Helps for Officebearers
Reformed Resources for Elders, Deacons, and
Pastors
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17
Resources for Officebearers (especially elders and deacons)
For the Ordination/Installation of officebearers
Forms for Ordination of Ministers of the Word, Elders, and Deacons (use left side bar to locate these forms under "Liturgical Forms")
Formula of Subscription (binding PRC ministers, elders, and deacons to the Reformed Creeds as faithful summaries of the teaching of Scripture)
Recent PRC Sermons preached on the occasion of ordination/installation of elders and deacons:
"Moses' Spirit on the Seventy Elders" (Numbers 11:24-30) - Rev.J.Slopsema (First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI) - Jan.6, 2013
"Know and Esteem Them Over You" (I Thess.5:12-13 ) - Rev.R.Van Overloop (Grace PRC, Standale, MI) - Jan.1, 2013
"Esteeming the Elders" (I Thess.5:12-15) - Rev.R.Hanko (Lynden WA PRC) - Jan.6, 2013
"Honoring Those in Office" (Titus 3:1-7; Heid.Cat., LD 39) - Rev.J.Laning (preached in Randolph WI PRC) - Jan.6, 2013
"An Apostolic Exhortation to Elders" (Acts 20:28-31) - Rev.K.Koole (Grandville, MI PRC) - Jan.6, 2013
"The Chief Qualification of Christ's Officebearers" (John 21:15-17) - Rev.G.Eriks (Hudsonville, MI PRC) - Dec.30, 2012
"Institution of the Diaconate" (Acts 6:1-6) - Rev.N.Decker (Trinity PRC, Hudsonville MI) - Jan.6, 2013
"The Calling of the Deacons" (I Tim.5:3-8, 16) - Rev.C.Spronk (Peace PRC, Lansing, IL) - Jan.6, 2013
"Thankful Giving" (Deut.26:12-15) - Rev.S.Key (Loveland, CO PRC) - Jan.6, 2013 (an important message on the calling of the members of the church toward the deacons)
"David's Mighty Three" (2 Samuel 23:8-17) - Rev.C.Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) - Jan.6, 2013
"Perilous Times" (2 Tim.3:1-3) - Rev.N.Langerak (Crete PRC, IL) - Jan.6, 2013
"The Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram" (Numbers 16:1-3) - Rev.J.Marcus (1st PRC, Edmonton, AB) - Jan.6, 2013
"Failure to Ask Counsel of the Lord" (Joshua 9:14) - Rev.B.Huizinga (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA) - Jan.6, 2013
"Judging Not for Man but for God" (Deut.17:8-13; 2 Chron.19:6-7) - Rev.J.Laning (Hull, IA PRC) - Jan.1, 2013
2012 Elders Conference on Counseling: Prof. B.Gritters has now completed his seminar on the principles and practice of Biblical counseling designed for elders and prospective elders. The sessions were held at the Hudsonville PRC on Oct. 7, 14, 21, and Nov. 4, 2012. You may still profit from this seminar through the links given below.
Session 1 (Oct.7):
(Audio).
Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI) has hosted officebearer seminars in the past. These materials may be found at the links below.
Elders Conference (scroll down on the page to the notice)
Deacons Conference (2008) - Plus links to a series of Standard Bearer articles by Martin Swart (1998) and by Rev.Doug Kuiper on the office and work of deacons (1998-2010)
Prof.H.Hanko's Classes for Deacons (held Feb.-April 1987 at the PR Seminary) - mp3 files (includes class discussion); Layout/contents of sessions (pdf)
Standard Bearer Articles on the Office of Elder
Start with this encouraging article by Rev.B.Gritters for newly elected elders! "Beginning Our Work in Hope" (1999). And then read "Elders Who Know the Sheep" (2000)
Rev.Doug Kuiper's recent series (2011-12) in "Ministering to the Saints":
The Nature of the Office: #1 - "The Office of Rule"; #2 - "The Rule of Christ"; #3 - "Christ's Rule Through the Body of Elders"
History of the Office of Elder: #1 - "In the Nation of Israel"; #2 - "During and After the Babylonian Captivity"; #3 - (forthcoming)
Prof.Robert Decker's series in 1996-1999:
General: "Called to Rule"; "Called to Rule the Officebearers"; "The Elders and the Care of the Congregation"; "The Elders and Censura Morum"; "Esteeming the Elders Very Highly for Their Works' Sake";
The Elders and Discipline: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; "The Extreme Remedy" (excommunication); "The Reconciliation of Repentant Sinners"; "The Reconciliation of Excommunicated Sinners"; "The Discipline of Officebearers" - Part 1; Part 2
Other Special Labors: "The Elders and Family Visitation"; "Comforting the Bereaved"; "Caring for the Widows";
Prof. Herman Hanko's series in 1978-79, "My Sheep Hear My Voice" - "Letter to Timothy":
#1 (Origin of the special offices in the NT church)
#2 (The Office of Elder)
#3 (Relation between special offices and the office of believer)
#4 (More on the relation between special offices and the office of believer)
#5 (On the calling of ministers to preach
#6 (On the calling and qualification of elders)
#7 (Elders and pastoral work)
Mr.Edwin Gritters' series in 1995:
Basic Reading Resources (Available from the Reformed Book Outlet, Seminary Bookstore, your church library)
The
Confessions and Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches
(pdf), Revised & updated HC version published in 2005. $9.00 from the Seminary
(doezema@prca.org or
webmaster@prca.org).
The
Church Order Commentary by I.VanDellen and M.Monsma; Zondervan, 1941
(This is the original edition based on the Church Order of the CRC once
identical to ours, not the revised edition. This original
edition is hard to find and can be expensive, but it is worth the price).
Called
to Serve: Essays for Elders and Deacons, ed. by Michael Brown;
Reformed Fellowship, 2007. $15 from their
website
or Amazon.
The
Elder: Today's Ministry Rooted in All of Scripture by
Cornelius Van Dam; P&R, 2009.
With
a Shepherd's Heart: Reclaiming the Pastoral Office of Elder by
John R.Sittema; Reformed Fellowship, 1996. $15 from their
website
or Amazon.
Taking
Heed to the Flock: A Study of the Principles and Practice of Family
Visitation by Peter Y.DeJong; Baker 1960; Wipf & Stock, 2003. (The
chapters are also available online at the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
"Ordained Servant"
website, starting here -
Preface and chap.1).
The
Glorious Work of Home Visits by Peter G. Feenstra; Premier,
2000 (another profitable book on family visition). In Seminary library.
The
Ministry of Mercy for Today by Peter Y. DeJong; Baker, 1961; Wipf &
Stock, 2003. (This too is available in part on the OPC "Ordained Servant"
website, starting here).
The
Visitor's Book of Texts or The Word Brought Near to the Sick and Sorrowful
by Andrew Bonar; Banner of Truth, 2010 (helpful book with suggested texts
and thoughts for making visits to those in need).
Denominational Information
2012
Yearbook of the PRC - Now Available!
Find the listings of denominational officers, committees, ministers, and
professors here!
New! List of Clerks and Treasurers for 2013 (pdfs): Classis East and Classis West