The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Who can teach in a Presbyterian church?

Yes, Elders are the only ones who are qualified to teach the Catechism, although there is unfortunately a modern movement in the West that ignores the practice. Informal Bible Studies are a different matter where a lay person can teach yet under the supervision of the consistory/session... at least that is my view. Within the church, however, it is my firm belief that only elders should be doing the teaching and preaching. This applies to ALL elders. I stress ALL because there is a long-standing policy and in the Dutch reformed churches a 'doctrine' that bifurcates the eldership into two 'offices'; teaching elder and ruling elder, which I find no support for in Scripture. Thus, you have one man in particular who is revered above all others and basically controls everything. Yet when one reads the qualifications for elder (singular), ALL are to possess the gifts necessary and whose lives must conform to that which Paul says are requirements. The bottom line is, in my view, that ALL elders must be able to preach, teach and rule. Yes, there may be one or more who are more given to preaching and thus within the eldership a decision can be reached that that particular man/men should bear the responsibility of preaching.

Just one more comment on this matter of ordained vs. laity in the Church. It is very common in the West to have various 'ministers' (specialists) that have responsibilities which only elders are warranted to do, e.g., the "Minister of Music", the "Minister of Worship", the "Minister of Childrens Ministries", ad nauseam. Many of these individuals are not ordained, some are. However, no such designations are to be found in Scripture. It is just another example of man thinking he can improve upon God's design for the Church.