The Ordination of Elders in a Scottish Kirk
“This picture from a bygone age still has the power to speak today of the solemnity involved in the installation of elders and the seriousness of the task. Many of us may well `dress down’ in comparison to our forebears, but the awesome (in the strict sense of the word) nature of the elder’s calling and role remains the same. This famous painting is thus testimony to a way of life now passed in its fashions and style but perennial in its importance and gravity.”
~ Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary
~ Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary
「這幅來自過去時代的圖像，至今仍能夠呈現出在任命長老時所應有的莊嚴性，以及這項任務的嚴肅性。與我們的祖先相比，我們許多人可能在穿著打扮上更為隨意，但長老所承擔的職責與角色，其重要性與嚴肅性卻絲毫未變。因此，這幅著名的圖像，正是對一種雖然在時尚與風格上已經過時，但在重要性與嚴肅性上卻永遠不變的生活方式的見證。」
卡爾·特魯曼博士，威斯敏斯特神學院歷史神學與教會史教授
卡爾·特魯曼博士，威斯敏斯特神學院歷史神學與教會史教授
Pacific Coast Presbytery of RPCNA
Ordination and installation service
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Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
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Pacific Coast Presbytery
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All Saints reformed presbyterian church irivne
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Order of Service for the Ordination
and Installation of WW 按立及就職典禮流程 *Please, no online posting of photos and names *請勿在線發布照片和姓名 Welcome & Constitution of the Court [Ruling Elder John Spitzer] 歡迎致詞及宣告區會會議組成 詩篇 Psalm 1 Narration of Steps [Ruling Elder John Spitzer] 儀式流程敘述 Final Reading of the Edict [Ruling Elder John Spitzer] 宣讀敕令 The Congregation’s Adherence to the Call [Ruling Elder Roel Ophoff] 會眾響應呼召 The Candidate’s Acceptance of the Call [Ruling Elder Roel Ophoff] 候選人接受呼召 The Queries for Ordination [Ruling Elder Spitzer/WW] 按立提問 Signing of the Queries [WW] 簽署提問 詩篇 Psalm 107A Ordination Sermon [Teaching Elder Edgar Ibarra] 按立講道 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 哥林多後書 5:18-20 “Pastors are Ambassadors for Christ” 牧師們是基督的使者 詩篇 Psalm 96A Prayer of Ordination & Installation with the Laying on of Hands by the Presbytery 按立及就職禱告，行長老按手禮 [Teaching Elder Alex Tabaka] Charge to the Pastor [Teaching Elder Hsing Tang] 對牧師的訓誡 詩篇 Psalm 119C Charge to the Congregation [Teaching Elder Seni Adeyemi] 對會眾的訓誡 詩篇 Psalm 2 A Prayer of Adjournment [Ruling Elder Roel Ophoff] 休會禱告 Benediction [Teaching Elder WW] 祝福 Extending the Right Hand of Fellowship To Pastor WW and Family [all present] 向WW牧師及其家人行友誼握手禮 [全體在場人員] 
北美改革宗長老會與長老治理制度
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and the Presbyterian Church Government 教會歷史根源與北美發展 北美改革宗長老會（RPCNA）的歷史根源可追溯至十六世紀宗教改革，承襲蘇格蘭改革宗傳統及十七世紀蘇格蘭盟約派的屬靈遺產。盟約派忠心持守聖經真理，堅定宣告基督是教會唯一的元首，反對國家干預教會屬靈治理，為維護基督的王權與聖經真理付上極大代價。十八世紀末，蘇格蘭與愛爾蘭的改革宗長老會信徒陸續移民北美；1798年，第一個正式的改革宗長老會總會在美國成立，標誌著RPCNA在北美正式建立。自此，RPCNA持續在美國與加拿大發展，忠心傳承改革宗信仰、聖約神學與聖經敬拜原則，並透過地方堂會、區會、總會、神學教育與宣教事工，繼續見證基督在萬有之上的王權。 The historical roots of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) trace back to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, inheriting the spiritual legacy of the Scottish Reformed tradition and the seventeenth-century Scottish Covenanters. The Covenanters faithfully upheld biblical truth, firmly proclaiming that Christ alone is the Head of the Church. They opposed state interference in the spiritual government of the church and paid a great price to defend Christ’s kingship and biblical truth. In the late eighteenth century, Reformed Presbyterian believers from Scotland and