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church government

The Confession of Faith Article 30 Concerning the Government of, and Offices in the Church

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  • A. M. Den Boer

How should the church be governed? From the Belgic Confession, Article 30 this article examines three types of church government: Roman Catholic Church government, Lutheran church government, and Reformed church government or Presbyterian church government.

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What's Reformed?

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  • Peter H. Holtvluwer

How would you define "Reformed"? This article clarifies what the term is all about, that it has to do with re-forming according to the teachings of Scripture, in all aspects of life, including worship and church government.

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Belgic Confession Articles 30-32 (1): Church Government

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  • Klaas Stam

This article explains articles 30-32 of the Belgic Confession (on church government, its organization, forms, etc.). It also provides content questions.

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The Church and Its Leadership The Life of the Church Series: Sermon Eleven

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  • Sinclair B. Ferguson

This article on 1 Timothy 3 is about church leadership and church government. The author speaks about the calling, qualifications, and task of elders and deacons.

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Leadership in the Church

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  • Paul Coulter

What should church leadership look like? This article first discusses New Testament terms for church leaders, such as apostles, elders, and deacons, and then explains that elders are called to rule God's church, and should be men, not women.

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The Power and Government of the Church: No Hierarchy of Bishops

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  • James A. Laning

Church government has its foundation in the truth that Christ is the head of the church. This article explains that a hierarchy system is against Christ’s way of ruling his church. It looks at the historical development of hierarchy and explains the meaning of the word "bishop" in relation to elder.

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Church Power and Government: Christ Speaking through Special Office Bearers

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  • James A. Laning

Church government has its foundation in the truth that Christ is the head of the church. How does Christ govern his church? This article explains that Christ rules the church by his Word and Spirit, and it is through the special office bearers that his Spirit brings his Word to the members of his body. The article looks at the role of pastors, elders, and deacons in church government. It also explains how Christ speaks through the keys of the kingdom.

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Bishop or Presbyter? French Reformed Ecclesiology in 1559

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  • Alan C. Clifford

This article concerns itself with the French Reformed church polity and church government. Important decisions concerning church government were taken at the First National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, which was held in Paris from May 25 to 28, 1559. A Presbyterian form of church government was chosen instead of an Episcopalian.

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John Calvin's Movement from the Bible to Theology and Practice

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  • Brian C. Dennert

How do we move from the Bible to formulating theology? This article believes that a study of good examples may help to prevent the exercise from becoming purely theoretical. The author uses John Calvin to present an example of how one person made such a move. In particular he uses Calvin’s implicit approach to church leadership and in particular church government. This article wants to understand how Calvin moved from the Bible to practice and then compares it to contemporary models.

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A Historical Overview of Church Government

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  • Clarence Bouwman

This article discusses the historical development of different types of church government and their characteristics. It looks at the papal church government, Lutheran church government, Reformed church government, congregationalism, and collegialism.

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Principles behind Reformed Church Polity (1)

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  • Clarence Bouwman

Church polity seeks to answer the question: how does Christ want things done in his church? To answer, this article looks at the biblical ground for church government, the office of all believers, and Christ's rule of his church.

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Church Government

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  • Leon Morris

This is an entry from a theoogical dictionary on different views of church government, including Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopalian.

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The Elder and Church Government

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  • James Visscher

Elders function within church structures which either enable or hinder their work. This article explains the different types of church government (Papal, Episcopal, Congregational and Presbyterial), drawing conclusions about the best approach to church government.

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Establishing Reformed Churches (3)

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  • Daniel Kleyn

What does it mean to be a Reformed church? How can one plant a Reformed church through mission work? This article answers these questions by discussing five aspects of being reformed: history, doctrine, worship, lifestyle, and church government.

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Establishing Reformed Churches (2)

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  • Daniel Kleyn

What does it mean to be a Reformed church? How can one plant a Reformed church through mission work? This article answers these questions by discussing five aspects of being reformed: history, doctrine, worship, lifestyle, and church government.

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Establishing Reformed Churches (1)

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  • Daniel Kleyn

What does it mean to be a Reformed church? How can one plant a Reformed church through mission work? This article answers these questions by discussing five aspects of being reformed: history, doctrine, worship, lifestyle, and church government.

