Article 12

1. A minister of the Word serving as pastor of a congregation shall preach the Word, administer the sacraments, conduct public worship services, catechize the youth, and train members for Christian service. The minister, with other officebearers, shall supervise the congregation and fellow officebearers, exercise admonition and discipline, see to it that everything is done decently and in order, exercise pastoral care over the congregation, and engage in and promote the work of evangelism and diaconal outreach
2. A minister of the Word who (1) accepts a position endorsed by the CRC related to missions, chaplaincy, or specialized transitional ministry; or (2) is appointed directly by synod; or (3) accepts an appointment that is ratified by synod shall be called in the regular manner by a local church, which acts in cooperation with the appropriate committees of classis or synod to ensure that provisions for accountability to the calling church are in place.
   – Cf. Supplement, Article 12
3. A minister of the Word may also serve the church in other positions that relate directly to the calling of a minister. Such ministers shall be called in the regular manner by a local church, but only after the calling church has demonstrated to the satisfaction of classis, with the concurring advice of the synodical deputies, that the work is consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word, that provisions for accountability to the calling church are in place, and that the duties of the position do not conflict with the minister’s commitment to the faith and practice of the Christian Reformed Church.
   – Cf. Supplement, Article 12
4. A minister of the Word may be loaned temporarily to serve as pastor of a congregation outside the Christian Reformed Church, provided that the duties of the position do not conflict with the minister’s commitment to the faith and practice of the Christian Reformed Church. Such ministers shall also be called in the regular manner by a local church, but only with the approval of classis and in accordance with synodical regulations, including the concurring advice of the synodical deputies when necessary.

Supplement, Article 12

1. To be “called in the regular manner” means that a minister of the Word, whether called to serve a congregation or to serve in a noncongregational ministry, requires the following (see Church Order Articles 4, 9-10) in addition to the fulfillment of any other synodical regulations or classical approvals:
   1. Nomination by the council and election by the congregation
   2. An extension of a call by the council
   3. Approval of the counselor who acts on behalf of classis

   4. Ordination or installation in a public worship service

      The requirement for a separate installation service during a CRC worship service is optional in the case of a minister serving on loan to a congregation in another denomination.

      Noncongregational positions “consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word” are those in which a minister serves beyond a local CRC congregation to proclaim, explain, and apply Holy Scripture under the authority of and as a public representative of the church, in a way that the members of the church may be gathered in and built up in Christ.

