Now we come to the third duty of elders and that is to appoint teachers or catechists. First, we face two areas of catechism: catechising the children in the Bible and then catechising the young people in the Confessions. Well, who are more important, little children or young people? What is more important, the Bible or the Confessions? Why do I ask those questions? Because I have seen churches answer those questions by teach­ing young children Bible stories in Sunday School, but making sure the pastor taught doctrine to the teens.

You might say that those questions pose a false dilemma. So let's at least be willing to say that teaching little children Bible is not less important than teach­ing young people church doc­trine; both are official min­istries of the church.

Official Teaching Means Official Teachers⤒🔗

Who should teach them? Whom should the elders appoint? The Scriptures give us guidance for teaching in the church. Paul lists those who are "pastors and teachers";¹ he lists being "able to teach''²as a qualification for elder. Who may teach catechism? Ministers, elders, or men such as former or inactive elders. May we add men of the church whom the elders test? For if Paul requires teaching ability in an elder, this must certainly have been demonstrated prior to election to office. We would judge therefore that the elders may officially appoint men as catechists who have not held office. Later we will see that the historic church has done just that.

First of all ministers of the Gospel must see it as their call­ing. Van Dellen and Monsma say, "As to catechism work, this certainly belongs to the minister's field of operation. The teaching of a catechism class is essential administration of the Word, just as preaching is."³(They do allow however, that elders or others may be appointed.) R. B. Kuiper, late professor of Practical Theology at Calvin Seminary said, "The minister has no more important task than the education of the covenant youth. Catechetical instruction is on a par with the preaching of the Word."⁴

Support from the Past←⤒🔗

The comments in the last para­graph were recently made. Does church history support them? John Knox (1505-1572) said in his Book of Discipline, that the minister must take care of the children and youth, instructing them in the cate­chism.⁵John Owen (1616-­1683) said that next to preach­ing, catechising was his most important work.⁶

John Murray quotes Acts of the Church of England from 1603 and 1639 requiring every minister to teach catechism.⁷Matthew Henry (1662-1714) says in his sermon on catechism and catechising, "Let the ministers of Christ look upon themselves as under a charge to feed the lambs of Christ's flock. All the reformed church­es make this a part of their (the ministers) work... "⁸ (emphasis added). All these men make it quite clear, do they not?

Now that we have the elders well and sufficiently convinced that catechising belongs to the ministry of the Word, we can take up the provision that elders and other qualified men also may be given the task. Elders should certainly be able to teach, Scripture says so; although churches have distin­guished between "teaching elders", meaning ministers, and "ruling elders", those hav­ing kingly oversight of the church. But even when the churches have appointed other men, Van Dellen and Monsma also note that these catechism teachers "were not appointed before their knowl­edge, faithfulness, doctrinal purity and piety had been investigated."⁹

Elders Checking the Field Work←⤒🔗

We see then, how important the Church of the past regard­ed catechism teaching. The elders had, and I would sug­gest still have, the responsibil­ity to see that the young chil­dren and youth are properly catechised in Scripture and the Confessions. Even if oth­ers were appointed to teach, the 1618/19 Synod of Dort advised that elders inspect the teaching and "show the teachers how they should catechise."¹⁰

Let me list a few blessings that come when elders visit (inspect) each catechism class level at least twice a year.

• The elders assure themselves and God that they are "guard(ing) what was committed to (their) trust" (1 Tim. 6:20).
• The elders are encouraged that the church will continue in the future on a sound Biblical and doctrinal foundation.
• The children, especially the young ones, are impressed that catechism is not just a "kid thing", or some frivolous entertainment ploy, but that the church is teaching them the solemn and eternal truths of God, and that they, although just little children, are of great importance in the Kingdom of God.
• The minister (or other teacher) is greatly stimulated, for the presence of the elders not only convinces him of the importance of catechism, but also adds the divine weight of the ruling office to his catechizing. The elder sitting in the corner sharpens the teacher and pricks up the ears of the students.