Bro. K., of Nebraska, asks:--"Under what circumstances can a minister in charge delegate ministerial powers to a lay brother, such as to baptize, organize churches, receive members into church fellowship, preach, &c.?"

      Our reply is that such authority, according to our usage, can only be conferred by an Eldership, or its representative, the Standing Committee. An individual preacher has no right to delegate such authority to a lay brother.

      The exceptions to this rule are, of course, apparent, viz: That elders of churches, where there is no pastor, can receive persons into fellowship. and that they can grant to any worthy brother the right to go into the pulpit and proclaim the gospel. They cannot confer ministerial power and prerogatives, however, aside from granting the privilege to speak the word in their pulpit.

[The Church Advocate 40 (May 19, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "Authority to Preach, etc." was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 3 (May 19, 1875), p. 4. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 30 May 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.