Modern 1689 Confession

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 26: Of the Church

8. A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.

( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )

9. The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.

( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )

10.____ The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.

( Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14 )

11.____ Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.

( Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11 )

12.____ As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.

( 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 )

13.____ No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.

( Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3 )

14.____ As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.

( Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10 )

15.____ In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.

( Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1 )

Chapter 26

The Church

8. A local^a church, gathered and fully organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members.  The officers appointed by Christ are overseers or elders, and deacons.  They are to be chosen and set apart by the church called and gathered in this way, for the distinctive purpose of administering ordinances and for carrying out any other power or duty he entrusts them with or calls them to.  This pattern is to be continued to the end of the age.¹⁵

¹⁵Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1.

9. Christ has appointed the way to call someone prepared and gifted by the Holy Spirit to the office of overseer or elder in a church.  He must be chosen by the collective vote of the church itself.¹⁶  He must then be solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer.  The body of elders of the church must lay hands on him if there are any already in place.¹⁷  A deacon must be chosen by the same kind of vote and set apart by prayer and laying on of hands as well.¹⁸

¹⁶Acts 14:23. ¹⁷1 Timothy 4:14. ¹⁸Acts 6:3, 5, 6.

10. The work of pastors is to give attention constantly to the service of Christ in his churches in the ministry of the word and prayer.  They are to watch over the souls of church members as those who must give an account to Christ.¹⁹  The churches to whom they minister must not only give them all due respect but also must share with them from their supply of good things according to their ability.²⁰  They must do this so their pastors may have a comfortable living without having to be entangled in secular matters²¹ and so they can show hospitality to others.²²  This is required by the law of nature and by the explicit command of our Lord Jesus, who has ordained that those who preach the Gospel should earn their living by the Gospel.²³

¹⁹Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17. ²⁰1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7. ²¹2 Timothy 2:4. ²²1 Timothy 3:2. ²³1 Corinthians 9:6-14.

11. Although overseers or pastors of churches must be engaged in preaching the word as a function of their office, yet the work of preaching the word is not totally restricted to them.  Others who are also gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit for it and approved and called by the church may and should preach.²⁴

²⁴Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11.

12. All believers are obligated to join themselves to local^a churches when and where they have the opportunity.  Likewise, all who are admitted to the privileges of a church are also subject to the discipline^b and government of it, according to the rule of Christ.²⁵

^bcensures

²⁵1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15.

13. Church members who have been offended and have performed their duty concerning the person they are offended at, should not disrupt any church action or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church or administration of any ordinances because of the offence at any of their fellow members.  Instead, they should look to Christ in the further action of the church.²⁶

²⁶Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3.

14. Every church and all its members are obligated to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all churches of Christ in every place.²⁷  They must also—at every opportunity within the limits of their stations and callings—exercise their gifts and graces to benefit every church.  Also, when churches are raised up by the providence of God, insofar as they enjoy opportunity and favorable circumstances for it, they should have fellowship among themselves for their peace, growth in love, and mutual edification.²⁸

²⁷Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6. ²⁸Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10.

15. Cases of difficulties or differences—doctrinal or administrative—may arise, touching on the peace, union, and edification of all churches in general or an individual church. Other cases may occur when a member or members of a church are injured in or by disciplinary action that is not in keeping with truth and order.  In such cases, it is according to the mind of Christ for many churches having fellowship together to meet through their messengers to consider and give their advice concerning the issue in dispute and to report their advice to all the churches concerned.²⁹ Nevertheless, these assembled messengers are not entrusted with any church power, precisely speaking.  Neither do they have any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any discipline either over any churches or individuals or to impose their decision on the churches or officers.³⁰

²⁹Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25. ³⁰2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1.