"Make every thought captive to the Word of God."
2 Corinthians 10: 5

 

ELDERS	DEACONS	NOTE: The following outline has come down to us from the Reformed Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Synod) which merged with the PCA in 1982.
Acts 6: 1-4 1 Timothy 3: 1-7 Titus 1: 4-16 1 Peter 5: 1-4	Acts 6: 1-8 Acts 6:9 - 8:40 1 Timothy 3: 1-13

1. Questions on your personal faith:

11. Have you genuinely had an experience of salvation? Are you certain you are a Christian and that Christ has saved you?

12. Do you have a relationship with God the Father?

13. Do you regularly use the means of spiritual growth, such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and the sacraments?

14. Are you indwelled with the Holy Spirit?

15. Do you endeavor to share the claims of Christ with others?

 2. Questions on your family life:

21. Are you free from any serious domestic disputes?

22. Do you and your wife know how to hold your tongue against spreading gossip or talking critically about others?

23. Are you free from financial difficulties that might embarrass the church?

24. Do you have family devotions regularly?

25. In what ways do you seek to be the spiritual head of your household, share Christ with your wife, and train your childen?

26. Do you control your household as called for in 1 Timothy 3.4-5?

 3. Questions on your social life:

31. Have you seriously considered the admonitions in Scripture about the dangers of drinking and the stumbling block it can be to others (Romans 14.12-21) and the need for special caution and exemplary conduct in this area for church officers?

32. Are you free from involvement in gambling?

33. To the best of your ability will you keep the Lord's Day above reproach?

34. Do you view all areas of your life as ways to glorify God?

 4. Questions on your support of the local church:

41. Will you attend the regular worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship opportunities of the church?

42. Are you in harmony with the church and her members? Are you in harmony with the Pastor?

43. Will you submit to the Session according to Scripture (Heb. 13.17), and will you work with them on the basis of frank brotherly confidence and cooperation?

44. Do you have a genuine love and concern for the people of the church?

45. Are you ready to receive other Christians into the fellowship of the church regardless of background, race, education, or social standing?

46. Will you care for, encourage, teach, guide, and love the members of the church and their children as God enables you?

47. Will you search out those in the church who may be experiencing God's call to full-time work in a specialized Christian vocation? Are you willing to go if He calls? Has He called?

 5. Questions on your involvement in evangelism:

51. Are you convinced that the Gospel should be preached to every creature (Matthew 28.18-20, Mark 16.15-16)?

52. Are you able to present the true Gospel to a lost person? Are you willing to receive training in this?

53. Do you share the Gospel regularly?

54. Has anyone by all outward appearance been saved as you did this?

55. Do you give to missions here and around the world, and do you pray for the spread of the Gospel?

 6. Questions on your stewardship:

61. Do you believe in tithing?

62. Will you make a sincere effort to do so?

63. Do you believe that all you have comes to you from the hand of the Lord, and will you seek to use the other nine-tenths of what He has given you according to His direction?

64. Will you give of your time and abilities as needed to serve the church?

 7. Questions on seeking the Peace and Purity of the church through your office:

71. Will you try to put down murmerings and complainings as you would smother a fire, face them frankly, deal with them fairly, and then stand loyally with the majority in their decisions (provided these decisions are in accord with Scripture)?

72. Will you attend the regular meetings of the Board of Officers on which you serve?

73. Will you attend the meetings of the committees on which you serve?

74. Will you continue to grow in your knowledge of Scripture and encourage others in that knowledge?

75. Are you willing to show love in disagreements and pray about the health of the church?

76.Will you support a period of preparatory training for everyone who comes into the church?

77. Will you personally take part in the discipleship programs of the church?

78. Will you participate in discipline of the church where needed and when done in accordance with Scripture?

79. Will you regularly review the vows you took when you were installed as an officer?

 8. Questions on your doctrine:

81. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, the infallible and inerrant rule of faith and practice?

82. Review the "Five Points of Calvinism" (see attached) and explain your understanding of them. Do you believe that these are Biblical doctrines?

83. Review the "Ordo Salutis," or, the "Order of Salvation" (see attached). Do you believe that salvation involves this process of redemption as God applies it to His people?

84. Review the sheet "Covenant Theology" (see attached) and explain your understanding of the covenant of grace. Do you believe that we are saved by grace?

85. Review the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, taking the time necessary to understand their teachings. Discuss with the Session any part of these doctrines that you do not undertand or agree with. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession and Catechisms of the church and believe that they contain the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?

 9. Questions on your Denomination and Particular Church Standards:

91. Review the Book of Church Order.

92. Do you understand and agree with the purpose of your Denomination?

93. Do you understand and agree with the Form of Government, the Rules of Discipline, and the Directory for Worship?

94. Do you understand and agree with your church's purpose?

95. Do you understand and agree with your church's Constitution and By-Laws?

96. Review the section of The Book of Church Order as pertaining to your office (chapter 8 and 9). Do you understand your duties? Review and affirm the vows you will take for this office.

 10. Questions on a Deacon's service:

101. How has the Bible outlined the role of a Deacon?

102. Do you believe that this work is necessary? How so?

103. How has Christ shown the work of a Deacon to be important?

104. Are you willing to diligently pursue the work of a Deacon as a servant of Christ?

105. As a Deacon, are you willing to lift your congregation's general and specific needs often before the Lord in prayer?

 11. Questions on an Elder's service:

111. How has the Bible outlined the role of an Elder?

112. How has Christ displayed the work of an Elder?

113. What is the difference between an Elder and a Deacon?

114. What is the difference between a Teaching and Ruling Elder?

115. Have you taught a group in a Bible study?

116. Are you able to exhort and convince using sound doctrine?

117. Do you believe that the Elder is committed with the "Keys of the Kingdom"?

118. What must be considered when accepting and maintaining this responsibility? I. Are you willing to diligently pursue the work of an Elder as a servant of Christ?

119. As an Elder, are you willing to lift your congregation's general and specific needs often before the Lord in prayer?

 In the event that you find:

1. You do not have the time or will to do the work of an officer, will you, after seeking the counsel of your fellow officers, resign while still remaining an active member?

2. Should you need to be disciplined, do you promise such subjection to your brethren as is taught in the word of God?

3. At any time you do not conscientiously support Christ's work through this church with your regular attendance and financial support, will you willingly work with the Session so that any difficulties may be resolved? If restoration with the Session does not appear possible, will you continue to seek the peace and purity of this church by taking your appeal to Presbytery?

4. Do you promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will on your own initiative make it known to your Session the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?