Article XXXI
The Orderly Calling of Ministers
Church officers must be selected through lawful election and wait for a clear, divine call rather than seeking office through improper means.
We believe that ministers of God’s Word, elders, and deacons must be chosen for their offices through a lawful election by the church, with prayer in God’s name and in the orderly way taught by God’s Word. Therefore, everyone must be careful not to force their way into office by improper means, but must wait until God calls them, so that they may have confirmation of their calling and be certain and assured that it comes from the Lord.
The Authority and Honor of Church Office
Ministers share equal authority under Christ, the sole Head of the Church, and should be held in high esteem by the congregation.
As for ministers of the Word, wherever they may be, they all have the same power and authority, since they are all ministers of Jesus Christ, the one universal Bishop and the sole Head of the Church. Furthermore, so that God’s holy order is not violated or treated with contempt, we say that everyone should hold the ministers of the Word and the church’s elders in special esteem because of the work they do, and should live at peace with them, without grumbling, arguing, or quarreling, as far as possible.
Read the original Latin
Nous croyons que les Ministres de la Parole de Dieu, les Anciens, et les Diacres, doivent être élus en leurs offices par élection légitime de l'Église, avec l'invocation du nom de Dieu, avec ordre, comme la Parole de Dieu enseigne. Chacun donc doit bien se donner garde de s'ingérer par moyens illicites, mais doit attendre le temps qu'il soit appelé de Dieu, afin qu'il ait le témoignage de sa vocation, pour être certain et assuré qu'elle est du Seigneur. Et quant aux Ministres de la Parole, en quelque lieu qu'ils soient, ils ont une même puissance et autorité, étant tous Ministres de Jésus-Christ, seul Évêque universel et seul Chef de l'Église. De plus, afin que la saint ordonnance de Dieu ne puisse être violée ou venir à mépris, nous disons que chacun doit avoir les Ministres de la Parole et les Anciens de l'Église, en singulière estime, pour l'œuvre qu'ils font, et être en paix avec eux, sans murmure, débat, ou contention, autant que faire se peut.
The Belgic Confession companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit