Manual Of Christian Reformed Church Government Comparison

Bibliographic Essay on Church Government, by David W. Hall HallBibliographic Essay on Church Governmentby David W. HallPREMISE / Volume II, Number 5 / May 27, 1995 / Page 5Resources in the field of reformed polity are often quitescarce, and even more often not utilized, when available.

• Manual Of Christian Reformed Church Government Comparison And Ratings
• Manual Of Christian Reformed Church Government Comparison And Income

Therewere several other works to which we would have liked to exposedthe reader. Ideally this volume would have included some of thefollowing works for completeness. Nonetheless, in the interestsof collecting these into a single volume, omissions had to bemade.

As John Updike is cited (in Mark Noll’s The PrincetonTheology 1812-1921, p. 41), “Anthology making, likesculpting in marble, is in large measure an act of takingaway”. Thus did we endeavor to limit our scope. Still we areconstrained to say that a yet future volume could well includethese additional resources and more. These bibliographicreferences are by no means exhaustive, and it is hoped that they,too, will be included in any thorough study of paradigms inpolity. By merely giving a short bibliographic note, we do notintend to connote that these are inferior works.

Moreover, manyof these are more readily available than some of the chapters inthis volume. We also assume that particular denominations willhave their own idiosyncratic texts. A parallel track to the Tableof Contents will be approximated, as we recommend the following.J. Lightfoot, a conservative nineteenth-century AnglicanBishop, was committed to the prelatic view of church government,thus making his Biblical comments all the more important.Although Lightfoot was an Anglican, he recognized the biblicalequivalency of the offices of Bishop and Presbyter (Elder).

In anextended essay following his Commentary on Philippians(also reprinted by Hendriksen, Peabody, MA, 1987), Lightfootseeks to justify the ordained clergy of the Episcopal Church asthe successors to the priestly ministry. The beginning of hisessay is his attempt to justify the priestly ministry of pastors.However, it is the middle portion of this essay which containshis very insightful observations about the early history of theNew Testament offices.The reader will benefit not only from Lightfoot’s latenineteenth century comments, but also the excellent presentationin the extended note (see his Commentary on Philippians,pp. 95-99) recording the early church fathers’ view on the office.In addition, consult Lightfoot’s essay, “The ChristianMinistry” (esp. 208-233 of this same volume), to furthernote his treatment of second and third century authors on theoffices of ministry. Although Lightfoot argues later in the essaythat the episcopate came into its own by the third century A.D.,nonetheless it is important to know that he does not base this onbiblical considerations. As he candidly admits, “As latetherefore as the year 70 no distinct signs of episcopalgovernment have hitherto appeared in Gentile Christendom”(p.

Lightfoot also affirms that Clement “. Still usesthe word ‘bishop’ in the older sense in which it occurs in theapostolic writings, as a synonym for presbyter” (p. 218).Philip Schaff (1819-1893), the father of American churchhistory authored the eight volume set entitled, History of theChristian Church. In the middle of the first volume, he has achapter devoted to the topic of “Organization of theApostolic Church”. In those pages (491-504) he treatsbriefly, but factually, the Scriptural and precedential portionsof the first century church under these three themes: (1) theequality of the Presbyter/Bishop office according to scripture,(2) the office of Deacons (including a treatment, a briefreference to Deaconesses), and (3) Church Discipline. A fourthsection also summarizes the Council of Jerusalem as the basis forsynodical precedent.In addition to presenting an excellent summary of several ofthe pillars of church government, Schaff’s original writings arealso valuable because of their references and footnotes to someof the works of the early church. From these it is clear that hebases his claim of the equality of the Offices of Presbyter andBishop on the work of Clement and the Didache (chapter15).

Schaff is recognized as an objective church historian andhis balanced perspective should carry much weight for us today.One might further consult Schaff’s The Creeds of Christendom(3 Vols.) for polity statements contained in creeds, and hisstudy of patristics, History of the Apostolic Church (NewYork, 1853) to see a fuller expression of his views on polity.In lieu of Schaff or Lightfoot, one will also find many ofthese same references in a summary essay at the end of TheReformation of the Church (Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle,PA, 1987), entitled “Episcopalian Writers on ChurchGovernment”(pp. This set of citations bringstogether excerpts from the above-mentioned portions of Lightfoot,with references from Alford’s Greek New Testament Commentary aswell. The conclusion contained in the above anthology is stated,”Such acknowledgments as these, which all fair minds mustmake, are reassuring to a Presbyterian” (p. 414).A somewhat marginal, but not insignificant work to consult asa primary reference to early polity is Eusebius’ EcclesiasticalHistory. In the 4th century as the Council of Nicea met, oneof its participants was a theologian, Eusebius of Caesarea, knownas “the Father of church history”.At the end of the Ecclesiastical History (reprinted byBaker Bookhouse, Grand Rapids, MI, 1974), Eusebius includes anappendix on the Council of Nicea with two pertinent portions. Thefirst gives the background of the Synod’s authority, completewith some actual epistles, as well as some sample letters fromConstantine. The second part of this extract includes some of theremaining canons on church government.

