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Originai copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or Illustrated impres- sion, or the bacic cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the f ' i*VVS'ftW«*^>>t.tfr^W»«*HK DRAFT ^ OF A FORM OF PROCESS ANENT THE CALLING AND SETTLING OP MINISTERS IN CONGREGATIONS, &6. EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF SYNOD. JEidract MintUe of Synod, ±jth July, 1853. "The Synod called for the Draft of the Form of Procedure in the Calling and Settling of Ministers ; and, having considered the same, adopted it as an Interim Act for one year, and instructed Presbyteries to send up their opinions thereon to the next meeting of Synod." ' Whercaa, it is highly expedient that the form of Process in the Calling and Induction of Ministers, into the Congre|rations of this Church, should be clearly defined, both for the preventing confusion in said congregations, and securing uniformity in the manner of procedure throughout the Church ; — Be it therefore enacted, &c., &c., &c. I. That no Congregation shall be received as a Congregation of this Church, and entitled tu have a Minister set over them in Holy^ Things by any Presbytery of this Church, until, through means ot Elders, Trustees or other adhering Members, duly authorised thereunto, they shall' have first solemnly declared their willingnew to adhere to the faith, government, worship, and discipline ot this Church; and, in all cases, submittinsT to the jurisdiction thereof, — which said declaration shall be subscribed and presented to the Presbytery ; and, farther, said Congregation shall satisfy the Presbytery of the bounds, of the security of church property by good and sufficient title to the Presbyterian Church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland. The said Declaration shall be of the following tenor :— UNTO THE REVEREND THE PRESBYTERY OF THE MEMORIAL OF US, THE VNOERSIONXD, Humbly Sheweth, — That we, your Memorialists, residing in County of and neighbourhood. Members and adherents of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, desirous of being formed and received as a Congregation within the bounds of your Reverend Presbytery, crave to be so received, as we, by these presents, declare our willingness to adhere to the faith, government, worship, and discipline of the above said church, and to submit in all matters affect- ing our interests, as a congregation, to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the said Presbyterian Churnh of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland. In Witness Whereof, &c., &c. II. That no Minister or Probationer shall be eligible to become the Pastor of any Congregation within the bounds of this church, until he has been received as a Minister or Probationer by one of the Presbyte- ries thereof, and taken the oath of allegiance. III. That no Minister or Probationer shall be admitted a Minister of a Congregation by any Presbytery without his having been called f "^ m m mmrn^m M. n> eoiMot , thereunto by said Congregation, or by such a pait thereof as the Pres- bytery shall, in its jucTgment, consitler to be such a good anil sufHcient Call as to warrant his admission as Minister of baid Congregation. IV. That no Call shall be moderated in favour of any Minister or ^Probationer, unless he shall have preached to said Congregation. V. That no Minister or Probationer is to receive any call to a vacant congregation, but thronph the hands of the Presbytery of the bounds ; for it is by ("heir determination that the Calling, as well as the Induction of a Minister, is to be ordered and concluded. YI. That, when in consequence of a vacancy occurring in any Con- gretration, or any Congregation newly formed, requiring a Minister, application shall first be made to the Presbytery, on the part of the Elders, Trustees, or Managers, or any part of them, of the said Congre- gation, requesting the Presbytery to moderate in a Call in favour of some fit person, having already preached to said congregation. Whereupon the Presbytery shall appoint some convenient day, not less than ten days after, (notice whereof shall be given in the most practicable way to the parties concerned), for meeting for said purpose^ or the Presbytery may nppuint one of its Members to act in the matter, m the event of not meeting as a Court. VII. On the day appointed for moderating in the Call, the Minister officiating, by order of the Presbytery, having ended sermon and dis- missed the con^jregatioR, shall call on the Elders, and Heads ok' families, being communicants, (or, in case of a new congregation of the Heads of families solemnly declaring their adherence to the church), to remain as parties concerned, and, after prayer, shall request these present to Call, by subscribing a form thereof, some fit and qualified peison to be their Pastor. 7 he Ibrm of which shall be as follows ^ — VIII. We, the Elders and male Heads of Families, being Members of the Congregation and Communicants in the Church of desirous of promoting the Glory of God, and the good of the Church, being destitute of a fixed pastor, and being most assured, by good information and our own experience, of the ministerial abilities and prudence, and also the suitableness to our capacities, of the gifts of you , Preacher of the Gospel, have agreed to Invite, Call, and Entreat, like as we, by these presents, do hereby Invite, Call, and Entreat you to undertake the office of Pastor among us, and the charge of our souls ; and, farther, upon your accept- ing this, our Call, promise you all dutiful respect, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord. In Witness, whereof, &c., &c. (or wherr a new congregation is formed.) We, the subscribed, declaring ourselves to be adherents and supporter* of the Gospel, of the Congregation of t desirous of promoting, &c., &c. IX. Ater the Call ha>i4)een subscribed the Moderator shall attest on the Call, that agreeably to the appointment of Presbytery he did moderate -at the meeting of electors of the Coniiregation of the