Each vacant church shall request classis to appoint as counsellor the minister it desires as such, to the end that he may assist the consistory in maintaining good order and especially may lend his aid in the matter of the calling of a minister; he shall sign the letter of call.
The churches live together in a bond of churches with the aim of
assisting each other whenever needed.
Normally there is a classical meeting every six months. So a
vacant church would have to wait for some time before she would
be able to call a minister with the advice of the classis. In
order to avoid such situations the Church Order contains the
provision of this Article concerning a counsellor.
The vacant church may make her own choice and request the classis to appoint him.
He will be able to serve the consistory with advice in all sorts
of matters, but it is a rule that the calling of a minister will
not take place without his advice, and that the letter of call is
signed by him.
This does not mean that it is compulsory for the consistory to
ask for his opinion regarding the candidate or the minister to be
called. His only duty is to ensure that the calling of a minister
takes place ‘in good order’.