Office Bearers

GS 1965 ARTICLE 111: Regulations CO article 8

The proposal of the Church at Carman, Agenda item P 3, concerning the general arrangements for procedures with respect to persons who present themselves for ministry “according to Art. 8” is discussed.

An amendment to the Advisory Committee’s proposal to insert ‘and of the Classis’ in point 1 after ‘church council of their congregation’ is rejected.

The Synod then decides as follows:

  • “The General Synod has taken note of the proposal of the Church at Carman, MB, to adopt a general regulation for procedures with respect to persons who present themselves for ministry “according to art. 8”.

The General Synod adopts the following regulation:

  • 1.    Those who present themselves to be examined with a view to the presence of the singular gifts mentioned in C.O. article 8 shall submit to the Regional Synod which is to examine them a testimony of the Consistory of their congregation concerning these gifts.
  • 2.    The Regional Synod itself will then examine them in more detail. If the presence of the said gifts proves to be beyond all reasonable doubt, it will admit them to the preparatory examination.
  • 3.    This preparatory examination shall be administered to the examinee by the Classis of their residence, which shall execute the remainder of C.O. article 8; and when he has successfully completed the practicum period, shall declare him eligible for call.

The preparatory examination (and any subsequent peremptory examination) differs from that of the theologically trained only in that knowledge of the original languages of Holy Scripture is not required.”

Press Release version ARTICLE 22: Article 8 C.O.

Re: Article 8 of the Church Order Synod decides the following:

  • 1.    Persons who present themselves to be. examined on the presence of the gifts mentioned in Art. 8 C.O. shall submit to the Particular Synod that is to examine them a testimony from their Consistory as to these gifts;
  • 2.    The Particular Synod shall examine them, and if the presence of these gifts appears beyond reasonable, doubt admit them to the preparatory examination.
  • 3.    The Classis of their domicile shall conduct the preparatory examination and shall further deal with them according to the other regulations of Article 8 C.O., and shall declare them eligible for call if at the end of the trial period they shall be found satisfactory.

The preparatory examination (and the eventually following peremptory examination) shall differ from that to which those who received a theological education must submit themselves only in this that knowledge of the original languages of the Holy Scripture shall not be required.