Reformed Resources for Elders, Deacons, and Pastors

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)

2015 Seminar on Elders' Supervision of Preaching

Sponsored by and held at Grace PRC, Feb./March 2015 - Prof.R.Cammenga, speaker

Recent PRC Sermons preached on the occasion of ordination/installation of elders and deacons

(for other more recent sermons for these occasions, visit this page of the audio sermon section):

• Service of the Lord's Servants (2 Tim.2:24-26 - Prof.B.Gritters in Faith PRC, summer of 2013 - a general sermon of value to officebearers)

• "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). "The Need for and the Ability of Others to Help the Pastor in Counseling". YouTube videos: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3. (Outline).

• Session 2 (Oct.14):  (Audio). "The Elements of a Good Counseling Session". YouTube videos: Part 1 & Part 2. (Outline).

• Session 3 (Oct.21): (Audio)."Change in Counseling: The Primary (and Hopeful) Doctrine of Conversion." YouTube videos: Part 1; Part 2. (Outline).

• Session 4 (Nov.4): (Audio). "Marriage: Problems and Prevention". YouTube videos: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3. (Outline)

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) The videos are also now available on the Seminary's YouTube channel.

• Class 1 - Feb.1987

• Class 2 - Feb.1987

• Class 3 - March 1987

• Class 4 - March 1987

• Class 5 - March 1987

• Class 6 - March 1987

• Class 7 - March 1987

• Class 8 - April 1987

Standard Bearer Articles on the Office of Deacon

• Martin Swart - The Relation of the Deacons to the Consistory: #1, #2; #3
• Prof. D. Kuiper's series on the office of deacon:
  • The Qualifications of Deacons
  • The Fundamental Work of the Deacons

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). Others include:
  

  • "Elders Who Know the Sheep" (2000)

  • "We and Our Elders"
  • "Taking Heed... to the Minister" (1) and "Taking Heed... to the Minister (2)"

• Rev. Doug Kuiper's recent series (2011-14) 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 - "During the Apostolic Age"; #4 - "After the Apostolic Age"; #5 - "Restored During the Reformation Era"; #6 - "After the Reformation"

• 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 Gifts Necessary:Part 1a;; Part 1b;; Part 2

  • 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

  • Visiting the Sick: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3

  • 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:

  • #1 - "The Office of Elder: An Overview"

  • #2 -"His Qualifications"

  • #3 - "To Aid and Assist"

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

• 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).

• "Notes on the Church Order" by Prof.H.Hanko. You may order the syllabus from the Seminary or find it online here.

• Handbook for Elders and Deacons: the Nature and the Duties of the Offices According to the Principles of Reformed Church Polity by Wm.Heyns; Eerdmans, 1928 (long out of print but worth having - check your church library; Seminary library has it).

• 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.

• The Elders Handbook: A Practical Guide for Church Leaders by G.Berghoef and L.DeKoster; Christian's Library Press, 2012.

• From House to House: Articles and Helps for Beginning Elders by W.Huizinga; The Reformed Guardian, 2004; #19 in Series. In Seminary Library.
• 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).

• Deacons Go Visiting! Studies on the Work of the Deacons by W.Huizinga & C.Van Dam; The Reformed Guardian, 2003; #16 in Series).
• 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).

• Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling by John G. Kruis; Baker, 2001 - 3rd ed. (handy resource for finding texts on all kinds of topics related to counseling)

Pamphlets (available in print or online)

• "The Marks of the True Church" by Prof.H.C.Hoeksema
• "Public Worship and the Reformed Faith" by Prof.B.Gritters
• "Zeal for God's House: The Motivation for Christian Discipline" by Prof.R.Cammenga
• "Church Membership in an Evil Age" by Rev.S.Key (Looks at the believer's responsibility in light of the marks of the true church.)
• "Women in Church Office" by Prof.R.Cammenga (On why the Bible forbids women to hold office in the church.)
• "Dealing With Depression" by Dr.B.Decker, Prof.R.Decker, and Rev.J.Slopsema (based on a Seminar sponsored by Faith PRC in 2007)
• For additional pamphlets on a broad range of subjects visit out pamphlet page.

PR Seminary Syllabi

• "Liturgics" by Herman Hoeksema (On our order of worship and liturgical forms)
• "Poimenics" by Prof.R.Decker, 1974 (On pastoral care - especially for pastors but also helpful for elders)
• "Public Prayer" by Prof.H.Hanko, 1992 (An Interim course he taught on public praying for pastors, but useful for all officebearers)
• "The Believer's Manual for the Church Order" by Prof.H.Hanko (a condensed guide of Reformed church government for those in the office of believer)

PRT Journal Articles

• "The Competency of Elders and Pastors to Counsel Depressed Souls" by Prof. B. Gritters: Part 1 (April 2018) ; Part 2 (Nov.2018)
• "Elders' Supervision of the Preaching" by Prof. R. Cammenga: April 2015 pdf
• "Depression: Its Cause" by Rev. J. Slopsema and "Depressions: Its Cure" by Prof. R. Decker: April 1993 (pdf)
• "Elders of the Church" by Prof. R. Decker: April 1989 (pdf)
• "Pastoral Care of Married Persons" by Prof.R.Decker: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4
• "Pastoral Care of Children" by Prof.R.Decker

 The Consolation of the Sick

A special "Instruction in Faith, and the Way of Salvation to prepare believers to die willingly" (as found in the back of our Psalter). Visit this page for the full document, as well as to find it in two digital formats for downloading.