Church order
of the Protestant Church in The Netherlands

THE VOCATION OF CHURCH AND CONGREGATION

The church

Article I

1. In accordance with its confession
the United Protestant Church in the Netherlands is
manifestation of the one holy catholic or universal Christian church
which, sharing in the expectation granted to Israel,
looks forward to the arrival of the Kingdom of God.

2. Living by God's grace in Jesus Christ,
the church carries out the mandate of its Lord to hear and to preach the Word.

3. Involved in God's turning towards the world, the church,
in obedience to Holy Scripture as the one source and norm of the church's preaching and ministry,
confesses the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

4. The confession of the church takes place in communion with the confession of our ancestors as formulated
in the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed
- by which the church is joined to the universal Christian church -,
in the Unaltered Confession of Augsburg and the Catechisms of Luther
- by which the church is joined to the Lutheran tradition -,
in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Catechism of Geneva and the Dutch Confession of Faith with the Canons of Dort
- by which the church is joined to the Reformed tradition.

5. The church acknowledges the significance of the theological Declaration of Barmen for its confession today.
Furthermore, the church acknowledges the significance of the Leuenberg Agreement for the continuing dialogue of the Lutheran and Reformed traditions.

6. In its celebrations, words and actions the church continually confesses Jesus Christ as the Lord of the world and thus calls for renewal of life in culture, society and state.
Together with other churches it bears witness for people, powers, and governments to God's promises and commandments.

7. The church is called upon to give shape to its unrelinquishable solidarity with the Jewish people and seeks a dialogue with Israel concerning the understanding of Holy Scripture, in particular as regards the Kingdom of God and the confession that Jesus is the Christ.

8. Sent into the world and called upon to administer reconciliation, the church bears witness to the coming of the Kingdom of God in preaching and ministry to all people and to all nations.

9. In its witnessing in word and deed the church is bound to move along the path of its confession.

10. The church shuns that which contradicts its confession.

Article II

1. The United Protestant Church in the Netherlands is the continuation of
the Netherlands Reformed Church,
the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

2. The United Protestant Church in the Netherlands consists of all the congregations, namely
the Protestant congregations, the Reformed ("hervormde") congregations, the Reformed ("gereformeerde") churches and the Evangelical Lutheran congregations.

The congregations

Article III

1. By the grace of God
congregations are assembled
around Word and sacraments.

2. To a congregation
- and thus to the United Protestant Church in the Netherlands -
belong those whose incorporation in the fellowship of the Church
has been confirmed by holy baptism
and who as such have been registered as members of the congregation.

3. Those who receive baptism
are called to responsibility in the congregation by publicly professing the Name of Christ.

4. The church has baptized members and confessing members who are entered as such in the register of the congregation.
The Evangelical Lutheran members are moreover entered in a register kept by the Evangeli-cal Lutheran synod.

5. Mindful of the faithfulness of the God of the covenant
a congregation maintains a special relationship
with the non-baptized children of congregation members
as well as with others who show solidarity with the congregation.

Article IV

1. The congregation is called to service to the Word of God
in the preaching of the Gospel and the celebration of baptism and the Lord's Supper
in public worship
in missionary work
in diaconal work
in pastoral care
in spiritual education
and also in all other work that serves to build up the body of Christ.

2. All members of the congregation are called and authorized to use their gifts to fulfil the mandate which Christ gives to the congregation.

3. Under the supervision of the church council the congregation obeys its call by promoting the coherence in its life and work and by devoting itself entirely to praising the Name of the Lord and serving the world.

The offices and the assemblies of office-bearers

Article V

1. To focus the congregation on salvation and to keep it to its call in the world the public office of Word and Sacrament was given on the part of Christ.
With a view to this ministry the church distinguishes
the office of minister,
the office of elder,
the office of deacon
as well as other ministries in church and congregation.

2. The office-bearers are jointly responsible for building up the life of the congregation in the world by providing for
the ministry of Word and sacraments,
the ministry of prayer,
missionary, diaconal and pastoral work,
spiritual education,
supervision,
stewardship over financial affairs
and other work serving to build up the life of the congregation.

3. The ministers are especially called to
the administration of Word and sacraments,
the preaching of the Word in the world,
pastoral care and supervision
and instruction and lay training.

