THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN

THE BOOK OF

CHURCH ORDER

OF THE

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

IN AMERICA

Includes all amendments approved up to and including

the 47

General Assembly, in Dallas, Texas

June 24-28, 2019

Published by

The Office of the Stated Clerk

of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America

Distributed by

Committee on Discipleship Ministries

1700 North Brown Road, Suite 102

Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043-8143

1-800-283-1357

PUBLISHER'S INTRODUCTION

Amendments finally adopted by the General Assembly in the current year are

indicated in The Book of Church Order (BCO) by a bullet in the margin beside

the line where the change was made. New wording is underlined. In

subsequent BCO reprints, marginal bullets and underlining for previous years

are deleted. See the following page for a listing of changes in the BCO, the

Rules of Assembly Operations (RAO), the Operating Manual for the Standing

Judicial Commission (OMSJC), and the Corporate Bylaws.

The Stated Clerk will appreciate receiving notice of any needed corrections to

this 2019 update of the BCO.

Editorial Note:

For a chronological history of changes to the BCO, RAO, and OMSJC from 1982 to

the present, see the list following the title page of the BCO. For a topical (chapter by

chapter) listing of BCO changes, go to http://www.pcahistory.org/bco/.

by the Office of the Stated Clerk

of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America

This publication is intended for the work and mission of the Church. It may not be

republished in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the

publisher. Publication of any commentary or other reference work must include written

permission for use of text from this document.

NOTE: The following amendments to The Book of Church Order (BCO), Rules of Assembly

Operations (RAO), Operating Manual of the Standing Judicial Commission (OMSJC), and

Corporate Bylaws were adopted by the General Assembly in:

1982 – 8-7; 13-5; 14-1-12; 21-4; 23-2; 26-4; Index

1983 – 8-4; 10-3; 13-2; 23-1; Index

1984 – Chapter 5; 13-2; 14-1-12; 24-9; Chapter 42; Chapter 43; Index

1985 – 5-9; 13-2; New 15-4; 20-1; 23-1; Index

1986 – Pref. II, 1; 8-3; 12-5; 13-10; New 14-7; 18-2; 19-7; 19-8; 19-11; 19-16; 20-12; 20-13; 21-4;

24-1; 38-2; Index

1987 – 42-4; 43-2; 3; Chapter 45; Index

1988 – Pref. III; 8-3; 12-5; 13-8; 13-10; 14-3; 19-6; 19-10; 20-5; 20-9; 21-4; 22-3; 22-4; 24-6; 25-2;

26-1; 28-4; 32-2; 35-5; Index

1989 – Pref. II, 1; III; 13-6; 14-1-12; 18-2; 19-2,b, 2; 19-5; 21-1; 21-4; 23-2; 23-3; 26-1; 30-1; 30-3;

31-1; 33-1; 34-1; 34-8; 34-9; 56-4; (also 15-1; 15-3; 15-4; 15-5 – adopted in 1988)

1990 – BCO 14-1.14; 19-10; 30-1,3; 34-7,8; 36-4,5; 37-1,2,3,7,8; 42-6; 45-1,4,5; 46-5

1991 – BCO 14-1.11; 14-1.12; 14-2; 15-2

1992 – BCO 10-3; 42-11; 43-3; 43-7

1993 – BCO 14-1.15; 15-4; 24-5

1994 – BCO 15-1; 21-4.d; 24-1; 37-9; RAO 4-3; 4-6; 5-1; 13-1; 13-6; 13-13.c.6; 13-14.d; 14-9.c;

Corporate Bylaws Article VI, p. R-39 and Certificate of Incorporation, pp. R-29-31

1995 – BCO 13-10; 14-1.12; 32-18; RAO 15-3 and Corporate Bylaws Article IV,4 and VII,1

1996 – BCO 35-14; 42-5; 42-6; RAO 14 and Corporate Bylaws Article VI,5

1997 – BCO Preface II, 15-1, 15-4, 15-5, 19-1, 19-6, 38-4, 39-3, 46-2, 46-5

1998 – BCO 13-6; 15-5c; 38-3; RAO 14-7; Corporate Bylaws Article VI,5

1999 – BCO 13-5; 13-12; 20-2; 32-6; 33-2; 33-3; 34-4; RAO 4-18 [editorial changes to 15-3 and

16-3]; SJC Manual 6.2d; 8.3b; 19.10c; and 19.11 [editorial changes to 11.9a.2 and 18.7b]

2000 – BCO 13-12; 15-1; 24-1; 38-1; 43-5

2001 – BCO 14-1.12; Appendix B; Appendix H; RAO 4-5, 9-6, 15-2; Corporate Bylaws Article

VI,1; VI,4; VI,5

2002 – BCO 12-5.e, 13-1, 14-1.12, 32-3, 32-4, 32-18, 35-7, 43-1, Appendix I; RAO 4-2, 4-3, 4-8, 4-

9, 5-1, 6-4, 7-5.c, 13-1; SJC Manual 13.8.c.5, 6, 16, 18, 19-22 renumbered; Corporate

Bylaws Article V,E; V,F; V,G; Article VI,1; VI,5

2003 – BCO 14-1.12b.4, 21-4, 21-5.6; RAO 13-1.6, 13-2, 13-5d, 13-6.e, 13-6.f-j renumbered; 14-

3.e.5, 14-8; SJC Manual 13.10, 14.7, 15.7, 19.8.j, 19.8.k, 20.12, 21.2.f; Corporate Bylaws

Article VI,1

2004 – BCO 58-5; SJC Manual 3.1, 11.7b, 12.3.b

2005 – BCO 24-3; 24-5; 24-6-9 relettered; 24-9 (now 24-10)

2006 – BCO 15-4; 24-1.b; 40-5; RAO 2006 revised edition

2007 – RAO 4-11; 11-1; 14-8.d; 19-2; SJC Manual 21-3

2008 – BCO 2-1, 12-2; RAO 14-6.k; 14-9.e, g; 14-9.f relettered; 15-8.c, e; 15-8.f-g relettered.

[Editorial note added RAO 14-6.d and 15-6.i; editorial changes SJC 10.5; 11.6; 16.2;

17.2.(d); 18.1.(a); 21.5; 22.1]]

2009 – 21-4 (editorial numeration); 59-1, 6; RAO 14-9.h (3); 15-8.g (3); 19-4.d; SJC Manual 3.2;

8.4 (a), (b); 11.10; 11.11; 13.10; 14.7; 15.7; 16; 19.6; 19.7 (a), (c); 20.6

2010 – No BCO changes; no RAO changes; SJC Manual new Section 2 added with renumbering there-

after; 3.1; Sections 6 & 7 deleted; Section 17 moved to replace original 11:8; 13.8; 14.2;

15.2; 19.5

2011 – BCO 5-2; 5-3; 5-4; 5-8; 5-9; 5-10; 5-11; add new 5-5 & renumber as needed; 9-7; 13-6;

15-2; 37-7; RAO 16-3.e.5; SJC Manual 10.7.a; 12.10; 13.7; 14.7; 17.8.k; 18.2.

2012 – BCO 19-11; RAO 5-4; 8-3; 10-8; 11-5; 12-1; 14-6.h; 15-1; OMSJC 8.1.a, b; 8.4; 18:12;

18:13

2013 – BCO 19-2; 20-3; 24-2; 25-4; 42-4; 43-2; 43-3; Appendix J added; RAO 8-5.b; 10-9

added; 16-10.a; OMSJC 3.7; 9.1; 10.7

2014 – BCO 34-8; 37-6; 43-10; [editorial corrections: BCO 13-6; 39-3]; RAO 16-3.e.6;

16-3.e.7, 8 (renumbered); 16-6.c.1; [editorial corrections: RAO 11-5; 11-8]; [OMSJC

editorial corrections: 18.11; 18.12.b.(4)]; References to Committee on Christian

Education and Publications (CEP) changed to Committee on Discipleship Ministries

(CDM) – BCO 14-1.12; RAO 4-2; 5-1.b.1); 6-1; 14-1.2

2015 – BCO 5-2; 8-6; 18-7; 43-3, 8, 9; RAO 14-6.a; 14-6.e; OMSJC 4.l; 7.4; 9.2.e; 10.3.d; 10.6

2016 – [editorial correction: BCO 58-5]; RAO 8-4.i; OMSJC 7.2.b; 7.4.d; 7.4 (add 7.4.b. and re-

letter); 10.9; 18.12.b, c

2017 – BCO 5-3; 13-2; editorial – BCO 55-1; RAO 7-3.c; 9-2 (added and renumbering); 13-2; 13-

6 (added); 14-8; 17-4; OMSJC 8.2; 8.4.a; 10.11.a (6) and (7); 17.5; 17.7; Reformed

University Ministries (RUM) name changed to Reformed University Fellowship (RUF):

BCO 14-1.12; RAO 4-2, 5-1, 6-4, 14-1.10; Bylaws Article V.

2018 – BCO [editorial additions/corrections: 42-6, parenthetical reference; Appendices, introductory

note; Appendix C, Scripture references; Appendix I, preface]; RAO 8-4.i; 13-2; 16-7.h; 16-10.c;

formatting corrections: 6-1; 14-7.c; OMSJC 4.1; 10.11.a(2); 12.10; 13.7; 14.7; 15.9; 17.8.k;

18.10.b; 18.12.c; 19.2.f

2019 – BCO 8-1; 8-3; 25-11; 35-11; Preface to Directory for Worship; 59-3; RAO 11-5; 11-12; 13-2;

13-6 (struck); 16-4.a; 16-4.c.1; 16-4. d.

May the Lord, the King and Head of the Church, bless and honor these efforts to make clearer

our form of governance.

L. Roy Taylor

Stated Clerk of General Assembly

CONTENTS

PREFACE

I. The King and Head of the Church

II. Preliminary Principles

III. The Constitution Defined

PART I -- FORM OF GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 1 The Doctrine of Church Government

CHAPTER 2 The Visible Church Defined

CHAPTER 3 The Nature and Extent of Church Power

CHAPTER 4 The Particular Church

CHAPTER 5 The Organization of a Particular Church

CHAPTER 6 Church Members

CHAPTER 7 Church Officers - General Classification

CHAPTER 8 The Elder

CHAPTER 9 The Deacon

CHAPTER 10 Church Courts in General

CHAPTER 11 Jurisdiction of Church Courts

CHAPTER 12 The Church Session

CHAPTER 13 The Presbytery

CHAPTER 14 The General Assembly

CHAPTER 15 Ecclesiastical Commissions

CHAPTER 16 Church Orders - The Doctrine of Vocation

CHAPTER 17 Doctrine of Ordination

CHAPTER 18 Candidates for the Gospel Ministry

CHAPTER 19 The Licensure of Candidates for the

Gospel Ministry and Internship

CHAPTER 20 The Election of Pastors

CHAPTER 21 The Ordination and Installation of Ministers

CHAPTER 22 The Pastoral Relations

CHAPTER 23 The Dissolution of the Pastoral Relation

CHAPTER 24 Election, Ordination and Installation of

Ruling Elders and Deacons

CHAPTER 25 Congregational Meetings

CHAPTER 26 Amending the Constitution of the Church

PART II -- THE RULES OF DISCIPLINE

CHAPTER 27 Discipline - Its Nature, Subjects and Ends

CHAPTER 28 Discipline of Non-communing Members

CHAPTER 29 Offenses

CHAPTER 30 Church Censures

CHAPTER 31 The Parties in Cases of Process

CHAPTER 32 General Provisions Applicable to all Cases of Process

CHAPTER 33 Special Rules Pertaining to Process Before Sessions

CHAPTER 34 Special Rules Pertaining to Process Against a Minister

(Teaching Elder)

CHAPTER 35 Evidence

CHAPTER 36 The Infliction of Church Censures

CHAPTER 37 The Removal of Censure

CHAPTER 38 Cases Without Process

CHAPTER 39 Modes in Which the Proceedings of Lower Courts

Come Under the Supervision of Higher Courts

CHAPTER 40 General Review and Control

CHAPTER 41 References

CHAPTER 42 Appeals

CHAPTER 43 Complaints

CHAPTER 44 Vacated

CHAPTER 45 Dissents, Protests and Objections

CHAPTER 46 Jurisdiction

PART III -- THE DIRECTORY FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD

CHAPTER 47 The Principles and Elements of Public Worship

CHAPTER 48 The Sanctification of the Lord's Day

CHAPTER 49 The Ordering of Public Worship

CHAPTER 50 The Public Reading of the Holy Scripture

CHAPTER 51 The Singing of Psalms and Hymns

CHAPTER 52 Public Prayer

CHAPTER 53 The Preaching of the Word

CHAPTER 54 The Worship of God by Offerings

CHAPTER 55 Confessing the Faith

CHAPTER 56 The Administration of Baptism

(The Baptism of Infants and Children)

CHAPTER 57 The Admission of Persons to Sealing Ordinances

CHAPTER 58 The Administration of the Lord's Supper

CHAPTER 59 The Solemnization of Marriage

CHAPTER 60 The Visitation of the Sick

CHAPTER 61 The Burial of the Dead

CHAPTER 62 Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving

CHAPTER 63 Christian Life in the Home

OPTIONAL FORMS FOR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS

[NOTE: The following documents are for information.

They are not part of the Constitution of the PCA.]

Appendix A Marriage Service

Appendix B A Second Marriage Service

Appendix C A Funeral Service

Appendix D A Child's Funeral

Appendix E Service at the Grave

Appendix F The Dedication of a Church Building

Appendix G Suggested Forms for Use in Discipline

I. Charge and Specifications

II. Citation of Accused

III. Citation of Witness

IV. Notice of Intention to Appeal

V. Appeal

VI. Complaint

Appendix H Suggested Procedures for Presbytery Judicial

Commissions Acting as Appellate Courts

Appendix I Biblical Conflict Resolution

Appendix J Sample Form for Terms of Call

INDEX TO BCO

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

STANDING JUDICIAL COMMISSION MANUAL

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

CORPORATE BYLAWS

NAPARC AGREEMENTS

PREFACE TO

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

I. THE KING AND HEAD OF THE CHURCH

Jesus Christ, upon whose shoulders the government rests, whose name

is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the

Prince of Peace; of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be

no end; who sits upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom to order it

and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth, even forever

(Isaiah 9:6-7); having all power given unto Him in heaven and in earth by the

Father, who raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand, far

above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name

that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has

put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to

the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all

(Ephesians 1:20-23); He, being ascended up far above all heavens, that He

might fill all things, received gifts for His Church, and gave all offices

necessary for the edification of His Church and the perfecting of His saints

(Ephesians 4:10-13).

Jesus, the Mediator, the sole Priest, Prophet, King, Saviour, and Head

of the Church, contains in Himself, by way of eminency, all the offices in His

Church, and has many of their names attributed to Him in the Scriptures. He

is Apostle, Teacher, Pastor, Minister, Bishop and the only Lawgiver in Zion.

It belongs to His Majesty from His throne of glory to rule and teach

the Church through His Word and Spirit by the ministry of men; thus mediately

exercising His own authority and enforcing His own laws, unto the edification

and establishment of His Kingdom.

Christ, as King, has given to His Church officers, oracles and

ordinances; and especially has He ordained therein His system of doctrine,

government, discipline and worship, all of which are either expressly set down

in Scripture, or by good and necessary inference may be deduced therefrom;

and to which things He commands that nothing be added, and that from them

naught be taken away.

Since the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, He is present with the

Church by His Word and Spirit, and the benefits of all His offices are

effectually applied by the Holy Ghost.

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

II. PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES

The Presbyterian Church in America, in setting forth the form of

government founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God, reiterates the

following great principles which have governed the formation of the plan:

1. God alone is Lord of the conscience and has left it free from any

doctrines or commandments of men (a) which are in any respect

contrary to the Word of God, or (b) which, in regard to matters of

faith and worship, are not governed by the Word of God. Therefore,

the rights of private judgment in all matters that respect religion are

universal and inalienable. No religious constitution should be

supported by the civil power further than may be necessary for

protection and security equal and common to all others.

2. In perfect consistency with the above principle, every Christian

Church, or union or association of particular churches, is entitled to

declare the terms of admission into its communion and the

qualifications of its ministers and members, as well as the whole

system of its internal government which Christ has appointed. In

the exercise of this right it may, notwithstanding, err in making the

terms of communion either too lax or too narrow; yet even in this

case, it does not infringe upon the liberty or the rights of others, but

only makes an improper use of its own.

