Sleutels vir die toepassing van die kerkorde

Keys for the application of the church order This article deals with the application of a Scriptural church or- der, but more specifically with the approach of the church order rather than the method of application thereof. Already in the approach of the church order the difference between the appli- cation of the church order and the administration of the laws of the state becomes visible. In the application of the church order, the matter should not be about trespasses against the church order as such – as is the case in trespasses against the laws and statutes of the state. Transgression of the church order should only be considered as a transgression when it concerns a transgression of the Scriptures, while a transgression of a law of the state should be considered as a transgression in itself. In order to apply the church order in this fashion, the Hebrew “gokmah” (wisdom) and the Roman “aequitas” (fairness) should be considered in the “aedificatio” (edification) of the congre- gation.