The elders are especially called to
care for the congregation as a community,
bear co-responsibility for the administration of Word and sacraments,
provide pastoral care and supervision
and train the congregation to fulfil its pastoral and missionary vocation.

The deacons are especially called to
the ministry at the Table of the Lord and to collect and distribute the gifts of charity,
the ministry of compassion and justice in the congregation and the world
and to train the congregation to fulfil its diaconal vocation.

4. The call to office takes place on the part of Christ, locally by the congregation, and otherwise by the church through the authorized assemblies.

5. An office in the church can only be held by those who have been called thereto according to the order of the church, who have made profession of faith and have been ordained in office while invoking the Spirit.

6. The other ministries consist of administrations and functions to be indicated as such in the order of the church which are carried out in collaboration with the office-bearers in order to fulfil the vocation of church and congregation.

Article VI

1. So that one office shall not rule over another,
one office-bearer over another,
or one congregation over another,
but so that all things shall be aimed at obedience to Christ the Head of the Church,
the leadership in the church is entrusted to assemblies of office-bearers.

2. These assemblies are
for the local congregation the church council;
for the congregations belonging to a classis the classical assembly;
for the Evangelical Lutheran congregations together moreover the Evangelical Lutheran synod;
for all congregations together and hence for the entire church the general synod.

3. The church council is formed by ministers, elders and deacons serving in the congre-gation.
The classical assembly is formed by the delegated office-bearers of the church councils of the congregations belonging to the classis.
The composition of the Evangelical Lutheran synod takes place according to rules separately laid down for that purpose.
The general synod is formed by the office-bearers delegated by the classical assem-blies and the delegates of the Evangelical Lutheran synod.

4. The church council directs the life and work of the congregation.
The classical assembly directs the life and work of the classis and in doing so gives shape to the responsibility of the congregations for each other and for the entire church, as well as to the responsibility of the church for the congregations.
The Evangelical Lutheran synod directs the life and work of the Evangelical Lutheran congregations and is responsible for preserving the Lutheran tradition and making it serve the entire church.
The general synod directs the life and work of the church as a whole.

5. The church council shall not take decisions in affairs which are of essential importance for the life of the congregation without consulting the members of the congregation on these affairs.

6. Without losing its final responsibility, the church council can share its care for building up the life of the congregation with working groups to be instituted by the council.

7. For work that is to be carried out jointly for the congregations the classical assemblies will work together in general classical assemblies according to rules laid down by ordinance.
A general classical assembly is formed by members of the classical assemblies working together in it.

8. In order to fulfil the vocation of the church and the congregations the classical assemblies will be assisted by auxiliary bodies.
An auxiliary body is instituted by an assembly of office-bearers and is charged, under the responsibility of that assembly, with the task assigned to it in its field of work.

9. An assembly of office-bearers can designate a number of its members who together form a broad moderamen to which the assembly can delegate the exercise of certain powers, according to rules laid down by ordinance.

10. For carrying out work that is of general importance to a classis, to the Evangelical Lutheran congregations together or to the church as a whole, the assemblies of office-bearers concerned can call ministers in general service of the church or appoint functionaries who are attached to the classis, the Evangelical Lutheran congregations together or to the church as a whole respectively.

11. The major assemblies will deal only with those matters which according to the order of the church belong to the work of the major assemblies, or with those which cannot be conclu-ded in the minor assemblies.

THE LIFE OF CONGREGATION AND CHURCH

Worship services

Article VII

1. Called by its Lord the congregation assembles for the reading of Holy Scripture and the public preaching of the Gospel, the celebration of baptism and the Lord's Supper, the ministry of praise and prayer and the ministry of compassion and justice.
The congregation assembles for penitential, thanksgiving and prayer services, doctrinal services, marriage services and services of mourning and commemoration.
Furthermore, the church has daily prayer services with thanksgiving and prayers.
The ordination of office-bearers and public profession of faith take place in worship services.

2. Worship services are lead by those designated in the order of the church.

The order of worship services is determined by the church council after consultation with ministers and those responsible for church music.

For use in worship services the general synod, according to rules given by ordinance, offers or determines
the Bible translation,
the psalm-book and hymn-book
and the book of forms with liturgical forms.

