“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 by the church….”
This article speaks of four things: the election, the calling, the authority, and the worthiness of esteem of the officebearers in the church:
1. The election of the officebearers:
a. They must be chosen by a lawful election by the church. This can be done in various ways:
1) The consistory can choose them and present them for approbation to the congregation.
2) The consistory can make a nomination, present it for approbation to the congregation, and in a legally called meeting have the congregation choose from the nomination.
3) The congregation can have free election, which is not advisable:
a) because it ignores the kingship of Christ as represented by the officebearers.
b) because the congregation is without any direct guidance in choosing their officebearers. Therefore, except in places where there is as yet no consistory, free election is to be condemned.
b. This must be done with calling on the name of the Lord. After all, He must point out through the congregation whom He would have chosen.
2. The calling of officebearers:
a. They must have an inward or personal calling;:
1) a desire to serve the Lord in a certain office.
2) the necessary gifts to serve in that office.
3) the way must be opened by the Lord.
b. They must be outwardly called by the church. One therefore must not intrude himself against the will of the Lord into the church.
c. This is necessary:
1) because the Lord will give His Holy Spirit only to those whom He calls.
2) because the officebearer surely needs the assurance that the calling is of the Lord.
3. The power of the officebearers:
a. Ministers have equally the same power the article states, wheresoever they are.
b. This is said:
1) over against the system of the Roman Catholic Church, with its higher and lower clergy.
2) with a view to their distinction from the elders, whose office is naturally strictly of a local nature:
a) not, of course, as if the ministers have a certain higher office and could rule over the churches in common.
b) but with regard to the ministry of the Word and the administration of the sacraments.
4. Their worthiness of esteem:
a. Not for their person’s sake:
1) The object of esteem is not their person as such, their learning or ability.
2) Though the officebearer may well remember that his person can never be separated from his work.
b. But for their work’s sake:
1) The Lord will teach and rule over us by them.
2) And for that purpose He gives them His Holy Spirit.
3) In their office they represent Him.