2. Positions that do not require concurrence of the synodical deputies
   1. Types of ministry positions
      1. Positions regulated by Articles 12-a of the Church Order. This includes congregational positions, whether solo-pastor positions or additional staff ministry positions; or also those of pastors serving multiple CRC congregations or in multiple vocational settings.
      2. Positions regulated by Article 12-b of the Church Order. These include positions that have the endorsement of a synodically authorized body, such as those of chaplains, missionaries, and specialized transition ministers endorsed or accredited by the CRC denomination; or positions whose appointees are approved by or ratified by synod itself (such as professors of theology or other CRC executive staff positions requiring ratification by synod). Classis minutes should note that the position is deemed consistent with the ministry of the Word.
      3. Calls regulated by Article 8-b of the Church Order and its supplemental rules. These include ministers who participate in the Orderly Exchange of Ordained Ministers between the CRC and the Reformed Church in America. Classis minutes should indicate the concurrence of the sending body (cf. Supplement, Art. 8, D, 7).
   2. Prior to calling a minister of the Word to any noncongregational position, the calling church is required to ensure that the minister has secured any necessary endorsements from accrediting institutions within or outside the Christian Reformed Church, and that all synodical regulations have been followed. A Covenant of Joint Supervision shall be mutually agreed to and signed by the minister, the calling church, and the appointing organization (cf. Supplement, Art. 8, Section D; Supplement, Art. 13-b).
3. Positions that require specific approval of the classis and concurrence of synodical deputies
   1. In all other cases of noncongregational positions, the calling church shall secure the prior approval of classis, with the concurring advice of the synodical deputies, for each new ministerial position, by providing classis with the following information:
      1. The description of the official position (purposes, duties, qualifications, etc.) as determined by the calling church in consultation with cooperating agencies as applicable.
      2. The demonstration that the position will be consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word.
      3. A Covenant of Joint Supervision that shall be mutually agreed to and signed by the minister, the calling church, and the appointing organization (cf. Supplement, Art. 13-b).
      4. When any position having been declared by a classis to be “spiritual in character and directly related to the ministerial calling” . . . becomes vacant, this position shall be reviewed by the classis and synodical deputies in light of Articles 11-14 of the Church Order before another call is issued.
      5. When a new ministry opportunity can be met only by immediate action, the calling church (and the appropriate denominational agency) may obtain provisional approval from the classical interim committee, subject to subsequent approval by classis with the concurring advice of the synodical deputies. The letter of call must indicate the provisional nature of this call if such approval has not yet been granted. In the event that the provisional approval is not sustained and the minister desires to continue in the position, the minister may be honorably released from office and may be readmitted according to the regulations of the Church Order. (Cf. Article 14-e.)
   2. Ministers whose service is requested by a congregation outside the Christian Reformed Church may be loaned temporarily to serve such a church while still retaining ministerial status in the Christian Reformed Church in keeping with the following regulations:
      1. The congregation seeking the services of the Christian Reformed minister recognizes the value of a Reformed witness and allows the minister to serve in a way consistent with the faith and practice of the Christian Reformed Church, ordinarily articulated through statements of faith in harmony with those of the Christian Reformed denomination.
      2. The loaning of such ministerial services may be for a period of time not to exceed two years. Extension of not more than two years each may be granted if circumstances warrant, with the approval of classis and the synodical deputies.
      3. These regulations also apply when pastors whose credentials are held in the CRC receive a request to serve simultaneously in an additional congregation outside the CRC.
      4. If the requested service is in the Reformed Church in America, calls shall be processed in keeping with the regulations for the Orderly Exchange of Ministers (cf. Supplement, Art. 8, D).
4. In all cases, the minister shall be called in the regular manner, and the council and the counselor shall render to classis an account of all matters processed. Classis minutes should reflect the work of the counselor in accordance with Church Order Article 42-c.
5. Where it is possible and feasible, ministers of the Word should ordinarily be called by a local church in close geographic proximity to the congregation, institution, or agency being served, and the pastor’s membership should normally reside with the calling church. If the ministry position is located in a classis other than that of the calling church, the approval of that classis shall be required, in addition to the approval of the classis of the minister’s calling church, and the synodical deputies.
6. Continuation under the Christian Reformed Church Pension Plan shall require that the minister, or the congregation, institution, or agency which is being served, shall contribute to the ministers’ pension fund the amount which is determined annually by the Ministers’ Pension Funds committees for ministers serving in noncongregational positions.
7. Supervision of a minister in noncongregational ministry may be transferred, at the request of the minister or of the calling church, to another church. Such a transfer of ministerial credentials requires the regular calling process of the local church and must be approved by both councils and classes.
8. If a noncongregational ministry position is eliminated, the minister should be formally released according to the regulations of the Church Order appropriate to the situation.

Article 13

1. A minister of the Word serving as pastor of a congregation is directly accountable to the calling church, and therefore shall be supervised in doctrine, life, and duties by that church. 
2. A minister of the Word whose position is with a congregation, institution, or agency other than the calling church shall be supervised by the calling church in cooperation with any other congregations, institutions, or agencies involved. The council of the calling church shall have primary responsibility for supervision of doctrine and life. The congregations, institutions, or agencies, where applicable, shall have primary responsibility for supervision of duties.
   —Cf. Supplement, Article 13-b