3. Our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible Church,

which is His body, has appointed officers not only to preach the

Gospel and administer the Sacraments, but also to exercise

discipline for the preservation both of truth and duty. It is

incumbent upon these officers and upon the whole Church in whose

name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous,

observing in all cases the rules contained in the Word of God.

4. Godliness is founded on truth. A test of truth is its power to

promote holiness according to our Saviour's rule, "By their fruits ye

shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). No opinion can be more

pernicious or more absurd than that which brings truth and

falsehood upon the same level.

On the contrary, there is an inseparable connection between

faith and practice, truth and duty. Otherwise it would be of no

consequence either to discover truth or to embrace it.

PREFACE

5. While, under the conviction of the above principle, it is necessary

to make effective provision that all who are admitted as teachers be

sound in the faith, there are truths and forms with respect to which

men of good character and principles may differ. In all these it is

the duty both of private Christians and societies to exercise mutual

forbearance toward each other.

6. Though the character, qualifications and authority of church

officers are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the proper

method of officer investiture, the power to elect persons to the

exercise of authority in any particular society resides in that society.

7. All church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or by

representation, is only ministerial and declarative since the Holy

Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice. No church

judicatory may make laws to bind the conscience. All church courts

may err through human frailty, yet it rests upon them to uphold the

laws of Scripture though this obligation be lodged with fallible

men.

8. Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in

its object, and not attended with any civil effects, it can derive no

force whatever, but from its own justice, the approbation of an

impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great

Head of the Church.

If the preceding scriptural principles be steadfastly adhered to, the

vigor and strictness of government and discipline, applied with pastoral

prudence and Christian love, will contribute to the glory and well-being

of the Church.

III. THE CONSTITUTION DEFINED

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is

subject to and subordinate to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,

the inerrant Word Of God, consists of its doctrinal standards set forth in the

Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the Larger and Shorter

Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order, comprising the Form of

Government, the Rules of Discipline and the Directory for Worship; all as

adopted by the Church.

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PART I

FORM OF GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 1

The Doctrine of Church Government.

1-1. The scriptural form of church government, which is representative or

presbyterian, is comprehended under five heads: a. The Church; b. Its

members; c. Its officers; d. Its courts; e. Its orders.

1-2. The Church which the Lord Jesus Christ has erected in this world for

the gathering and perfecting of the saints is His visible kingdom of grace, and

is one and the same in all ages.

1-3. The members of this visible Church catholic are all those persons in

every nation, together with their children, who make profession of their faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ and promise submission to His laws.

1-4. The officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered,

are, according to the Scriptures, teaching and ruling elders and deacons.

1-5. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is not a several, but a joint power, to be

exercised by presbyters in courts. These courts may have jurisdiction over one

or many churches, but they sustain such mutual relations as to realize the idea

of the unity of the Church.

1-6. The ordination of officers is ordinarily by a court, except in the case

of ordination by a presbytery's evangelist (see BCO 8-6).

1-7. This scriptural doctrine of Presbytery is necessary to the perfection of

the order of the visible Church, but is not essential to its existence.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 2-1

CHAPTER 2

The Visible Church Defined

2-1. The Visible Church before the law, under the law, and now under the

Gospel, is one and the same and consists of all those who make profession of

their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, together with their children.

2-2. This visible unity of the body of Christ, though obscured, is not

destroyed by its division into different denominations of professing Christians;

but all of these which maintain the Word and Sacraments in their fundamental

integrity are to be recognized as true branches of the Church of Jesus Christ.

2-3. It is according to scriptural example that the Church should be divided

into many individual churches.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 3-1

CHAPTER 3

The Nature and Extent of Church Power

3-1. The power which Christ has committed to His Church vests in the

whole body, the rulers and those ruled, constituting it a spiritual

commonwealth. This power, as exercised by the people, extends to the choice

of those officers whom He has appointed in His Church.

3-2. Ecclesiastical power, which is wholly spiritual, is twofold. The

officers exercise it sometimes severally, as in preaching the Gospel,

administering the Sacraments, reproving the erring, visiting the sick, and

comforting the afflicted, which is the power of order; and they exercise it

sometimes jointly in Church courts, after the form of judgment, which is the

power of jurisdiction.

3-3. The sole functions of the Church, as a kingdom and government

distinct from the civil commonwealth, are to proclaim, to administer, and to

enforce the law of Christ revealed in the Scriptures.

3-4. The power of the Church is exclusively spiritual; that of the State

includes the exercise of force. The constitution of the Church derives from

divine revelation; the constitution of the State must be determined by human

reason and the course of providential events. The Church has no right to

construct or modify a government for the State, and the State has no right to

frame a creed or polity for the Church. They are as planets moving in

concentric orbits: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God

the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

3-5. The Church, with its ordinances, officers and courts, is the agency

which Christ has ordained for the edification and government of His people,

for the propagation of the faith, and for the evangelization of the world.

3-6. The exercise of ecclesiastical power, whether joint or several, has the

divine sanction when in conformity with the statutes enacted by Christ, the

Lawgiver, and when put forth by courts or by officers appointed thereunto in

His Word.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 4-1

CHAPTER 4

The Particular Church

4-1. A particular church consists of a number of professing Christians, with

their children, associated together for divine worship and godly living,

agreeable to the Scriptures, and submitting to the lawful government of

Christ's kingdom.

4-2. Its officers are its teaching and ruling elders and its deacons.

4-3. Its jurisdiction, being a joint power, is lodged in the church Session,

which consists of its pastor, pastors, its associate pastor(s) and its ruling elders.

4-4. The ordinances established by Christ, the Head, in His Church are

prayer; singing praises; reading, expounding and preaching the Word of God;

administering the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; public solemn

fasting and thanksgiving; catechizing; making offerings for the relief of the

poor and for other pious uses; and exercising discipline; the taking of solemn

vows, and the ordination to sacred office.

4-5. Churches without teaching elders ought not to forsake the assembling

of themselves together, but should be convened by the Session on the Lord's

Day, and at other suitable times, for prayer, praise, the presenting and

expounding of the Holy Scriptures, and exhortation, or the reading of a sermon

of some approved minister. In like manner, Christians whose lot is cast in

destitute regions ought to meet regularly for the worship of God.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 5-1

CHAPTER 5

The Organization of a Particular Church

A. Mission Churches

5-1. A mission church may be properly described in the same manner as

the particular church is described in BCO 4-1. It is distinguished from a

particular church in that it has no permanent governing body, and thus must be

governed or supervised by others. However, its goal is to mature and be

organized as a particular church as soon as this can be done decently and in

good order.

5-2. Ordinarily, mission churches are established by Presbyteries within

their boundaries.

a. Initiatives to which the Presbytery may respond in establishing a

mission church include, but are not limited to, the following:

i. The Presbytery establishes a mission church at its own initiative.

ii. The Presbytery responds to the initiative of a Session of a

particular church.

iii. The Presbytery responds to the petition of an independent

gathering of believers who have expressed their desire to become

a congregation by submitting to the Presbytery a written request.

b. In the event an existing non-PCA church is interested in coming into

the PCA, the Presbytery shall work with the church leadership to

determine whether the church should come into the PCA as a mission

church or seek Presbytery approval to be received under the provisions

of BCO 13-8.

c. Should it become necessary, the Presbytery may dissolve the mission

church. Church members enrolled should be cared for according to

the procedures of 13-10.

d. If the mission church is located outside the bounds of a Presbytery, the

responsibility may be exercised through the General Assembly’s

Committee on Mission to North America or Committee on Mission to

the World, as the case may be, according to the Rules of Assembly

Operations. In such a case the powers of the Presbytery in the

following provisions shall be exercised by the General Assembly

through its appropriate committee.

5-3. The mission church, because of its transitional condition, requires a

temporary system of government. Depending on the circumstances and at its

own discretion, Presbytery may provide for such government in one of several

ways:

5-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

a. Appoint an evangelist as prescribed in with BCO 8-6.

b. Cooperate with the Session of a particular church in arranging a

mother-daughter relationship with a mission church. The Session may

then serve as the temporary governing body of the mission church.

c. Appoint a BCO 15-1 commission to serve as a temporary Session of

the mission church. When a minister of the Presbytery has been

approved to serve as pastor of the mission church, he shall be included

as a member of the commission and serve as its moderator.

The temporary system of government shall record and submit its records to

Presbytery for annual review in the same manner as Sessions of particular

churches.

5-4. Pastoral ministry for the mission church may be provided:

a. by a minister of the Presbytery called by Presbytery to serve as pastor,

b. by stated, student, or ruling elder supply (BCO 22-5, -6), or

c. by a series of qualified preachers approved by the temporary

government (BCO 12-5.e).

5-5. The temporary government shall receive members (BCO 12-5.a) into

the mission church according to the provisions of BCO 57 so far as they may

be applicable. As members of the mission church those received are

communing or non-communing members of the Presbyterian Church in

America.

a. If there is a minister approved by Presbytery to serve the mission

church as its pastor (BCO 5-4.a), each member so received shall be

understood to assent to the call of that minister and to affirm the

promises made to the pastor in BCO 21-10.

b. Meetings of the members of the mission church shall be governed

according to the provisions of BCO 25 so far as they may be

applicable.

5-6. Mission churches and their members shall have the right of judicial

process to the court having oversight of their temporary governing body.

5-7. Mission churches shall maintain a roll of communicant and non-

communicant members, in the same manner as, but separate from, other

particular churches.

5-8. It is the intention of the Presbyterian Church in America that mission

churches enjoy the same status as particular churches in relation to civil

government.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 5-9

B. The Organization of a Particular Church

5-9. A new church can be organized only by the authority of Presbytery.

a. A Presbytery should establish standing rules setting forth the

prerequisites that qualify a mission church to begin the organization

process, e.g., the minimum number of petitioners and the level of

financial support to be provided by the congregation. The number of

officers sufficient to constitute the quorum for a session shall be

necessary to complete the organization process.

b. The temporary government of the mission church shall oversee the

steps necessary for organization.

c. When the temporary government determines that among the members

of the mission congregation there are men who appear qualified as

officers, the nomination process shall begin and the election conclude

following the procedures of BCO 24 so far as they may be applicable.

d. The election of officers shall normally take place at least two weeks

prior to the date of the organization service. However, the effective

date of service for the newly elected officers shall be upon the

completion of the organization service.

e. If deacons are not elected, the duties of the office shall devolve upon

the session, until deacons can be secured.

f. If there is a minister approved by Presbytery to serve the mission

church as its pastor, and members of the mission church have been

received according to BCO 5-5, the temporary session shall call a

congregational meeting at which the congregation may, by majority

vote, call the organizing pastor to be their pastor without the steps of

BCO 20. If no such minister has been appointed, or the minister or

congregation choose not to continue the pastoral relationship of the

newly organized church, a pastor shall be called as follows:

(1) The temporary government shall oversee the election of a pastor

according the provisions of BCO 20 so far as they are applicable.

If a candidate is to be proposed before the organization, the

congregational meeting to elect a pastor shall take place early

enough for Presbytery to consider and approve the pastor’s call

prior to the service of organization. This may be the same meeting

called for the election of other officers.

(2) The ordination and/or installation shall be according to the

provisions of BCO 21 so far as they are applicable. The service

may take place at the service of organization.

5-9 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

g. In order to proceed to organization as a particular church the members

of the mission church shall sign a petition to Presbytery requesting the

same.

h. Upon Presbytery’s approval of the petition, Presbytery shall appoint

an organizing commission and shall set the date and time of the

organization service.

i. At the service of organization the following elements shall be included

in the order deemed by the organizing commission to be appropriate:

(1) The organizing commission shall ordain and/or install ruling

elders and/or deacons according to the provisions of BCO 24-6 so

far as they may be applicable.

(2) If a pastor is being ordained and/or installed at the service, the

organizing commission shall act according to the provisions of

BCO 21 so far as they may be applicable.

(3) A member of the organizing commission shall require

communicant members of the mission church present to enter into

covenant, by answering the following question affirmatively, with

uplifted hand:

Do you, in reliance on God for strength, solemnly

promise and covenant that you will walk together

as a particular church, on the principles of the faith

and order of the Presbyterian Church in America,

and that you will be zealous and faithful in

maintaining the purity and peace of the whole body?

(4) A member of the organizing commission shall then say:

I now pronounce and declare that you are

constituted a church according to the Word of God

and the faith and order of the Presbyterian Church

in America. In the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

5-10. Upon organization, the newly elected session should meet as soon as

is practicable to elect a stated clerk and formulate a budget. If there is no pastor,

the session may elect as moderator one of their own number or any teaching

elder of the Presbytery with Presbytery’s approval. Further, if there is no

pastor, action shall be taken to secure, as soon as practicable, the regular

administration of Word and Sacraments.”

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 6-1

CHAPTER 6

Church Members

6-1. The children of believers are, through the covenant and by right of

birth, non-communing members of the church. Hence they are entitled to

Baptism, and to the pastoral oversight, instruction and government of the

church, with a view to their embracing Christ and thus possessing personally

all benefits of the covenant.

6-2. Communing members are those who have made a profession of faith

in Christ, have been baptized, and have been admitted by the Session to the

Lord's Table. (See BCO 46-4 for associate members).

6-3. All baptized persons are entitled to the watchful care, instruction and

government of the church, even though they are adults and have made no

profession of their faith in Christ.

6-4. Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been

baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all

the rights and privileges of the church. (See BCO 57-4 and 58-4)

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 7-1

CHAPTER 7

Church Officers-General Classification

7-1. Under the New Testament, our Lord at first collected His people out

of different nations, and united them to the household of faith by the ministry

of extraordinary officers who received extraordinary gifts of the Spirit and who

were agents by whom God completed His revelation to His Church. Such

officers and gifts related to new revelation have no successors since God

completed His revelation at the conclusion of the Apostolic Age.

7-2. The ordinary and perpetual classes of office in the Church are elders

and deacons. Within the class of elder are the two orders of teaching elders

and ruling elders. The elders jointly have the government and spiritual

oversight of the Church, including teaching. Only those elders who are

specially gifted, called and trained by God to preach may serve as teaching

elders. The office of deacon is not one of rule, but rather of service both to the

physical and spiritual needs of the people. In accord with Scripture, these

offices are open to men only.

7-3. No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority

therein, or receive any official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as

are employed in the Scriptures.

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

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 8-1

CHAPTER 8

The Elder

8-1. This office is one of dignity and usefulness. The man who fills it has

in Scripture different titles expressive of his various duties. As he has the

oversight of the flock of Christ, he is termed bishop or pastor. As it is his duty

to be spiritually fruitful, dignified, and prudent, an example to the flock, and

to govern well in the house and Kingdom of Christ, he is termed presbyter or

elder. As he expounds the Word, and by sound doctrine both exhorts and

convinces the gainsayer, he is termed teacher. These titles do not indicate

different grades of office, but all describe one and the same office.

8-2. He that fills this office should possess a competency of human

learning and be blameless in life, sound in the faith and apt to teach. He should

exhibit a sobriety and holiness of life becoming the Gospel. He should rule

his own house well and should have a good report of them that are outside

the Church.

8-3. It belongs to those in the office of elder, both severally and jointly, to

watch diligently over the flock committed to his charge, that no corruption of

doctrine or of morals enter therein. They must exercise government and

discipline, and take oversight not only of the spiritual interests of the particular

church, but also the Church generally when called thereunto. They should visit

the people at their homes, especially the sick. They should instruct the ignorant,

comfort the mourner, nourish and guard the children of the Church. They should

set a worthy example to the flock entrusted to their care by their zeal to

evangelize the unconverted, make disciples, and demonstrate hospitality. All

those duties which private Christians are bound to discharge

by the law of love are especially incumbent upon them by divine vocation, and

are to be discharged as official duties. They should pray with and for the people,

being careful and diligent in seeking the fruit of the preached Word among the

flock.

8-4. As the Lord has given different gifts to men and has committed to

some special gifts and callings, the Church is authorized to call and appoint

some to labor as teaching elders in such works as may be needful to the

Church. When a teaching elder is called to such needful work, it shall be

incumbent upon him to make full proof of his ministry by disseminating the

Gospel for the edification of the Church. He shall make a report to the

Presbytery at least once each year.

