Church Order

Appendix 2: Guidelines for a Candidacy Exam

Article 1

1. CREDENTIALS

   1. A recommendation from the prospective candidate's council
   2. A medical evaluation of health
   3. A diploma certifying reception of a Master of Divinity degree or an equivalent academic degree
   4. A transcript of all seminary grades
   5. A statement of testimony from the prospective candidate

2. PROCEDURE

   1. The prospective candidate's Consistory must request a meeting of classis for this exam.
   2. The inviting Consistory must circulate copies of the required credentials among the Consistories of classis.
   3. The inviting Consistory must make known that the candidate has sustained his candidacy exam and is available for call to the churches.
   4. If the candidacy exam is sustained, and should the candidate accept a call within the same classis, the ordination exam is ordinarily waived, to avoid duplication of work within the classis. Taking note of this possibility, delegates hearing the candidacy exam should determine whether the performance is sufficient to warrant such a waiver.

3. CONTENT

   1. The prospective candidate must submit three written sermons for evaluation. Two of these must be on an assigned Old Testament text and an assigned New Testament text. The third sermon must be a catechism sermon on a Lord's Day or question and answer of his choosing. One of these sermons must be preached in a public worship service.
   2. The two areas to be covered in this exam are (1) biblical and confessional commitment, and (2) ministerial competence. The former regards the prospective candidate's knowledge of and loyalty to Scripture and the Confessions; the latter investigates his theological and ministerial knowledge and ability. This exam should, therefore, investigate the following specific areas:
      1. Practica: the prospective candidate's personal and spiritual life, his relationship with the Lord, his growth in faith, his background and preparation for ministry, his understanding of ministerial office and his motives for seeking entrance thereto, liturgics, homiletics, pastoral care, evangelism and church polity.
      2. Bible knowledge: the prospective candidate's doctrine of Scripture, canonicity, hermeneutics, etc., and familiarity with the contents of the various books of the Bible.
      3. Biblical exegesis: an Old Testament and a New Testament passage should be assigned to the prospective candidate at least three week in advance (one of them in connection with one of his assigned sermons); the examiner should inquire concerning the meaning of the text and the prospective candidate's ability to work with the original languages and with a suitable exegetical method.
      4. Confessional knowledge: the history and content of the Three Forms of Unity, the prospective candidate's willingness to subscribe to them by signing the Form of Subscription.
      5. Reformed doctrine: the teaching of Scripture and the Confessions regarding the six major areas of Reformed doctrine (Theology, Anthropology, Christology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology).
      6. Church history: the flow of church history, in terms of major persons, heresies, etc., with special emphasis on the Reformation and the history of the Reformed churches.
      7. Ethics: the meaning and function of the Decalogue, also in relation to Christian motivation and character, and to contemporary moral problems.