majority, or all, or any part thereof present, made choice of ,to be their pastor at such time and place X. ' That when the Gall has been subscribed, the Presbytery may S8- snt in. or 5 lion then, or shall at its next meeting afterwards, judge as to said Call being; snytainecl, when, if it stiould appetir to them that the said Call has nut been subscribed by such a number of Heads of Families, in full com- munion, as to warrant the a, without damajje to the Conjjrejration to proceed, the said Call shi II be rejected. But if said Call be sustained as good and sufficient, the i'resbyiery shall then, through the Moderator, present the said Call to the Minister or Probationer, in whose favour it was given, and obtain from him an answer, whether he accepts,and closes with said call, when, if an affirmative leply is given, ba shall, if a Probationer, be immediately put on trials for Ordination. XI. That along with the Call and before adjudging thereon, there be required to be aiforded to the ?resbytery, on the pait of the Congregation, a good and sufficient guarantee of at least a minimum annual payment or stipend, for the support ol said person Called, during the whole period of his lifetime or incumbency, which said ^uaranitee sh..U be to such an amount as the Presbytery sliall judge to be sufMcient for the support of thfl Minister, and, at the same time, according to the acciedited ability of the Congregation. XII. That the persvin Called, if a Probationer, shall, after these pre- vious steps being taken by the Presbytery, submit himself to the Presbytery to undergo trials previous to Ordination, all which trials shall be of the same order as when receiving license, viz-: a Homily, a Lecture, an Exercise and Additions on some part of the Greek New Testanient, an Exegesis in Latin, on some controverted point in Divinity, and a popular sermon. H« shall be examined also on his knowledge of the Greek of the New Testament, the Hetwew of the Old Testament, am: on his acquaintanceship with Chui«h History and Divinity. All which trials being undergone and sustained, the Presbytery shall then appoint some day. other than the day on which said trials have been received, for the Ordination and Induction of said Probationer, as Minis- ter of said Congregation, in which case notice shall be given by proclamation to the Congregation, or affixing the same to the church duor, or other most public place of resort, an jEdict of the following tenor. XIII. The Presbytery of having snstained the trials of Called to be Minister of the Congregantion of and having resolved to proceed with the Ordination of the said to the pastoral charge of the said Congregation, according to the rules of the Church, Notice is hereby given, to all concerned, especially the members of the Congregation, that if any of them have any thing to objf-ct to the life and doctrine of the said they may repair to the Presbytery, which is to meet in on the day of at o'clock, v.thcertification that if no person offer any relevant objection, the Presbytery shall then forthwith proceed to the Ordination of the said to the office of the Holy Minstry, and adimit him to the pastoral charge of the said Congregation of XIV. Although by use and wont, it has bepn the pactice of the Church of Scotland to allow ten free days to irrtervene between the fiervmg of the Edict and the day of Meeting for Ordination, the Pieshy- tery. if ihey see meet, may dispense with this practice, as the person to be Ordained is to be admitted a Member of the Church, upon the Call of the Congregation, and not as in Scotland, upon any crown or laick / IM eMMHPtHMW / presentation, in which caae it is presumed that the Conprejraiion shall nave previously taken care to obtain suffioient knowledge of the character and principles ot the person called by them. XV. The Presbytery having met according to appointment, procla- mation shall be made at the church door, three several times, that if •ny person has any objection to oil'er against the life, doctrine or conversation of Mr. A. B. being Ordained to the ofiice of the Holy Ministry, and Inducted as Minister of this Congregation, the said person shall immediately repair to the Presbytery, ana lodge certitication, with proof why the said A. B. should not De ordained. If notice be given to the Presbytery that no one objected, the Presbytery sbeuld then proceed in the proper and more solemn work of the day. XVT. After public worship being dispensed by the Minister appointed to officiate on the occasion, who shall preach on some suitable portion of Scripture, applicable to the qualifications of Ministers, and the reciprocal duties betwixt them and their people, the said Minister ofRciating shall, from the pulpit, shew to the congregation assembled the occasion of the day's meeting, and all the steps of the Presbytery's proceeding hitherto with respect to that affair. XVII. Then the Minister presiding shall call on the Intrant, who, in the face and audieilce of the Congregation, ia to answer the following questions : — 1.— Do yon believe the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners ? 2. — Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotlund, and rntined by law in the year 1690, to be founded upon the Word ot God, and do you acknowledge the same, as the con- fession of your faith ; and will you firmly and constantly adhere thereto, and to the utmost of your power assoit, mnintain, and defend the same, and the purity of Worship as presently practised in this Church, and asserted in Act xv. Assembly 1707, entitled '' Act against iii.-:ovalion in the Worship of God ?" 3. — Do you disown all Popish, Arian, Socinian, Arminian, Bourignian, and other doctrines, tenets, and opinions, whatsoever, contrary to and inconsistent with the foresaid Confessioii of Faith ? 