It should be noted thatthese are somewhat supportive of an episcopal form of government,but they are noted hence to show the early testimony of theprimacy of Alexandria (rather than the Roman See) and, secondly,to show that there was a role for presbyters, even in this earlyfourth century testimony.Several modern anthologies do a fine job of critiquing andcomplementing these original sources, as well. Among such, thefollowing are recommended. “Presbyterianism in the AncientChurch” (pp. 53-62) by Richard C. Gamble is a fine essayincluded in a commemorative volume at the 50th anniversary of theOrthodox Presbyterian Church, Pressing Toward the Mark(hereafter, PTTM. Philadelphia, 1986). Richard Gamble isthe Director of the Henry C.

Meeter Study Center for CalvinStudies at Calvin Theological Seminary. As a church historian,Gamble sets out to find whether or not Presbyterianism was asixteenth century innovation or an original form of churchgovernment. After stating that question Gamble puts to rest RomanCatholic claims to priority. Following that, in his surveys ofsecond, third and fourth century A.D.

Literature, Gamble reachessolid conclusions about how the church was governed. His summaryof Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Ignatius, along with quotationsfrom Ambrose, Clement of Alexandria, and Augustine are mosthelpful.Also worthy of reference from this volume are the essays, “Two Offices and Two Orders of Elders” (pp. 23-32) byGeorge Knight III, which argues the classic southern view of R.L. Dabney, as supported by the New Testament data; and James R.Payton’s article on the Adopting Act in American Presbyterianism,“Background and Significance of the Adopting Act of1729” (pp. Clowney, President Emeritus of WestminsterTheological Seminary and one of the leaders of the twentiethcentury revival of Presbyterian church government, in his “Distinctive Emphases in Presbyterian Church Polity” ( PTTM,pp.

99-110), contrasts two nuances which distinguish BritishPresbyterianism from the Dutch strain of Presbyterianism.Following a lengthy discussion of the regulative principle ofworship, Clowney also applies the regulative principle togovernment. He sees two distinctive emphases of Presbyterianpolity, the first being the regulative principle and the secondbeing the organic principle.Peter Lillback is both a pastor and a Professor of ChurchHistory, earning academic degrees in historical theology.Lillback also appreciates the importance of a sound Presbyterianform of government. In his article “The Reformers’Rediscovery of Presbyterian Polity” (pp. 63-82 in PTTM),he concentrates on the Reformers’ re-examination of the subjectof church government.

It is also a fitting overview and summationof the earliest and best confessional and governmental works. Thefootnotes and research by Lillback were some of the most helpfulwe found.Among the works of primary historical importance whichLillback surveys are the 1574 work by Thomas Cartwright andWalter Travers entitled, “The Sacred Discipline of theChurch Described in the Word of God”, excerpts from theGallican Confession of 1559, the First Book of Discipline of theScottish Presbyterian Church, and the Belgic Confession. Thearticle ends with a survey of John Calvin and his views on thepolity of church. Composed of large quotes from several ofCalvin’s Commentaries, as well as his letters, this second halfof the article is a very valuable contribution to the reader.This is one of the finest short essays on this subject andconcludes by noting, “Consequently, for those of Calvinistpersuasion, the rediscovery of the principle of sola Scriptura included the rediscovery of Presbyterian polity” (p. 79).One of the works cited by Lillback and useful for collateralstudies, is Documents Illustrative of the ContinentalReformation (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1911) by B. Kidd,which contains a number of 16th century works in their originalFrench. Kidd’s volume is a fine reference for a number ofreformation polities, as is the french classic, Quick’s SynodiconGallia ( ) Help on this one?In “The Eldership In Martin Bucer and John Calvin” published in the Evangelical Quarterly in 1989 (Vol.

