Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1981

Ordained For Life
Henry Van Essen

A question reached us whether it is proper for elders who are no longer serving actively in consistory to go on home visitations. The Church Order of the Reformed Church declares that those who are ordained as elders and deacons are ordained for life. "When elected the Elders are members of the local church who have been inducted into that office by ordination in accordance with the Word of God and the order established by the Reformed Church in America." (Book of Church Order, 1990, p. 10)

The same is said of those who are deacons:

"A consistory is the governing body of a local church. Its members are the installed minister(s) of that church, and the elders and deacons currently installed in office." (Book of Church Order, 1990, p. 9)

From this we learn that only those elders and deacons who are currently installed in office, together with the minister(s) have authority to govern the local church. All other elders and deacons in the congregation form the great consistory:

"The great consistory may be convened by the consistory when matters of special importance relating to the welfare of the church demand consideration. Members of the great consistory have only an advisory voice." (Book of Church Order, 1990, p. 11)

This means that a consistory may call upon elders not currently serving on consistory to help with the work of the church. Thus the Exeter board of elders has lately called on such fellow elders to help with serving the elements of the Lord's Supper because through circumstances there was a half-year vacancy.

Consistories may also delegate an elder, currently not serving, to a Classis or Synod meeting. Such elders are also regularly appointed to Classis committees where the Rules of Order require an elder to fill the position.

Elders not currently serving on consistory remain under the authority of consistory and may be suspended or even deposed from office if their way of life or confession warrants.

Elders not currently serving on consistory who participate in the house visitation program have no authority over the people they visit. But neither do the elders who are actively serving. It is the whole board of elders, officially gathered, who has authority to admonish, rebuke, or take other actions, if considered necessary. The proper procedure for house visitation is that any irregularities be reported at the next elders' meeting. At that time the board of elders - that is only those currently serving on consistory - must decide whether to take action. Therefore it is wise if one of the two elders on house visitation is currently serving on consistory. The house visitation itself is a time speaking with each other about the things of the Lord.

Elders not currently serving on consistory who go on house visitation are still bound by the requirement that everything heard remain confidential.

The Christian Reformed Church also considers those ordained as elder, resp. as deacon to be ordained for life. Whether those ordained as elder, resp. as deacon, in that denomination would be recognized as elder, resp. as deacon in the Reformed Church depends on whether the Reformed Church has recognized the order of the Christian Reformed Church used in the ordination (see above definition of elder).

Ordination of elders and deacons in the Canadian Reformed Churches and the Free Reformed Church is only for the term of office for which they are chosen. When their term is over they are no longer considered to be an elder, resp. deacon.

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