Our Church Order (Article 4)

The lawful calling of those who have not been previously in office, consists: First, in the election by the consistory and the deacons, after preceding prayers, with due observance of the regulations established by the consistory for this pur­pose, and of the ecclesiastical ordinance, that only those can for the first time be called to the ministry of the word who have been declared eligible by the churches, ac­cording to the rule in the matter; and furthermore with the advice of classis or of...