Uprichard, a minister of Trinity PresbyterianChurch in Antrim, discusses the view of presbyters held by theearly reformers, Martin Bucer and Calvin. Uprichard argues inopposition to Thomas Torrance’s book, The Eldership in theReformed Church (Edinburgh, 1984), in which Torrance contendsthat the Office of Elder was imported from the fourth or fifthcentury North African church, having no basis in scripture.Torrance’s argument is that the eldership in the Reformed Churchis attributable only to Presbyterian tradition and not toscripture.In seeking to demonstrate the early appearance of the Officeof Elder, Uprichard first surveys the works of Martin Bucer, whohad a life-long passion for the importance of discipline withinthe church. However, the bulk of this article concerns itselfwith John Calvin’s view of the eldership. Uprichard reviews theEcclesiastical Ordinances of 1541, as well as the earliestorganization of the Genevan Consistory in Calvin’s time andsuccinctly presents for us an excellent summary of Calvin’s viewof the eldership. This article is an excellent review of thesetwo major Reformers’ views on the office. Furthermore, this is anexcellent article to commend to those who are called to theOffice of Ruling Elder.Consideration should be given to pertinent excerpts fromCalvin’s Commentaries. John Calvin, the most influential reformerin Presbyterian polity, also addressed some of these polityissues in his Commentaries.

Selected excerpts from hisCommentaries, first from Acts 15:2-6, and secondly from I Tim.3:1-2 could be gleaned to see his explanation of theQualifications for Elder/Bishop in the setting of homileticalcommentaries, rather than The Institutes. One would alsodo well to consult his comments on Titus 1:5, especially as it isnow realized that the Commentaries of Calvin are of equalhistorical value as The Institutes.A recently released publication, Calvin’s EcclesiasticalAdvice, translated by Mary Beaty and Benjamin Farley(Westminster/ John Knox, Louisville, 1991) could also beconsulted to see how Calvin dealt with particular subjects of apractical nature. These newly translated examples of how Calvindealt with specifics such as the need for reform, churchdiscipline, and various judicial issues provides insight to thereformer’s pastoral sensitivities as well. Also a few excerptsfrom The Letters of Calvin (Reprinted by Baker Book House)could be perused.One of the acknowledged leaders of the twentieth centurycommitment to Presbyterian polity within the mainline Americanchurch is John H. Leith, Professor of Theology at UnionTheological Seminary in Richmond, VA.

A Calvin Scholar, in his1977 book entitled, Introduction to the Reformed Tradition(John Knox, Atlanta, 1977), Leith included a chapter on polity inthe reformed tradition. In a short amount of space his essaydeals with the significance of polity, the subordination ofpolity to the gospel, and furthermore provides a survey ofreformed polities beginning with Calvin’s polity up to AmericanPresbyterian polities. The final part of his chapter extracts thedefining characteristics of the Presbyterian form of government.Although Leith is associated with the mainline PresbyterianChurch in North America, which is somewhat liberal in itstreatment of classic theology, nonetheless this is a sound andwell informed essay. His original chapter includes a bibliographyon reformed polities, most of which are included in abridgedforms in this present volume. As well as having some helpful,modern insights, Leith’s abridgement also gives a succinctsummary of Calvin’s, Hodge’s and Thornwell’s views on polity;thus making this an extremely helpful summation.Another helpful and solid treatment in compact form is LouisBerkhof’s Systematic Theology (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids,1941). Louis Berkhof (1873-1957 ) was the author of one of themost widely used systematic theology textbooks within AmericanReformed circles in the 20th century.

In his work under theDoctrine of the Church, he treats the scriptural names for thechurch, as well as the doctrine (ecclesiology) from churchhistory. Following that is his discussion of the nature ofchurch, along with its attributes and the distinguishing marks ofthe church. Then follows a third chapter on the government of thechurch.In that chapter (pp. 579-592), one can find a convenientsummary of the history of various forms of government, inaddition to the fundamental principles of the presbyterian andbiblical view of government. Contained in this discussion is alsoa discussion of the offices of the church as well as the doctrineof calling. These pages are rounded out with the discussion ofthe higher courts of the major assembly.

Appended to the end ofhis chapter is an excellent bibliography.Another superb treatise (perhaps at the peak of ScottishPresbyterianism) on the principles of presbyterian polity isWilliam Cunningham’s Historical Theology. After attendingEdinburgh University, Cunningham (1805-1861) went into theministry and was first appointed Professor of Church History atNew College,Edinburgh in 1845.

He was viewed by many as asuccessor to the great Thomas Chalmers. Following a time ofrevival and Reformation in the Scottish Church, WilliamCunningham labored at the New College with other worthies, suchas James Bannerman and James Buchanan, leading some to praise NewCollege as the finest theological school in all of Europe.Ironically, concurrent with the Scottish Presbyterianflourishing, the American Presbyterians were undergoing turmoiland division.

