A Recommended Handbook for Men Under Care of Presbytery in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Extracted from Ordained Servant vol. 5, no. 2 (April 1996).

Introductory Remarks

This handbook is designed to aid you in your work toward licensure and ordination, and to help you to find your way more easily through the procedures that lead to ordination in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

This booklet is to be used in conjunction with pastoral counsel. Normally, this counsel will be that of your own pastor and session. In some situations, it may be necessary to put you in contact with another pastor for regular counsel (i.e. ministers from churches other than the OPC who desire to come into the OPC and are working in non-OPC churches, or men in churches currently without a pastor). If for some reason it is inexpedient for your pastor to exercise the requisite oversight, the committee, after due consideration, may elect to put you in contact with a pastor or a member of the committee for counsel. The committee will work closely with you and your pastor/counselling pastor in overseeing your progress.

You are also urged to regularly attend presbytery meetings to find fellowship beneficial to your calling, to see presbyterian government at work, and to become aware of the types of examinations given for licensure and ordination.

For your further information you are also given a Book of Church Order, the latest denominational directory, and the most recent list of officers and committees of presbytery. You will be placed on the presbytery mailing list so that you may receive notices and minutes of the meetings of presbytery.

May God richly bless you as you pursue the great calling of ministering the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents

Coming Under Care
Becoming Licensed
Receiving a call
Becoming Ordained
Preparing for Exams
        Christian Faith and Life
        English Bible
        Apologetics
        Theology
        Church History
        Original Languages
        Standards of the OPC
        Sermon
        Papers
Guidelines for Aid to Ministerial Students

Coming under Care

Form of Government XXI, 1,2

1. The first step toward the gospel ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is to come under care of the presbytery. If you believe you have been called to the gospel ministry, consult with your pastor. To be taken under care of presbytery, have your minister contact the stated clerk of presbytery and the chairman of the Candidates and Credentials Committee concerning your desires.

2. According to FG XXI:1-3, those desiring to come under care of presbytery should take note of the following.

A. Coming under care is to be considered the beginning of a period of trial, “in order that this sacred office may not be degraded by being committed to weak or unworthy men and that the churches may have an opportunity to form a better judgment respecting the gifts of those by whom they are to be instructed and governed" (FG XXI:1).

B. To come under care a candidate must be a communicant member of a local congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (FG XXI:2).

C. Ordinarily it should be of the same presbytery in which he is applying to be taken under care (FG XXI:2, p.77). If the candidate desires to place himself under the care of a presbytery other than his own, he shall request his presbytery to forward the written recommendation of his session to the presbytery under whose care he desires to place himself (FG XXI:2, p.78).

D. After consultation with your pastor and session, your session will make written recommendation to presbytery “certifying that in its judgment (your) christian faith and potential gifts qualify (you) to be taken under care of the presbytery with a view to ordination to the gospel ministry” (FG XX1:2).

E. The presbytery will then examine you respecting your christian faith, life, service, and the motives influencing your to desire the sacred office (FG XXI:2, p.78).

F. The presbytery, through its candidates and credentials committee, shall continually guide, counsel, and help you to further prepare yourself for the work of the ministry (FG XXI:2, p.78). This guidance, counsel and help will take various forms.

1. If you are seminary bound a fund for “aid to ministerial students” has been set up by presbytery in case our men under care may have financial need while in seminary. See the guidelines for the fund on p. 18.

2. If you are not going to seminary, the presbytery, through its candidates and credentials committee, shall assure itself that you are being theologically trained through a variety of home study requirements. Be advised that the non-seminary route is not an easier path. You will be required to do the work!

G. You may proceed toward trials for licensure when you have completed one and a half years of seminary training, or when presbytery, through its committee, has satisfied itself that your non-seminary training has proceeded to the equivalent of one and a half years of seminary.

Becoming Licensed

Form of Government XXI, 3-11

When a candidate is licensed, he begins a probationary period not ordinarily to exceed two years (FG XXI:11) during which he has opportunity to exercise his gifts for the ministry. It is a period in which both the candidate and presbytery are able to test the candidate’s qualifications for the ministry. No one entering the ministry is to be a novice. Licensure entitles the candidate to preach the gospel as a probationer within the bounds of presbytery. It is presbytery’s approval that the candidate is qualified to receive a call to the ministry from a congregation or to work as an evangelist.

