Elder-Moderatorship: A Discussion of the Elder-Moderator Overtures

Elias Riggs Monfort, W. C. Gray

ISBN 10: 1331809762 / ISBN 13: 9781331809760

Editore: Forgotten Books, 2022

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Print on Demand. This book presents a historical and literary discussion on the role of ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church, exploring the debate surrounding their eligibility for the position of moderator in church courts. The author, offering a thorough examination of the subject, delves into the scriptural and constitutional aspects of the issue. They analyze the different views on the nature and functions of ruling elders, exploring the distinctions between their roles and those of ministers. The book also examines the broader historical context of Presbyterian polity, tracing the development of the debate over the elder-moderator question. Through this examination, the author provides insights into the ongoing discussion within the Presbyterian Church and the significance of understanding the scriptural basis for church governance. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Elder-Moderatorship: A Discussion of the Elder-Moderator Overtures
• Editore: Forgotten Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2022
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 1331809762
• ISBN 13: 9781331809760
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: New
• Tipo di libro: print-on-demand item
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Minutes and Reports

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Excerpt from Elder-Moderatorship: A Discussion of the Elder-Moderator Overtures

I. Ruling elders and ministers are not of the same scriptural order, though they have some functions in common.

II. It is inexpedient to adopt the overtures now before the Church concerning the eligibility of ruling elders to the moderatorship.

I agreed to discuss the scriptural questions involved, although the Assembly, in submitting the overtures, did not intend any investigation or change of the Bible basis of our church polity. In defending our system, I have tried to show that Jesus Christ, the antitype of prophets, priests and kings of the Jewish Church, became, when on earth, the visible Head of the Church, claiming all power in heaven and on earth; appointed his apostles, the first presbytery, to be his repre sentatives and witnesses, and sent them to preach and dispense the sacraments and ordination; they first chose a successor to Judas, to take part with them in this ministry and apostleship, and then began to preach and dispense holy ordinances; that they soon ordained Paul as an apostle and a preacher, and with him, Bar nabas as a minister; that Timothy, Titus, and others, were ordained ministers by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery; that ministers were preachers and rulers in unity of office, exercising rulership in the churches where they were pastors, and general rulership over all the churches, in virtue of their presbyterial ordination, authority and membership; that they and the churches they planted were the visible Church - superseding the Jewish economy and administration, which ceased to have any authority, as a visible organization and government in the Kingdom of God, and became the enemy of the Church of Christ, as it is to this day; that the apostles, and the ministers they ordained, appointed elders in every church, most probably the choice of the people, as in the election of the first deacons; that the parochial elders were only rulers, in conjunction with these preaching elders or ministers, in churches where there were pastors; that the func. Tions and duties of ministers and parochial elders were different - that the latter were rulers only, and that the office of the former, is rulership and preaching in unity; that ruling elders are representatives of the people in the church at home and as delegates to higher courts; that the duties of a moderator require the cise of ministerial functions, and, though a ruling elder could preside over some proceedings, it would lead to debate and confusion in deciding what he could do or could not do as moderator; that the overture, if adopted, would make our system a confusion and a contradiction, and that it is inexpedient to adopt it. This is the line of argument that I have pursued in the discussion. I ask the reader carefully to note that all Dr. Gray' 3 quotations of authorities, save one, have reference to the parity of the ministry as against prelacy, and no reference to the parity of ministers and ruling elders.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.