3. The church celebrates the Lord's day.

The church celebrates and commemorates on special days
the arrival, the birth, and the appearance of Christ,
his suffering, death and resurrection,
his ascension and
the descent of the Holy Spirit.

The church celebrates the Sunday of the Trinity.

The church celebrates the day of the Reformation.

Holy baptism

Article VIII

1. Holy baptism is administered
in the midst of the congregation
by a minister
with the use of one of the forms from the church's book of forms.

2. Baptism is administered to those
for whom or by whom baptism is desired
after profession of faith has been made by and with the congregation.

3. Baptism is administered under the responsibility of the church council, with due respect for the guidelines laid down by the church.

The Lord's Supper

Article IX

1. The Lord's Supper is celebrated by the congregation
and administered by a minister
with the use of one of the forms from the church's book of forms.

2. To the Lord's Supper are invited
those who confess Jesus Christ and assent to His praise
and who have been introduced into this mystery by instruction in faith.

3. The church council determines after consultation in the congregation
in what way the members are prepared for participation in the Lord's Supper and also whether the members can participate in the Lord's Supper only after public profession of faith.

4. The Lord's Supper is celebrated under the responsibility of the church council, with due respect for the guidelines laid down by the church.

Missionary, diaconal and pastoral work

Article X

1. On account of its missionary task, the congregation is devoted in its entire existence to witnessing and ministry to those who do not know the Gospel or are alienated from it, so that they too may share in the salvation in Jesus Christ.

2. The congregation fulfils its diaconal vocation in the church and in the world by sharing the gifts bestowed on it, helping where there is no helper and bearing witness to the justice of God where injustice occurs.

3. The congregation performs its pastoral task in pastoral care to members and others who need this care, so that they may edify one another in faith, hope and charity.

4. With a view to the fulfilment of its vocation, the congregation makes grateful use, in a relationship of reciprocity, of insights and experiences offered to it by congregations of which the members come from different cultures.

Spiritual education

Article XI

1. The congregation expresses its responsibility for the education and training of its members in instruction, meditation, reflection, consultation and active exertion.

2. The congregation promotes the spiritual education of its young members in its work with and for the young people.

3. Through catechetical teaching ecclesiastical instruction is given to the young members of the congregation and further to all those who desire this instruction.

4. The aims of catechetical instruction are
learning to live by God's promises and according to his commandments,
training for Christian witnessing in the world,
discovering and learning to use the gifts for building up the congregation of Christ,
introduction into the celebration of baptism and the Lord's Supper and
preparation for public profession of faith.

5. Catechetical instruction concerns
reading and understanding Holy Scripture;
the worship service, hymns and prayers;
life as a Christian in the world;
the confession and the history of the church.

6. Responsibility for catechetical instruction rests with the church council.

7. Public profession of faith is made
to receive or confirm baptism,
as a token of willingness to bear witness to the Lord,
to bear co-responsibility in the congregation of Christ
and to stay within the communion of Word and sacraments.
Public profession of faith takes place in the midst of the congregation with the use of a form from the church's book of forms.
The church council consults with those who intend to make profession of faith.

8. The congregation has the task to cooperate in the spiritual education of its youth where the latter is educated and instructed, in particular at home and in school, and seeks to express the Christian faith in the social and cultural contexts in which the young orientate themselves.

Supervision

Article XII

1. The congregation is called to stay on the path of the confession of the church.
Supervision, grounded in the compassion of Jesus Christ, takes place to the glory of God, to preserve the congregation and to save those who err.

2. In the congregation the members are called to look after each other pastorally and lovingly and to edify each other in faith, hope and charity.

3. The supervision that is exercised by or by order of the assemblies of office-bearers concerns
the spiritual life of the congregations, obedience to their vocation, and the execution of offices and other ministries;
the confession and conduct of members and of office-bearers and of those who perform other ministries; and
preaching, catechetical instruction, and the education and training of ministers.

4. Supervision over the congregations takes place by means of visits to the members in their homes and concerns their spiritual life, obedience to their vocation, and the execution of offices and other ministries, its purpose being to build up the life of the congregation.

5. Supervision over the confession and conduct of members and office-bearers and of those who perform other ministries is exercised by pastoral dialogue and admonition.

