As the Session’s moderator addressed the group and began the series of “do you?” and “will you?” questions each officer searched his/her heart to respond with awareness, integrity, and conviction. Fortunately, for these officers, their time of officer training prepared them to answer, “I do” and “I will!”
Pastors and members know that new officers need to be prepared for service. But those charged with preparing officers have to answer a different set of questions. What can we cover in the time we have available? If we can’t cover everything, what’s most important? Is there a curriculum or do I/we have to develop our own?
Some of these questions are answered in the annotated bibliography found on pgs. 23-24. But why not begin by using the ordination questions as a guide to the content areas for officer training?
Our Constitution states the standards for officer examinations in G-14.0205: “ … the session shall examine them as to their personal faith; knowledge of the doctrine, government, and discipline contained in the Constitution of the church; and the duties of the office.” These standards, when laid alongside the constitutional questions, provide an accessible, workable framework for officer training.
The Constitutional Questions they are listed in G-14.0207. It helps to categorize the questions:
a. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior — Personal Faith/Commitment acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church — Doctrine (ecclesiology) and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? — Doctrine (the Trinity)
b. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, — Doctrine (nature and authority of Scripture)
and God’s Word to you? — Personal Faith/Commitment
c. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, — Doctrine (essential tenets, rank of authorities) and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? — Governance
d. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? — Governance
e. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, — Governance and will you abide by its discipline? — Discipline Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? — Discipline
f. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? — Personal Faith/Commitment
g. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church? — Personal Faith/Commitment
h. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? — Personal Faith/ Commitment
i. (For elder) Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? — Duties of the Office
j. (For deacon) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need? In your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? — Duties of the Office
Viewed another way, basic officer development would engage officers in preparing answers to these questions:
Personal Faith/Commitment
• What does it mean to you to say you trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord?
• What does it mean to you to say the Scriptures are God’s Word to you?
• How will you seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ?
• How will you seek to love your neighbors?
• How will you work for the reconciliation of the world?
• How will you further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
• How will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
Doctrine
• What does it mean to acknowledge Jesus Christ as head of the Church?
• What does it mean to say that God is one yet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
• What does it mean to say the Scriptures are the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ?
• What are the essential tenets of the Reformed faith?
• How are the essential tenets of Reformed faith related to Scripture?
Governance
• What does it mean to be instructed and led by the Confessions in exercising leadership?
• What are the essential elements of the church’s polity?
• How does the church’s polity function in the leadership of your congregation?
Discipline
• What are the essential elements of the church’s discipline?
• How can and will the church’s discipline guide your functioning as a leader?
Duties of the Office
• What are the duties of an elder?
• What are the duties of a deacon?
The training of new church officers for service in your local congregation should, at the very least, prepare each officer-elect to answer the ordination questions with an awareness of what the question means, the integrity of an unreserved “yes,” and, the conviction that — with God’s help — each one can and will be effective spiritual leaders.
Questions for discussion:
Which category of questions can you answer without hesitation?
Which category of questions poses more difficulties for you?
How do you hope your strengths and faith can nurture that of your fellow officers?
What steps do you hope to take to help you fulfill the questions and expectations that look difficult to fulfill?
Von Clemans is associate pastor for Christian Education specializing in adult education ministry at Myers Park Church in Charlotte, N.C. He is a facilitator for Healthy Congregations (Family Systems) workshops.