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To Be or Not to Be Reformed (4): Upholding the Formula of Subscription

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  • Russell J. Dykstra

It is a common practice in many Reformed Churches that elders and deacons sign the Formula of Subscription. Why practice this tradition? Two reasons: the adoption of and adherence to Reformed confessions, and to maintain and promote Reformed church government. If this is so, then the confessions must be binding, and discipline must be exercised on those who depart from them.

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To Be or Not to Be Reformed (3): Upholding the Formula of Subscription

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  • Russell J. Dykstra

It is a common practice in many Reformed Churches that elders and deacons sign the Formula of Subscription. Why practice this tradition? Two reasons: the adoption of and adherence to Reformed confessions, and to maintain and promote Reformed church government. This article focuses on what the Form of Subscription requires from individuals.

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To Be or Not to Be Reformed (2): Upholding the Formula of Subscription

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  • Russell J. Dykstra

It is a common practice in many Reformed Churches that elders and deacons sign the Formula of Subscription. Why practice this tradition? Two reasons: the adoption of and adherence to Reformed confessions, and to maintain and promote Reformed church government. This article focuses on the history behind the Form of Subscription.

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To Be or Not to Be Reformed (1): Upholding the Formula of Subscription

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  • Russell J. Dykstra

It is a common practice in many Reformed Churches that elders and deacons sign the Formula of Subscription. Why practice this tradition? Two reasons: the adoption of and adherence to Reformed confessions, and to maintain and promote Reformed church government. This article focuses on the importance of adhering to the Reformed confessions.

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Working Towards an Indigenous Church (2): A Self-governing Church

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  • Jason L. Kortering

The goal of mission work is to create indigenous churches which become self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting. This article looks at the aspect of the indigenous church being self-governing, providing six things to consider in relation to church government.

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The Church and Her Ordinances

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  • R. Daniel Knox

The church is the bride of Christ. The author of this article discusses the means of grace, church ordinances, church government and discipline from this perspective.

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The Government of the Church

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  • Daniel R. Hyde

This article is about Article 30 of the Belgic Confession and the government of the church. Included is a discussion on reasons for church government. 

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Congregation and Overseers

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  • Douwe G. J. Agema

This article focuses on church government. It also discusses the relationship between the church and the officers.

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Understanding Christian Unity

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  • Darryl G. Hart, John R. Muether

This article looks at church unity, comparing the organizational structure and church government of the Roman Catholic Church and in the Protestant Church. 

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The "Original" Authority of Consistories

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  • Jelle Tuininga

What authority does the major assemblies have over the consistories? This article speaks about church government.

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Christ's Rule Over His Church Today?

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  • Lawrence W. Bilkes

This article is about church government and church polity and the rule Christ exercises in the church through his Word.

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What Is It to Be Reformed?

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  • John W. Keddie

This article is about being Reformed. The author focuses on Reformed doctrine, Reformed worship and Reformed church government. Calvinism is also discussed, as well as the relation between church and world.

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Calvin's Primer on Presbyterianism

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  • Peter A. Lillback

This article is about Calvin's view on church government. The different offices in the church are also discussed.

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Foundational Principles of Reformed Church Goverment

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This article is about the basic principles of church government.

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Applying Law

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  • Karlo Janssen

This article is about three approaches to law, and how they can be applied in different situations, specifically in church life/church government.

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Grant me Justice...!

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  • Jan DeGelder

This article is about justice in the church, and especially about justice in the process of church government. How do the assemblies treat appeals? Do they only look at procedures, or do they also think from a pastoral perspective? What is a good way to treat appeal cases in the church?

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Who Governs the Church?

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  • James Visscher

Who is in charge of the church? This article looks at the form of church government and the place of elders in the church.

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Lessons from Genevan Presbyterianism

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  • Mark J. Larson

This article looks at the church government principles of John Calvin and the Genevan Church Order. The article also focuses on the position of the pastors and elders, and the importance of church discipline.

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Our Concern with Biblical Church Governance

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  • John Piper

This author highlights some areas of church government that need to be considered and examined carefully.

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A Discussion of "The Necessity of Reforming the Church" by John Calvin

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  • W. Robert Godfrey

This article is about Calvin's view of the reformation of the church. The author discusses Calvin's view on worship, justification, sacraments, and church government.

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The Bible was the only book Jesus ever quoted, and then never as a basis for discussion but to decide the point at issue. Leon Morris
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