8-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

8-5. When a man is called to labor as a teaching elder, it belongs to his

order, in addition to those functions he shares with all other elders, to feed the

flock by reading, expounding and preaching the Word of God and to

administer the Sacraments. As he is sent to declare the will of God to sinners,

and to beseech them to be reconciled to God through Christ, he is termed

ambassador. As he bears glad tidings of salvation to the ignorant and

perishing, he is termed evangelist. As he stands to proclaim the Gospel, he is

termed preacher. As he dispenses the manifold grace of God, and the

ordinances instituted by Christ, he is termed steward of the mysteries of God.

8-6. When a teaching elder is appointed to the work of an evangelist in

foreign countries or where there are no other PCA churches within a reasonable

distance, he is commissioned for a renewable term of twelve months to preach

the Word, to administer the Sacraments, to receive and dismiss members of

mission churches, and to train potential officers. By separate actions the

Presbytery may in extraordinary situations commission him to examine, ordain

and install ruling elders and deacons and organize churches.

8-7. A Presbytery may, at its discretion, approve the call of a teaching elder

to work with an organization outside the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian

Church in America, provided that he be engaged in preaching and teaching the

Word, that the Presbytery be assured he will have full freedom to maintain and

teach the doctrine of our Church, and that he report at least annually on his

work. As far as possible, such a teaching elder shall be a member of the

Presbytery within whose bounds he labors. (See BCO 20-1.)

8-8. As there were in the Church under the law, elders of the people for the

government thereof, so in the Gospel Church, Christ has furnished others

besides ministers of the Word with gifts and commission to govern when

called thereunto, who are called ruling elders.

8-9. Elders being of one class of office, ruling elders possess the same

authority and eligibility to office in the courts of the Church as teaching elders.

They should, moreover, cultivate zealously their own aptness to teach the

Bible and should improve every opportunity of doing so.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 9-1

CHAPTER 9

The Deacon

9-1. The office of deacon is set forth in the Scriptures as ordinary and

perpetual in the Church. The office is one of sympathy and service, after the

example of the Lord Jesus; it expresses also the communion of saints,

especially in their helping one another in time of need.

9-2. It is the duty of the deacons to minister to those who are in need, to

the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress. It is their duty

also to develop the grace of liberality in the members of the church, to devise

effective methods of collecting the gifts of the people, and to distribute these

gifts among the objects to which they are contributed. They shall have the care

of the property of the congregation, both real and personal, and shall keep in

proper repair the church edifice and other buildings belonging to the

congregation. In matters of special importance affecting the property of the

church, they cannot take final action without the approval of the Session and

consent of the congregation.

In the discharge of their duties the deacons are under the supervision

and authority of the Session. In a church in which it is impossible for any

reason to secure deacons, the duties of the office shall devolve upon the ruling

elders.

9-3. To the office of deacon, which is spiritual in nature, shall be chosen

men of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly spirit,

warm sympathies, and sound judgment.

9-4. The deacons of a particular church shall be organized as a Board, of

which the pastor shall be an advisory member. The Board shall elect a

chairman and a secretary from their number and a treasurer to whom shall be

entrusted the funds for the current expenses of the church. It shall meet

separately at least once a quarter, and whenever requested by the Session. The

Board of each church shall determine the number necessary for a quorum.

The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings, and of all funds and

their distribution, and shall submit its minutes to the Session regularly, and at

other times upon request of the Session.

It is desirable that the Session and the Board of Deacons meet in joint

session once a quarter to confer on matters of common interest.

9-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

9-5. Deacons may properly be appointed by the higher courts to serve on

committees, especially as treasurers. It is suitable also that they be appointed

trustees of any fund held by any of the Church courts. It may also be helpful

for the Church courts, when devising plans of church finance, to invite wise

and consecrated deacons to their councils.

9-6. The deacons may, with much advantage, hold conference from time

to time for the discussion of the interests committed to them. Such conferences

may include representatives of churches covering areas of smaller or larger

extent. Any actions taken by these conferences shall have only an advisory

character.

9-7. It is often expedient that the Session of a church should select and

appoint godly men and women of the congregation to assist the deacons in

caring for the sick, the widows, the orphans, the prisoners, and others who may

be in any distress or need. These assistants to the deacons are not officers of

the church (BCO 7-2) and, as such, are not subjects for ordination (BCO 17).

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 10-1

CHAPTER 10

Church Courts in General

10-1. The Church is governed by various courts, in regular gradation, which

are all, nevertheless, Presbyteries, as being composed exclusively of

presbyters.

10-2. These courts are church Sessions, Presbyteries, and the General

Assembly.

10-3. The pastor is, for prudential reasons, moderator of the Session. The

moderator of the Presbytery may be elected at each stated meeting of the court,

or for a period of time up to one year. The moderator of the General Assembly

shall be chosen at each stated meeting; he, or in case of his absence the last

moderator present or the oldest minister longest a member of the court, shall

open the next meeting with a sermon unless it is impracticable, and shall hold

the chair until a new moderator be chosen.

The moderator has all authority necessary for the preservation of order

and for the proper and expeditious conduct of all business before the court, and

for convening and adjourning the court according to its own ruling. In any

emergency, he may by circular letter change the time or place, or both, of

meeting to which the court stands adjourned, giving reasonable notice thereof.

10-4. A clerk or clerks shall be elected by the Session, Presbytery, and

General Assembly to serve for a definite period as determined by the court.

It is the duty of the clerk, besides recording the transactions, to

preserve the records carefully, and to grant extracts from them whenever

properly required. Such extracts under the hand of the clerk shall be evidence

to any ecclesiastical court, and to every part of the Church.

10-5. Every meeting of the Session, Presbytery and General Assembly shall

be opened and closed with prayer, and in closing the final session a psalm or

hymn may be sung and the benediction pronounced.

10-6. The expenses of ministers and ruling elders in their attendance on the

courts shall be defrayed by the bodies which they respectively represent.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 11-1

CHAPTER 11

Jurisdiction of Church Courts

11-1. These assemblies are altogether distinct from the civil magistracy, and

have no jurisdiction in political or civil affairs. They have no power to inflict

temporal pains and penalties, but their authority is in all respects moral or

spiritual.

11-2. The jurisdiction of Church courts is only ministerial and declarative,

and relates to the doctrines and precepts of Christ, to the order of the Church,

and to the exercise of discipline.

First, they can make no laws binding the conscience; but may frame

symbols of faith, bear testimony against error in doctrine and immorality in

practice, within or without the Church, and decide cases of conscience.

Secondly, they have power to establish rules for the government,

discipline, worship, and extension of the Church, which must be agreeable to

the doctrines relating thereto contained in the Scriptures, the circumstantial

details only of these matters being left to the Christian prudence and wisdom

of Church officers and courts.

Thirdly, they possess the right to require obedience to the laws of

Christ. Hence, they admit those qualified to sealing ordinances and to their

respective offices, and they exclude the disobedient and disorderly from such

offices or from sacramental privileges. The highest censure to which their

authority extends is to cut off the contumacious and impenitent from the

congregation of believers. Moreover, they possess all the administrative

authority necessary to give effect to these powers.

11-3. All Church courts are one in nature, constituted of the same elements,

possessed inherently of the same kinds of rights and powers, and differing only

as the Constitution may provide. When, however, according to Scriptural

example, and needful to the purity and harmony of the whole Church, disputed

matters of doctrine and order arising in the lower courts are referred to the

higher courts for decision, such referral shall not be so exercised as to impinge

upon the authority of the lower court.

11-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

11-4. For the orderly and efficient dispatch of ecclesiastical business, it is

necessary that the sphere of action of each court should be distinctly defined.

The Session exercises jurisdiction over a single church, the Presbytery over

what is common to the ministers, Sessions, and churches within a prescribed

district, and the General Assembly over such matters as concern the whole

Church. The jurisdiction of these courts is limited by the express provisions

of the Constitution.

Every court has the right to resolve questions of doctrine and

discipline seriously and reasonably proposed, and in general to maintain truth

and righteousness, condemning erroneous opinions and practices which tend

to the injury of the peace, purity, or progress of the Church. Although each

court exercises exclusive original jurisdiction over all matters especially

belonging to it, the lower courts are subject to the review and control of the

higher courts, in regular gradation. These courts are not separate and

independent tribunals, but they have a mutual relation, and every act of

jurisdiction is the act of the whole Church performed by it through the

appropriate organ.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 12-1

CHAPTER 12

The Church Session

12-1. The church Session consists of the pastor, associate pastor(s), if there

be any, and the ruling elders of a church. If there are four or more ruling elders,

the pastor and two ruling elders shall constitute a quorum. If there are fewer

than four ruling elders, the pastor and one ruling elder shall constitute a

quorum. Assistant pastors, although not members of the Session, may be

invited to attend and participate in discussion without vote.

When a church has no pastor and there are five or more ruling elders,

three shall constitute a quorum; if there are less than five ruling elders, two

shall constitute a quorum; if there is only one ruling elder, he does not

constitute a Session, but he should take spiritual oversight of the church,

should represent it at Presbytery, should grant letters of dismission, and should

report to the Presbytery any matter needing the action of a Church court.

Any Session, by a majority vote of its members, may fix its own

quorum, provided that it is not smaller than the quorum stated in these

paragraphs.

12-2. The pastor is, by virtue of his office, the moderator of the Session. In

the pastor’s absence, if any emergency should arise requiring immediate

action, the Session may elect one of its members to preside, the quorum for

such emergency meeting being as in the case of a church with no pastor in 12-

1. Should prudential reasons at any time make it advisable for a minister other

than the pastor to preside, the pastor may, with the concurrence of the Session,

invite a minister of the same Presbytery to perform this service.

12-3. When a church is without a pastor, the moderator of the Session may

be either a minister appointed for that purpose by the Presbytery, with consent

of the Session, or one invited by the Session to preside on a particular occasion,

or one of its own members elected to preside. In judicial cases, the moderator

shall be a minister of the Presbytery to which the church belongs.

12-4. Associate or assistant pastors may substitute for the pastor as

moderator of the Session at the discretion of the pastor and Session.

12-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

12-5. The church Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual

government of the church, for which purpose it has power:

a. To inquire into the knowledge, principles and Christian conduct of the

church members under its care; to censure those found delinquent; to

see that parents do not neglect to present their children for Baptism; to

receive members into the communion of the Church; to remove them

for just cause; to grant letters of dismissal to other churches, which

when given to parents, shall always include the names of their non-

communing, baptized children;

b. To examine, ordain, and install ruling elders and deacons on their

election by the church, and to require these officers to devote

themselves to their work; to examine the records of the proceedings of

the deacons; to approve and adopt the budget;

c. To approve actions of special importance affecting church property;

d. To call congregational meetings when necessary; to establish and

control Sunday schools and Bible classes with special reference to the

children of the church; to establish and control all special groups in

the church such as Men in the Church, Women in the Church and

special Bible study groups; to promote world missions; to promote

obedience to the Great Commission in its totality at home and abroad;

to order collections for pious uses;

e. To exercise, in accordance with the Directory for Worship, authority

over the time and place of the preaching of the Word and the

administration of the Sacraments, over all other religious services,

over the music in the services, and over the uses to which the church

building and associated properties may be put; to take the oversight of

the singing in the public worship of God; to ensure that the Word of

God is preached only by such men as are sufficiently qualified (BCO

4-4, 53-2, 1 Timothy 2:11-12); to assemble the people for worship

when there is no minister; to determine the best measures for

promoting the spiritual interests of the church and congregation;

f. To observe and carry out the lawful injunctions of the higher courts;

and to appoint representatives to the higher courts, who shall, on their

return, make report of their diligence.

12-6. The Session shall hold stated meetings at least quarterly. Moreover,

the pastor has power to convene the Session when he may judge it requisite;

and he shall always convene it when requested to do so by any two of the ruling

elders. When there is no pastor, it may be convened by two ruling elders. The

Session shall also convene when directed so to do by the Presbytery.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 12-7

12-7. Every Session shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings, which

record shall be submitted at least once in every year to the inspection of the

Presbytery.

12-8. Every Session shall keep an accurate record of baptisms, of

communing members, of non-communing members, and of the deaths and

dismissions of church members.

12-9. Meetings of the Sessions shall be opened and closed with prayer.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 13-1

CHAPTER 13

The Presbytery

13-1. The Presbytery consists of all the teaching elders and churches within

its bounds that have been accepted by the Presbytery. When the Presbytery

meets as a court it shall comprise all teaching elders and ruling elders as elected

by their Session. Each congregation is entitled to two (2) ruling elder

representatives for the first 350 communing members or fraction thereof, and

one additional ruling elder for each additional 500 communing members or

fraction thereof.

13-2. A minister shall be required to hold his membership in the Presbytery

within whose geographical bounds he resides, unless there are reasons which

are satisfactory to his Presbytery why he should not do so. When a minister

labors outside the geographical bounds of, or in a work not under the

jurisdiction of his Presbytery, at home or abroad, it shall be only with the full

concurrence of and under circumstances agreeable to his Presbytery, and to the

Presbytery within whose geographical bounds he labors, if one exists. When

a minister shall continue on the rolls of his Presbytery without a call to a

particular work for a prolonged period, not exceeding three years, the

procedure as set forth in BCO 34-10 shall be followed. A minister without call

shall make or file a report to his Presbytery at least once each year.

[EDITORIAL COMMENT: The provision for a minister to hold his

membership in the presbytery within whose geographical bounds he resides

does not apply to the non-geographical Korean Language Presbyteries as long

as the General Assembly mandates their existence.]

13-3. Every ruling elder not known to the Presbytery shall produce a

certificate of his regular appointment from the Session of the church which he

represents.

13-4. Any three ministers belonging to the Presbytery, together with at least

three ruling elders, being met at the time and place appointed, shall be a

quorum competent to proceed to business.

However, any Presbytery, by a majority vote of those present at a

stated meeting, may fix its own quorum provided it is not smaller than the

quorum stated in this paragraph.

13-5. Ordinarily, only a minister who receives a call to a definite ecclesiastical

work within the bounds of a particular Presbytery may be received as a

member of that Presbytery except in cases where the minister is already

13-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

honorably retired, or in those cases deemed necessary by the Presbytery,

subject to the review of the General Assembly. In such cases deemed

necessary, which may include the case of a minister without call whose

circumstances appear to require relocation within the bounds of that

Presbytery, the time allotment of BCO 13-2 shall be counted from the day the

minister was first continued on the roll without call in any Presbytery.

13-6. Ministers seeking admission to a Presbytery from other Presbyteries

in the Presbyterian Church in America shall be examined on Christian

experience, and also touching their views in theology, the Sacraments, and

church government. If applicants come from other denominations, the

Presbytery shall examine them thoroughly in knowledge and views as required

by BCO 21-4 and require them to answer in the affirmative the questions put

to candidates at their ordination. Ordained ministers from other denominations

being considered by Presbyteries for reception may come under the

extraordinary provisions set forth in BCO 21-4. Presbyteries shall also require

ordained ministers coming from other denominations to state the specific

instances in which they may differ with the Confession of Faith and

Catechisms in any of their statements and/or propositions, which differences

the court shall judge in accordance with BCO 21-4 (see BCO 21-4.e,f).

13-7. The Presbytery shall cause to be transcribed, in some convenient part

of the book of records, the obligations required of ministers at their ordination,

which shall be subscribed by all admitted to membership, in the following

form:

I, _______________, do sincerely receive and subscribe to the above

obligation as a just and true exhibition of my faith and principles,

and do resolve and promise to exercise my ministry in conformity

thereunto.

13-8. The Presbytery, before receiving into its membership any church, shall

designate a commission to meet with the church's ruling elders to make certain

that the elders understand and can sincerely adopt the doctrines and polity of

the Presbyterian Church in America as contained in its Constitution. In the

presence of the commission, the ruling elders shall be required to answer

affirmatively the questions required of officers at their ordination.

13-9. The Presbytery has power to receive and issue

appeals, complaints,

and references brought before it in an orderly manner. In cases in which the

Session cannot exercise its authority, it shall have power to assume original

jurisdiction. It has power:

* Editor's note: "Issue" means "settling the issue of the case."

