Question 27 — What are the principal duties of the pastors or teachers of the church?

Answer — ^aTo be examples unto the flock in faith, love, knowledge, meekness, patience, readiness to suffer for the name and gospel of Christ, with constancy therein; ^bto watch for the souls and take care of all the spiritual concernments of the whole flock committed to them; ^cto preach the word diligently, dividing it aright; ^dto preserve and contend for the truth; ^eto administer all the ordinances of the gospel duly and orderly; ^fto stir up and exercise the gifts they have received in the discharge of their whole work and administration of all ordinances; ^gto instruct, admonish, cherish, and comfort all the members of the church, as their conditions, occasions, and necessities do require; ^hto attend with diligence, skill, and wisdom unto the discharge of that authority which in the rule of the church is committed unto them.
^a1 Tim. iii. 1–7, iv. 12; 2 Tim. ii. 3; Col. i. 24; Phil. ii. 17, iii. 17.
^bHeb. xiii. 17; Acts xx. 28.
^c2 Tim. ii. 15, iv. 2; Rom. xii. 6–8.
^d1 Tim. vi. 20; Acts xx. 28; Jude 3.
^e1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; 1 Tim. iii. 15.
^f1 Tim. iv. 14–16.
^gActs xx. 18–20, 25, 27; 1 Thess. iii. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25.
^hRom. xii. 7, 8; 1 Tim. v. 17.

The answer is full and plain.