Ireland immigrated to North America, and in 1798, the first official Reformed Presbyterian Synod was organized in the United States, marking the formal establishment of the RPCNA in North America. Since then, the RPCNA has continued to grow throughout the United States and Canada, faithfully preserving the Reformed faith, covenant theology, and biblical principles of worship through local congregations, presbyteries, synod, theological education, and missionary work, bearing witness to Christ’s kingship over all things. 長老治理制度的聖經根據與歷史傳承
長老治理制度是根據新約聖經建立的教會治理模式。「長老」一詞源自希臘文 presbyteros，指蒙召治理與牧養基督群羊的屬靈領袖。聖經教導教會由眾長老共同治理，而非由單一主教或單純會眾投票管理，例如使徒行傳十四章二十三節記載：「二人在各教會中選立了長老」；提摩太前書五章十七節提到「那善於管理教會的長老」；提多書一章五節吩咐設立各城的長老；使徒行傳十五章耶路撒冷大會更顯示使徒與長老共同治理教會。此制度在宗教改革時期由加爾文系統化建立，並由約翰．諾克斯在蘇格蘭進一步發展成熟，強調基督是教會唯一元首，眾長老共同治理、彼此監督，各地方教會透過區會與總會彼此聯結。 Presbyterian church government is a form of church governance established according to the New Testament. The term presbyter comes from the Greek word presbyteros, referring to spiritual leaders called to govern and shepherd Christ’s flock. Scripture teaches that the church is governed collectively by a plurality of elders rather than by a single bishop or by congregational vote alone. Acts 14:23 records that elders were appointed in every church; 1 Timothy 5:17 speaks of elders who rule well; Titus 1:5 commands the appointment of elders in every town; and Acts 15 demonstrates the joint government of the church by apostles and elders in the Jerusalem Council. This system was carefully developed during the Reformation by John Calvin and further matured by John Knox in Scotland, emphasizing that Christ alone is the Head of the Church, that elders govern together in mutual accountability, and that local congregations are connected through presbytery and synod. 
牧師按立的屬靈意義
在長老治理制度中，教會設有教導長老（牧師）與治理長老。教導長老負責傳講聖道、施行聖禮、牧養教會；治理長老則與牧師共同治理教會、監督群羊、維護屬靈秩序。牧師按立並非個人的榮耀，也不僅是一項教會儀式，而是復活的基督作為教會的元首，藉著祂的教會公開確認祂對僕人的呼召，使其承擔牧養與教導群羊的神聖職分。正如使徒行傳二十章二十八節所說：「聖靈立你們作全群的監督，牧養神的教會。」因此，按立典禮彰顯教會順服基督元首的權柄，也見證神在歷世歷代中藉著祂所設立的僕人繼續建造祂的教會。願一切榮耀歸於教會唯一的元首——主耶穌基督。 Within the Presbyterian church government, the church recognizes both teaching elders (ministers) and ruling elders. Teaching elders are responsible for preaching the Word, administering the sacraments, and shepherding the church. In contrast, ruling elders serve alongside ministers in governing the church, overseeing the flock, and maintaining spiritual order. Ordination is neither a personal honor nor merely an ecclesiastical ceremony; rather, it is Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father as the Head of the Church, publicly confirming through His Church His call upon His servant and setting him apart for the sacred ministry of shepherding and teaching the people of God. As Acts 20:28 declares, “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.” Thus, the ordination service bears witness to the church’s submission to Christ’s headship and testifies that throughout history God continues to build His church through the servants whom He has called and appointed. May all glory be to Christ alone, the only Head of His Church. 
The Company for the Revision of the Old Testament assembled in the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster Abbey. I
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Psalms
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John Knox (1510-1527), Reformer of Scotland and Father of Presbyterianism, Preaching in St Giles Cathedral.
