Abstract

STRAUSS, Piet J.. Church order in reformed churches applied to the church order of Dutch Reformed Church of 2013. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2017, vol.51, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 2305-0853.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ids.v51i1.2215.

1 Corinthians 14:40 with its call for the affairs of the church to be transacted 'decently and in order' as well as a general need in churches for stipulations in this regard, form the backbone of the need for church orders. Proper, acceptable church orders are, therefore, focused on the practices of the church: the offices, assemblies, church services, discipline, relations, and other affairs of the church. In order to be channels for the free flow of, and obedience to the authority and content of the Word of God in church, implementing the church order should not be an aim in itself. The order of a church cannot be a strict law that should be literally applied in church affairs. A church order should serve the church in its calling to be a church of the Word of God.

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