Supplement, Article 13-b

1. When the position of a minister of the Word is with other than the calling church, the position shall be regulated by a Covenant of Joint Supervision as approved by the minister, the calling church, and the appointing organization, with concurrence of the classis. Any changes to the status of the Covenant of Joint Supervision, as soon as they are known, shall be submitted to all parties for review and concurrence.
2. Situations requiring a change in status of a CRC minister in a noncongregational setting
   1. If any council, agency, or institution of the CRC involved in the cooperative supervision of a minister of the Word learns about significant deviation in doctrine, life, or duties, it shall officially inform in writing its partner(s) in that supervision about such deviation before any action is taken that affects that minister’s status and future. A similar communication officially informing its partner(s) in supervision is expected from an agency or institution when a minister’s status is altered at a time of downsizing or position elimination.
   2. Should a minister serving a non-CRC congregation or noncongregational ministry become subject to discipline, the supervising institution which is being served shall have the right to suspend the minister from, but suspension from office and deposition may be applied only by the calling church council that is part of the Christian Reformed Church. A similar communication is requested when a minister’s status is altered, whether due to a change in the job description or at a time of downsizing or position elimination.
   3. In all cases of discipline or other changes in status regarding a ministry position, the minister should be formally released from the call or issued a new call according to the appropriate provisions of the Church Order.
3. The church visitors of classis shall inquire annually into the supervision of the calling church toward said minister(s) as well as the reporting of said minister(s) to the calling church. The church visitors shall inform classis of departure from the approved provisions for supervision and reporting.
4. All pastors serving in noncongregational positions remain bound to the faith and practice of the Christian Reformed Church as required by one’s signature to the Covenant for Officebearers and as articulated in the Code of Conduct

The “regular” means of extending a call are not identified in any single place in the Church Order, but the basic pattern can be established from various articles: 

• A council extends a call to a pastor by presenting a nomination to the congregation (Art. 4-a), who affirms the council’s call by means of a congregational vote (Art. 4-c; Art. 37). 
• Candidates elected to office are ordained or installed in a public worship service of the church (Art. 4-d). 
• The classis is involved in these matters through the work of a classical counselor, who is an officebearer from another congregation who acts on behalf of the classis to see that ecclesiastical regulations have been followed (Art. 9; Art. 42-c). 
• The ordination of candidates and the installation of ministers are regulated according to Articles 10-a and 10-b.

These procedures have now become a part of the Church Order Supplement, Art. 12, ‘A’.  

These procedures may sound burdensome at first glance, but these steps actually provide an opportunity for the congregation to embrace the way its ministry is extended through the specialized service of the individual being called. These regulations also provide protection for both the local church and the pastor being called by ensuring that various aspects of “proper support” and potential issues in joint supervision have been adequately addressed during the calling process. The involvement of the classis, through the classical counselor, provides one additional level of awareness and support to that of the other parties involved in these discussions. By means of the denomination’s letter of call and other documents that draw on the wisdom of numerous conversations about the nature of ministry, the calling process encourages clarity about the arrangements for a noncongregational call and hopefully avoids misunderstandings that could lead to hurt and confusion further on. 

With the exception of the liturgical forms adopted by synod, it should be noted that the letter of call and other documents do not have formal approval in the sense that they need to be used in a specific format. Rather, they are templates that reflect the priorities synod has expressed in the past for providing proper support and accountability for pastors in various tasks within and outside the local CRC congregation. The denomination’s website includes sample letters of call as well as a template for a covenant of joint supervision. The denomination also provides liturgical forms for the ordination of ministers of the Word, not just in local congregations but for other areas of service as well. We suggest that these forms be adapted for use in a variety of ministry settings and collected in one place on the denominational website.
—See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 89-90

In keeping with the denomination’s understanding of office and ordination, a good working definition of “consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word” could be as follows: 

Positions “consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word” are those in which a minister serves to proclaim, explain, and apply Holy Scripture under the authority of and as a public representative of the church, in a way that the members of the church may be gathered in and built up in Christ. 

