John McNeil, PhD: History and Character of Calvinism: 11: Reorganization...

11. Reorganization, Struggle and Victory, 159-169. Calvin is fearful of opponents from his past years at Geneva, but the Magistrates had, without Calvin, tried to enforce their own austerities of laws. Outwardly, there was peace but reconstituting the Church according to God’s Word and the ancient church, with its austere penitential system, with a Benedictine flavor, would be a challenge. The Church’s constitution was rewritten as passed by the General Council 20 Nov 1541. Pastors, teachers, elders and deacons constituted the church leadership. Pastors instructed, preached, administered the sacraments and worked with (lay) elders for “fraternal corrections” (161). Teachers, or Doctors, were to staff the Academy and to serve as guardians of doctrinal accuracy. Deacons collected alms and ministered to the sick. Weekly clergy meetings discussed doctrinal unity and reported infractions of discipline—mostly misdemeanors but also more serious cases, e.g. adultery, drunkenness, etc. St. Pierre had an early morning Sabbath service, a service at 9 AM for St. Gervais and a service at 9 AM for St. Madelein. Children were to be catechetized at noon. Divine services were held at 3 PM in St. Pierre and St. Gervais. Holy Communion was held at Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and the first Sunday in September, contrary to Calvin’s desire and high desire for weekly services. Preaching services were held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at all three churches. Public and civil education was fostered in a school for boys and one for girls. In all of this, of course, the multi-layered Magistracy oversaw and approved of these things. The transformation was slow in the city of 12,000 inhabitants.