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June 24, 2010
Q&A
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Does a US pastor need a license to officiate at a Canadian wedding?

WARNING TO ALL CRC MINISTERS: I have received word that ministers serving USA churches are officiating at weddings in Canadian provinces without first obtaining a licence to do so. Please note that all Canadian provinces, unlike some states in the USA, require advance licensing. Not arranging for such, perhaps through Stated Clerks of the Classis in which the church is located, could lead to a marriage not being legal.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
October 1, 2010
Q&A
4074 views
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8 comments

What are the guidelines for serving communion at weddings?

In the "Current Issues" thread, Kathy Smith asked me to say a few things about serving communion at weddings, for all, or just for bride and groom. I'm happy to start a conversation and am therefore starting this new thread for this topic. I'm even more eager to hear from many others what their opinions are. But perhaps this will be a good place to start. In the Reformed tradition we have generally reserved the celebration of communion for a worship service called by and supervised by the local consistory (minister and elders), an "official" worship service or, as the Church Order has it in...
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
June 18, 2013
Q&A
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1 comment

What are the "licensed to exhort" boundaries?

As an EPMC student at [a seminary in Canada] now licensed to exhort, I find it very difficult to know where the boundaries are in terms of what I am permitted to do and what I am not permitted to do. I would like to do only that which is appropriate and to be humble enough in my conduct so as not to give offense. Please provide some guidance in this area. This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order...
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
June 10, 2013
Q&A
143 views
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1 comment

What to do when you have been abused by a pastor?

I am writing you anonymously for good reason. Please call me "Karen" and use the P.O. Box I have supplied. I have been sexually abused by a pastor. I don't want to get into the details of him doing this to me right now. I'm probably to blame too. But I feel so cheap, so used, and so depressed. I don't think I can keep living with this without doing something about it. I don't know where to turn -- if and when I do get up the courage. Can you help? If so, please share with me all the ins and outs of what I should do. I want to know what I might be getting into. This question is from a real-...
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
June 4, 2013
Q&A
831 views
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13 comments

Should ministers (who are essentially "paid employees" of the church) chair council meetings or be members of the council?

This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
May 28, 2013
Q&A
199 views
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1 comment

What is proper for a classis to declare when a minister resigns?

In the Supplement to Article 14b, synod calls for "a proper resolution of dismissal" when a minister resigns and asks classis to "make a declaration reflecting the resigned minister's status that is appropriate to the way and spirit in which the minister acted during the time leading up to and including the minister's resignation from office." From what I've seen in practice, this seems to give classes every opportunity to be vindictive and "fire a parting shot." What are we to make of these four options: "honorably released," "released," "dismissed," and "in the status of one deposed"? This...
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
May 21, 2013
Q&A
20 views
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2 comments

What can be done about the high turnover rate for elders and deacons?

We’re becoming increasingly disillusioned about Reformed polity dictating a high turnover rate in the offices of elder and deacon. It seems like people are just “warming up” to the job when they must leave in favor of others. In the case of one of our deacons, frankly, we were glad to see him go. But most of the time we seem to be trading in our “gifted performers” for “bungling novices.” What’s to be done? This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has...
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
May 14, 2013
Q&A
18 views
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1 comment

Do you have any good ideas for a meaningful and better-attended second service?

This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
May 7, 2013
Q&A
8 views
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1 comment

Is the favourite sport of the CRC shoving all important issues into study committees?

My favourite sport is hockey, the way we play it north of the border, of course. Is it true that the favourite sport of the Christian Reformed Church is shoving all important issues into study committees? This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
April 23, 2013
Q&A
37 views
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4 comments

Must officebearers in the CRCNA send their children to Christian day schools?

This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
July 9, 2013
Q&A
14 views
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1 comment

Can Two Pastors Exchange Pastorates?

At our Classical Interim Committee meetings, we have been musing for some time about two pastors, both of whom have served their respective churches for more than a decade. We're thinking of having them simply exchange pastorates. Is this possible?

By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
November 5, 2013
Q&A
277 views
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4 comments

Who Should Participate in the "Laying on of Hands"?

Some of us on council believe that only other ministers of the Word who may be present should be invited to join the officiating pastor in the laying on of hands; others believe that the council executive or even all the elders and the deacons ought to be involved as well. Who’s right?

By Henry DeMoor
Church Order
April 30, 2013
Q&A
157 views
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15 comments

Does rebaptism automatically disqualify that person from holding office in the Christian Reformed Church?

This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor. We encourage you to share your own questions, comments, opinions as well.
By Henry DeMoor
Church Order

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