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 13-9

a. To receive under its care candidates for the ministry; to examine and

license candidates for the holy ministry; to receive, dismiss, ordain,

install, remove and judge ministers;

b. To review the records of church Sessions, redress whatever they may

have done contrary to order and take effectual care that they observe

the Constitution of the Church;

c. To establish the pastoral relation and to dissolve it at the request of

one or both of the parties, or where the interest of religion imperatively

demands it;

d. To set apart evangelists to their proper work; to require ministers to

devote themselves diligently to their sacred calling and to censure the

delinquent;

e. To see that the lawful injunctions of the higher courts are obeyed;

f. To condemn erroneous opinions which injure the purity or peace of

the Church; to visit churches for the purpose of inquiring into and

redressing the evils that may have arisen in them; to unite or divide

churches, at the request of the members thereof; to form and receive

new churches; to take special oversight of churches without pastors;

to dissolve churches; to dismiss churches with their consent;

g. To devise measures for the enlargement of the Church within its

bounds; in general, to order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare

of the churches under its care;

h. And, finally, to propose to the Assembly such measures as may be of

common advantage to the Church at large.

13-10. When a Presbytery determines to dissolve a church, it shall give no

less than sixty (60) days notice of such dissolution to the local church. With

such notice, Presbytery shall communicate to the members their responsibility

to transfer their membership to other particular or mission churches. In

addition, Presbytery shall:

1. transfer membership to existing churches, with the consent of the

individuals and the Sessions of the receiving churches; or

2. grant a letter of dismissal to an individual so requesting, testifying that

the individual was a member in good standing of the local church at

the date of dissolution (see BCO 46-7). Until such time as the person

is received by a church the Presbytery shall continue to provide

pastoral oversight; or

3. place individuals under the oversight of a commission of Presbytery

acting as a session (BCO 15-2), for up to one year, renewable, until

such time as either a new congregation can be formed or such persons

are dismissed to membership in another church.

13-11 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

13-11. The Presbytery shall keep a full and accurate record of its proceedings,

and shall send it up to the General Assembly annually for review. It shall

report to the General Assembly every year, all the important changes which

may have taken place, such as licensures, ordinations, the receiving or

dismissing of members, the removal of members by death, the union and the

division of churches, and the formation of new ones.

13-12. The Presbytery shall meet at least twice a year on its own adjournment.

The Moderator shall call a special meeting at the request or with the

concurrence of three teaching elders and three ruling elders from at least three

different churches. Should the Moderator be for any reason unable to act, the

Stated Clerk shall, under the same requirements, issue the call. If both

Moderator and Stated Clerk are unable to act, any three teaching elders and

three ruling elders of at least three different churches shall have power to call

a meeting. However, any Presbytery may prescribe in its rules its own

requirements for calling a special meeting, provided that those requirements

are not less than those stated in this section. Notice of the special meeting shall

be sent not less than ten days in advance to each teaching elder and to the Clerk

of Session of every church. In the notice, the purpose of the meeting shall be

stated, and no business other than that named in the notice is to be transacted.

The Presbytery also shall convene when directed to do so by the General

Assembly, for the transaction of designated business only.

13-13. Ministers in good standing in other Presbyteries, or in any evangelical

church, being present at any meeting of Presbytery, may be invited to sit as

visiting brethren. It is proper for the moderator to introduce these brethren to

the Presbytery. This provision shall also apply to the General Assembly.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 14-1

CHAPTER 14

The General Assembly

14-1. The General Assembly is the highest court of this Church, and

represents in one body all the churches thereof. It bears the title of The General

Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, and constitutes the bond of

union, peace and correspondence among all its congregations and courts.

Principles for the Organization of the Assembly:

1. The Church is responsible for carrying out the Great Commission.

2. The initiative for carrying out the Great Commission belongs to the

Church at every court level, and the Assembly is responsible to

encourage and promote the fulfillment of this ministry by the various

courts.

3. The work of the Church as set forth in the Great Commission is one

work, being implemented at the General Assembly level through

equally essential committees.

4. It is the responsibility of every member and every member

congregation to support the whole work of the denomination as they

be led in their conscience held captive to the Word of God.

5. It is the responsibility of the General Assembly to evaluate needs and

resources, and to act on priorities for the most effective fulfillment of

the Great Commission.

6. The Church recognizes the right of individuals and congregations to

labor through other agencies in fulfilling the Great Commission.

7. The Assembly's committees are to serve and not to direct any Church

judicatories. They are not to establish policy, but rather execute policy

established by the General Assembly.

8. The committees serve the Church through the duties assigned by the

General Assembly.

9. The Assembly's committees are to include proportionate

representation of all presbyteries, wherever possible.

10. The committees are to be established on the basis of an equal number

between teaching and ruling elders.

14-1 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

11. A Nominating Committee shall be comprised of one representative

elected by each Presbytery in the following manner. Each Presbytery

shall be assigned to a class by the stated clerk based on its date of

formation. The members shall serve in classes of three year terms,

alternating between ruling and teaching elders. When necessary,

unexpired terms shall be filled by an elder of the same class, teaching

or ruling.

This committee is to present all nominations for which it is

responsible to the next meeting of the Assembly from a slate of men

nominated by the Presbyteries. Presbyteries shall utilize the

nominating forms provided by the stated clerk for their nominations.

Each presbytery may present one teaching elder and one ruling elder

for each committee or agency.

In addition to nominees for expired terms, the Committee

shall nominate for each permanent committee one ruling and one

teaching elder as alternates to fill any vacancies that may occur during

the year. Each alternate should attend each meeting and fill any

vacancy necessary to meet a quorum. In addition to the new nominees

from the Presbyteries, alternates not assuming any vacancies during a

year will be automatically considered by the Nominating Committee

as candidates for nomination to that same committee.

12. The Assembly permanent committees are the Administrative

Committee of General Assembly, Committee on Discipleship

Ministries, Committee on Mission to North America, Committee on

Mission to the World, and Committee on Reformed University

Fellowship.

The Administrative Committee of General Assembly (AC)

shall consist of twenty (20) members:

a. Eleven members in classes elected through the standard

nomination and election procedure,

b. One member each from the following program

committees or agencies:

1. Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM);

2. Covenant College (CC);

3. Covenant Theological Seminary (CTS);

4. Mission to North America (MNA);

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 14-1

5. Mission to the World (MTW);

6. PCA Foundation (PCAF);

7. PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc. (RBI);

8. Reformed University Fellowship (RUF);

9. Ridge Haven Conference Center (RH).

The eleven members at large shall serve a term of four years.

The chairman of the Administrative Committee shall be one of its

members at large.

Each program committee and agency shall designate its

member each year at the last meeting of the committee or board before

the meeting of General Assembly. The chief administrative officers

of the program committees and agencies may attend any meeting of

the Administrative Committee. They shall be entitled to the privilege

of the floor but shall not have a vote and must be excluded when an

executive session is called.

Committee on Discipleship Ministries, Committee on Mission

to North America, Committee on Mission to the World, and

Committee on Reformed University Fellowship shall consist of fifteen

(15) men divided into five classes of three men each, with two men

being TEs and one RE or two men being REs and one TE on alternate

years, elected to serve five-year terms. Committees on Discipleship

Ministries, Mission to North America, Mission to the World, and

Reformed University Fellowship shall have one ruling and one

teaching elder as alternates to fill any vacancy that may occur during

the year.

Persons who have served for a full term, or for at least two

years of a partial term, on one of the Assembly’s permanent

committees or agencies shall not be eligible for re-election to an

Assembly committee until one year has elapsed. (Exceptions may be

permitted in agency bylaws approved by the Assembly.)

13. The General Assembly establishes personnel salaries after hearing

recommendations from the appropriate committee.

14. The Assembly shall elect a six-man Theological Examining

Committee (three teaching elders and three ruling elders of three

classes of two men each). Nominations for this Committee will be

presented by the Assembly’s Nominating Committee.

14-1 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

This committee shall examine all first and second level

administrative officers of committees, boards and agencies, and those

acting temporarily in these positions who are being recommended for

first time employment. They are to be examined in the areas of:

a. Christian experience,

b. Theology,

c. The Sacraments,

d. Church government,

e. Bible content,

f. Church history, and the

g. History of the Presbyterian Church in America.

No person will begin work or move on the field without prior

examination and approval by the General Assembly’s Theological

Examining Committee. No first level administrative officer will be

presented to the Assembly for election who has not met the approval

of this committee.

15. All business shall ordinarily come to the floor of the Assembly for

final action through committees of commissioners, except reports of

the Standing Judicial Commission, the Committee on Constitutional

Business, the Committee on Review of Presbytery Records, the

Nominating Committee and Ad Interim committees, which shall come

directly to the Assembly.

14-2. The General Assembly, which is a permanent court, shall meet at least

annually upon its own adjournment. It shall consist of all teaching elders in

good standing with their Presbyteries, and ruling elders as elected by their

Session. Each congregation is entitled to two ruling elder representatives for

the first 350 communing members or fraction thereof, and one additional

ruling elder for each additional 500 communing members or fraction thereof.

14-3. When an emergency shall require a meeting of the General Assembly

earlier than the time to which it stands adjourned, the moderator shall issue a

call for a special meeting at the request or with the concurrence of ten percent

(10%) of the commissioners who had seats in the Assembly at its preceding

meeting, of whom at least ten shall be teaching elders and at least ten ruling

elders, representing at least one-third (1/3) of the Presbyteries. Should the

moderator be for any reason unable to act, the stated clerk shall under the same

requirements issue the call.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 14-3

The members of the special meeting shall be the commissioners elected to the

preceding meeting of the Assembly or their alternates. A Session, however,

shall have the right to elect a commissioner or alternate in the stead of one who

had died since the last meeting of the Assembly, or of one who has notified the

moderator of the Session of his inability to serve. Notice of the special meeting

shall be sent not less than twenty (20) days in advance to each commissioner

and to the moderator of each Presbytery. In the notice the purpose of the

meeting is to be stated and no other business is to be transacted.

14-4. Each commissioner, before his name shall be enrolled as a member of

the Assembly, shall produce appropriate credentials.

14-5. Any one hundred (100) of these commissioners, of whom half shall be

teaching elders and half ruling elders, representing at least one-third (1/3) of

the Presbyteries, being met on the day and at the place appointed, shall be a

quorum for the transaction of business.

14-6. The General Assembly shall have power:

a. To receive and issue

all appeals, references, and complaints

regularly brought before it from the lower courts; to bear

testimony against error in doctrine and immorality in practice,

injuriously affecting the Church; to decide in all controversies

respecting doctrine and discipline;

b. To give its advice and instruction, in conformity with the

Constitution, in all cases submitted to it;

c. To review the records of the Presbyteries, to take care that the

lower courts observe the Constitution; to redress whatever they

may have done contrary to order;

d. To devise measures for promoting the prosperity and enlargement

of the Church;

e. To erect new Presbyteries, and unite and divide those which were

erected with their consent;

f. To institute and superintend the agencies necessary in the general

work of evangelization; to appoint ministers of such labors as fall

under its jurisdiction;

g. To suppress schismatical contentions and disputations, according

to the rules provided therefor;

Editor's note: "Issue" means "settling the issue of the case".

14-6 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

h. To receive under its jurisdiction, with the consent of three-fourths

(3/4) of the Presbyteries, other ecclesiastical bodies whose

organization is conformed to the doctrine and order of this

Church; to authorize Presbyteries to exercise similar power in

receiving bodies suited to become constituents of those courts, and

lying within their geographical bounds respectively;

i. To superintend the affairs of the whole Church;

j. To correspond with other churches; to unite with other

ecclesiastical bodies whose organization is conformed to the

doctrines and order of this Church, such union to be effected by a

mode of procedure defined in BCO 26; and

k. In general to recommend measures for the promotion of charity,

truth and holiness through all the churches under its care.

14-7. Actions of the General Assembly pursuant to the provision of BCO

14-6 such as deliverances, resolutions, overtures, and judicial decisions are to

be given due and serious consideration by the Church and its lower courts

when deliberating matters related to such action. Judicial decisions shall be

binding and conclusive on the parties who are directly involved in the matter

being adjudicated, and may be appealed to in subsequent similar cases as to

any principle which may have been decided. (See BCO 3-5 and 6, and WCF

31:3.)

14-8. The whole business of the Assembly being finished, and the vote taken

for final adjournment, the moderator shall say from the chair:

By virtue of the authority delegated to me by the Church, I do now

declare that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in

America is adjourned, to convene at __________ on the _________

day of __________________A. D.

After which he shall pray and return thanks, and pronounce or cause to be

pronounced on those present the apostolic benediction.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 15-1

CHAPTER 15

Ecclesiastical Commissions

15-1. A commission differs from an ordinary committee in that while a

committee is appointed to examine, consider and report, a commission is

authorized to deliberate upon and conclude the business referred to it, except

in the case of judicial commissions of a Presbytery appointed under BCO 15-3.

A commission shall keep a full record of its proceedings, which shall be

submitted to the court appointing it. Upon such submission this record shall

be entered on the minutes of the court appointing, except in the case of a

presbytery commission serving as a session or a judicial commission as set

forth in BCO 15-3. When a commission is appointed to serve as an interim

Session, its actions are the actions of a Session, not a Presbytery. Every

commission of a Presbytery or Session must submit complete minutes and a

report of its activities at least once annually to the court which commissioned

it.

15-2. Among the matters that may be properly executed by commissions are

the taking of the testimony in judicial cases, the ordination of ministers, the

installation of ministers, the visitation of portions of the church affected with

disorder, and the organization of new churches.

Every commission appointed by Presbytery shall consist of at least

two teaching elders and two ruling elders, and the quorum shall be one more

than half its membership unless otherwise determined by the Presbytery.

However, should a Presbytery clothe a commission with judicial powers and

authority to conduct judicial process, or with power to ordain or install a

teaching elder of the Gospel, the quorum of such commission shall not be less

than two teaching elders and two ruling elders. The quorum for a commission

appointed as an interim session need not conform to the requirements of a

judicial commission, but only to those of a session (BCO 12-1). When the

ordination of a minister is committed to a commission, the Presbytery itself

shall conduct the previous examination.

15-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

15-3. Presbytery as a whole may try a judicial case within its jurisdiction

(including the right to refer any strictly constitutional issue to a study

committee with options listed below), or it may of its own motion commit any

judicial case to a commission. Such a commission shall be appointed by the

Presbytery from its members other than members of the Session of the church

from which the case comes up. The commission shall try the case in the

manner presented by the Rules of Discipline and shall submit to the Presbytery

a full statement of the case and the judgment rendered. The Presbytery without

debate shall approve or disapprove of the judgment, or may refer, (a debatable

motion), any strictly constitutional issue(s) to a study committee. In case of

referral, the Presbytery shall either dismiss some or all of the specific charges

raised in the case or decide the case only after the report of the study committee

has been heard and discussed. If Presbytery approves, the judgment of the

commission shall be final and shall be entered on the minutes of Presbytery as

the action. If Presbytery disapproves, it shall hear the case as a whole, or

appoint a new commission to hear the case again.

15-4. The General Assembly shall elect a Standing Judicial Commission to

which it shall commit all matters governed by the Rules of Discipline, except

for the annual review of Presbytery records, which may come before the

Assembly. This commission shall consist of twenty-four (24) members

divided into four classes of three teaching elders and three ruling elders in each

class. Each class shall serve a four-year term and each subsequent Assembly

shall declare the Standing Judicial Commission as a whole to be its

commission. Nominations and vacancies shall be filled according to BCO 14-

1(11), with nominations allowed from the floor. No person may be elected if

there is already a member of the commission from the same Presbytery; but if

a person is elected and changes Presbytery, he may continue to serve his full

term. No person may serve concurrently on the General Assembly’s Standing

Judicial Commission and any of the General Assembly’s permanent

committees.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 15-5

15-5. a. In the cases committed to it, the Standing Judicial Commission shall

have the judicial powers and be governed by the judicial procedures of the

General Assembly. The decision of the Standing Judicial Commission shall

be the final decision of the General Assembly except as set forth below, to

which there may be no complaint or appeal. Members of the Standing Judicial

Commission may file concurring or dissenting opinions, or a minority report

as set forth in (c) below. The General Assembly may direct the Standing

Judicial Commission to retry a case if upon the review of its minutes

exceptions are taken with respect to that case.

b. In each case the Standing Judicial Commission shall issue a

summary of the facts, a statement of the issues, its judgment and its reasoning,

together with any concurring or dissenting opinions, all of which shall be

entered on the minutes of the General Assembly and shall be reported by the

Stated Clerk to the next General Assembly. The judgment shall be effective

from the time of its announcement to the parties.

c. (1) If, within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of adjournment

of a Standing Judicial Commission meeting at which a final decision was

rendered in a case, at least one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the

Standing Judicial Commission file written notice of their intention to file a

minority decision with the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, and within

twenty (20) days from the adjournment do file such a minority decision, such

minority decision shall be considered a minority report and shall be referred,

with the report of the Standing Judicial Commission, to the General Assembly.

