Reformed Confessions
31/37Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons
  1. God and His Word
  2. 1There Is One Only God
  3. 2By What Means God Is Made Known unto Us
  4. 3Of the Written Word of God
  5. 4Canonical Books of the Holy Scriptures
  6. 5Whence Do the Holy Scriptures Derive Their Dignity and Authority
  7. 6The Difference Between the Canonical and Apocryphal Books
  8. 7The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to Be the Only Rule of Faith
  9. 8God Is One in Essence, Yet Distinguished in Three Persons
  10. 9The Proof of the Foregoing Article of the Trinity of Persons in One God
  11. 10Jesus Christ Is True and Eternal God
  12. 11The Holy Ghost Is True and Eternal God
  13. Creation and the Fall
  14. 12Of the Creation
  15. 13Of Divine Providence
  16. 14Of the Creation and Fall of Man, and His Incapacity to Perform What Is Truly Good
  17. 15Of Original Sin
  18. Christ and Redemption
  19. 16Of Eternal Election
  20. 17Of the Recovery of Fallen Man
  21. 18Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ
  22. 19Of the Union and Distinction of the Two Natures in the Person of Christ
  23. 20God Hath Manifested His Justice and Mercy in Christ
  24. 21Of the Satisfaction of Christ, Our Only High-Priest, for Us
  25. Salvation in Christ
  26. 22Of Our Justification Through Faith in Jesus Christ
  27. 23Our Justification Consists in the Forgiveness of Sin and the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness
  28. 24Of Man's Sanctification and Good Works
  29. 25Of the Abolishing of the Ceremonial Law
  30. 26Of Christ's Intercession
  31. The Church and the Sacraments
  32. 27Of the Catholic Christian Church
  33. 28Every One Is Bound to Join Himself to the True Church
  34. 29Of the Marks of the True Church, and Wherein She Differs from the False Church
  35. 30Concerning the Government of, and Offices in, the Church
  36. 31Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons
  37. 32Of the Order and Discipline of the Church
  38. 33Of the Sacraments
  39. 34Of Holy Baptism
  40. 35Of the Holy Supper of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  41. Government and the Last Things
  42. 36Of Magistrates
  43. 37Of the Last Judgment

The Belgic Confession · Article 31

Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

  • Article 31 of 37
  • 1 min read

Article 31

We believe that the Ministers of God's Word, and the Elders and Deacons, ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election of the Church, with calling upon the name of the Lord, and in that order which the Word of God teacheth. Therefore every one must take heed not to intrude himself by indecent means, but is bound to wait till it shall please God to call him; that he may have testimony of his calling, and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord.

As for the Ministers of God's Word, they have equally the same power and authority wheresoever they are, as they are all Ministers of Christ, the only universal Bishop, and the only Head of the Church.

Moreover, that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or slighted, we say that every one ought to esteem the Ministers of God's Word and the Elders of the Church very highly for their work's sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife, or contention, as much as possible.

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