(In addition to teaching duties, Dr. Monsma is also serving this year as Administrative Dean of Mid-America Reformed Seminary at Orange City, Iowa.) A Classic Prerogative How is a qualified theological student declared a candidate for the ministry, ready for calling by the churches? In the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, one is under the […]

It was supper time; we were at the family meal when the phone rang–another one of these inconvenient interruptions that is so common in the parsonage. There was a young man on the phone wanting to talk to the pastor. He had a question, “Could be partake with the congregation at the Table of the […]

In this sixth article in a series, For Elders and Deacons, Rev. Harry C. Arnold writes: “The welfare of God’s Zion depends on faithful ministers who labor under the watchful care of faithful consistories. God has charged you, elders and deacons, with the supervision of His ministers. Don‘t fail God!” Rev. Arnold is pastor of […]

“Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?” (Amos 3:3 ASV). “No church shall in any way lord it over another church, and no office-bearer shall lord it over another office-bearer” (Art. 95 Church Order). Varieties of Churc h Polity In his excellent Systematic Theology, Prof. L. Berkhof reviewed a number of systems of church […]