Educational Requirements

Before you can be licensed, you must have received a B.A. or equivalent and have completed at least one and one-half years of seminary, or have satisfied the presbytery, through its committee, that your non-seminary training has proceeded to the equivalent of one and one-half years of seminary.

Examinations

1. To be licensed, you must prove your abilities for the ministry by undergoing examination by the presbytery. The exams include:

2. Upon successfully completing your exams the moderator of presbytery will ask you the following questions for licensure:

  1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?
  2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of this church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?
  3. Do you promise to seek the purity, peace and the unity of the church?
  4. Do you promise to submit yourself, in the Lord, to the government of the presbytery, or any other presbytery under the jurisdiction of which you may come?

3. Upon affirmative answers to the four questions, the moderator, having prayed, will address you in the following or similar words,

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority that he has given to the Church for its edification, we license you to preach the gospel, wherever God in his providence may call you; and for this purpose, may the blessing of God rest upon you, and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart. Amen” (FG XXI:8).

4. Then the presbytery shall record the licensure in its minutes and provide you with a certificate of licensure pursuant to and in conformity with FG XXI:8.

5. Presbytery continues to exercise oversight of your work while under probation as a licentiate. If you are working in a particular church, the session of that church may be asked to report on your work to the presbytery.

6. If during your licensure you determine that you are not called to the ministry, please discuss the matter with several ministers in the presbytery. If you and the ministers agree that it is best for you not to go into the ministry, presbytery will release you from your licensure.

7. The OPC Committee on Pensions wishes to inform new licentiates and ministers that you may enroll in the denomination’s hospitalization and major medical insurance plan without medical examination if you apply for enrollment within 30 days from the date of your licensure or ordination.

Receiving a Call

Form of Government XXII

1. You must be licensed in order to be eligible to receive a call from a congregation or to work as an evangelist.

2. When called to candidate, it is wise to take your family along and spend a week to take part in the life of the congregation and visit its members.

3. Your call begins when a congregation votes by a great majority to call you as its pastor. The terms of the call will ordinarily be established at that same meeting of the congregation.

4. The call will then be sent to the stated clerk of the presbytery of the calling church. That presbytery will then meet to consider the call, and, if all is in order, they will approve it.

5. If you are licensed in the same presbytery as the calling church, the presbytery will pass the call on to you. If you have already decided to accept the call, it would speed matters up if you would either come to the meeting or send a letter stating your intentions to the meeting in which presbytery considers the call.

6. If you are licensed in a presbytery different than that of the calling church, the presbytery of the calling church will first consider the call whether to find it in order, approve its terms and determine to place it in your hands. Before approval you may be asked by that presbytery for an interview. Upon approval the stated clerk will forward the call to you and a copy to the stated clerk of the presbytery where you are licensed. If you are inclined to accept the call notify the stated clerk of your presbytery in which you are licensed. The presbytery in which you are licensed will then meet to determine whether you have satisfactorily completed your probation for the gospel ministry and consider approving the call. Upon approval the stated clerk will transfer your papers of licensure to the presbytery of the calling church. The presbytery to which you are transferred will then proceed to enroll you are take oversight of your work.

7. When you notify the stated clerk of the presbytery of the congregation which has called you that you accept the call, this will be sufficient evidence of your intent to proceed with examinations toward ordination. The Candidates and Credentials Committee will then proceed to assign examinations.

Becoming Ordained

Form of Government XXIII

1. Ordination is the solemn act of the church admitting a man to the office of the ministry and giving him the authority to discharge its functions. As a minister it is his duty to feed the flock of God, to be an example to them, to have oversight of them, to bear the glad tidings of salvation to the lost, beseeching them to be reconciled to god, to preach the word by faithful exposition, exhortation, admonition, and the teaching of sound doctrine, and, to dispense the sacraments.

2. Ordination should take place only after the period of licensure is of sufficient duration (normally not to exceed two years) to give evidence that you possess the gifts for the ministry. This probationary period may take different forms depending on the circumstances. Seminary and post-seminary internships are available. One may also serve as an associate pastor. Whatever course one chooses to take, the whole matter should be considered seriously. Times of probation are beneficial not only to the church, but to the probationer as well. Both seminarians and non-seminarians should involve themselves with the leader-ship of the church of which they are members. They should make it their practice to attend as many meetings of session and presbytery as is possible. If possible, they should serve as deacons or ruling elders.

3. You may begin steps toward becoming ordained only after you have received a call to serve as a pastor or to work as an evangelist.

