Office Bearers

GS 1968 ARTICLE 163

In accordance with Art. 140 Committee III on Ecclesiastical Position of the Professors of Theology presents:

Observations:

  • 1. Although there has been submitted to this Synod an overture to delete the Art. 2 and 18 of the Church Order, which speak of the “office of the Doctors or Professors of Theology”, these articles still stand. They do, however, not speak of the ecclesiastical position of a minister who is appointed as professor of the Theological College.
  • 2. The Articles 12,13,14 of the Church Order have been considered:
    • a. Art. 12 speaks of ministers who “enter upon an other vocation”, and therefore lose their honour and title as minister.
    • b. Art. 13 speaks of ministers who, by reason of “age, sickness or other­ wise are rendered incapable” and therefore have to retire. They “retain the honour and title of a minister”.
  • c. Art. 14 speaks of ministers who are “compelled to discontinue their service for a time”, remaining, however, “at all times” “subject to the call of the Congregation”.
  • 3. Conclusion from sub 2 is that these Articles 12, 13 and 14 of the Church Order do not speak about the ecclesiastical position of professors of Theology.
  • 4. Art. 6 of the Church Order states that those ministers who “serve in any private manor, institutions of mercy or otherwise” will not have this liberty
    • a. “unless he be previously admitted in accordance with the preceding articles”, i.e., if he is called and ordained by a local church;
    • b. “he shall, no less than others, be subject to the Church Order”, which means among other things: subject to the discipline as described in the Church Order.
  • 5. Synod Leeuwarden 1920 in the Netherlands decided that “de Classen … zullen zich houden aan de regel dat zulk een voorrecht (ie. retaining the honour and title of a minister) alleen behoort geschonken te worden aan zulke dienaren die geroepen worden tot een andere dienst ten bate der kerken in het gemeen”.

Recommendations:

1. Synod decide that in the case of a minister of a Canadian Reformed Church, appointed as professor, the rule be applied that he retain the honour and title of a minister and remain subject to the Church Order (Art. 6 C.O.).

ADOPTED

2. In order to apply this same rule in the case of a minister of one of the sister-churches abroad, Synod decide that the Church where the College is located be requested to call this minister and to ordain him with appropriate stipulations, admonitions, and prayers (Art. 4 C.O.).

ADOPTED

3. Committee III furthermore suggests that Drs. J. Faber be provided with:

  • a. an official letter of appointment as Professor of Theology before his return to the Netherlands;
  • b. a letter with information about the rule, recommended in this report;
  • c. a letter containing the stipulations (salary etc.), and the exact date on which the Canadian Reformed Churches will accept the responsibility for the Rev. Faber’s financial support.

ADOPTED