Quote
Boanerges said:
You know Theo that sounds like a right smart and biblical idea you have there. I would not hesitate to say that every church should establish this and especially for the elders. Just imagine trained elders. It boggles the mind. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/3stooges.gif" alt="" />

Well, giving the Presbyterians their due, I *think* they would not ordain men as teaching elders without their having seminary training. But I would agree that RULING elders and DEACONS should be trained as well. Our system applies to deacons as well as presbyters.

While I think our training system is bearing fruit now, Pilgrim certainly has a point: that it is TRAINED men in many instances that have led the churches astray so often. It is the responsibility of both clergy and laity to strive to maintain orthodoxy and orthopraxy--but you already knew that. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, though--I am so grateful for our Lord's promise that the gates of hell would never prevail against His church, because otherwise I would despair sometimes about the health of the church.

Theo