The Spurgeon Fraternal (SF) is simply a group of men who desire that authentic friendship and fellowship as believers will strengthen them for the pastoral task to which God has called them. Therefore, one of the requirements for attendance at the SF is that you be an elder in a local church, either functioning as a vocational (fulltime, remunerated) pastor, or as one who holds office but does not derive financial support from the church you serve.
A second foundational requirement for membership of the SF is that you see the value of giving yourself in friendship and support of other brothers. By meeting together regularly, being in close contact, enjoying fellowship, stimulation and prayer, we aim to build solid friendships that will be an aid to us in ministry. We learn most from those we trust and love in the Lord. We receive counsel, and even rebuke and correction, most profitably from those who we know are on our side.
The third foundational requirement is that you be sympathetic to the Reformed Faith and the five solas. You do not need to be a Baptist or a convinced Calvinist, but you need to know that one of our sessions at each fraternal gathering involves discussion of a chapter of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Men who are united in their core convictions most authentically benefit from each other’s input.
So, to this end, the SF consists of men who voluntarily commit themselves to meeting together twice a year, insofar as God’s providence allows. We have a meeting in the first half of the year (usually in May) somewhere in the Western Cape and in October or early November in Gauteng. Our meetings stretch over two nights and three days involving times of discussion and debate followed by prayer (and, on occasion, fasting) and relaxation.
To have your name added to the database, please contact the chairman or administrator.