6. With a view to the right administration of Word and sacraments, the church exercises supervision over preaching and catechetical instruction, as well as over the education and training of ministers.

7. If necessary, the church shall proceed to apply the means entailed in ecclesiastical discipline, according to the rules laid down by ordinance.

Responsibility for financial affairs

Article XIII

1. The responsibility for the financial affairs of the congregation rests with the church council, which entrusts the discharge of these affairs to
the board of deacons, as far as the administration of diaconal affairs is concerned and
the elders specially designated for this purpose, who together - supplemented, if so desired, by other members of the congregation - form the board of church stewards, as far as the administration of the other financial affairs of the congre-gation is concerned.

2. The responsibility for the financial affairs of the classis rests with the classical assembly.

3. The responsibility for the financial affairs of the Evangelical Lutheran congregations rests with the Evangelical Lutheran synod.

4. The responsibility for the general finances of the church rests with the general synod.

5. The responsibility for financial affairs is supervised by the designated bodies of the church.

Complaints and disputes

Article XIV

1. Complaints and disputes for the consideration of which no separate body or particular manner of consideration is indicated in the order of the church are presented to the boards designated for this purpose.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions in paragraph 1 a request may be made to an ecclesiasti-cal body to reconsider a decision taken by this body.

The education and training of ministers

Article XV

1. The responsibility for the education and training of ministers rests with the general synod.

2. The education and training of ministers takes place at universities and seminaries founded or designated by the church.

3. Those who have been educated elsewhere or possess singular gifts may be given alternative access to the office of minister by the general synod.

4. Those who desire admission to the office of minister shall cooperate in the investigati-on into suitability, competence and vocation for the office.

5. If there are no objections, they are granted the right to conduct worship services after taking the appropriate oath.

The life and work of the church in an ecumenical perspective

Article XVI

1. As manifestation of the one holy catholic or universal Christian church, the church is called to seek and promote unity, fellowship and cooperation with other churches of Jesus Christ.
The church takes part in and stimulates ecumenical work in the Netherlands and in the world.
It seeks and maintains closer relations with churches to which it is joined by special confessional or historical bonds.
It seeks union with the churches with which there is unity or kinship in faith and church order.

2. In missionary work, in the Netherlands and the world, the church fulfils its missionary vocation, together with local churches and congregations, in support of each other.

3. In diaconal work, in the Netherlands and in the world, the church carries out its mandate to labour for those who suffer and to help them in their search for relief and justice, in coopera-tion with local churches and congregations and with kindred institutions.

THE ORDER OF THE CHURCH

The ordinances

Article XVII

1. The order of the church is further determined by ordinance.

2. An ordinance is laid down or changed by the general synod.

3. A proposal to lay down or change an ordinance can be submitted either by a classical assembly, by the Evangelical Lutheran synod or by an auxiliary body of the general synod, or in the general synod itself.
However, such a proposal cannot be finally decided on by the aforementioned assemblies in the same assembly as that in which the proposal was submitted.

4. After the general synod has laid down an ordinance or a change in an ordinance in a first reading, it is submitted to the church councils for consideration by the classical assemblies and by the Evangelical Lutheran synod.

5. After this the general synod can definitely lay down the relevant ordinance or change in an ordinance.

Change in the church order

Article XVIII

1. Changes in the church order are introduced by the general synod.

2. A proposal to introduce a change in the church order can be submitted either by a classical assembly or by the Evangelical Lutheran synod, or in the general synod itself.
However, such a proposal cannot be finally decided on by the aforementioned assemblies in the same assembly as that in which the proposal was submitted.

3. A change in the church order concerning the Evangelical Lutheran congregations and the Evangelical Lutheran synod can only be laid down in a first reading after positive advice from the Evangelical Lutheran synod.

4. After the general synod has laid down a change in the church order in a first reading, it is submitted to the church councils for consideration by the classical assemblies and by the Evangelical Lutheran synod.

5. After this the general synod can definitely lay down the change in the church order, for which a majority of three fourths of the valid votes is required.

The order of the church in times of emergency

Article XIX

1. If and insofar as extraordinary circumstances of country and nation make it impossible for the life of the church to function normally, the appropriate bodies of the church or their members shall take temporary measures, deviating from the order of the church as the circumstances make necessary.

See also
- UPCN decide for unification