It happens now and then that students or candidates flunk their classical exam. Well, we have a fancy name for this: we say that the examination was not sustained. This means that the person examined did not provide enough evidence to support his request. Let's say that someone wanted to be eligible for a call from one of the churches. To determine whether he is capable of doing this work, he must be examined and must demonstrate that he is able to do perform this task.

(I am not referring here to the fact that every candi­date must show piety of life. To determine this is really a task of the candidate's home consistory. The candidate must present an attestation regarding his conduct and life. He must be blameless and this is where his consis­tory plays an important role.)

After the hurdle of the first examination has been taken the student who is now a candidate must seek to re­ceive a call from one of the churches. Vacant churches are usually eager to find a suitable candidate for the ministry, especially when there are a high number of vacancies.

After a call has been received and accepted, the can­didate must undergo a final examination in the classis where his congregation resides. The candidate does not dare to breathe until this second examination is sustained.

Why Two exams?⤒🔗

Why are there two exams for a candidate? Two things should be made clear. First, if a call is accepted within the classis that declared the candidate eligible, the can­didate need not be examined again. At least, this is the opinion of some; the church order speaks of two exams. This may lead to some confusion which, I fear, is causing some problems for candidates and delegates alike.

For, second, there is an important difference between the two examinations. They each have their own name. The first exam is called a preparatory exam. The second examination is called a peremptory exam. You can find this distinction stated in Article 4B1 and 5Alb of the church order. Unfortunately, the church order does not clarify what is meant by these terms.

Once during a peremptory exam in which I had to ask about doctrine and creeds, I first asked a candidate what the word "peremptory" means. He didn't have a clue. Un­daunted, I asked the delegates to classis if anyone knew? Nobody answered, not even one of the ministers. There­fore I said, "If nobody knows what we are doing here, why don't we all just go home?"

I did not intend this as a joke, but everybody laughed, more or less. It seems to me that we need to become clear­er about these examinations. I am also convinced that the students need to be better prepared, either by the Seminary staff or the Deputies ad examina. When stu­dents in growing numbers cannot sustain their exam­inations, something is wrong with the system. Perhaps students need a few dry runs before they are plunged into the white-water rapids of major assemblies.

The Preparatory Exam←⤒🔗

The first examination is called the preparatory exam. The name itself already suggests that another examina­tion will follow in due time. What is preparatory by na­ture, demands a finishing touch. So, yes, there will be another delightful exam ... but more about that later. The fun never ends.

What is the purpose of the preparatory examination? It is the exam which opens the second decisive step in a student's life, his presentation to the churches. The first step was reporting for duty at the Seminary. The second is seeking the approval of the major assembly. Sustaining this exam, he will be eligible for a call.

At this preparatory exam classis must focus on two items only. First, has the student properly finished his studies and does he have a basic understanding of the ministry? Second, is he able to preach a soundly-Reformed sermon? I use the word "soundly" because classis should be able to hear it if the sermon is scriptural and thus is Reformed. After all, the delegates are not anesthetized.

It is of great importance that classis determines if a student can preach the gospel well. Of course, the student is still a rookie, and there is always much to improve upon, but the student's prime focus in the preparatory stage, is to preach properly. Here the man must show promise and the churches must show patience.

Delegates will concentrate on two questions when it comes to the sermons: did the student stick to the text and did he weave into his textual sermon the teaching of Scripture as we summarize it together in the confes­sions? We need to hear a textual and Reformed sermon. Then we can say: this person is indeed prepared to solicit and entertain calls from the churches and classis recommends him as candidate.

Here I also have a question: should a student not have to give more evidence that he can preach than just in one sermon proposal? This is step one, and if he stumbles here, the way to ministry is blocked. Why not ask a stu­dent to present three sermon proposals at his preparatory exam? New Testament, Old Testament, and Catechism sermon. Then the emphasis has come to lie in the proper place. How all this is to be arranged practically, I leave to your imagination. Delegates and students may have to book a hotel to preserve sanity and dignity.

The Peremptory Exam←⤒🔗

Then, if a candidate has received and accepted a call, the final examination takes place in the classis where the calling church resides. This second examination is final. By now, after a time of practical training and es­pecially of preaching, the second and last step may be taken. Therefore in the peremptory examination only one sermon proposal is needed and the focus lays not so much on doctrine but on practice. The question is now, "Does the candidate have a good understanding of what is expected of him in the ministry?"

That is why the peremptory examination covers more subjects. Besides the sermon proposal and the knowledge of Scripture, doctrine and creeds, the focus is on Diaconiology (the daily office work of the pastors) such as catech­ism teaching, pastoral visitation, ministry to the infirm and aged, etc. Also, matters of ethics and discipline are discussed, as well as visitation. What is needed is to discover if the candidate has good "time management" skills. How should a minister prepare young couples for married life? What is required to prepare and conduct a funeral? How will he meet the needs of the aged? Are special classes to be held for those new to the faith, and how will a minister guide the evangelism projects as well as promote the mission work? What responsibility does a minister have as delegate to a major assembly? How are consistory meetings to be chaired?

These are some important areas that a peremptory exam should cover. Is this being done? Just to be clear, the word "peremptory" coming from the Latin, means de­finitive, final, and authoritative. The first exam showed that he is eligible for call. The second exam shows that he can be ordained as minister. For the student: oh, what a relief it is!

A Word of Encouragement←⤒🔗

Students are extremely nervous when it comes to the ecclesiastical exams. I remember how nervous I was. I felt like chop suey. The 1960s in the Dutch ecclesias­tical scene was not easy. Many issues were divisive topics that were being hotly debated in the federation and the classical exams were a favorite opportunity to grill a candidate. Students, I know, have this inordinate dread that they may say something "unreformed." We became experts at evading questions. Nobody really trusted the examiners, because the word on the street was that they were out to get you. Untrue, of course, but still dreadful.

I had done so many exams over a relatively short period of time that I was sick of the very thought of more. Little did I know that at my first classic as a delegate and member I had to participate in examining another proponent. Evaluating my part in the exam, one senior minister remarked, "The candidate passed; the examiner failed." Thanks a million, pal. That's been the story of my life.

Enjoy your ecclesiastical examinations as candidate and delegate. Should your exam not be sustained, don't give up. Breathe deeply, cry briefly, and gird up your loins. Nose to the grind stone. Stiff upper lip. Get over it, already. Perhaps there will be another day when your exam is sustained. And if not, the knowledge you have acquired will benefit you your whole life through.

Remember always that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who equips and calls young men through his church to serve in the ministry. A student must do his part, and study hard, believing that the Lord will open the way. Failing an exam does not mean you have flunked in life. Accept his direc­tion and find another place where he is served.