OUR CHURCH ORDER

“The office of the Doctors or Professors of Theology is to expound the Holy Scriptures and to uphold sound doctrine against heresies and errors.”

Calvin made a distinction between “pastors” and “teachers” as Paul speaks of them in Eph. 4:11. He applied the title of pastor to the Ministers of the Word in the several congregations and the title “teacher” (doctor or professor) to men appointed to instruct and train the students for the Ministry. The synod which was held at

Wesel in 1568 also appears to have made this distinction, folowing Calvin’s example, for we read in Article 14: “In addition to the Ministers there are the teachers and prophets whose office is also that of teaching, but in another and different manner.”

This distinction between pastors and teachers, as made by Calvin, has long since dropped away, and now both the titles “pastor” and “teacher” are used to denote the Ministers of the churches; that is, the words “pastors and teachers” refer to one and the same office.

“As the Reformation progressed the character of the office of doctor or professor was changed, and instead of being ecclesiastical became educational.” The men who instructed the students at the universities were the Doctors and Professors. It was also their duty to expound the Holy Scriptures (by means of the written word as well as the spoken word) and to uphold sound doctrine against heresies and errors.

Quite naturally the Church chose and appointed highly gifted and experienced men as much as possible to do this important work.

The history of the Church teaches us that many servants of God ably performed this work.

May the Lord in these days of apostasy and all manner of error qualify all his servants to oppose and refute these with their tongues and their pens and in this way uphold the Banner of Truth.

The title “doctor” is now often employed also to denote an academical degree obtained at some university. The doctorate in many cases is therefore merely an academical title or degree, being nothing more than an evidence of efficiency conferred by the teaching-staff; it does not entitle the person receiving it to act in the capacity of professor.

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