GS 1965 ARTICLE 39: Calling ministers from outside.

Advisory Committee 1 again presents its report referred to in Article 23, slightly amended. The Advisory Committee’s recommendation now reads:

• “The General Synod has taken note of
  • 1. The proposal of the Regional Synod 1964 of the Churches in the East, which reads:
    • “The Regional Synod 1964 of the Churches in the East proposes to the General Synod 1965 to decide,
    • that ministers from churches which do not belong to the Canadian (American) Reformed Churches and to those churches with which the Canadian (American) Reformed Churches are in correspondence, are to produce evidence of their call to the ministry with a view to being called in the Canadian (American ) Reformed Churches;
    • further, they are to have a testimony of a godly walk;
    • finally , these ministers have to submit to a colloquium doctum on doctrine and academia, where the demands shall be those of the preparatory and peremptory examinations for those admitted by the Canadian (American) Reformed Churches.
    • This colloquium doctum will be held by the Classis, assisted by Deputies CO article 49 of Regional Synod.”
  • 2. The proposal of the Church at Coaldale, which reads:
    • “The Council of the Canadian Reformed Church at Coaldale proposes that you make a General Ecclesiastical arrangement for the occupation of ministers ministering or serving outside the Canadian Reformed Churches and also outside the churches with which we are in correspondence.”

The General Synod decides that the following rules shall apply:

• A. With respect to those who serve or have served in churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches do not have correspondence:
  • 1.    They will not be called prior to having been declared eligible in the Churches.
  • 2.    They can be declared eligible if they
    • a.    provide proof of their call to the ministry;
    • b.    provide a written statement outlining the reasons which led them to the request to be declared eligible for call;
    • c.    provide a good testimony regarding their walk:
    • d.    have submitted to an examination, that requires the same degree of development as the preparatory and peremptory exams. This examination will be conducted by the Classis in whose region they live, assisted by Regional Synod Deputies as per CO article 49.
• B.    With respect to those who serve or have served in churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches do have correspondence:
  • 1.    They can be called without being declared eligible for call in the Churches;
  • 2.    They may be admitted to the ministry in one of the Churches if they
    • a.    submit to the Classis to which their call is submitted for approbation:
      • 1.    proof of their call to the ministry;
      • 2.    proof that they have been called in one of the churches;
      • 3.    a statement that they desire to accept this call;
      • 4.    a testimony of their confession and walk;
      • 5.    proof that they have been orderly discharged from their previous charge;
    • b.    submit to a colloquium doctum, which will deal in particular with Reformed doctrine and church government.”

For the sake of time the discussion of this proposal is cut short. (See Article 46)

Press Release Version: ARTICLE 14: Eligibility for Call.

Synod adopts the following rules re: eligibility of ministers from other Churches:

A.   With respect to those who are serving or served in Churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches do not maintain church-correspondence:

1.    they shall not be called unless they have been declared eligible for a call in the Churches;

2.   they may be declared eligible for a call only after

a.    they have submitted proof of their ordination as a minister;

b.    they have submitted a written exposition of the reasons why they desire to be declared eligible for call within the Churches;

c.    they submit a good testimony about their conduct;

d.    they submit themselves to an examination on the level of the preparatory and peremptory examinations.

The Classis of their domicile shall examine them in the presence and with concurring advice of the Deputies of the Particular Synod, ad art. 49 C.O.

B.    With respect to those who are serving or served in Churches with which the Canadian Reformed Churches maintain Church-correspondence:

1.    They may be called without first having been declared eligible for call in the Churches;

2.    they may be admitted to the ministry in the Churches if they

a.    submit to the Classis that is asked to approve the call

1.    proof of their ordination,

2.    proof that they have been called by one of the Churches,

3.    a statement that they wish to accept this call,

4.    a testimony about their doctrine and life,

5.    proof that they were duly released from their former charge;

b.    submit themselves to a colloquium doctum which will deal especially with the Reformed doctrine and church polity.