Regulations for the application of Article 12-c of the Church Order to specific tasks and situations:
a. The calling church shall secure the prior approval of classis,
with the concurring advice of the synodical deputies, for each
new ministerial position, by providing classis with the following
information:
1) The description of the official position (purposes, duties,
quali cations, etc.) as determined by the calling church in
consultation with cooperating agencies as applicable.
2) The evidence that the minister will be directly accountable to
the calling church, including an outline of requirements for
reporting to the calling church, and supervision by the calling
church, in consultation with cooperating agencies as
applicable.
3) The demonstration that the position will be consistent with
the calling as a minister of the Word.
4) When any position having been declared by a classis to be
“spiritual in character and directly related to the ministerial
calling” . . . becomes vacant, this position shall be reviewed in
light of Articles 11-14 of the Church Order before another call
is issued.
b. When a new ministry opportunity can be met only by immediate
action, the calling church (and the appropriate denominational
agency) may obtain provisional approval from the classical
committee, subject to subsequent approval by classis with the
concurring advice of the synodical deputies. In the event that
the provisional approval is not sustained and the minister
desires to continue in the position, the minister may be
honorably released from office and may be readmitted according to
the regulations of the Church Order. (Cf. Article 14-e.)
c. Prior to calling a minister of the Word to any chaplaincy
ministry, the calling church also is required to obtain the
endorsement of the Office of Chaplaincy Ministries of the
Christian Reformed Church (Acts of Synod 1973, p. 56;
amended Acts of Synod 1998, p. 391).
d. The church visitors of classis shall inquire annually into the
supervision of the calling church toward said minister(s) as well
as the reporting of said minister(s) to the calling church. The
church visitors shall inform classis of departure from the
approved provisions for supervision and reporting.
(Acts of Synod 1978, pp. 47-48)