Synod has suggested some key questions to help discern whether a position under consideration is indeed “consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word,” and particularly with that calling as a CRC minister (which is a key part of our common ecclesiastical discernment): 

1. Does the position involve a significant degree of proclamation of the Word in preaching, public worship, pastoral care, or other contexts in which the minister is understood to be a representative of the church of Christ?
2. Does the position help to gather in and equip members for the church of Jesus Christ so that the body may be built up?
3. Does the individual in this position intend to carry out these tasks in cooperation with a local congregation, and under the authority of a CRC council, with the appropriate training and gifts?
4. Do the tasks assigned under the position conflict in any way with the commitment a minister makes as a signatory of the CRC’s Covenant for Officebearers?

Synod has seen these questions as consistent with Church Order Article 11 and the CRC’s liturgical forms for the installation of ministers of the Word. These questions could serve as a kind of template by which to discern, in conversation with the pastor and the assemblies of the church, whether the intention of the position is to continue in the formal service of the local congregation or to serve the Lord in some other way.

Synod has also observed that persons who choose to serve the Lord in various spaces today may not necessarily be able to keep or establish ministerial credentials or be called by local congregations in those capacities. In a season when public institutions prefer their employees not be seen as representatives of a particular Christian church, the church assemblies should be aware of the potential clash with its own desire that ordained leaders faithfully extend the ministry of the body of Christ.

Art 12 representative list of noncongregational positions

See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 88-89, p. 132

Synod has been hesitant to identify all of the specific types of positions in which a pastor may serve beyond the local congregation in an ordained capacity, preferring to leave such decisions to the classis. There are, however, some positions that synod has granted blanket endorsement. As such, synod has developed two basic categories of noncongregational service: those which have prior synodical endorsement (Art. 12-b), and those which require the classis to judge the merits of the position’s connection to ordained ministry (Art. 12-c). 

Article 12-b reflects a long-standing recognition in the Reformed tradition that missions and chaplaincy offer important ways for the church to extend its witness beyond the local congregation; it now includes not only chaplains but also certain missionaries, denominational officials, and Specialized Transition Ministers. All other positions are covered in Article 12-c and require a specific declaration from the classis, with the concurrence of synodical deputies, that the position being filled “is consistent with the calling of a minister of the Word '' and is in keeping with other synodical requirements.However, Article 12-b is not intended to bypass the question of whether a particular position fits the ministerial calling or not; it merely leaves that question fully in the hands of the local assemblies rather than requiring classis approval with the additional concurrence of synodical deputies. 

A recent synodical task force suggested the following guidelines for determining whether a position can be approved under Article 12-b or 12-c:

1. When Article 12-b refers to “the work of missions, chaplaincy, or specialized transitional ministry,” this indicates positions in which ministers specifically represent the CRC in work ordinarily recognizable as fitting into those categories of service. This article, then, would cover such positions as missionary pastors; chaplains in health care, military, or prison settings; and trained STMs—but only those endorsed by an appropriate denominational agency in the CRC. All other missions, chaplaincy, and transitional ministry positions should be reviewed through Article 12-c.
2. When Article 12-b refers to those appointed by synod directly, or ratified by synod, it is referring to those individuals for whom synodical approval is required in some formal way. This includes the general secretary and other executive leaders of the CRC, as well as theology professors at Calvin Theological Seminary who also serve as ministers of the Word. All other denominational staff positions, as well as positions for professors of theology at other institutions, should be processed via Article 12-c. 

See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 90-91

Extended service beyond the boundaries of the CRC, like all noncongregational service in the CRC, requires discernment not only on the part of the minister of the Word but also on the part of the assemblies placing a call. This is explicitly stated in the regulations concerning the orderly exchange of ministers with the RCA, which require “consultation with and . . . concurrence of the” calling church (Supplement, Art. 8, D, 7). The precise mechanism for such consultation and concurrence is not specified in the case of an “orderly exchange.” Thus we suggest that, for any call beyond the local CRC, there is wisdom in obtaining some kind of formal concurrence from both the calling church and the classis. This approach would include the kinds of informal arrangements that sometimes happen when neighboring churches who share an ethnic community might invite a CRC pastor to fill the pulpit on an extended basis. In the case of on-loan service, a second installation by the calling church would be an unnecessary step; however, formal representation by the calling church at an installation service, and a notification in the minutes of the council and classis, would seem a wise and helpful way to indicate the CRC’s encouragement and official support for this kind of ministry.

