GS 2022 art 143 – Office Bearers

GS 2022 Article 143 – Overture RSE 2021 re Place of Preparatory Exams

1. Material

1.1 Overture from Regional Synod East (RSE) 2021 recommending that preparatory exams be conducted in a student’s ‘home classis’ (8.4.4.1).
1.2 Submissions from the following churches: Carman West (8.5.4.1); Smithers (8.5.4.2); Willoughby Heights (8.5.4.3); Yarrow (8.5.4.4); Cloverdale (8.5.4.5); Coaldale (8.5.4.6); Flamborough-Redemption (8.5.4.7); Fergus-Maranatha (8.5.4.8); Calgary (8.5.4.9); Chatham-Ebenezer (8.5.4.10); Glanbrook-Trinity (8.5.4.11); Neerlandia (North) (8.5.4.12); Edmonton-Immanuel (8.5.4.13); Edmonton-Providence (8.5.4.14).

2. Admissibility

2.1 The submissions were declared admissible.

3. Decisions

Synod decided:

3.1 To adopt the overture;
3.2 To amend the regulations for the preparatory examination adopted by GS 1958 (Art.188 Part 1) from:
- “The preparatory examination will take place in the classis where the student resides.”
to:
- “The preparatory examination is to occur in the classis where the church that sent the student’s original attestation to the federational seminary belongs. The preparatory examination for a student not originating within the Canadian & American Reformed Churches is to occur in the classis where he lives.”
- 3.2.1 In circumstances in which a particular student’s connection to his ‘home classis’ is unclear or debated, requests for examination must be processed through the student’s local consistory;
3.3 That these revised regulations for the preparatory examination, as well as the existing regulations for the peremptory examination as found in GS 1958 Art. 188, be published in English as an appendix to the Acts of GS 2022 (see Appendix 23);
3.4 That CO Art. 4B be amended from:
- “Only those shall be declared eligible for call within the churches who (1) have passed a preparatory examination by the classis in which they live. . .”
to:
- Only those shall be declared eligible for call within the churches who (1) have passed a preparatory examination by classis….
3.5 That the above changes to both the regulations of preparatory examinations and the Church Order take effect as of 1 January 2023.
3.6 That the cost of return travel for students undergoing a preparatory examination in their home classis be borne by that classis.

4. Grounds

4.1 The letters from the churches expressed an overwhelming degree of support for this overture.
4.2 Steadily growing enrolment at CRTS has significantly increased the workload for Classis Ontario West (COW). This pressure would be alleviated by sharing the workload among all the classes of the federation.
4.3 Doing so would not create insurmountable financial or logistical burdens for those classes.
4.4 Preparatory exams determine who can serve as a minister in the federation. The responsibility and privilege of sharing in this determination ought to be federational.
4.5 Re 3.2.1: Exceptional circumstances will undoubtedly arise when it comes to identifying a student’s connection to his ‘home classis’. In such circumstances, students would be well-served by guidance from their local consistory.
4.6 Though concern was raised regarding logistical complications which might arise, it would be impossible to envision and account for every possible exigent circumstance.
4.7 Re 3.5: Given that it will take some time for students, churches, and classes to absorb and adjust to these changes, it would be wise to implement these decisions on 1 January 2023.
4.8 Re 3.3: An appended translation of the GS 1958 Art. 188 Part 1 would serve as a useful reference for the reader.

APPENDIX 23 – Regulation Ecclesiastical Exams.

Sources: GS 1958 Art. 188, GS 2022 Art. 143

I. Preparatory Examination

I.1 To be eligible for call in one of the churches, one must have successfully sustained the preparatory examination.

The preparatory examination will take place in the classis where the church that sent the student’s original attestation to the federational seminary belongs. The preparatory examination for a student not originating within the Canadian & American Reformed Churches is to occur in the classis where the student resides.

I.2 At the preparatory examination the following documents must be presented:

I.2.a Proof that the student has successfully completed the required course of study as referred to in the decisions of Homewood-Carman 1958 (Acts, Art.151).

I.2.b An attestation from the church or churches to which the students has belonged for the last three years.

I.3 The preparatory examination will inquire into the student’s

I.3.a capacity to preach; to this end the student is assigned a text, no more than three weeks before the examination, on which he will prepare a sermon-proposal to be read at classis; this proposal will then be discussed.

I.3.b ability to exegete the Holy Scriptures for the congregation according to the original texts; to this end the student will be assigned, at least two weeks prior to the examination, one chapter from the Old Testament and one chapter from the New Testament.

I.3.c knowledge of the doctrine of the church.

I.4 Upon sustaining the preparatory examination the candidate must promise, when speaking edifyingly to the congregation, not to teach anything that is not in accordance with the reformed confession. He will then be declared eligible for call as a candidate and receive a written copy of this declaration.

I.5 The preparatory examination will be held at no cost if it coincides with a regularly scheduled classis.

Note: Synod is of the opinion that the so-called “inquiry into the motives for seeking the Ministry” should not be treated as a separate matter, but should take place during and through the manner of examining as described under 4.

II. Peremptory Examination

II.1 This examination is conducted by the classis to which the calling church belongs, with the co-operation of at least two of the deputies appointed for this purpose by Regional Synod.

II.2 Before the examination can take place classis must be provided with:

II.2.a the letter of call and the letter of acceptance.

II.2.b proof of successfully sustaining the preparatory examination by which the candidate was declared eligible for call in the churches.

II.2.c an attestation from the church or churches to which he has belonged since his preparatory examination.

II.3 The peremptory examination is to last at least three hours and shall cover the following subjects:

II.3.a a sermon-proposal on a text chosen by the candidate himself, followed by a discussion of this sermon-proposal.

II.3.b exegesis of Holy Scripture according to the original text; to this end the candidate will be assigned, at least three weeks in advance, two chapters from the Old Testament and two chapters from the New Testament.

II.3.c knowledge of the content of Holy Scripture, which comprises not only knowledge of the Biblical history as such with related theological “subjects”, but also knowledge of the main contents of all the books of the Bible, so that it becomes evident that the candidate is sufficiently familiar with Holy Scripture.

II.3.d knowledge of the doctrine of the church, as well as its history, its defence and its explanation.

II.3.e knowledge of the history of the church.

II.3.f Knowledge of the commandments of the LORD with respect to their significance for the Christian life.

II.3.g knowledge of the Church Order.

II.3.h knowledge of the requirements for exercising the various duties of the offices.

Note: It is the responsibility of classis to divide the exam-time over the different subjects.

II.4 After successfully sustaining the examination the candidate must sign the Form of Subscription, established in 1619 for ministers of the Word.

II.5 In case of a conflict between classis and the deputies of Regional Synod regarding the result of the examination, the matter is to be decided by Regional Synod.

II.6 The peremptory examination will be held at no cost if it coincides with a regularly scheduled classis.