings. At very best, congregational members are visited once a year through house visitation, a visit which is often more a social call than a spiritual experience. In the family night program in our church last winter, a few men studied the duties of an elder. Our main reference was "The Elder's Handbook" by Berghof and Koster. We also used a "Manual for Elders" prepared by Rev. James Eelman, and for our study of church government we used the "Book of Church Order of the Reformed Church in America".

Church Government

The purpose of church government is to aid the church in development;. to carry out the mission of her Head; and to announce the Saviourhood and Lordship of Christ throughout the world. I heartily recommend that all elders and deacons, and all who would like to know more about the government of the church, study the "Book of Church Order". You will find that all offices should be viewed in terms of service, rather than status.

Paul in Acts 20:28 - 31 instructed the elders in Ephesus, "keep watch over yourselves, keep watch over the flock ot which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, which He won for Himself by His own blood". In our discussions we dealt with (1) keeping watch over ourselves, (2) keeping watch over the flock, and (3) keeping watch over those whom He has made you overseers.

The church is called to renew all her efforts against the frustrations and aimlessness of our time, and the eldership is especially called to lead such a renewal. The church is the body of Christ, His agent in history, made by the Spirit through the Word. Christ rules His body through the offices. They may be given different names, elder, minister, bishop, presbyter, etc., but the responsibility is the same, namely that the inspired Word be plainly preached, the Sacraments faithfully administered, and the self-sacrificial priesthood among believers encouraged and, if necessary, disciplined. The church leadership is called and challenged to again set the church on the hilltop of witness by the preaching of and obedience to the Word of God.

The first priority of an elder, according to Paul, is to be watchful over himself. Watchful, self-discipline is required from each elder individually, as well as all the elders collectively. We have to learn from our experiences. We must le am what seeking to be a Christian involves. Our lives must be an example to those over whom we are chosen to watch. The pressures we endure must enable us to understand the temptations of others. Our failures will deepen our understanding and sympathy of other's shortcomings. We must learn that one who is easily satisified with himself, is often easily dissatisfied with others. One who sets few high goals for himself, sets few high goals for the church.

Keep watch over yourselves. Watch over your beliefs and your behaviour. What do you believe? Do those beliefs govern your actions, always and everywhere? Keep watch as to your doctrine. Only through continuous Bible reading and study will you be able to share with others. Know the doctrines and creeds which summarize God's Word. They are the standards which measure the contents of your faith. Peter says in I Peter 3:15, ". . . always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you 9'. It is only by knowing God's Word that we will be able to do this.

Keep watch as to your life. God has definite intentions for those He redeemed by the blood of His Son. You can keep careful watch over your progress by testing your life in relation to the Holy Law, to the summary of the law;, "Love God above all else, and love your neighbour as yourself', to the applications of the law set before the church in the letters of Paul, John and James, and to the ideals set before the church in the Sermon on the Mount. And never forget that everyone, including yourself, will one day have to give account for the use of his gifts in life. After watching over himself, the elder has to keep watch over the flock.

Keep watch over the flock. One of the elder's tasks is to supervise worship services. The Lord requires attendance at Sunday worship services (see Heb. 10:25, Matt. 18:20). The elements of the worship service are called the liturgy. Supervision of the contents of the liturgy is a heavy responsibility, and to supervise well, the elders must carefully consider the purpose of each element. What is worship? In a broad sense, it is "a life of obedience to God's commandments". This life of obedience involves the whole person. "You shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." Love implicates the whole believer, as does an adequate worship service. There must be as the centre of worship, the illumination of the mind through the preaching of the Word, but there must also be an appeal to the will, so that what enters by the ear, emerges in the life. To facilitate the transformation of the Word heard into the Word done, there must be an emotional appeal. Mind, will and feelings are involved in true worship.

Another important duty of an elder is family visitation. Through this the elder fulfills his pastoral duties as outlined in the Book of Church Order, "Elders have the oversight over the conduct of the members of the congregation". Also see Acts 20:28, Titus 1:7 and I Timothy 5:3. Why should an elder make family visits? It is not because the constitution requires it, but because the elder loves and cares for the spiritual well-being of his neighbour.

Over which He has made you overseers. The elder holds an office he did not create himself, in a body that is not his own. The office is prescribed and authorized by Christ, and the body is Christ's church. Your master is Christ, you are accountable to Him. He has given you authority, even if the congregation nominated and elected you. Paul said to the elders at Ephesus, "Of which the Holy Spirit made you overseers". God Himself, through the Holy Spirit, not only ordains the office of eldership, He also fills it. He requires the office. God, the Holy Spirit, is working in the church through the eldership. The eldership is the leading centre of the congregation, and through the Classis and Synods, of the church at large. The eldership is not responsible to the congregation, but to God's will revealed in His Word.

The last Men's Conference dealt with church leadership and difficulties in the church. The overall feeling at the Conference was that most of the difficulties exist due to lack of leadership. In the June 21, 1982 issue of The Banner, Dr. John VanEngen, in an article on "Disciplining Ministers",writes,"if there are too many poor pastors among us, it is in part because there are far too many weak elders".

Brothers, as elders we will have to Let give an account for our leadership. Let us be faithful, true to the Word of God. Let us study the Word and be able, with God's help, to lead His church in this dark and troublesome world.

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