This article is about the practice in some churches to have a prayer in the consistory room (between the minister and the elders and deacons) before and after the worship service.

Source: The Messenger, 2002. 3 pages.

Prayer in the Consistory Room Before and After the Worship Service

The custom of praying as a consistory before and after the worship service probably arose in the 19th century with the Secessionists (Afscheiding). More than once governing authorities would break up the services, arrest the preachers and others deemed responsible. They implored the Lord that they might meet in peace and not be intruded upon by the governing authorities. After the service they would meet together for a prayer of thanksgiving, thanking the Lord for the blessing that they were allowed to assemble in peace. That is probably how the prayer in the consistory room before and after the worship services arose and became a custom in our churches as well as other Reformed churches.

It’s Nature🔗

The nature of this prayer is not personal, but it has an official character because it is made to the Lord by one of the office bearers at the request of the consistory. It is the consistory that calls the congregation to assemble for worship and bears responsibility for everything that takes place in the worship service. The consistory, together with the minister, has the responsibility of shepherding the congregation as it is led to the Word of God. This duty of the consistory gives signifcance to the prayer in the consistory room.

It’s Content🔗

The content of this prayer has two important aspects. First, there should be a petition that the worship service may be conducted orderly. Secondly, the person praying should beseech the Lord to strengthen and enable the minister of the Word (theological student or elder) for the task to which he is called. This is a distinctive task because the minister is conscious of the necessity of the prayerful support of the consistory to carry out his calling. The minister has laboured to prepare the sermon and all other necessary aspects of the worship service. He may have difficulties. It is possible that his own spiritual life is not flourishing. There may be other factors such as fatigue or difficulties in the family. These may be only minor, but may be major enough for Satan to make use of them to destroy the work of the minister.

How uplifting it can be for the minister (student or elder), when the office bearer commends him to the Lord and prays for the unction of His Spirit. It may be a brief prayer, but it should be an earnest prayer. Such a prayer encourages, strengthens and stimulates the minister to do the work he has to do in the worship service. Such prayer strengthens the mutual fellowship of the consistory in supporting the minister and increases the awareness of common responsibility, even though the minister is the one who expounds and applies the Word and leads in the congregational prayers.

Appropriate Prayer🔗

Two things are not appropriate for consistorial prayer before the service. First, the elder should not duplicate the intercessory prayer of the minister in the worship service. No doubt, it may happen that the consistory is so touched by a serious incident in the congregation, community or in the world that the office bearer brings this to the Lord in his prayer. That is not wrong and is appropriate. It merely accentuates the situation in reference to which God’s Word will be opened on the pulpit. In general, however, the office bearer does not need to restate what the minister will do on behalf of the whole congregation as he calls on the Name of the Lord in the worship service.

Secondly, it is not appropriate to insinuate something negative about the minister or his preaching. Prayer may never be used for that puprpose. If an office bearer feels he must criticize the minister, he ought to take a different route. The office bearer should pray for the Lord’s blessings on the worship service. He will ask for God’s gracious presence to build up faith and for the conversion of those who have wandered away or are indifferent.

At times, this is an appropriate moment for office bearers to pray for those who also have a part in the worship service, such as the organist and the custodian, who are rarely remembered in congregational prayers. The consistory should not let them do their work without bringing their needs to the Lord also. After all, the consistory bears responsibility for their work as well.

The Prayer Should be Brief🔗

The prayer before and after the service is to be brief. I have heard of prayers that lasted ten minutes, while the congregation was impatiently waiting. That is improper. It is to be a brief prayer, in which the consistory prays for strength for the minister, for an orderly and peaceful worship service, for the presence of the Lord, for a blessing on the preaching of the Word and administration of the sacraments, and for the Name of the Lord to be glorified in the worship service to be held.

After the service there is usually a brief prayer of thanksgiving. There is to be thanksgiving for the privilege of the worship service, for the gracious presence and communion of the triune God, and for the exposition and application of His Word. Alongside this prayer of thanksgiving, there may well be the petition to the Lord to continue to bless His preached Word to the congregation that “testified to all that it shall go ill with the wicked and only those who are justified by the blood of the Cross can have eternal peace.”

Conversation🔗

What is the purpose of meeting before and after the service as a consistory? One reason may be to consider any announcements that still need to be made from the pulpit before the service. Another item may be to briefly up-date one another on the sick brothers and sisters of the congregation and other special needs that the brethren or the minister need to know.

Further, in the contact with the minister (student or elder who is about to lead the service or read a sermon) the brothers of the consistory should realize that they are about to enter the “sanctuary” of the Lord to worship Him. The minister may be somewhat tense and conscious of the fact that his work concerns eternal matters. If the consistory notices that he seems burdened, an encouraging word is appropriate. There may also be circumstances or incidents in the congregation, which may hinder or weary him and it may be appropriate to indicate to him in some way that you understand how he feels and are standing with him. Try to picture how you would feel, what you would need or what you would long for if you would be in his place.

The conversations in the consistory should be of such a nature that they lead to prayer. It can happen that there is a sharp contrast between conversations before and after the prayers. Actually, the conversations should be as stepping-stones to prayer. It should be kept in mind that the office bearers are assembled in the consistory room.

After the Worship Service🔗

This holds true for the time after the service as well. Sometimes things can be said which link to family visitations. How encouraging for a pastor to hear that the sermon dealt with things discussed at a family visitation. It may also be a comment of a personal nature. It is not wrong to sometimes relate in the consistory room that someone was touched in their personal life. The minister too, may occasionally tell what touched him in the Word that was just proclaimed.

In summary, we ought to remember what is about to happen or what has just happened in the worship service. Stand with each other as brothers and show the minister that his concerns are yours. Let us always remember the importance of love. As Peter writes: “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

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