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Chapter 26 - Of the Church
The Calling of officers for the local Church (26:9)
(1689.26.9) The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself;16 and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein;17 and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.18 16 Acts 14:23 17 1 Tim. 4:14 18 Acts 6:3,5–6
1. Christ’s officers are to be called according to the way appointed by Him
- “The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person… unto the office of bishop/elder… and of a deacon…”
a. As the Head of the church, Christ has not only determined the offices (i.e. eldership and diaconate) in a local church but also the proper way of calling any person unto the offices of His own appointment. Christ’s Lordship and Headship over His church are not just pious shibboleths
- There are only two offices appointed by Christ in a local church, the office of bishop/elder and the office of deacons. Both offices are in the immediate context of a local church – the jurisdiction of their offices is restricted to within their own local church… “unto the office … IN a church.”
b. Eph 4:11f. Pastors/teachers are Christ’s gift to the church for their spiritual well-being.
- Acts 6: the calling of deacons for the practical needs of the saints is clearly illustrated here.
c. Phi 1:1 “… bishops and deacons…”
2. Christ’s officers are fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit for their respective offices
- “… the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit…”
a. Christ ordained the two offices in His church; He set the qualifications for both offices, and He qualifies officers for these offices, as well as the rules for how the officers are to be appointed to these two offices.
- Bless the Lord Jesus Christ that He left nothing to the whims and fancies of churchmen.
b. The effects of the Holy Spirit qualifying (fitted and gifted) men for the offices are stated plainly in 1Tim 3 and Titus 1.
- The spiritual prerequisites for the calling to the office in a local church are stated clearly.
- The church is the church of the risen living Christ... He is the Head of the church. He rules His church. The church has no right to appoint any man to an office in Christ’s church for whom the Holy Spirit has not fitted and gifted him for the work Christ has appointed in His church.
- That’s walking the talk of Christ’s headship
- What happens when there are no men fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit for their respective offices? What should the church do?
3. Christ’s officers are to be chosen by the common suffrage of the church
a. “… he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself…
- “suffrage”: by the common consent and vote of the church itself; this is the sole prerogative and right of a local church; no one has any right to foist/impose any officers upon a church.
- No one may be appointed to any office without the consent of the church itself. The church is to submit to the rule that itself has chosen by common consent.
b. We have no biblical right to vote for whomever we please but those the church is convinced are fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit.
- The eldership of the church itself may not call a man without the consent of the church.
- And there is no supposedly higher authority is recognized in the church, or outside the church.
- This is Christ’s wise and jealous way to protect and guard the liberty of His sheep in His church.
4. Christ’s officers are to be solemnly set apart (ordained)
a. "… solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein…”
- Such a person (elder) should be solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with the laying on of hands of the eldership of the church (if there be any previously appointed elder or elders).
- Ordaining a man into the office of elder is a solemn matter, therefore to be done with fasting and praying.
- No man may be ordained to the eldership on whom the existing elders of the church cannot in good conscience lay hands. (1Tim 5:22). The church and its existing elder(s) must agree on the calling of any new officer. (1Tim 4:14; 5:22; 2Tim 1:6; Acts 6:6; 13:3)
b. “… if there be any before constituted therein…”
- The Confession implies that there are new churches where there is no eldership, nor plurality of leadership.
- In such cases, the eldership of the church which was instrumental in gathering and constituting the new church may be called upon to ASSIST in the public ordination of the new elders.
- The Confession also implies the distinction between ruling elders and teaching elders. (1Tim 5:17)
c. “The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of … a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.”
- “by the like suffrage” consent and approval of the church
- The spiritual qualifications for the office of deacon are clearly stated by Christ, (1Tim 3:8ff).
- The office of the deacon does not exercise the rule in the church but administers the practical needs of the church. The first deacons were appointed to assist the elders in such matters. Acts 6.
Finally, a man does not need the office to perform the functions/works of that office. For example, the ministry of the word is not restricted to those ordained to the office. More of this in later paragraphs.
