MARKS OF THE CHURCH § 159. Since, wherever the Gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered,1 the invisible Church of Christ is sure to be,2 the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments are the unfailing …
MARKS OF THE CHURCH § 159. Since, wherever the Gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered,1 the invisible Church of Christ is sure to be,2 the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments are the unfailing …
ORTHODOX CHURCH § 160. The preaching, teaching, and profession, of divine truth in all its purity, and the administration of the sacraments in full accordance with their divine institution, are the criteria of the true or orthodox visible church of …
RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH WHERE VESTED § 161. The invisible Church of Christ is endowed with certain spiritual rights, privileges, and powers,1 all of which are vested in every local congregation of believers.2 1.The invisible Church of Christ is endowed …
RIGHTS AND POWERS OF THE CHURCH § 162. The rights and powers of the Church of Christ and of every local congregation are those of preaching the Gospel, the administration of the sacraments, especially the application of the keys of …
MINISTERIAL OFFICE § 163. For the public performance of the privileges and duties of the Church in preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments Christ has instituted the ministerial office in the Church. I Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? …
MINISTRY HOW CONFERRED § 164. The ministerial office 1 is conferred upon its incumbents by God,2 by the Holy Spirit,3 by Christ,4 the Head and Archbishop of His Church,5 through the congregations,6 which, by the call extended through them,7 delegate …
ORDINATION § 165. The ministerial office being conferred through the call of the congregation, the ecclesiastical rite of ordination is but a public acknowledgment of that call and of its acceptance, and of the fitness of the person called for …
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY § 166. The qualifications prescribed by the Head of the Church for those men 1 who are to be called to the ministerial office are soundness of doctrine, aptness to teach, blamelessness of life, and a …
EQUALITY OF MINISTERS § 167. The incumbents of the ministerial office, either in one congregation or in different congregations, are equal in rank among themselves, no degrees in the ministry having been established by the Head of the Church. Matthew …
ASSISTANT FUNCTIONARIES IN THE CHURCH §168. Though the ministerial office in the church is but one, yet by the will of the congregations and with the consent of the incumbents of the whole ministerial office certain functions of this …