In each instance “file” shall be understood as defined by the Operating Manual

for Standing Judicial Commission.

(2) No such reference* from the Standing Judicial Commission

shall be considered by the General Assembly unless the report of the Standing

Judicial Commission and the minority report have been mailed to the clerk of

Session of each church at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the

General Assembly.

(3) The Assembly shall act upon such a reference* from the

Standing Judicial Commission, in each case without question, discussion,

debate, or amendment, as follows:

(a) The Standing Judicial Commission shall have 30 minutes

to present its decision to the Assembly.

*NOTE: It was the opinion of the 26

General Assembly that “reference” is NOT

to be understood as the technical term “reference” in BCO 41-1.

15-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

(b) The minority shall have 30 minutes to present its decision

to the Assembly.

to reply to the minority report.

(d) The decision of the minority shall be proposed and the

General Assembly shall, without question, discussion,

debate, or amendment approve or disapprove of the

minority report.

(e) If the General Assembly disapproves the minority report,

the General Assembly shall take up the decision of the

Standing Judicial Commission and without question,

discussion, debate, or amendment, approve or disapprove

of the decision of the Standing Judicial Commission.

(4) If the General Assembly approves of a proposed decision, it

shall be the decision of the General Assembly, and printed in its minutes.

There may be no complaint or appeal from such a final decision of the General

Assembly. If the General Assembly finally disapproves of both proposed

decisions, it must set the case for hearing before the General Assembly or a

special commission appointed by it, and in either instance the case shall be

tried on the record as delivered to the Stated Clerk. Any such special

commission shall then proceed to consider the case and shall report its

decision, in like manner, to the General Assembly for its approval or

disapproval. In any event, the full record of the case, including written

testimony of witnesses, all documents, exhibits and papers shall be delivered

to the Stated Clerk for permanent preservation.

15-6. The General Assembly shall have power to commit to a commission,

consisting of not less than three elders, the task of forming a provisional

Presbytery in a foreign country where there exists no compatible indigenous

presbyterian and reformed Church. Such a commission shall have authority to

act as the Presbytery in all matters pertaining to the establishment and ordering

of a national Church and shall report annually to the General Assembly. The

commission shall be dissolved when there are at least three national teaching

elders and three organized churches under its care, and these shall then

constitute a separate national Church.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 16-1

CHAPTER 16

Church Orders – The Doctrine of Vocation

16-1. Ordinary vocation to office in the Church is the calling of God by the

Spirit, through the inward testimony of a good conscience, the manifest

approbation of God’s people, and the concurring judgment of a lawful court of

the Church.

16-2. The government of the Church is by officers gifted to represent Christ,

and the right of God’s people to recognize by election to office those so gifted

is inalienable. Therefore no man can be placed over a church in any office

without the election, or at least the consent of that church.

16-3. Upon those whom God calls to bear office in His Church He bestows

suitable gifts for the discharge of their various duties. And it is indispensable

that, besides possessing the necessary gifts and abilities, natural and acquired,

every one admitted to an office should be sound in the faith, and his life be

according to godliness. Wherefore every candidate for office is to be approved

by the court by which he is to be ordained.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 17-1

CHAPTER 17

Doctrine of Ordination

17-1. Those who have been called to office in the Church are to be inducted

by the ordination of a court.

17-2. Ordination is the authoritative admission of one duly called to an

office in the Church of God, accompanied with prayer and the laying on of

hands, to which it is proper to add the giving of the right hand of fellowship.

17-3. As every ecclesiastical office, according to the Scriptures, is a special

charge, no man shall be ordained unless it be to the performance of a definite

work.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 18-1

CHAPTER 18

Candidates for the Gospel Ministry

18-1. A candidate for the ministry is a member of the Church in full

communion who, believing himself to be called to preach the Gospel, submits

himself to the care and guidance of the Presbytery in his course of study and

of practical training to prepare himself for this office.

18-2. Every applicant for the ministry must put himself under the care of

Presbytery, which should ordinarily be the Presbytery that has jurisdiction of

the church of which he is a member. The endorsement of his Session must be

given to the Presbytery, consisting of testimonials regarding his Christian

character and promise of usefulness in the ministry. The endorsement should

also describe the activities of ministry the applicant has participated in with

brief evaluation.

Every applicant for care shall be a member of the congregation whose

session provides an endorsement for at least six months before filing his

application, except in those cases deemed extraordinary by the Presbytery.

Every applicant must file his application with the clerk of the

Presbytery at least one month before the meeting of the Presbytery. An

applicant for care may not be received under care and examined for ordination

at the same meeting of the Presbytery, since he must serve a period of at least

one year of internship prior to ordination (see BCO 19-7 and 21-4). An

applicant for internship is obliged to be under care and may be licensed to

preach the Gospel; further, one who is not already under care may be taken

under care, be licensed to preach the Gospel, and become an intern at the same

meeting of Presbytery.

18-3. The applicant shall appear before the Presbytery in person, and shall

be examined by the Presbytery on experiential religion and on his motives for

seeking the ministry.

If the testimonials and the examination prove satisfactory, the

Presbytery shall receive him under its care after the following manner:

18-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

The moderator shall propose to the applicant these questions:

1. Do you promise in reliance upon the grace of God to maintain

a becoming Christian character, and to be diligent and faithful

in making full preparation for the sacred ministry?

2. Do you promise to submit yourself to the proper supervision

of the Presbytery in matters that concern your preparation for

the ministry?

If these questions be answered in the affirmative, the moderator, or

someone appointed by him, shall give the candidate a brief charge; and the

proceeding shall close with prayer.

The name of the applicant is then to be recorded on the Presbytery’s

roll of candidates for the ministry.

18-4. The candidate continues to be a private member of the church and

subject to the jurisdiction of the Session, but as respects his preparatory

training for the ministry he is under the oversight of the Presbytery. It shall be

the duty of the Presbytery to show a kindly and sympathetic interest in him,

and to give him counsel and guidance in regard to his studies, his practical

training, and the institutions of learning he should attend. In no case may a

candidate omit from his course of study any of the subjects prescribed in the

Form of Government as tests for ordination without obtaining the consent of

Presbytery (see BCO 21-4); and where such consent is given the Presbytery

shall record the fact and the reasons therefore.

18-5. For the development of his Christian character, for the service he can

render, and for his more effective training, the candidate, when entering on his

theological studies, should be authorized and encouraged by the Presbytery to

conduct public worship, to expound the Scriptures to the people, and to engage

in other forms of Christian work. These forms of service should be rendered

under the direction of Presbytery, and also with the sanction and under the

guidance of the candidate’s instructors during the time of his being under their

instruction. A candidate should not undertake to serve a church which is

without a pastor as regular supply unless he has been licensed and approved

for that supply by the Presbytery having jurisdiction of the church (see BCO

19-1).

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 18-6

18-6. The Presbytery shall require every candidate for the ministry under its

care to make a report to it at least once a year; and it shall secure from his

instructors an annual report upon his deportment, diligence, and progress in

study.

18-7. The Presbytery may, upon application of the candidate, give a

certificate of dismission to another Presbytery. The candidate may be allowed

to retain membership in his home church upon the request of his Session and

the approval of both Presbyteries involved. A candidate shall, at his request or

at the request of his Session, be allowed to withdraw from the care of the

Presbytery. But in such a case sufficient reasons (and any actions taken) must

be reported to the Presbytery. The Presbytery may also, for sufficient reasons,

remove the name of the candidate from its roll of candidates; but in such a case

it shall report its actions and the reasons therefore to the candidate and to the

Session of his church. In all cases of a removal or withdrawal of a candidate,

the sufficient reason for the action shall be recorded in the minutes of

Presbytery.

18-8. An applicant coming as a candidate from another denomination must

present testimonials of his standing in that body and must become a member

of a congregation in the Presbyterian Church in America. He shall then fulfill

the requirements of applicants listed under BCO 18-2, as well as requirements

placed upon those desiring to be licensed or to become an intern as set forth in

BCO 19.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 19-1

CHAPTER 19

Licensure and Internship

A. Licensure

19-1. To preserve the purity of the preaching of the Gospel, no man is

permitted to preach in the pulpits of the Presbyterian Church in America on a

regular basis without proper licensure from the Presbytery having jurisdiction

where he will preach. An ordained teaching elder who is a member in good

standing of another Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America may be

licensed after being examined as to his views, according to the provision of

BCO 13-6. This license shall immediately become void if the minister’s own

Presbytery administers against him a censure of suspension from office or the

sacraments, or deposition from office, or of excommunication (in the event of

such censures, the Presbytery with jurisdiction shall always notify the

licensing Presbytery). A ruling elder, a candidate for the ministry, a minister

from some other denomination, or some other man may be licensed for the

purpose of regularly providing the preaching of the Word upon his giving

satisfaction to the Presbytery of his gifts and passing the licensure

examination. (See also BCO 22-5 and 22-6.)

19-2. Examination for Licensure.

The examination for licensure shall be as follows:

a. Give a statement of his Christian experience and inward call to

preach the Gospel in written form and/or orally before the

Presbytery (at the discretion of the Presbytery):

b. Be tested with a written and/or oral examination by the Presbytery

(at the discretion of the Presbytery) for his:

1. basic knowledge of Biblical doctrine as outlined in the

Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the

Presbyterian Church in America.

2. practical knowledge of Bible content.

3. basic knowledge of the government of the Presbyterian

Church in America as defined in The Book of Church Order.

c. Be examined orally before Presbytery for his views in the areas

outlined in part b above.

d. Provide his written sermon on an assigned passage of Scripture

embodying both explanation and application, and present orally

his sermon or exhortation before Presbytery or before a committee

of Presbytery.

19-2 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

e. While our Constitution does not require the applicant’s

affirmation of every statement and/or proposition of doctrine in

our Confession of Faith and Catechisms, it is the right and

responsibility of the Presbytery to determine if the applicant is out

of accord with any of the fundamentals of these doctrinal

standards and, as a consequence, may not be able in good faith

sincerely to receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and

Catechisms of this church as containing the system of doctrine

taught in the Holy Scriptures (cf. BCO 19-3, Q.2).

f. Therefore, in examining an applicant for licensure, the Presbytery

shall inquire not only into the candidate’s knowledge and views

in the areas specified above, but also shall require the candidate to

state the specific instances in which he may differ with the

Confession of Faith and Catechisms in any of their statements

and/or propositions. The court may grant an exception to any

difference of doctrine only if in the court’s judgment the

applicant’s declared difference is not out of accord with any

fundamental of our system of doctrine because the difference is

neither hostile to the system nor strikes at the vitals of religion.

No Presbytery shall omit any of these parts of examination except in

extraordinary cases; and whenever a Presbytery shall omit any of these parts,

it shall always make a record of the reasons therefor, and of the trial parts

omitted.

19-3. Questions for Licensure.

If the Presbytery be satisfied with the trials of the applicant, it shall

then proceed to license him in the following manner:

The moderator shall propose to him the following questions, namely:

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,

as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only

infallible rule of faith and practice?

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and

the Catechisms of this Church as containing the system of

doctrine taught in the Holy Scripture?

3. Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and

edification of the Church?

4. Do you promise to submit yourself, in the Lord, to the

government of this Presbytery, or of any other into the bounds

of which you may be called?

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 19-4

19-4. The applicant having answered these questions in the affirmative, the

moderator shall offer a prayer suitable for the occasion, and shall address the

applicant as follows:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by that authority

which He has given to the Church for its edification, we do

license you to preach the Gospel in this Presbytery wherever

God in His providence may call you; and for this purpose may

the blessing of God rest upon you, and the Spirit of Christ fill

your heart. Amen.

Record shall be made of the licensure in the following or like form:

At_____________, the __________day of_______________, the

____________________Presbytery, having received

testimonials commending _________________________,

proceeded to submit him to the prescribed examination for

licensure, which was met to the approval of the Presbytery.

Having satisfactorily answered the questions for licensure,

_____________________ was licensed by the Presbytery to

preach the Gospel within the bounds of this Presbytery.

19-5. When any licentiate shall have occasion to remove from the bounds of

his Presbytery into those of another, the latter Presbytery may, at its discretion,

on his producing proper testimonials from the former, repeat any portion of

the previous Presbytery’s examination it desires. The Presbytery into whose

bounds the licentiate is moving, however, must at least examine the man

concerning:

a. his Christian experience,

b. his call to preach the Gospel,

c. his views in theology,

d. Bible content,

e. church government.

This Presbytery then may license him to preach within its bounds.

19-6. The license to preach the Gospel shall expire at the end of four years.

The Presbytery may, if it thinks proper, renew it without further examination.

The licentiate must apply for renewal prior to expiration. If the license expires,

the stated clerk shall report the expiration to the Presbytery and to the

individual’s Session, and such action shall be recorded in the minutes. The

procedures of BCO 19-2 must be followed for re-licensure and such fact

shall be recorded in the minutes. The license may be terminated at any time

by a simple majority vote of the issuing Presbytery. The Presbytery shall

always record its reasons for this action in its minutes.

19-7 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

B. Internship

19-7. The Holy Scriptures require that some trial be previously made of

those who are to be ordained to the ministry of the Word, both concerning their

gifts and concerning their ability to rule as teaching elders, in order that this

sacred office may not be degraded by being committed to weak or unworthy

men, and that the Church may have an opportunity to form a better judgment

respecting the gifts of those to whom this sacred office is to be committed.

To provide for such a period of trial, a candidate for ordination must

serve an internship. This period of internship shall be at least one year in

length, and may be longer at the discretion of the Presbytery so as to give

sufficient time for the Presbytery to judge the candidate’s qualifications and

service. This period of internship may occur during or after the candidate’s

formal theological education. When it occurs during his formal theological

education, it may include an intern year in addition to his time of academic

training or it may run concurrent with his academic training.

The nature of the internship shall be determined by the Presbytery, but

it should involve the candidate in full scope of the duties of any regular

ministerial calling approved by the Presbytery. It is to be both a time of

practical instruction and testing by the Presbytery, and may be in any work

which the Presbytery deems to be a suitable ministry to test the intern’s gifts.

The intern should be closely supervised by the Presbytery throughout this trial

period.

19-8. An applicant for internship must be a candidate and may be a licentiate

in the Presbytery in which he is seeking to become an intern. He may,

however, become a candidate, and an intern at the same meeting of Presbytery.

If an applicant for internship is already a candidate in another Presbytery, that

Presbytery should dismiss him as a candidate to the Presbytery in which he is

seeking to become an intern.

19-9. Examination for Internship.

Before the applicant begins his period of internship, he shall give to

the Presbytery a written and/or an oral statement (at the discretion of the

Presbytery) of his inward call to the ministry of the Word.

19-10. When an applicant is approved for internship, the moderator of the

Presbytery shall offer a prayer suitable for the occasion, and shall address the

applicant, if present, as follows:

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 19-10

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by that authority

which He has given to the Church for its edification, we do

declare you to be an intern of this Presbytery as a means of

testing your gifts for the holy ministry wherever God in His

providence may call you; and for this purpose may the blessing

of God rest upon you, and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart.

Amen.

Record shall be made of the internship in the following or like form,

namely:

At ______________, the ________ day of

_____________________, the _____________________

Presbytery, having received testimonials commending

___________, having received him as a candidate for the

ministry, has placed him under internship at his request in

order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.

19-11. When any intern shall have occasion, while his internship is in

progress, to remove from the bounds of his own Presbytery into those of

another, the latter Presbytery may, at its discretion, on his producing proper

testimonials from the former, take up his internship at the point at which it was

left, and conduct it to a conclusion in the same manner as if it had been

commenced by itself. Presbytery may repeat any portion of the previous

Presbytery’s examination it desires.

