A phone call came into the office from a nonmember asking to speak to the pastor. The secretary informed the lady that the pastor was not available. She then asked for the associate pastor. However, as the Belgic Confession takes pains to point out, there is no ranking among the clergy. They are equal to each other.
None are before or after, above or below, another.
As for the ministers of the Word, they all have the same power and authority, no matter where they may be, since they are all servants of Jesus Christ, the only universal bishop, and the only head of the church. To this we can add that there is no ranking among any office-bearers either. Ministers are not higher than elders or deacons. There are several benefits to this kind of arrangement. First, this keeps the church from being a minister-run church.