II. THE ASSEMBLIES
Three kinds of ecclesiastical assemblies shall be maintained: the consistory, the classis, and the synod.
On the basis of all this our Church Order distinguishes between
three ecclesiastical assemblies:
1. the consistory;
2. the classis;
3. the synod.
Re. 1:
The consistory consist of ministers and elders. It is the only
assembly directly based on holy Scripture.
Re. 2:
The classis consists of delegates from the consistories of
churches in a certain region.
Together with the synod we call it: a major assembly, which does
not mean: a higher authority with more power, but simply an
assembly formed by a larger number of churches through their
representatives.
The name “classis” has been derived from a Greek and a Latin word
which means: to call together.
The Articles of Wesel, 1568 advised the creation of classes for
the establishing and preserving of consensus in doctrine,
ceremonies, and church discipline, and for common actions and
mutual consultation in matters of importance regarding common
interests.
Consequent on the appointment of delegates the consistory has the
right, if
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necessary, to put all the decisions made by a classis to the test.
Re. 3:
The synod is an assembly consisting of delegates sent by each
classis.
This ecclesiastical assembly cannot be based on Acts 15: 6. This
“Jerusalem meeting” was of a different nature. It consisted of
the apostles and the elders of the congregation of Jerusalem. The
young churches were in need of some advice and even rules, given
them by Christ’s apostles and the leaders of the ‘mother-church’.
This situation was different from those held later on when church
life had become well-organized — according to, e.g., the Pastoral
Epistles of the apostle Paul. The ‘Jerusalem meeting’ was
definitely not a synod!