Chapter 30 - OF THE CHURCH

1 The church, which is universal and can be called invisible due to the internal work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of truth, is made up of all the elect—past, present, and future—who are united under Christ as their head. This church is the bride, the body, and the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every
way.

2 Individuals worldwide who profess faith in the gospel and obey God through Christ according to that faith are considered visible saints. This is as long as they don't undermine their profession with foundational errors or unholy conduct. All particular churches should be composed of these individuals.

3 Even the purest churches on earth can be affected by a mix of people and false teachings. Some have fallen so far that they've stopped being true churches of Christ and have instead become "synagogues of Satan." Despite this, Christ has always had, and will always have, a kingdom in this world. This kingdom is made up of people who believe in him and openly declare his name, and it will last until the very end of time.

4 The Lord Jesus Christ is the sole and ultimate head of the church. The Father has given him supreme authority over every aspect of the church, including its calling, establishment, order, and governance. The Pope of Rome has no claim to this position. Rather, he is the antichrist, the "man of sin," and "son of perdition" who elevates himself against Christ and everything that is called God. The Lord will ultimately defeat him with the glory of his return.

5 As he exercises the authority entrusted to him, the Lord Jesus, through the ministry of his word and by his Spirit, calls out from the world those given to him by the Father. He calls them to himself so that they might walk before him in all the ways of obedience that he prescribes for them in his word. Those who
are called in this way, he commands to walk together in particular societies or churches. They are to do this for their mutual edification and for the proper performance of the public worship that he requires of them in the world.

6 The members of these churches are called saints, visibly showing their obedience to Christ's call through their public profession of faith and their daily lives. They willingly agree to walk together according to Christ's design, committing themselves to the Lord and to each other by God's will, in heartfelt submission to the commands of the Gospel.

7 To each of these churches, therefore, gathered in accordance with His will as revealed in His Word, He has granted all the necessary power and authority. This power is for them to uphold the order of worship and discipline that He has established for them to follow. He has also provided commands and guidelines for the proper and rightful use and application of that authority.

8 A church that has been fully established and organized according to Christ's will is made up of its officers and members. The officers, appointed by Christ, are to be chosen and set apart by the assembled church to uniquely administer the ordinances and carry out the authority and duties He has entrusted to them. These offices, which are to continue until the end of the world, are those of bishops or elders, and deacons.

9 To appoint someone to the office of bishop or elder, who has been prepared and gifted by the Holy Spirit, Christ has provided a specific method. This method requires that the person is first chosen by a vote from the entire church congregation. After being chosen, the person is then formally set apart through a period of fasting and prayer. If there are already elders in the church, they participate in this ceremony by laying their hands on the person. A deacon is to be chosen and appointed in the same way, by a vote of the church and then set apart with prayer and the laying on of hands.

10 Pastors are constantly at work, serving Christ in His churches through the ministry of the Word and prayer. They are responsible for watching over the souls of their congregants and will one day have to give an account to Him. Therefore, it is the duty of the churches they serve to not only show them proper respect but also to provide for them financially according to their ability. This ensures pastors have a comfortable living and aren't distracted by secular work. This also allows them to be hospitable to others. This is a requirement of both natural law and the direct command of our Lord Jesus, who ordained that those
who preach the Gospel should make their living from the Gospel.

11 While it is the specific duty of bishops or pastors to be diligent in preaching the Word, the task of preaching is not exclusively limited to them. Other individuals, who are gifted and equipped for this work by the Holy Spirit and who are approved and called by the church, may and should also preach.

12 All believers are obligated to join a specific church whenever and wherever they have the opportunity. Furthermore, all who are granted the privileges of membership in a church are also subject to its discipline and government, in accordance with Christ's commands.

13 If a church member has been wronged and has followed the proper biblical steps to address the person who offended him, he should not disrupt the church's order. This includes not skipping church services or refusing to participate in ordinances like communion and baptism because of the offense. Instead, he should trust in Christ and allow the church leadership to handle the matter further.

14 Individual churches and all their members are obligated to pray continuously for the well-being and success of all of Christ's churches everywhere. They should also seize every opportunity to support fellow believers, within their own sphere and God-given roles, as they use their spiritual gifts and graces. Similarly, when God's providence places churches near each other, giving them the chance to do so, they should fellowship with one another. This communion is for the sake of peace, growing in love, and building each other up.

15 Although each local church is an autonomous body directly accountable to God, it is encouraged to actively participate in a network of like-minded congregations and societies. This connectionalism among churches fosters mutual support, accountability, shared mission, and interconnectedness as integral parts of the wider body of believers. To strengthen these bonds, it is recommended that these connected churches convene in regular gatherings for joint prayer, collaborative equipping, and the sharing of ministerial joys and burdens.

16 When churches face difficulties or disagreements, whether concerning doctrine or how they run their affairs, and these issues threaten the peace, unity, and spiritual growth of a single church or the churches in general, it is right and in line with Christ's will for them to seek counsel. Likewise, if a member or mem-
bers of a church believe he has been wronged by disciplinary actions that do not align with biblical truth and order, other churches that share fellowship with them should get involved. It is appropriate for several of these churches to send messengers to a meeting to discuss the problem and offer advice. This advice is then to be shared with all the churches involved. However, this assembly of messengers does not hold any ultimate church authority or jurisdiction over the churches. They cannot impose censures on any churches or individuals, nor can they force their decisions upon the churches or their leaders. Their role is to provide counsel, not to govern.