Ministerial Candidate Vows

[bconway52]

What are the general Presbyterian vows for those coming under care of a presbytery to begin pursuing the pastoral ministry?

Also, because I have seen many seminarians change their views on theological issues while in seminary, what do you think is their obligation to inform their congregation and presbytery about this change in views?

 

[N. Eshelman]

The vows change from denomination to denomination. Here are the vows that I am under:

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and life?

2. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Redeemer of men, and do you confess Him publicly as your Saviour and Lord?

3. Do you believe that it is the duty of Christians to profess publicly the content of faith as it applies to the particular needs of each age and situation, and that such public profession, otherwise called covenanting, should be made formally by the churches and other institutions as well as informally by each believer according to his ability?

4. Do you believe in and accept the system of doctrine and the manner of worship set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, as being agreeable to, and founded upon, the Scriptures?

5. Do you believe it to be the teaching of Scripture—that church and state are distinct and separate institutions; that both are under the mediatorial rule of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that the permanent form of church government is presbyterian?

6. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord of men and nations, and that in loyalty and obedience to Him, it is our duty to follow the noble example of the faithful confessors and martyrs of Jesus in their witness for divine truth, and in their sacrifices and labors to establish the Kingdom of God on earth?

7. So far as you can know in your own heart, is it the call of Christ, the glory of God and the welfare of the church, and not any selfish object, that moves you to undertake this sacred office?

8. That you may perform faithfully all the duties of the office to which you have been called, do you engage to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Do you promise, in His strength, to live a holy and exemplary life, to study and promote the purity, peace, unity and progress of the church to seek diligently to become an able expositor of the Word, an understanding and helpful counselor, a true minister of God?

9. Do you promise subjection in the Lord to the courts of this church, and engage to follow no divisive courses from the doctrine and order which the church has solemnly recognized and adopted; and do you promise to submit to all the brotherly counsel which your brethren may tender you in the Lord?

 

[N. Eshelman]

Actually, I think that I misunderstood the question. In the RP Church a candidate is only under his vows of communicant membership until he is made eligible to preach. He then is under these vows above. When he is made eligible to receive a call then he has to renew (renovate is the good Presbyterian term) these vows.

If there are exceptions, this must be done before vows are renewed and the presbytery discusses these. There are 3 opportunities between seminary and ordination to come clean, so to speak. Of course, this can be done at any time as well- each man has a committee that he is under which serves for counsel and advisement.

 

[bconway52]

Nathan,

That is interesting. In the RPCUS we don't have a formal procedure for becoming "licensed" to preach (or exhort, if you will). Once a man comes under care of presbytery as a candidate for the gospel ministry he is eligible to speak in the congregations according to the approval of the local session. Ministerial candidates take two vows in the RPCUS (though I don't have the exact phrases in front of me) and like you stated, we give reports of our progress each year to presbytery, though there is not any formal committees or renewing of vows.

The procedure you gave was for the RPCNA, correct?

 

[N. Eshelman]

right.

 

[R. Scott Clark]

If a student is under care and is being sent to seminary by a congregation or denomination then there is an implied contract between the student and the sending church.

This is a delicate thing. In the best of all possible worlds, the student is sent from a soundly confessional congregation (without QIRC or QIRE) to a soundly confessional Reformed seminary.

There are other factors. A seminary is not a production to stamp out identical pieces of metal. It is a school. A seminary ought to train a man to think well and clearly and biblically and confessionally. If and when this happens the student's thinking may change. We hope it becomes more biblical and confessional.

If the sending church is less biblical and confessional (as sometimes happens) than the seminary to which he is being sent. this presents a crisis. It is not the duty of the seminary to confirm students in their prejudices.

The seminary ought to be respectful, as we are, of the various convictions of the sending churches, but, as Reformed folk, we're all obligated to measure our theology, piety, and practice by God's Word as confessed by the Reformed churches.

 

[Romans922]

In the PCA, a communicant member wanting to come under care must first be approved by the session of the church he is a part of for at least a 1/2 year. The vows taken are the following:

1. Do you promise in reliance upon the grace of God to
maintain a becoming Christian character, and to be diligent
and faithful in making full preparation for the sacred
ministry?

2. Do you promise to submit yourself to the proper supervision
of the Presbytery in matters that concern your preparation
for the ministry?



The only exam you have for that is stating your Christian Testimony (How you became a Christian) and your calling (Why you think you are called to the ministry).

If there are any changes in your views of the top two then you won't be pursuing Gospel Ministry. Any changes in theological views are fine, you will be examined on your theology when you are examined for Licensure and/or Ordination.