Calls regulated by Church Order Art. 8-b (to and from the Reformed Church in America) do not require additional approval beyond the ordinary calling process in the CRCNA. The provisions of the “Orderly Exchange of Ordained Ministers” (cf. Supplement, Art. 8, D) assumes sufficient consistency between ministry in RCA and CRC contexts that further discernment of calling by the major assemblies and their deputies is not required. In other ecclesiastical settings, however, the assemblies are called to discern whether there is sufficient consistency with the work of a CRC minister.  Put simply, the CRC does not intend to train and ordain ministers or to supervise pastors’ work in positions in other denominations. Synod has thus stated that CRC ministers should serve only congregations who recognize the value of a Reformed witness and allow the minister to serve in a way consistent with the faith and practice of the Christian Reformed Church, ordinarily articulated through statements of faith in harmony with those of the Christian Reformed denomination. 

This provision applies, whether the minister is being loaned to a non-CRC congregation as a primary call or as part of an arrangement to serve multiple churches. In particular, CRC pastors in smaller non-Caucasian churches may face requests for long-term service in congregations outside the Reformed theological tradition. This provision of discernment through the wider church offers a means of determining the appropriateness of such arrangements.

See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 91-92, 134

As the number of CRC pastors engaged in ministry beyond the local congregation increases, churches need to become increasingly aware of the opportunities and challenges of joint supervision and support of such pastors. The framework of Church Order has historically leaned heavily in the direction of regulation and discipline rather than encouragement and support. It is the denomination’s desire, however, that processes of supervision and accountability should be seen not simply as matters of administrative paperwork but as opportunities to build relationships and to invest in ministry together. Where cultural gaps exist between a pastor and the calling church, the intentionality required in such relationships only grows.

It is impossible to offer a full list of ways in which congregations can provide ongoing support and encouragement for ministers whose primary service is somewhere other than the local church that holds their credentials. However, the following list identifies some of the practices which churches or pastors in noncongregational ministries have found helpful: 

• Preaching opportunities 
• Opportunities to participate in the administration of sacraments 
• Opportunities to share reports about the work of ministry and to gain encouragement for noncongregational work 
• Opportunities to equip the congregation and/or classis for Christian witness and service in the world 
• Dinner with council representatives 
• Regular contact from church leaders 
• Prayer support 
• Pastoral ministry in cases of need
• Opportunities to serve the classis (e.g., assisting with a candidate’s examination, or as a church visitor, etc.) 

Scripture in several places instructs the church to honor the work of those who serve in ministry and to find ways to encourage and support their work (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7, 17). Our congregations have long embraced the idea of supportive care in response to missionaries; we would encourage churches to take a similar attitude toward chaplains, professors, pastors serving on loan, denominational employees, and other such ministers. 

Because all ministry involves relationships that take time to build, we offer these suggestions not as regulatory material but as ideas for how to make these relationships more meaningful, so that the concept of call is honored more effectively, ministers in noncongregational service are blessed and encouraged, and the calling church is aware of its ministry "reach" via the ministers whose credentials it holds. A covenant of joint supervision has relationship at its core, and should be seen by both churches and pastors as an invitation to supportive ministry relationships rather than just a contract spelling out required details of a calling process. While such covenants may have mixed results depending on the degree to which they are embraced by both ministers and churches, they are helpful in identifying the specific issues that all parties need to think through. In addition, “proper support” recognizes the value of a regular review of the terms of joint supervision for pastors serving outside a local congregation. The chaplaincy support team at Thrive requires a formal review of the terms of endorsement every five years. While no such requirements exist for other positions outside the local congregation, we note the wisdom of including such a regular review as part of the initial calling process. Including relationship-building opportunities, such as the ones listed above, will help to facilitate such reviews and hopefully to identify potential concerns before they become serious issues.