When God gives the intern the providential opportunity to serve the

Church and to receive part of his training within the bounds of a Presbytery

other than the one in which he has been declared an intern, the Presbyteries

involved may develop a cooperative agreement to assure the proper training of

the intern. In such cases the home Presbytery retains the final responsibility

for and authority over the internship, but may rely to any extent considered

necessary and proper in the circumstances, on the assistance of the sister

Presbytery. When regular preaching of the Word is involved, care must be

taken to comply with BCO 19-1.

19-12. Presbyteries should require interns to devote themselves diligently to

the trial of their gifts; and no one should be ordained to the work of the ministry

of the Word until he has demonstrated the ability both to edify and to rule in

the Church. Reports on every intern in the Presbytery should be presented at

each stated meeting of the Presbytery by the committee of Presbytery charged

with the oversight of interns, and these reports shall become a part of the

minutes of Presbytery. The Presbytery shall also require every intern himself

to make a report to it at least once a year describing his ministerial experiences.

If the intern is still in school, the

19-12 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Presbytery shall secure from his instructors an annual report upon his

deportment, diligence, and progress in study.

19-13. At the end of the period of time set by the Presbytery for his internship,

an intern shall have his internship either approved or disapproved. Even if it

is approved, he cannot be ordained without a call to some specific work. If the

internship is disapproved, the Presbytery may either extend it for another

definite period of time or it may completely rescind his intern status and may

revoke his internship. If the intern shall devote himself unnecessarily to such

pursuits as interfere with a full trial of his gifts, it shall be the duty of the

Presbytery to rescind his intern status, and to record its reasons therefor in the

Minutes of Presbytery.

19-14. An intern, who, during his internship, is to serve a congregation in the

capacity of the minister of the Word must be called by the congregation in the

same way that a regular minister is called. A congregation may later call such

a man as its pastor. This call must be approved by Presbytery prior to the time

of ordination. In the event a congregation does not desire to call such a man

as its pastor as determined by a congregational vote, notice should be given as

early as possible. Interns may be called to serve as assistants to ministers

during their internship, by the Session of a church with approval of the call by

Presbytery.

19-15. Restrictions.

The intern may be asked by the moderator of a Session temporarily to

chair the meeting of the Session. In such cases the moderator shall supervise

this activity and may overrule the intern or re-assume the chair at will. The

intern is not a member of Session and may not vote in the meetings unless he

has previously been ordained a Ruling Elder and elected to the Session by the

congregation. Normally, he shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Session

and Diaconate when he has been called to work out his internship by a

congregation. He shall have the right to conduct funerals. An intern may not

administer the Sacraments. He may serve on committees of the church he

serves.

19-16. Where circumstances warrant, a Presbytery may approve previous

experience which is equivalent to internship. This equivalency shall be

decided by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of Presbytery at any of its regular

meetings. Such equivalent experience shall be decided only after the

Presbytery’s internship committee has determined and reported that the

candidate has met the following requirements:

a. he has had at least one (1) year of experience in comparable ministry;

b. he has satisfactorily performed the full scope of ministerial duties;

c. he has the manifest approbation of God’s people in a local church as

having the requisite gifts for the pastoral ministry.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 20-1

CHAPTER 20

The Election of Pastors

20-1. Before a candidate, or licentiate, can be ordained to the office of the

ministry, he must receive a call to a definite work. Ordinarily the call must

come from a church, Presbytery, or the General Assembly of this

denomination. If the call comes from another source, the Presbytery shall

always make a record of the reasons why it considers the work to be a valid

Christian ministry. (See also BCO 8-7 and 21-1).

A proper call must be written and in the hands of the Presbytery prior

to being acted upon by a Presbytery. It must include financial arrangements

(such as salary, vacation, insurance, retirement, etc.) between those calling and

the one called, and assurance that the definite work will afford the liberty to

proclaim and practice fully and freely the whole counsel of God, as contained

in the Scriptures and understood in the Westminster Confession of Faith. It

shall be in accord with the BCO 8.

20-2. Every church should be under the pastoral oversight of a minister, and

when a church has no pastor it should seek to secure one without delay.

A church shall proceed to elect a pastor in the following manner: The

Session shall call a congregational meeting to elect a pulpit committee which

may be composed of members from the congregation at large or the Session,

as designated by the congregation (see BCO 25). The pulpit committee shall,

after consultation and deliberation, recommend to the congregation a pastoral

candidate who, in its judgment, fulfills the Constitutional requirements of that

office (e.g., BCO 8, 13-6 and 21) and is most suited to be profitable to the

spiritual interests of the congregation (cf. BCO 20-6).

The Session shall order a congregational meeting to convene at the

regular place of worship. Public notice of the time, place, and purpose of this

meeting shall be given at least one week prior to the time of the meeting.

20-3. When a congregation is convened for the election of a pastor it is

important that they should elect a minister or ruling elder of the Presbyterian

Church in America to preside, but if this be impracticable, they may elect any

male member of that church. The Session shall appoint one of their number

to call the meeting to order and to preside until the congregation shall elect

their presiding officer. All communing members in good and regular standing,

but no others, are entitled to vote in the churches to which they are respectively

attached.

20-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

20-4. Method of voting: The voters being convened, and prayer for divine

guidance having been offered, the moderator shall put the question:

Are you ready to proceed to the election of a pastor?

If they declare themselves ready, the moderator shall call for nominations, or

the election may proceed by ballot without nominations. In every case a

majority of all the voters present shall be required to elect.

20-5. On the election of a pastor, if it appears that a large minority of the voters

are averse to the candidate who has received a majority of votes, and cannot be

induced to concur in the call, the moderator shall endeavor to dissuade the majority

from prosecuting it further; but if the electors be nearly or quite unanimous, or if the

majority shall insist upon their right to call a pastor, the moderator shall proceed to

draw a call in due form, and to have it subscribed by them, certifying at the same

time in writing the number of those who do not concur in the call, and any facts of

importance, all of which proceedings shall be laid before the Presbytery, together

with the call.

20-6. Form of call: The terms of the call shall be approved by the

congregation in the following or like form:

The ____________________ Church being on sufficient grounds well

satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, ____________, and having

good hopes from our knowledge of your labors that your ministrations in the

Gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interests, do earnestly call you to

undertake the pastoral office in said congregation, promising you, in the

discharge of your duty, all proper support, encouragement and obedience in

the Lord. That you may be free from worldly cares and avocations, we hereby

promise and oblige ourselves to pay you the sum of $___________ a year in

regular monthly (or quarterly) payments, and other benefits, such as, manse,

retirement, insurance, vacations, moving expenses etc., during the time of your

being and continuing the regular pastor of this church.

In testimony whereof we have respectively subscribed our names this

___________day of____________________, A.D.________.

Attest: I, having moderated the congregational meeting which

extended a call to ______________ for his ministerial services, do certify that

the call has been made in all respects according to the rules laid down in the

Book of Church Order, and that the persons who signed the foregoing call were

authorized to do so by vote of the congregation.

_________________________________

Moderator of the Meeting

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 20-7

20-7. If any church shall choose to designate its ruling elders and deacons,

or a committee to sign its call, it shall be at liberty to do so. But it shall, in

such case, be fully certified to the Presbytery by the minister or other person

who presided, that the persons signing have been appointed for that purpose

by a public vote of the church, and that the call has been in all other respects

prepared as above directed.

20-8. Prosecution of call: One or more commissioners shall be appointed

by the church to present and prosecute the call before their Presbytery.

20-9. When a pastor desires to accept a call to another Presbytery, he must

be examined and approved by the Presbytery for the pastorate to which he is

being called, and must be released for transfer by his present Presbytery from

his pastorate.

20-10. A congregation desiring to call a pastor from his charge, shall, by its

commissioners to the Presbytery, prosecute the call before its Presbytery. The

Presbytery, having heard all the parties, may, upon viewing the whole case,

either recommend them to desist from prosecuting the call; or may order it to

be delivered to the minister to whom it is addressed, with or without advice;

or may decline to place the call in his hands; as it shall appear most beneficial

for the peace and edification of the Church at large.

No pastor shall be transferred without his own consent, if the parties

are not ready to have the matter decided at the meeting then in progress, a

written citation shall be given the minister and his church to appear before the

Presbytery at its next meeting, which citation shall be read from the pulpit

during a regular service, at least two weeks before the intended meeting.

20-11 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

20-11. If the congregation or other field of labor to which a minister,

licentiate, or candidate is called, be under the jurisdiction of a different

Presbytery, on his acceptance of a call he shall be furnished with the proper

testimonials, and required to repair immediately to the Presbytery, in order that

he may be regularly inducted into his office. (See BCO 21).

20-12. A candidate or licentiate found fit and called (in accordance with BCO

20-1) for missionary service by a missionary agency or Presbytery shall be

examined by Presbytery for ordination. If approved the Presbytery shall

proceed to his ordination.

20-13. A missionary who is an ordained teaching elder in another

denomination found fit and called (in accordance with BCO 20-1) for

missionary service by a missionary agency or Presbytery shall be examined by

Presbytery for admission to Presbytery in accordance with BCO 13-6. If

approved he shall be enrolled as a member of Presbytery.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 21-1

CHAPTER 21

The Ordination and Installation of Ministers

21-1. No minister, licentiate or candidate shall receive a call from a church

but by the permission of his Presbytery. When a call has been presented to the

Presbytery, if found in order and the Presbytery deems it for the good of the

Church, they shall place it in the hands of the person to whom it is addressed.

Ordinarily a candidate or licentiate may not be granted permission by

the Presbytery to move on to the field to which he has been called, prior to his

examination for licensure or ordination. Likewise an ordained minister from

another Presbyterian Church in America Presbytery or another denomination,

ordinarily shall not move on to the field to which he has been called until

examined and received by Presbytery.

21-2. When an intern has completed his internship to the satisfaction of the

Presbytery, and has accepted a call, the Presbytery shall take immediate steps

for his ordination.

21-3. No Presbytery shall ordain any intern to the office of minister of the

Word with reference to his laboring within the bounds of another Presbytery,

but shall furnish him with the necessary testimonials, and require him to repair

to the Presbytery within whose bounds he expects to labor, that he may submit

himself to its authority, according to the Constitution of the Church.

21-4. Ordination Requirements and Procedures

a. An intern applying for ordination shall be required to present a

diploma of Bachelor or Master from some approved college or

university, and also a diploma of Bachelor or Master from some

approved theological seminary or authentic testimonials of having

completed a regular course of theological studies, or a certificate of

completion of and endorsement from a theological study program as

approved by the General Assembly and one of the Presbyteries of the

Presbyterian Church in America. No Presbytery shall omit any of

these educational requirements except in extraordinary cases, and then

only with a three-fourths (3/4) approval of the Presbytery. Whenever

a Presbytery shall omit any of these educational requirements, it shall

always make a record of the reasons for such omission and the parts

omitted. The intern shall also present satisfactory testimonials as to

the completion and approval of his internship in the practice of the

ministry.

21-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

b. Every candidate for ordination shall ordinarily have met the requirements

of the Assembly's approved curriculum. Ordinarily, the intern shall have

been examined in most of the following trials when he was licensed.

If the Presbytery previously approved all parts of the licensure

examination, it need not re-examine the intern in those areas at this time.

If there were areas of weakness, which the Presbytery noted, or if any

member of the Presbytery desires to do so, the intern may be examined

on particular points again. Additionally, the intern shall be examined

on any parts required for ordination which were not covered in his

examination for licensure. In all cases, he should be asked to indicate

whether he has changed his previous views concerning any points in the

Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Book of Church Order of the

Presbyterian Church in America.

c. Trials for ordination shall consist of:

(1) A careful examination as to:

(a) his acquaintance with experiential religion, especially his

personal character and family management (based on the

qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:6-9),

(b) his knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages,

(d) theology,

(e) the Sacraments,

(f) Church history,

(g) the history of the Presbyterian Church in America, and

(h) the principles and rules of the government and discipline of

the church.

A Presbytery may accept a seminary degree which includes study

in the original languages in lieu of an oral examination in the

original languages.

(2) He shall prepare a thesis on some theological topic assigned by

Presbytery.

(3) The candidate shall prepare an exegesis on an assigned portion of

Scripture, requiring the use of the original language or languages.

(4) He shall further be required to preach a sermon before the

Presbytery or committee thereof, upon three-fourths (3/4) vote.

No Presbytery shall omit any of these parts of trial for ordination

except in extraordinary cases, and then only with three-fourths (3/4)

approval of Presbytery.

d. Whenever a Presbytery shall omit any of these parts, it shall always make

a record of the reasons for such omissions and of the trial parts omitted.

e. While our Constitution does not require the candidate’s affirmation of

every statement and/or proposition of doctrine in our Confession

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 21-4

of Faith and Catechisms, it is the right and responsibility of the Presbytery

to determine if the candidate is out of accord with any of the fundamentals

of these doctrinal standards and, as a consequence, may not be able in

good faith sincerely to receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and

Catechisms of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught

in the Holy Scriptures (cf. BCO 21-5, Q.2; 24-6, Q.2).

f. Therefore, in examining a candidate for ordination, the Presbytery

shall inquire not only into the candidate’s knowledge and views in the

areas specified above, but also shall require the candidate to state the

specific instances in which he may differ with the Confession of Faith

and Catechisms in any of their statements and/or propositions. The

court may grant an exception to any difference of doctrine only if in

the court’s judgment the candidate’s declared difference is not out of

accord with any fundamental of our system of doctrine because the

difference is neither hostile to the system nor strikes at the vitals of

religion.

g. The Presbytery, being fully satisfied of his qualifications for the sacred

office, shall appoint a day for his ordination, which ought, if

practicable, to be in that church of which he is to be the pastor.

h. The extraordinary clauses should be limited to extraordinary

circumstances of the church or proven extraordinary gifts of the man.

Presbyteries should exercise diligence and care in the use of these

provisions in order that they not prevent the ordination of a candidate for

whom there are truly exceptional circumstances, nor ordain (nor receive

from other denominations (BCO 13-6) a person who is inadequately

prepared for the ministry.

21-5. The day appointed for the ordination having come, and the Presbytery

being convened, a sermon suitable for the occasion shall be preached by a

person appointed or invited by the Presbytery. The Presbytery member

appointed to preside shall afterwards briefly recite from the pulpit the

proceedings of the Presbytery preparatory to the ordination; he shall point out

the nature and importance of the ordinance, and endeavor to impress the

audience with a proper sense of the solemnity of the transaction.

Questions for Ordination

Then, addressing himself to the candidate, he shall propose to him the

following questions:

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,

as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only

infallible rule of faith and practice?

For an assistant minister, only questions 1-7 shall be used.

21-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and

the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of

doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further

promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with

any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you

will on your own initiative, make known to your Presbytery the

change which has taken place in your views since the

assumption of this ordination vow?

3. Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of

the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the

general principles of Biblical polity?

4. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?

5. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to

seek the office of the holy ministry from love to God and a

sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel of His Son?

6. Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the

truths of the Gospel and the purity and peace and unity of the

Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto

you on that account?

7. Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all

your duties as a Christian and a minister of the Gospel, whether

personal or relational, private or public; and to endeavor by the

grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your

manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before the flock

of which God shall make you overseer?

8. Are you now willing to take the charge of this church,

agreeable to your declaration when accepting their call? And

do you, relying upon God for strength, promise to discharge

to it the duties of a pastor?

Questions to Congregation

21-6. The candidate having answered these questions in the affirmative, the

presiding minister shall propose to the church the following questions:

1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess

your readiness to receive _________________, whom you have

called to be your pastor?

2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth

with meekness and love, and to submit to him in the due

exercise of discipline?

3. Do you promise to encourage him in his labors, and to assist

his endeavors for your instruction and spiritual edification?

For assistant minister, address the Session omitting the last phrase of questions 1 and 2.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 21-6

4. Do you engage to continue to him while he is your pastor that

competent worldly maintenance which you have promised, and

to furnish him with whatever you may see needful for the honor

of religion and for his comfort among you?

21-7. The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, by

holding up their right hands, the candidate shall kneel, and the presiding

minister shall, with prayer and the laying on of hands of the Presbytery,

according to the apostolic example, solemnly set him apart to the holy office

of the Gospel ministry. Prayer being ended, he shall rise from his knees; and

the minister who presides shall first, followed by all members of the

Presbytery, take him by the right hand, saying, in words to this effect:

We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part in

this ministry with us.

