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Appendix H-6: Preamble and Questions for Use at the Licensing of Candidates for the Ministry

(Regulations 189, 284)

Preamble

The candidates for licence having taken their places before the Presbytery, the Moderator shall declare as follows:

(Same as for the induction of Ministers – Appendix H-7 – the last phrase of the first paragraph to be ‘as a Presbytery to licence AB to preach the Gospel of Christ’ and replace ‘ordination’ with ‘licensing’ thereafter.)

Then the Moderator, addressing the candidates, who are to stand and make answer to the questions put to them, shall say:

In view of this declaration, you are now required to answer these questions:

1) Do you believe in one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and do you confess anew the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord?

2) Do you believe the Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the supreme rule of faith and life?

3) Do you believe the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the other subordinate standards of this Church?

4) Do you acknowledge the Presbyterian government of this Church to be agreeable to the Word of God; and do you promise to be subject in the Lord to this Presbytery, or any Presbytery within whose bounds you may reside, and to the superior courts of the Church?

5) Do you promise to seek the unity and peace of this Church, to uphold the doctrine, worship, government, and discipline thereof, and to cherish a spirit of kinship towards all the followers of the Lord?

6) Are not zeal for the glory of God, love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and a desire for the salvation of all people, so far as you know your own heart, your great motives and chief inducements to enter into the office of the holy ministry?

7) Do you engage in the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ to live a godly and circumspect life; and faithfully, diligently and cheerfully to discharge the duties of your ministry, seeking in all things the advancement of the Kingdom of God?

These questions having been answered to the satisfaction of the Presbytery, and the Formula (see Appendix H-9) having been signed, the Moderator shall engage in prayer, and thereafter shall say:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of the Church, and by authority of this Presbytery I hereby declare you duly licensed to preach the Gospel of Christ and to exercise your gifts as probationers (or a probationer) for the holy ministry in this Church, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of licentiates (or a licentiate) and I commend you to the grace of God in the discharge of your duties in this high vocation.