4. — Are you persuaded that the Presbyterian government and disci- pline of this Church, are founded upon the worclof God, and agreeable thereto ; and do you promise to submit to the said government and discipline, and to concur with the same, and never to endeavour, directly, or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof, but, to the utmost of your power, in your station, to maintain, support and defend, the said discipline and Presbyterian government, by Kirk Sessions, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, during all the days of your life ? 5.— Do you promise to submit yourself willingly and humbly, in the spirit of meekness, unto the admonitions of the brethren of this Presby- tery, and to be subject to them and all other Presbyteries and superior judicatories of the Church, where God in bis Providence shall cast your lot ; and that, according to your power, you shall maintain the unity I'T and p«aoe of this Church, ac^ainst error and nchism, notwithstandins; of wrhatRoevar trouble or persecution mny ariNo, and that you shall follow no divisive courses from the present establishod doctrine, worship, discipline and government ot this church ? 6.— Are not zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus Christ, and desire of saving souls, your great motives and chief inducements to enter into the functions of the holy ministry, and not worldly dusigns and interest ? 7. — Have you used any undue methods, either by yourself or others, in procuring this call ? 8. — Do you engage in the strength and gra^o of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, to rule well your own family, to live a holy and cir- cumspect life, and faithfully, diligently, and cheerfully to discharge all the parts of the Ministerial work, to the edification of the body of Christ ? 9. — Do you accept of and Close with the Call to be Pastor of this Congregation, and promise, throuiih grace, to perfoim all the duties of a faithful Minister of the Gospel among this people ? According to the standing rule of this Church the following Act re- quires to be read over and assented to by the Intrant : — WHEREAS, this Synod has always, from its first establishment, possessed a free and supreme jurisdiction, over all the congregations and ministers in connection therewith ; and although the independence and freedom of this Synod, in regard to all things spiritual, cannot be called in question, but has been repeatedly and in most explicit terms affirmed, not only by itself, but by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, yet as in present circumstances it is expedient that this independence be asserted and declared by a special act : — It is, the'efore, hereby declared, That this Synod had always claimed and possessed, does now possess, and ouahl always, in all time coming, to have and exercise a perfectly free, full, iinal, supreme and uncon- trolled power of jurisdiction, discipline and government, in regard to all matters ecclesiastical and spiriti i.verall the ministers, elders, church members and congregations under i't care, without the right of review, appeal, complaint or reference by oi to any other Court or Courts what- soever, in any form or under any pretence ; and that in all cases that may come before it for judgment, the decisions and deliverance of this Synod shall be final. And this Synod further declares, that if any en- croachment on this supreme power and authority shall be attempted or threatened, by any person or persons. Court or Courts whatsoever, then this Synod, and each and every member thereof, shall, to the utmost 'of their power, resist and oppose the same. And whereas, the words in the designation of the Synod, " In connection with the Church of Scot- land," have been misund'^rstood or misrepresented by many persons, it is hereby declared, that the said words imply no right of jurisd ; and I do own the same as the confession of my faith ; as likewise i do own the purity of worship, presently authorised and practiced in ihis church, and also the Presbyterian government and discipline, now established therein, which doctrine, worship and church government, I am persuaded are founded upon the Word of God, and agreeable thereto; and I promise that, through the Grace of God, I shall firmly and con- stantly adhere to the same ; and, to the utmost of my power, shall, in my station, assert, maintein and defend the said doctrine, worshp, dis- cipline and government of this church, by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies; and that I shall, in my practice, conform myself to the said worship, and to submit to the said discipline and government, and never endeavour directly or indirectly the prejiulice or subversion of the same ; and I promise that I shall fol- low no divisive course from the present establishment in this church, renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to or inconsistent with the said doctrine, worship, discipline or govera- ment of this church. TRANSLATION OF ^'INISTERS. I. In the event of an ordained minister having a pastoral charge, and accredited as a regular constituent member of this Synod, being called from his present charse by any other congregation to be their minister, the same rules regarding Probationers shall be followed, viz : that he shall have previously preached to the congregation calling him, that the Call shall be moderated in by the Presbytery, within whose bounds the congregation calling him lies, and, through the Moderator, presented to him. <"»«MPi^; |nof sal- |>ere im lan- Ihat the I the into l-lof |by- ind of to II. If the Minister called be a member of another Prenbytery, then the Preobytery within whoso bounds the oongreguiion callinf; lies, Hhiiii communicate, by lulier or commisNidnors, with the Presbytury wiihin whose bounds the minister oallod rcAides,— lay before it the Call, thoir own proceedings thereon, the urounds for transportalion and craving deliverance on the subject ornaid Call, in ihtj matter of acceptance thereof, and concurrence in his transportation. III. Before any Presbytery shall be empowered to concur in sustain- ing a Cull from any ronKru({alion in favour of a minister having a pas- toral charge, it shall be required that notice shall have been given to the consregatlon of which the person called is minister, at least