Dismission of members.

practice, adopted by the church, solemnly promising to walk with them in all the ordinances of the gospel, and in the discharge of all the duties of a religious life; and is then received into the church, and entitled to all its ordinances and privileges.*

Thus strict, and watchful, and cautious, are Congregational churches in the admission of members.

V. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS.

If, for any good reason, a church member should wish to remove his relation from one church to another, he applies to the church for a letter of dismission, and of recommendation to a particular church, which he specifies. If

*The Congregational churches in Scotland, with few exceptions, practice "weekly communion," at the Lord's supper.

In the admission of members, the work of examination is intrusted to the pastor and "two visitors," who are appointed by the church. After satisfying themselves of the piety, and other qualifications of the candidate for church fellowship, they report accordingly to the church; and the candidate "is admitted, after exhortation to duties, etc., and prayer."

I quote from a manuscript letter of Rev. Mr. Robertson, for thirty years pastor of a Congregational church in Scotland. I am greatly indebted to this gentleman, and to Rev. Mr. Buckham, already referred to, for valuable information, respecting Congregationalism in Great Britain.

It is contrary to all regular Congregational practice, to dismiss a member, and recommend him "to any church with which he may please to unite." The church must be specified, and be known to be in fellowship with the dismissing church.

If a member is about to leave the neighborhood of the church to which he belongs, and does not know with what church he shall wish to connect himself, he may take from the pastor, or the clerk of the church, a certificate of his regular standing, and a letter of

Dismission, temporary-permanent.

the two churches are in fellowship-that is, if they recognize each other as churches of Christ-the church vote to dismiss their brother, and recommend him to the church specified.

Until this letter is presented, and the individual is received by the church to which the letter is addressed, he remains a member of the church from which the letter is taken, and is subject to the watch and discipline of the same. The letter being always worded in such a way as distinctly to recognize this doctrine.*

Any disregard of this authorized practice of our churches is considered an irregularity, alike injurious to the churches and to the individuals concerned.

It may be proper to remark in this connection, that we suppose Christ has given his churches no authority to dismiss any of their members to the world. Church members have been known to apply to their pastor for a dismission from the church," assigning as a reason perhaps, their personal unfitness for church fellowship; or, their dissatisfaction with the sentiments or doings of the church.

Now, every person about to unite with a Congregational

general introduction [see Appendix, No. 4]; which will secure for him, the privilege of occasional communion with any church which acknowledges that from which he goes, as a church of Christ.

This, however, will not supersede the necessity of a letter of dismission or recommendation to some particular church. Until this is granted, the person remains a member of the church with which he originally connected himself; and is amenable to the discipline of that church.

It is a gross irregularity, for one Congregational church to reIceive to stated and permanent fellowship, a member of a sister church, without a letter of dismission and recommendation.

* See Appendix, No. 5.

Procedure in dismissing a Pastor.

church ought distinctly to understand, that there are only two ways by which a member may become permanently separated from one of our churches; one is, by dismission and recommendation to a sister church; the other is, by excommunication. There are no private ways to get in or out of our churches.

VI. DISMISSION OF A PASTOR.

If, for any sufficient reason, it is deemed expedient to dissolve the connection between a pastor and his church, the regular course is as follows: The pastor lays before the church a communication, stating his wishes, and the reasons for them; and requests the church to unite with him in calling a council, to advise in the premises. If the church are unwilling to have the pastoral connection dissolved, they vote to that effect; and appoint a committee, to confer with their pastor; and to dissuade him, if possible, from his purpose.

If, however, the church should consider it expedient to comply with the pastor's request, they so vote; and appoint a committee to assist in the selection and call of a mutual council.

When the council assemble, all the proceedings of the church and the pastor are laid before them; and they examine the reasons assigned by the pastor for wishing a dismission from his church; and the grounds of concurrence on the part of the church. If in view of the circumstances, it is judged proper that the pastor's'request should be granted, the council so vote; and advise the church to dismiss him. If the council should deem the reasons in favor of a dismission insufficient, they advise the church and pas

Advice of Council.

tor accordingly. It is then left with the church to accept, or reject the advice of the council as they may judge proper. Upon Congregational principles, the church has the power to receive or refuse; but, it would be considered, generally, an impropriety-not to say an indecorum-to reject and disregard the unanimous advice of a mutual council, without the very best of reasons.

It would be considered by a council as an irregularity and impropriety of no less magnitude, for a church to dis miss their pastor; and then call a council to sanction their doings.

A church may vote upon a pastor's request for dismission; that they will grant it, provided, a mutual council shall advise thereto; and thus, supersede the necessity of any further action of theirs, after the decision of the council. This, perhaps, is the more common practice of our churches.*

If a church should think the removal of their pastor desirable, a regular procedure would be, for the deacons, or some of the older members of the church, to converse freely and frankly with him, stating their convictions, and request him to ask a dismission from the church. If the pastor should decline so to do; they would then, desire him to call a meeting of the church, for the purpose of conferring together, and acting, should it be judged expedient, in reference to the matter. The pastor would, of course, absent himself from such a meeting, unless he had some

*

Congregational churches, have, I conceive, the power to dismiss their pastors, as they have to ordain them, without'advice of council: but, if they ordain by the advice and the assistance of neighboring churches, consistency requires, that they should dismiss, by the same advice and assistance.

Action of the church.

:

special communication to make to the church; or, retire from the meeting, after having opened it in the usual form, and called the senior deacon to the moderator's chair. The church being thus left by themselves, would proceed to discuss the subject before them if agreed in opinion, they would appoint a committee, to lay before the pastor their reasons for wishing a dissolution of the pastoral connection; and request him to unite with them in calling a council to consider the matter, and advise in the premises. The way would thus be prepared for an orderly adjustment of the business, upon Christian, and Congregational principles.*

VII. CHURCH DISCIPLINE.

It is a settled conviction of Congregationalists, that purity of faith and practice cannot be secured to the

* I regret to say, that our churches are not always so observant of the course pointed out in the text, as they should be. It is not unfrequently true, that a less judicious, consistent, and Christian practice is adopted. Neither Congregationalism nor any other ism, but barbarism-countenances the practice of starving, or driving a minister from his pastoral charge.

The practice of the English and Scotch Congregationalists—I call them by this name, though in respect to all such matters as we are now considering, they are Independents-differs somewhat from that described in the text. Councils are unknown to themeither in the settlement or dismission of their pastors. A pastor wishing to leave his field of labor, resigns his office; the church accepts his resignation, and thus the business begins and ends. It is, however, a thing of very rare occurrence for a Congregational pastor in those countries, to leave his church unless called to another sphere of usefulness. "For a minister to be unsettled' for any considerable time, would be injurious to his ministerial reputation." MS. Letters.