Cunningham’s two volume work, HistoricalTheology, (reprinted in 1962 by Banner of Truth Trust) was aslightly edited version of the original manuscripts, which wereevidently in excellent form. The information in these two finevolumes contains the substance of Cunningham’s lectures to hisstudents at New College, Edinburgh.As one of the first modern church histories Cunninghamdemonstrates great breadth of thinking on his subject.

Hisobservations concerning the authority of church officers, thesubordination of church courts to one another, the obligation ofapostolic practice, all of which leads to a fine conclusion ofthe divine right of government, are still worth re-hearing. Laterin this work, Cunningham also has an extended argument over thepropriety of prelacy, dealing directly with that threat (pp.244-262). In a still later section from volume II (pp. 514-556),Cunningham positively states the strong and radical features ofBiblical Presbyterianism, distinguishing it fromcongregationalism or independency. All in all we have a fine workwhich is thorough and reflective of Scottish jus divinumPresbyterianism, as well as a great paradigm for education. In1991 Still Water Revival Books reprinted another of Cunningham’sworks, Discussion of Church Principles, one of the finestcollections of Scottish polity.A number of other quite influential works on polity from theseventeenth century are not as readily available. Foremost amongthe stalwarts of seventeenth century reformed polity is GisbertVoetius’s three-volume Politicae Ecclesiasticae which isnot translated into English.

Formative though it is, it is inneed of translation and essential to a comprehensive grasp of thepolity of the post-Reformation period.George Gillespie’s 111 Propositions on Church Governmentis useful reading, and fortunately Still Water Revival Booksreprinted two volumes of The Works of George Gillespie in1991. One could furthermore profit from reading his “Brotherly Examination” of Coleman’s Sermon (1645) andhis eyewitness notes on the debates and proceedings of theWestminster Assembly 1644-1645 in Vol. 2 of this set.A little earlier in history a primary source presented thecardinal differences between the presbyterian and congregationalpatterns of government. In the midst of the meeting of theWestminster Assembly there were a number of delegates at thatAssembly who although quite respected, also held to thecongregationalist form of government. These independents amongwhom were John Owen, Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, and JeremiahBurroughs, wished to contend for the independent view of churchgovernment even at the Westminster Assembly.

They became knownfor their skill in obstruction and protestation, being such asmall, yet effective minority. Although there was considerabledoctrinal agreement between these divines, still on governmentalprinciples there was some disagreement.

Manual Of Christian Reformed Church Government Comparison And Ratings

Jeremiah Burroughs led agroup who in 1644 wrote a small tract entitled “TheDifference Between Independency and Presbytery” in whichthey contended for the independent view (to consult see pp.285-289 of the Reformation of the Church, Banner of TruthTrust, 1987) ed. By Ian Murray.In response, a few years later a group of London ministerswho were committed to jus divinum Presbyterian Governmentgave a blow by blow comparison of the two systems.

Although thistract definitely supports the Presbyterian view, nonetheless ithas value as a contemporaneous document with the WestminsterAssembly, supporting the majority view. This Presbyterian Viewof the Difference With Independency was co-authored by agroup of London ministers in 1646.

It reflects the basis of someof the Westminster Assembly’s deliberations and discussions. Fromsuch we can see the majoritarian view of the Westminster Assemblyand in short compass, be exposed to another early document.One other influential manual from the seventeenth century,which was regarded as a paradigm of sorts by the ColonialAmerican Presbyterians, was The Collections by Steuart ofPardovan.

This seldom accessible work adds much to ourunderstanding of early eighteenth century Presbyterianism, if acopy is located.In 1978 the Banner of Truth Trust printed a small booklet, BiblicalChurch Discipline by Daniel Wray. This short and inexpensivepamphlet is a nice collection of the biblical teaching on churchdiscipline. Following an introduction stressing the importance ofthe biblical injunction for discipline, Wray collects Scriptureto address the following: (1) necessity and purpose ofdiscipline, (2) modes of discipline, (3) proper recipients ofdiscipline (4) objections and questions. It is this fourthsection that is most practical and anticipatory of the majorobjections. Following his conclusion is also an appendix on “What our Protestant Forefathers Taught Concerning ChurchDiscipline”, which is a collection of creedal andreformation fathers’ testimony toward the necessity of churchdiscipline. This small version is most helpful to the ministerand the student.One of the finest exemplars of twentieth century reformedpolity was John Murray.