However, there are administrative realities to joint supervision as well. As increasing numbers of CRC pastors are employed by institutions outside the denomination, calling churches face a correspondingly growing number of potential employment scenarios to navigate as they carry out the responsibilities inherent in the calls they have extended. This requires wise consideration as churches develop systems of joint support and supervision for pastors in noncongregational positions, and it calls for diligence on the part of churches and pastors to live out the commitments they have made for support and supervision. This consideration is currently articulated specifically in the Supplement to Article 13-b, which was put in place by Synod 2002 to ensure that each ministry partner in supervision would inform the other about any deviations in doctrine, life, or duties “before any action is taken” that would affect the minister’s status (see Acts of Synod 2002, pp. 469-70). Councils and classes should consult some of the other resources on the Art. 12-13 page for guidance about the work of joint supervision and engagement with other employers.

Finally, since oversight of the everyday duties of a minister in a noncongregational position happens by the hiring organization, the calling church’s supervision can happen from a greater distance and with less frequent direct reporting. Thus it is possible for a minister to be called to a position and have their credentials held by a church significantly outside any geographic proximity to where they work, perhaps because of prior affiliation with or affinity to that congregation. This raises questions regarding membership— can a person called by one church be a member at another church (including one outside the CRC)?—and, in turn, regarding classis engagement and the importance of local congregations’ knowing who is ministering in their midst or on their behalf elsewhere. Synod has endorsed the principle of geographic proximity in all noncongregational calls “where it is possible and feasible” and requires concurrence of another classis when a minister’s work and supervision are located in two geographically separated classes (Supplement, Art. 12, ‘E’). While notification may feel burdensome at times, particularly when classes lie in close geographic proximity to one another, there is wisdom in synod’s suggestion for respectful communication when official ministry takes place on behalf of the CRC within the bounds of another classis. 

See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 86-88, p. 93-94

For a number of years the Church Order has allowed classes, at their discretion, to allow the delegation of officebearers from emerging churches (Supplement, Art. 40-a, c). These officebearers (ministers of the Word or commissioned pastors serving as church planters) are delegated by the supervising church council on behalf of the emerging church they serve. However, though other noncongregational pastors may serve a variety of functions within a classis, they may serve as delegates only if the council holding their credentials delegates a chaplain, missionary, or other noncongregational pastor in place of the congregation’s own pastor. This practice makes clear the CRC understanding that classis be a gathering of churches rather than of ministers (see Acts of Synod 1964, p. 57, pp. 167-70). 

Though classes have often utilized the provision of Article 40-a that allows noncongregational ministers an “advisory voice,” there are occasionally awkward moments when nondelegated officebearers have different expectations than what is allowed by Church Order (classis has discretion about whether to allow such officebearers to remain for executive session, but as guests of the classis they are not permitted to vote). We want to be sensitive to the contributions such officebearers may make to a classis meeting. But we would also reaffirm the principle of Church Order that major assemblies are composed of officebearers from the constituent minor assemblies (Art. 34). The classis is a gathering of neighboring churches (Art. 39), and therefore delegates must be officebearers of the local congregation which has sent them (Art. 40-a). 

This means that most ministers serving in institutions other than the local congregation are not eligible to serve as delegates unless they are serving as an elder or deacon in that congregation. STMs and other interim pastors, because their credentials are not held in the local congregation, cannot serve as delegates to a classis meeting (though we recognize the wisdom of such ministers attending classis and presenting, in an advisory fashion, the insights they have as the temporary leaders of a local congregation), nor to a gathering of synod. One exception to this rule is that RCA ministers serving as pastors of CRC congregations are allowed to serve as delegates to classis and synod (Supplement, Art. 8, D, 10; Supplement, Art. 38-g, 1, k; Supplement, Art. 38-h, h).

See Agenda for Synod 2024, p. 92-93, 131