4. The presbytery will plan ordination exams at the earliest possible time after the candidate has accepted the call. Time will be given for preparation for the exams. The exams may be given in their entirety before presbytery, or some of the exams may be given in committee. In no case will the exams in Christian faith and life or theology be waived. The following exams are ordinarily given for ordination (see example exams). [Testimonials will be secured by the Committee from those who are familiar with your work as licentiate.]

  1. Christian Faith and Life
  2. English Bible
  3. Theology
  4. Apologetics
  5. Ecclesiastical History
  6. Hebrew
  7. Greek
  8. Such other branches of learning as to the presbytery may appear requisite
  9. The Standards of the OPC: “confessional, government, discipline, and worship of the church.”
  10. Written discourses (usually a theological and exegetical paper and a written sermon to be preached before presbytery).

Presbytery may waive exams for ordination for several reasons. Some may be waived because of seminary training. Some may be waived because the licentiate has been licensed under the same presbytery from which he seeks ordination. Having examined him as a licentiate, the presbytery may see no need in examining him further in those same areas. However, the exam in theology before the presbytery may not be waived (FG XXIII:6).

5. If presbytery is fully satisfied with the exams, a time for the ordination at an adjourned or special meeting of presbytery will be set. It is preferred that the ordination take place in the church to which the candidate is called.

6. At the service of ordination the candidate is also installed as pastor of the calling congregation. The following order of service has been used at a number of ordinations:

7. The candidate will be asked the following constitutional questions for ordination:

  1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?
  2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of this church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?
  3. Do you approve of the government, discipline, and worship of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church?
  4. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?
  5. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to seek the office of the holy ministry from love to God and a sincere desire to promote his glory in the gospel of his Son?
  6. Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel, and the purity, the peace, and the unity of the church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto you on that account?
  7. Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all private and personal duties which become you as a Christian and a minister of the gospel, as well as in all the duties of your office, endeavoring to adorn the profession of the gospel by your life, and walking with exemplary piety before which God shall make you overseer?
  8. Are you now willing to take the charge of this congregation in agreement with your declaration when you accepted their call? And do you promise to discharge the duties of a pastor to them as God shall give you strength? (For those called to engage in the work of an evangelist the following should be substituted for this last question: Are you now willing to undertake the work of an evangelist--or a teacher of the Word of God--, and do you promise to be faithful in the discharge of all the duties of the ministry as God may give you strength?)

8. If the candidate has answered these questions in the affirmative, the calling congregation will be asked to reply in the affirmative by raising their right hands to the following questions:

  1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess your readiness to receive , whom you called to be your minister?
  2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth with meekness and love, and to submit to him in the due exercise of discipline?
  3. Do you promise to encourage him in his arduous labor and to assist his endeavors for your instruction and spiritual edification?
  4. Do you promise to continue to him, while he is your pastor, that worldly maintenance which you have promised, and whatever else you may see needful for the honor of religion and his comfort among you?

9. The presbytery will then proceed to ordain the candidate by prayer and laying on of hands, and will then extend to the candidate the right hand of fellowship to partake of the office of minister with them.

10. The OPC Committee on pensions wishes to inform all newly ordained ministers that they may enroll in the pension plan without medical examination if application for enrollment is made within 61 days after ordination.

Preparing for Exams

Christian Faith and Life. This is a fairly standard examination. We are seeking to determine your profession of faith, your earthly pilgrimage thus far, your call to the gospel ministry, and elements of your personal and family piety. No particular preparation is necessary.

English Bible. This exam is exactly what it looks like, an exam to measure your knowledge of the Bible written in English. Do not take this exam for granted, as over-familiarity with the Bible in the original languages can breed under-familiarity with the Bible in English, to the detriment of your effectiveness as a man of God. The exam will consist of identifying particular texts (quoting both text, and chapter and verse), identifying Bible characters and stories, selection of texts applicable to particular occasions and ability to outline the content of Biblical books. A healthy devotional life is the best preparation for this exam. You might also find it helpful to study the sample questions used by our presbytery of Philadelphia, which is obtainable from the committee.

Apologetics. This exam is designed to test your knowledge of secular philosophy and your ability to defend the Christian Faith from its claims. The exam measures your familiarity with philosophy, and a good general treatment on the history of philosophy, such as Thales to Dewey or Bertrand Russell’s History of Western Thought, would help in preparation. The exam also measures your convictions about and ability to use the defense of the faith. Anything by or about Cornelius Van Til should be studied in preparation. You should also have a working knowledge of contemporary Christian philosophy. Seminary notes should provide sufficient background in this.