Professor John Murray, of Scottishorigin, was a prominent professor of theology at WestminsterTheological Seminary, teaching and influencing numbers ofstudents from 1929-1966. His writings also had a great impact onevangelicals in the twentieth century. Murray (1848-1975), alwaysconscious to preserve the best of our Reformed heritage inbiblical theology, was equally adept at stating governmentalprinciples.Taken from his Collected Writings, (Banner of TruthTrust, 1976, Volume I pp. 260-268) is a well-reasoned essayentitled, “Government in the Church of Christ.” In thisbrief article Murray reviews the New Testament teaching on theidentification of the Bishop/Presbyter Office, describes theoffice of the elder, and finally speaks of the duties of theelder.

A more lengthy article to consult is “The Governmentof the Church” (Volume I, pp. Both of these briefarticles exhibit Murray’s strong and persistent adherence both toscripture and to scriptural polity. Murray also has a verypractical article entitled, “Arguments Against TermEldership” which should be widely read.Another fine resource containing much primary material is ReformedDogmatics (Baker, 1978) by Heinrich Heppe.

In 1950 atranslation of Heinrich Heppe’s Reformierte Dogmatik waspublished after years of unavailability. This compendium ofreformed thought, which brings together immense research isprobably the best compilation of sixteenth and seventeenthcentury reformed thought in a single volume. Heppe (1820-1879),who was a Professor at Marburg in Germany from 1850 until hisdeath in 1879, desired to present to the European world in thelate nineteenth century a revival of the great reformed dogmaticsas “set out and illustrated from the sources” (thesub-title of this volume).In this brief compend one can be exposed in short compass tomany of the greatest Reformed thinkers of the sixteenth andseventeenth century, thanks to the excellent research of Heppe.Heppe, a minister in the German Reformed Church, was also a mostaccomplished church historian as can be seen from thiscompilation.

Heppe sought to collect extracts from the originalsources (in keeping with the Reformation motto: “to thesources”, ad fontes.) and bring those together as areplication of the reformed system. He covers most of the majortheological topics, and of interest to our work, is his chapteron the church.Appearing toward the end of the book Heppe’s chapter (27) onthe church brings together quotations from the greatest Reformedthinkers (pp. Among the theological giants reviewed areOlevianus, Heidegger, Turretin, Wollebius, Cocceius, andMaresius.

The pages referred to cover topics ranging from theauthority of Christ to rule the Church through human instruments,to the power and manner of ordination, to the offices of thechurch, to the manner of calling of ministers, along with adiscussion of the courts of the church, and finally an excellentcollection of statements on the need for church discipline.For a modern statement of jus divinum Presbyterianism,and also an eyewitness account of the formation of thePresbyterian Church in America in 1973, one could see Morton H.Smith’s How Is The Gold Become Dim. In the early 1970s aconservative group of Presbyterians found it necessary to breakoff from the Southern Presbyterian Church. One of their leadersand the first Stated Clerk of that church was Dr. Morton HowisonSmith. In 1972 he authored this book, subtitled The Decline ofthe Presbyterian Church US As Reflected in its Assembly Actionsto document the deterioration of the Southern Presbyterian Churchfrom its original roots. As a leader of the formation of the PCA,Dr.

Manual Of Christian Reformed Church Government Comparison And Income

Smith was a pioneer in articulating these views.Morton Smith and others were involved in a struggle toextricate confessional Southern Presbyterianism from the liberaltrends in the mainline. As these pages reveal, one of the mainconcerns was that the Southern Presbyterian church remain a fullyconfessional church. In the early 1970s, Smith was asked todocument the historic departures from the confessional position.In the two chapters referenced here, one chapter documents thehistoric change in the confessional view of the SouthernPresbyterians (pp. 37-46), while the second chapter (pp. 67-79)documents the changes that took place in their view of churchgovernment.These excerpts will be helpful not only in giving aneyewitness account to a major Presbyterian division of thetwentieth century, but also serve as an excellent review in themain principles of Presbyterianism. Also in these sections is ahealthy modern recapitulation of the Adopting Act, as well as arestatement of jus divinum Presbyterianism.

In addition, apractical discussion of the role of Boards vs. Committees iscontained in this.One also sees more of the animus of the PCA and the historyof interpretation of their Book of Church Order by readingSmith’s 1990 Commentary on the BCO (GreenvillePresbyterian Theological Seminary Press, Greenville, SC).Therein, Smith gives a chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraphexplanation of the application and original intent of the PCA’sbook of polity.Several dissertations form ancillary studies.