Die plek van die gemeente in die Presbiteriale kerkregering

Abstract

As the one and only Head of the church Christ reigns in the fullest sense of the word through the Holy Spirit and the Holy Word in a local ekklesia (congregation or church) as a visible manifestation of the universal ekklêsia, which is His body. In order to exercise the authority by His Holy Word He appoints, through the Holy Spirit, the presbyterium or church council within a local church. This ministration is served to the faithful who, after the day of Pentacost, has come of age as a royal priesthood by the anointment with the Holy Spirit. In the presbyterial system of church government the congregation is in no wise subordinate to the church council in a hierarchical sense, because the congregation, including the church council, constitutes a single body with Christ as the Head. Nor is the church council subordinate to the congregation in a democratic sense. The congregation operates under the ministry of the church council, while the church council, in its turn, does not act without the collaboration of the congregation. The collaboration of the congregation, under the guidance and direction of the church council, consists in the election and approbation of the office-bearers, the judgement of resolutions taken by the church council, the approval of the granted permission to partake of the sacraments, the partaking in the exercise of church discipline and the taking of decisions on matters which are riot directly specified in the Holy Scriptures.