Theology. This exam is taken before the presbytery in public. You need not be unduly frightened by this. It should be a positive opportunity to testify to what the Spirit has taught you. We do intend to be thorough, and to cover the whole counsel of God. The single best way to prepare is to study G. I. Williamson on the Confession of Faith. Exams are usually structured around the confession and it helps to be able to quote, or paraphrase the confession, explain it, and defend it from Scripture. You should also expect questions on contemporary theological issues, which your personal reading and seminary courses should adequately prepare you. It is also helpful to record the questions asked in theological exams you witness.

Church History. This exam is also self-explanatory. It is designed to measure your knowledge of and ability to profit from the history of Christ’s Church. Your class notes from seminary church history courses will be the best preparation aids, along with a review of B. K. Kuiper’s The Church in History.

Original Languages (including Aramaic). You will be notified as to the portions of Scripture you will be translating. Included in the exams may be parsing of verbs, identifying grammatical constructions, vocabulary quiz, conjugations, declensions. The Aramaic exam will be less demanding in regard to memorization; it is chiefly a test of your ability to work with the language with the use of aids.

Standards of the OPC. This is an examination in “the Confession, Government, Discipline and Worship of the church.” You must know the content of the OPC Book of Church Order to pass. Helpful background reading is Witherow’s The Apostolic Church and R. B. Kuiper’s Glorious Body of Christ.

Sermon. The topic for you sermon will be assigned. A specific text may be assigned.

Papers. You must submit a paper on a theological theme (which will probably be assigned) and another on a text you must exegete (also probably an assigned text). It may also be necessary to submit other papers, though this is the exception and not the rule. If a candidate is in need of work in a certain area, or if his views appear to be out of accord with the Confession, presbytery may require a special paper to cause more study, sharpen views, or produce an extensive defense of a position. The committee will be eager to help with those assignments.

Guidelines for Aid to Ministerial Students

In order to administer financial aid to needy students who are preparing for the Christian ministry by undertaking appropriate studies in a suitable theological seminary, the following guidelines are proposed for use in the Presbytery of the Dakotas of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church:

1. That offerings taken for this purpose from time to time in our churches be sent to the Chairman of the Candidates and Credentials Committee of the Presbytery, and that the same Committee is authorized to make allocations of funds to needy students attending seminary who are preparing for the Christian ministry by studying for the B.D. degree or its equivalent as the Committee may think wise. The Committee shall report its activities to Presbytery at each stated meeting.

2. Recipients of financial aid shall meet the following qualifications unless an exception is granted by Presbytery: a. The student shall be a member in good standing of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and shall be enrolled in a course of studies leading to the M.Div. degree (or equivalent) in an accredited theological seminary in the United States, and shall be carrying a course load of at least two-thirds of the course load usually required of students at the seminary he is attending. b. The student shall indicate his desire, upon graduation, to enter into the pastoral ministry.

3. Preference should be given by the Committee to students who hold their membership in one of the churches of the Presbytery of , and are under the care of the Presbytery. Preference should also be given by the Committee to students attending a seminary approved by the Presbytery.

4. The Candidates and Credentials Committee need not disburse funds every year if suitable recipients are lacking, in its judgment, in a particular year, and may invest funds in the meantime in a bank savings account; normally, however, disbursements are expected at least every other year. The following statement is to be signed by those who receive money from the Ministerial Student Aid Fund:

“I, the undersigned, having been granted aid from the Ministerial Student Aid Fund of the Presbytery of                     , to prepare myself for the gospel ministry of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church hereby declare that though I do not bind myself, yet I recognize by duty to repay the total sum from the Ministerial Student Aid Fund,

  1. If I should be barred from school.
  2. If I should discontinue my studies for the ministry,
  3. If I should leave for another school unacceptable to the Presbytery,
  4. If during the course of my studies or after graduation I should join another denomination without the approval of Presbytery,
  5. If, having the opportunity, I should serve in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church ministry less than five years after graduation.
Signed                                                   ; Date                               

Our thanks to the Candidates and Credentials Committee of the Presbytery of the Southwest for allowing us to use this material. We hope it will be a useful as a cross-reference for Committees of other Presbyteries, and to men seeking the ministerial office.