The presiding minister shall then say:

I now pronounce and declare that __________________

has been regularly elected, ordained, and installed pastor of this

congregation, agreeable to the Word of God, and according to the

Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America; and that as

such he is entitled to all support, encouragement, honor, and

obedience in the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

After which the minister presiding, or some other teaching or ruling

elder appointed for the purpose, shall give a solemn charge to the pastor and

to the congregation, to persevere in the discharge of their reciprocal duties, and

then after prayer and the singing of a psalm, or hymn, the congregation shall

be dismissed with the benediction. The Presbytery shall duly record its

proceedings.

21-8. After the installation, the heads of families of the congregation then

present, or at least the ruling elders and deacons, should come forward to their

pastor, and give him their right hand, in token of cordial reception and

affectionate regard.

For assistant minister, add the word 'assistant' before 'pastor', and charge the Session rather than

the congregation.

21-9 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Questions for Installation

21-9. In the installation of an ordained minister, the following questions are

to be substituted for those addressed to a candidate for ordination, namely:

1. Are you now willing to take charge of this congregation as

their pastor, agreeable to your declaration in accepting its

call?

2. Do you conscientiously believe and declare, as far as you know

your own heart, that, in taking upon you this charge, you are

influenced by a sincere desire to promote the glory of God and

the good of the Church?

3. Do you solemnly promise that, by the assistance of the grace

of God, you will endeavor faithfully to discharge all the duties

of a pastor to this congregation, and will be careful to maintain

a deportment in all respects becoming a minister of the Gospel

of Christ, agreeable to your ordination engagements?

Questions to Congregation

21-10. The candidate having answered these question in the affirmative, the

presiding minister shall propose to the church the following questions:

1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess

your readiness to receive ________________, whom you have

called to be your pastor?

2. Do you promise to receive the word of truth from his mouth

with meekness and love, and to submit to him in the due

exercise of discipline?

3. Do you promise to encourage him in his labors, and to assist

his endeavors for your instruction and spiritual edification?

4. Do you engage to continue to him while he is your pastor that

competent worldly maintenance which you have promised,

and to furnish him with whatever you may see needful for the

honor of religion and for his comfort among you?

For assistant minister, substitute the word 'serve' for 'take charge of', and add the word

'assistant' before 'pastor'.

For assistant minister, address the Session omitting the last phrase of questions 1 and 2.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 21-11

21-11. In the ordination of interns as evangelists the same questions are to be

propounded as in the ordination of pastors, with the exception of the eighth,

for which the following shall be substituted:

Do you now undertake the work of an evangelist, and do

you promise, in reliance on God for strength, to be faithful in the

discharge of all the duties incumbent on you as a minister of the

Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 22-1

CHAPTER 22

The Pastoral Relations

22-1. The various pastoral relations are pastor, associate pastor, and

assistant pastor.

22-2. The pastor and associate pastor are elected by the congregation using

the form of call in BCO 20-6. Being elected by the congregation, they become

members of the Session.

22-3. An assistant pastor is called by the Session, by the permission and

approval of Presbytery, under the provisions of BCO 20-1 and 13-2, with

Presbytery membership being governed by the same provisions that apply to

pastors. He is not a member of the Session, but may be appointed on special

occasions to moderate the Session under the provisions of BCO 12-4.

22-4. The relationship of the associate pastor to the church is determined by

the congregation. The relationship of the assistant pastor to the church is

determined by the Session. The dissolution of the relationship of both is

governed by the provision of BCO 23.

22-5. In order to provide necessary changes in pastorates, a temporary

relation may be established between a church and a minister called Stated

Supply. If a church is unable to secure a regular pastor or a Stated Supply,

then the Session with approval of Presbytery may establish a temporary

relation between the church and a licentiate called Student Supply or Ruling

Elder Supply.

22-6. Such temporary relationships can take place at the invitation of the

church Session to the minister of the Word, the licentiate, or the ruling elder.

The length of the relationship will be determined by the Session and the

minister, the licentiate, or the ruling elder, with the approval of the Presbytery.

Stated supply, student supply, or ruling elder supply relationships will be for

no longer than one year, renewable at the request of the Session and at the

review of the Presbytery. (See also BCO 19-1).

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 23-1

CHAPTER 23

The Dissolution of the Pastoral Relation and

The Procedure for Honorable Retirement

23-1. When any minister shall tender the resignation of his pastoral charge

to his Presbytery, the Presbytery shall cite the church to appear by its

commissioners, to show cause why the Presbytery should or should not accept

the resignation. If the church fails to appear, or if its reasons for retaining its

pastor be deemed insufficient, his resignation shall be accepted and the

pastoral relation dissolved.

If any church desires to be relieved of its pastor, a similar procedure

shall be observed. But whether the minister or the church initiates proceedings

for a dissolution of the relation, there shall always be a meeting of the

congregation called and conducted in the same manner as the call of the pastor.

In any case, the minister must not physically leave the field until the Presbytery

or its commission empowered to handle uncontested requests for dissolution

has dissolved the relation.

The associate or assistant pastors may continue to serve a congregation

when the pastoral relation of the senior pastor is dissolved, but they may not

normally succeed the senior pastor without an intervening term of service in a

different field of labor. However a congregation by a secret ballot with four-

fifths (4/5) majority vote may petition Presbytery for an exception which by a

three-fourths (3/4) majority vote Presbytery may grant. Presbytery needs to

determine if the dissolution of the pastoral relationship with the senior pastor

was brought about in Christian love and good order on the part of the parties

concerned.

23-2. The Presbytery may designate a minister as honorably retired when

the minister by reason of age wishes to be retired, or as medically disabled

when by reason of infirmity is no longer able to serve the church in the active

ministry of the Gospel. A minister medically disabled or honorably retired

shall continue to hold membership in his Presbytery. He may serve on

committees or commissions if so elected or appointed.

23-3. A minister, being medically disabled or honorably retired, may be

elected pastor emeritus by a congregation which seeks to honor his past earnest

labors among them.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 24-1

CHAPTER 24

Election, Ordination and Installation of Ruling Elders and Deacons

Election

24-1. Every church shall elect persons to the offices of ruling elder and deacon

in the following manner: At such times as determined by the Session,

communicant members of the congregation may submit names to the Session,

keeping in mind that each prospective officer should be an active male member

who meets the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. After the

close of the nomination period nominees for the office of ruling elder and/or

deacon shall receive instruction in the qualifications and work of the office.

Each nominee shall then be examined in:

a. his Christian experience, especially his personal character and family

management (based on the qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7

and Titus 1:6-9),

b. his knowledge of Bible content,

c. his knowledge of the system of doctrine, government, discipline

contained in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America

(BCO Preface III, The Constitution Defined),

d. the duties of the office to which he has been nominated, and

e. his willingness to give assent to the questions required for ordination.

(BCO 24-6)

If there are candidates eligible for the election, the Session shall report to

the congregation those eligible, giving at least thirty (30) days prior notice of

the time and place of a congregational meeting for elections.

If one-fourth (1/4) of the persons entitled to vote shall at any time

request the Session to call a congregational meeting for the purpose of electing

additional officers, it shall be the duty of the Session to call such a meeting on

the above procedure. The number of officers to be elected shall be determined

by the congregation after hearing the Session’s recommendation.

24-2. The pastor is, by virtue of his office, moderator of congregational

meetings. If there is no pastor, the Session shall appoint one of their number to

call the meeting to order and to preside until the congregation shall elect their

presiding officer, who may be a minister or ruling elder of the Presbyterian

Church in America or any male member of that particular church.

24-3. All communing members in good and regular standing, but no others, are

entitled to vote in the election of church officers in the churches to which they

respectively belong. A majority vote of those present is required for election.

24-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

24-4. The voters being convened, the moderator shall explain the purpose of

the meeting and then put the question:

Are you now ready to proceed to the election of additional ruling

elders (or deacons) from the slate presented?

If they declare themselves ready, the election may proceed by private

ballot without nomination. In every case a majority of all the voters present

shall be required to elect.

24-5. On the election of a ruling elder or deacon, if it appears that a large

minority of the voters are averse to a candidate, and cannot be induced to concur

in the choice, the moderator shall endeavor to dissuade the majority from

prosecuting it further; but if the electors are nearly or quite unanimous, or if the

majority insist upon their right to choose their officers, the election shall stand.

Ordination and Installation

24-6. The day having arrived, and the Session being convened in the

presence of the congregation, a sermon shall be preached after which the

presiding minister shall state in a concise manner the warrant and nature of the

office of ruling elder, or deacon, together with the character proper to be

sustained and the duties to be fulfilled. Having done this, he shall propose to

the candidate, in the presence of the church, the following questions, namely:

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as

originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible

rule of faith and practice?

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the

Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine

taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further promise that if

at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the

fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will, on your own

initiative, make known to your Session the change which has taken

place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?

3. Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the

Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general

principles of biblical polity?

4. Do you accept the office of ruling elder (or deacon, as the case may

be) in this church, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties

thereof, and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the

profession of the Gospel in your life, and to set a worthy example

before the Church of which God has made you an officer?

5. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 24-6

6. Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and

edification of the Church?

The ruling elder or deacon elect having answered in the affirmative, the

minister shall address to the members of the church the following question:

Do you, the members of this church, acknowledge and

receive this brother as a ruling elder (or deacon), and do you

promise to yield him all that honor, encouragement and obedience

in the Lord to which his office, according to the Word of God and

the Constitution of this Church, entitles him?

The members of the church having answered this question in the

affirmative, by holding up their right hands, the candidate shall then be set

apart, with prayer by the minister or any other Session member and the laying

on of the hands of the Session, to the office of ruling elder (or deacon). Prayer

being ended, the members of the Session (and the deacons, if the case be that

of a deacon) shall take the newly ordained officer by the hand, saying in words

to this effect:

We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part in

this office with us.

The minister shall then say:

I now pronounce and declare that ____________________

has been regularly elected, ordained and installed a ruling elder (or

deacon) in this church, agreeable to the Word of God, and

according to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in

America; and that as such he is entitled to all encouragement, honor

and obedience in the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

After which the minister or any other member of the Session shall give

to the ruling elder (or deacon) and to the church an exhortation suited to the

occasion.

24-7. Ordination to the offices of ruling elder or deacon is perpetual; nor can

such offices be laid aside at pleasure; nor can any person be degraded from

either office but by deposition after regular trial; yet a ruling elder or deacon

may have reasons which he deems valid for being released from the active

duties of his office. In such a case the Session, after conference with him and

careful consideration of the matter, may, if it thinks proper, accept his

resignation and dissolve the official relationship which exists between him and

the church.

24-7 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

The ruling elder or deacon, though chargeable with neither heresy nor

immorality, may become unacceptable in his official capacity to a majority of

the church which he serves. In such a case the church may take the initiative

by a majority vote at a regularly called congregational meeting, and request

the Session to dissolve the official relationship between the church and the

officer without censure. The Session, after conference with the ruling elder or

deacon, and after careful consideration, may use its discretion as to dissolving

the official relationship. In either case the Session shall report its action to the

congregation. If the Session fails or refuses to report to the congregation

within sixty (60) days from the date of the congregational meeting or if the

Session reports to the congregation that it declined to dissolve such

relationship, then any member or members in good standing may file a

complaint against the Session in accordance with the provisions of BCO 43.

24-8. When a ruling elder or deacon who has been released from his official

relation is again elected to his office in the same or another church, he shall be

installed after the above form with the omission of ordination.

24-9. When a ruling elder or deacon cannot or does not for a period of one

year perform the duties of his office, his official relationship shall be dissolved

by the Session and the action reported to the congregation.

24-10. When a deacon or ruling elder by reason of age or infirmity desires to

be released from the active duties of the office, he may at his request and with

the approval of the Session be designated deacon or elder emeritus. When so

designated, he is no longer required to perform the regular duties of his office,

but may continue to perform certain of these duties on a voluntary basis, if

requested by the Session or a higher court. He may attend Diaconate or

Session meetings, if he so desires, and may participate fully in the discussion

of any issues, but may not vote.

Editorial Comment: The General Assembly explicitly provided that those

Elders and Deacons granted emeritus status prior to June 22, 1984, retain the

privilege of vote. (By order of the Fifteenth General Assembly 15-83, III, 31).

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 25-1

CHAPTER 25

Congregational Meetings

25-1. The congregation consists of all the communing members of a

particular church, and they only are entitled to vote.

25-2. Whenever it may seem for the best interests of the church that a

congregational meeting should be held, the Session shall call such meeting and

give public notice of at least one week. No business shall be transacted at such

meeting except what is stated in the notice. The Session shall always call a

congregational meeting when requested in writing to do so:

a. by one-fourth (1/4) of the communing members of a church of not

more than one hundred (100) such members,

b. by one-fifth (1/5) of the communing members of a church of more

than one hundred (100) and not more than three hundred (300)

such members,

c. by one-sixth (1/6) of the communing members of a church of more

than three hundred (300) and not more than five hundred (500)

such members,

d. by one-seventh (1/7) of the communing members of a church of

more than five hundred (500) members but not more than seven

hundred (700) such members,

e. by one hundred (100) of the communing members of a church of

more than seven hundred (700) such members.

Upon such a proper request, if the Session cannot act, fails to act or

refuses to act, to call such a congregational meeting within thirty (30) days

from the receipt of such a request, then any member or members in good

standing may file a complaint in accordance with the provisions of BCO 43.

25-3. The quorum of the congregational meeting shall consist of one-fourth

(1/4) of the resident communing members, if the church has not more than one

hundred (100) such members, and of one-sixth (1/6) of the resident

communing members if a church has more than one hundred (100) such

members.

25-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

25-4. The pastor shall be the moderator of congregational meetings by virtue

of his office. If it should be impracticable or inexpedient for him to preside,

or if there is no pastor, the Session shall appoint one of their number to call the

meeting to order and to preside until the congregation shall elect their presiding

officer, who may be a minister or ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church in

America, or any male member of that particular church.

25-5. A clerk shall be elected by the congregation to serve at that meeting

or for a definite period, whose duty shall be to keep correct minutes of the

proceedings and of all business transacted and to preserve these minutes in a

permanent form, after they have been attested by the moderator and the clerk

of the meeting. He shall also send a copy of these minutes to the Session of

the church.

25-6. A particular church which is not incorporated, desiring to elect

trustees, may select from among its membership trustees or officers of like

nature who shall have the power and authority:

a. to buy, sell, or mortgage property for the church,

b. to accept and execute deeds as such trustees,

c. to hold and defend titles to the same, and

d. to manage any permanent special funds entrusted to them for the

furtherance of the purposes of the church.

In the fulfillment of their duties, such trustees shall be subject always

to the authority, and shall act solely under the instructions of the congregation

which they serve as trustees. The powers or duties of such trustees must not

infringe upon the powers or duties of the Session or of the Board of Deacons.

Such trustees shall be elected in regularly constituted congregational meetings.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 25-7

25-7. If a particular church is incorporated, the provisions of its charter and

bylaws must always be in accord with the Constitution of the Presbyterian

Church in America. All the communing members on the roll of that church

shall be members of the corporation. The officers of the corporation, whether

they be given the title trustee or some other title, shall be elected from among

the members of the corporation in a regularly constituted congregational

meeting. The powers and duties of such officers must not infringe upon the

powers and duties of the Session or the Board of Deacons.

All funds collected for the support and expense of the church and for

the benevolent purposes of the church shall be controlled and disbursed by the

Session and the Board of Deacons as their relative authorities may from time

to time be established and defined.

To the officers of the corporation may be given by the charter and

bylaws of the corporation any or all of the following responsibilities:

a. the buying, selling and mortgaging of property for the church,

b. the acquiring and conveying title to such property, the holding and

defending title to the same,

c. the managing of any permanent special funds entrusted to them

for the furtherance of the purposes of the church, provided that

such duties do not infringe upon the powers and duties of the

Session or of the Board of Deacons.

In buying, selling, and mortgaging real property such officers shall act

solely under the authority of the corporation, granted in a duly constituted

meeting of the corporation.

