Over the past few weeks, I have been writing in this space about the work of an elder. We looked at the Bible, at John Calvin’s model of church government in Geneva, and at the German Reformed Church (in the U.S.) in the nineteenth century.
In 1934, Corinth’s name and identity changed from a Reformed church to an Evangelical and Reformed Church (E&R for short). The German Reformed had found a connection with another German body, 19th century immigrants whose European forebears had merged the two major German branches of the Reformation – Reformed and Lutheran.
What was the role of an elder in the E&R church, which existed only 23 years until the formation of the United Church of Christ? To answer that question, I went to a little booklet titled, “So You’re a Consistoryman,” written by James E. Wagner in 1949.
Wagner quotes the Constitution of the E&R church, that an elder’s role is “to assist and support the pastor in the spiritual affairs of the Church.” Further, an elder must “be an example unto others, watch faithfully over the spiritual interests of the congregation, maintain order in the house of God, aid in visiting the sick” and work “for the edification and comfort of all the members.”
Speaking both to elders and deacons as members of the Consistory, Wagner reminds them they are elected representatives and servants of the whole church family. “You will not want to fail those who have so trusted and believed in you.”
The synod acts as a bishop, Wagner continues, ordaining and supervising pastors and congregations. Laymen and laywomen are limited in what they can do – they must not baptize, consecrate the communion elements, confirm, or preach. Their role in the E&R tradition is to assist the pastor.
Much of the remaining part of Wagner’s book is about how to select a pastor and how to assist and support a pastor. Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:8-16), who held up the arms of Moses, are their spiritual ancestors.
In Wagner’s view, this is not at all demeaning. Quite the opposite. It is a “high ministry” to serve as “assistant pastors” who minister to the congregation.
Now it’s time for a little comparison between all these historical models and what Consistory and Spiritual Council members are charged to do at Corinth. Next week.
Bob Thompson, Pastor