25-8. The corporation of a particular church, through its duly elected

trustees or corporation officers, (or, if unincorporated, through those who are

entitled to represent the particular church in matters related to real property)

shall have sole title to its property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or

intangible, and shall be sole owner of any equity in any real estate, or any fund

or property of any kind held by or belonging to any particular church, or any

board, society, committee, Sunday school class or branch thereof. The

superior courts of the Church may receive monies or properties from a local

church only by free and voluntary action of the latter.



25-9 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

25-9. All particular churches shall be entitled to hold, own and enjoy their

own local properties, without any right of reversion whatsoever to any

Presbytery, General Assembly or any other courts hereafter created, trustees

or other officers of such courts.

25-10. The provisions of this BCO 25 are to be construed as a solemn

covenant whereby the Church as a whole promises never to attempt to secure

possession of the property of any congregation against its will, whether or not

such congregation remains within or chooses to withdraw from this body. All

officers and courts of the Church are hereby prohibited from making any such

attempt.

25-11. While a congregation consists of all the communing members of a

particular church, and in matters ecclesiastical the actions of such local

congregation or church shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Book

of Church Order, nevertheless, in matters pertaining to the subject matters

referred to in this BCO 25, including specifically the right to affiliate with or

become a member of this body or a Presbytery hereof and the right to withdraw

from or to sever any affiliation of connection with this body or any Presbytery

hereof, action may be taken by such local congregation or local church in

accordance with the civil laws applicable to such local congregation or local

church; and as long as such action is taken in compliance with such applicable

civil laws, then such shall be the action of the local congregation or local

church.

It is expressly recognized that each local congregation or local church

shall be competent to function and to take actions covering the matters set forth

herein as long as such action is in compliance with the civil laws with which

said local congregation or local church must comply, and this right shall never

be taken from said local congregation or local church without the express

consent of and affirmative action of such local church or congregation.

Particular churches need remain in association with any court of this

body only so long as they themselves so desire. The relationship is voluntary,

based upon mutual love and confidence, and is in no sense to be maintained

by the exercise of any force or coercion whatsoever. A particular church may

withdraw from any court of this body at any time for reasons which seem to it

sufficient, provided, however, the congregation is given at least thirty-days’

notice of any meeting where the congregation is to vote on a proposed

withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church in America.

FORM OF GOVERNMENT 25-12

25-12. If a church is dissolved by the Presbytery at the request of the

congregation and no disposition has been made of its property by those who

hold the title to the property within six months after such dissolution, then

those who held the title to the property at the time of such dissolution shall

deliver, convey and transfer to the Presbytery of which the church was a

member, or to the authorized agents of the Presbytery, all property of the

church; and the receipt and acquittance of the Presbytery, or its proper

representatives, shall be a full and complete discharge of all liabilities of such

persons holding the property of the church. The Presbytery receiving such

property shall apply the same or the proceeds thereof at its discretion.

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FORM OF GOVERNMENT 26-1

CHAPTER 26

Amending the Constitution of the Church

26-1. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America, which is

subject to and subordinate to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,

the inerrant Word of God, consists of its doctrinal standards set forth in the

Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the Larger and Shorter

Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order, comprising the Form of

Government, the Rules of Discipline and the Directory for Worship; all as

adopted by the Church.

26-2. Amendments to the Book of Church Order may be made only in the

following manner:

1. Approval of the proposed amendment by majority of those present

and voting in the General Assembly, and its recommendation to

the Presbyteries.

2. The advice and consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the Presbyteries.

3. The approval and enactment by a subsequent General Assembly

by a majority of those present and voting.

26-3. Amendments to the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter

Catechisms may be made only in the following manner:

1. Approval of the proposed amendment by three-fourths (3/4) of

those present and voting in the General Assembly, and its

recommendation to the Presbyteries.

2. The advice and consent of three-fourths (3/4) of the Presbyteries.

3. The approval and enactment by a subsequent General Assembly

by three-fourths (3/4) of those present and voting.

This paragraph (BCO 26-3) can be amended only by the same method

prescribed for the amendment of the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of

the church.

26-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

26-4. In voting upon an amendment to the Constitution of the Presbyterian

Church in America, the Presbyteries may not divide the parts of the

amendment except as directed by the General Assembly which has

recommended its adoption.

26-5. Full organic union and consolidation of the Presbyterian Church in

America with any other ecclesiastical body can be effected only in the

following manner:

1. The approval of the proposed union by three-fourths (3/4) of those

present and voting in the General Assembly and its

recommendation to the Presbyteries.

2. The advice and consent of three-fourths (3/4) of the Presbyteries.

3. The approval and consummation by a subsequent General

Assembly by three-fourths (3/4) vote of those present and voting.

This paragraph (BCO 26-5) can be amended only by the same method

prescribed for the amendment of the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of

the church.

26-6. If by reason of the failure of a number of Presbyteries to act, or to

report action, on any proposed amendment to the Standards and the response

of the Presbyteries is not satisfactory to the succeeding General Assembly, it

may defer action for one year. In that event the General Assembly shall urge

the delinquent Presbyteries to report their judgment to the next Assembly,

which shall take final action on the proposed amendment.

PART II

THE RULES OF DISCIPLINE

CHAPTER 27

Discipline – Its Nature, Subjects and Ends

27-1. Discipline is the exercise of authority given the Church by the Lord

Jesus Christ to instruct and guide its members and to promote its

purity and welfare.

The term has two senses:

a. the one referring to the whole government, inspection, training,

guardianship and control which the church maintains over its

members, its officers and its courts;

b. the other a restricted and technical sense, signifying judicial process.

27-2. All baptized persons, being members of the Church are subject to its

discipline and entitled to the benefits thereof.

27-3. The exercise of discipline is highly important and necessary. In its

proper usage discipline maintains:

a. the glory of God,

b. the purity of His Church,

c. the keeping and reclaiming of disobedient sinners. Discipline is

for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7); therefore, it demands

a self-examination under Scripture.

Its ends, so far as it involves judicial action, are the rebuke of offenses, the

removal of scandal, the vindication of the honor of Christ, the promotion of the

purity and general edification of the Church, and the spiritual good of offenders

themselves.

27-4. The power which Christ has given the Church is for building up, and not

for destruction. It is to be exercised as under a dispensation of mercy and not of

wrath. As in the preaching of the Word the wicked are doctrinally separated from

the good, so by discipline the Church authoritatively separates between the holy and

the profane. In this it acts the part of a tender mother, correcting her children for

their good, that every one of them may be presented faultless in the day of the Lord

Jesus. Discipline is systematic training under the authority of God’s Scripture. No

communing or non-communing member of the Church should be allowed to stray

from the Scripture’s discipline. Therefore, teaching elders must:

a. instruct the officers in discipline,

b. instruct the congregation in discipline,

c. jointly practice it in the context of the congregation and church

courts.

27-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

27-5. Scriptural law is the basis of all discipline because it is the revelation

of God’s Holy will.

Proper disciplinary principles are set forth in the Scriptures and must

be followed. They are:

a. Instruction in the Word;

b. Individual’s responsibility to admonish one another (Matthew

18:15, Galatians 6:1);

c. If the admonition is rejected, then the calling of one or more

witnesses (Matthew 18:16);

d. If rejection persists, then the Church must act through her court

unto admonition, suspension, excommunication and deposition

(See BCO 29 and 30 for further explanation).

Steps (a) through (d) must be followed in proper order for the exercise

of discipline.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 28-1

CHAPTER 28

Disciplining of Non-communing Members

28-1. The spiritual nurture, instruction and training of the children of the

Church are committed by God primarily to their parents. They are responsible

to the Church for the faithful discharge of their obligations. It is a principal

duty of the Church to promote true religion in the home. True discipleship

involves learning the Word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit both

at home and in the Church. Without learning there is no growth and without

growth there is no discipline and without discipline there is sin and iniquity (1

Timothy 4:7).

28-2. The home and the Church should also make special provision for

instructing the children in the Bible and in the church Catechisms. To this end

Sessions should establish and conduct under their authority Sunday schools

and Bible classes, and adopt such other methods as may be found helpful. The

Session shall encourage the parents of the Church to guide their children in the

catechising and disciplining of them in the Christian religion.

28-3. The Church should maintain constant and sympathetic relations with

the children. It also should encourage them, on coming to years of discretion,

to make confession of the Lord Jesus Christ and to enter upon all privileges of

full church membership. If they are wayward they should be cherished by the

church and every means used to reclaim them.

28-4. Adult non-communing members, who receive with meekness and

appreciation the oversight and instruction of the Church, are entitled to special

attention. Their rights and privileges under the covenant should be frequently

and fully explained, and they should be warned of the sin and danger of

neglecting their covenant obligations.

28-5. All non-communing members shall be deemed under the care of the

church to which their parents belong, if they live under the parental roof and

are minors; otherwise, under that of the church where they reside, or with

which they ordinarily worship.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 29-1

CHAPTER 29

Offenses

29-1. An offense, the proper object of judicial process, is anything in the

doctrines or practice of a Church member professing faith in Christ which is

contrary to the Word of God. The Confession of Faith and the Larger and

Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly, together with the

formularies of government, discipline, and worship are accepted by the

Presbyterian Church in America as standard expositions of the teachings of

Scripture in relation to both faith and practice. Nothing, therefore, ought to be

considered by any court as an offense, or admitted as a matter of accusation,

which cannot be proved to be such from Scripture.

29-2. Offenses are either personal or general, private or public; but all of

them being sins against God, are therefore grounds of discipline.

29-3. Personal offenses are violations of the divine law, considered in the

special relation of wrongs or injuries to particular individuals. General

offenses are heresies or immoralities having no such relation, or considered

apart from it.

29-4. Private offenses are those which are known only to a few persons.

Public offenses are those which are notorious.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 30-1

CHAPTER 30

Church Censures

30-1. The censures, which may be inflicted by church courts, are

admonition, suspension from the Sacraments, excommunication, suspension

from office, and deposition from office. The censures of admonition or

definite suspension from office shall be administered to an accused who, upon

conviction, satisfies the court as to his repentance and makes such restitution

as is appropriate. Such censure concludes the judicial process. The censures

of indefinite suspension or excommunication shall be administered to an

accused who, upon conviction, remains impenitent.

30-2. Admonition is the formal reproof of an offender by a church court,

warning him of his guilt and danger, and exhorting him to be more circumspect

and watchful in the future.

30-3. Suspension from Sacraments is the temporary exclusion from those

ordinances, and is indefinite as to its duration. There is no definite suspension

from the Sacraments.

Suspension from office is the exclusion of a church officer from his

office. This may be definite or indefinite as to its duration. With respect to

church officers, suspension from Sacraments shall always be accompanied by

suspension from office. But suspension from office is not always necessarily

accompanied with suspension from Sacraments.

Definite suspension from office is administered when the credit of

religion, the honor of Christ, and the good of the delinquent demand it, even

though the delinquent has given satisfaction to the court.

Indefinite suspension is administered to the impenitent offender until

he exhibits signs of repentance, or until by his conduct, the necessity of the

greatest censure be made manifest. In the case of indefinite suspension from

office imposed due to scandalous conduct, the procedure outlined in BCO 34-

8 shall be followed.

30-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

30-4. Excommunication is the excision of an offender from the communion

of the Church. This censure is to be inflicted only on account of gross crime

or heresy and when the offender shows himself incorrigible and contumacious.

The design of this censure is to operate on the offender as a means of

reclaiming him, to deliver the church from the scandal of his offense, and to

inspire all with fear by the example of his discipline.

30-5. Deposition is the degradation of an officer from his office, and may or

may not be accompanied with the infliction of other censure.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 31-1

CHAPTER 31

The Parties in Cases of Process

31-1. Original jurisdiction (the right first or initially to hear and determine)

in relation to ministers of the Gospel shall be in the Presbytery of which the

minister is a member, except in cases as provided in BCO 34-1. Such original

jurisdiction in relation to church members shall be in the Session of the church

of which he/she is a member, except in cases as provided in BCO 33-1.

31-2. It is the duty of all church Sessions and Presbyteries to exercise care

over those subject to their authority. They shall with due diligence and great

discretion demand from such persons satisfactory explanations concerning

reports affecting their Christian character. This duty is more imperative when

those who deem themselves aggrieved by injurious reports shall ask an

investigation.

If such investigation, however originating, should result in raising a

strong presumption of the guilt of the party involved, the court shall institute

process, and shall appoint a prosecutor to prepare the indictment and to

conduct the case. This prosecutor shall be a member of the court, except that

in a case before the Session, he may be any communing member of the same

congregation with the accused.

31-3. The original and only parties in a case of process are the accuser and

the accused. The accuser is always the Presbyterian Church in America, whose

honor and purity are to be maintained. The prosecutor, whether voluntary or

appointed, is always the representative of the Church, and as such has all its

rights in the case. In appellate courts the parties are known as appellant and

appellee.

31-4. Every indictment shall begin: “In the name of the Presbyterian

Church in America,” and shall conclude, “against the peace, unity and

purity of the Church, and the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ,

as the King and Head thereof.” In every case the Church is the injured and

accusing party, against the accused.

31-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

31-5. An injured party shall not become a prosecutor of personal offenses

without having tried the means of reconciliation and of reclaiming the

offender, required by Christ.

“Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him

his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained

thy brother but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more,

that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”

(Matthew 18:15-16).

A church court, however, may judicially investigate personal offenses

as if general when the interest of religion seem to demand it. So, also, those

to whom private offenses are known cannot become prosecutors without

having previously endeavored to remove the scandal by private means.

31-6. When the offense is general, the case may be conducted either by any

person appearing as prosecutor or by a prosecutor appointed by the court.

31-7. When the prosecution is instituted by the court, the previous steps

required by our Lord in the case of personal offenses are not necessary. There

are many cases, however, in which it will promote the interests of religion to

send a committee to converse in a private manner with the offender, and

endeavor to bring him to a sense of his guilt, before instituting actual process.

31-8. Great caution ought to be exercised in receiving accusations from any

person who is known to indulge a malignant spirit towards the accused; who

is not of good character; who is himself under censure or process; who is

deeply interested in any respect in the conviction of the accused; or who is

known to be litigious, rash or highly imprudent.

31-9. Every voluntary prosecutor shall be previously warned, that if he fail

to show probable cause of the charges, he may himself be censured as a

slanderer of the brethren.

31-10. When a member of a church court is under process, all his official

functions may be suspended at the court’s discretion; but this shall never be

done in the way of censure.

31-11. In the discussion of all questions arising in his own case, the accused

shall exercise the rights of defendant only, not of judge.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 32-1

CHAPTER 32

General Provisions Applicable to all Cases of Process

32-1. It is incumbent on every member of a court of Jesus Christ engaged in

a trial of offenders, to bear in mind the inspired injunction:

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual

restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest

you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

32-2. Process against an offender shall not be commenced unless some

person or persons undertake to make out the charge; or unless the court finds

it necessary, for the honor of religion, itself to take the step provided for in

BCO 31-2.

32-3. It is appropriate that with each citation the moderator or clerk call the

attention of the parties to the Rules of Discipline (BCO 27 through 46) and

assist the parties to obtain access to them. When a charge is laid before the

Session or Presbytery, it shall be reduced to writing, and nothing shall be done

at the first meeting of the court, unless by consent of parties, except:

1. to appoint a prosecutor,

2. to order the indictment drawn and a copy, along with names of

witnesses then known to support it, served on the accused, and

3. to cite the accused to appear and be heard at another meeting which

shall not be sooner than ten days after such citation.

At the second meeting of the court the charges shall be read to the

accused, if present, and he shall be called upon to say whether he be guilty or

not.

If the accused confesses, the court may deal with him according to its

discretion; if he plead and take issue, the trial shall be scheduled and all parties

and their witnesses cited to appear. The trial shall not be sooner than fourteen

(14) days after such citation.

Accused parties may plead in writing when they cannot be personally

present. Parties necessarily absent should have counsel assigned to them.

32-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

32-4. The citation shall be issued and signed by the moderator or clerk by

order and in the name of the court. He shall also issue citations to such

witnesses as either party shall nominate to appear on his behalf. Indictments

and citations shall be delivered in person or in another manner providing

verification of the date of receipt. Compliance with these requirements shall

be deemed to have been fulfilled if a party cannot be located after diligent

inquiry or if a party refuses to accept delivery.

32-5. In drawing the indictment, the times, places and circumstances should,

if possible, be particularly stated, that the accused may have an opportunity to

make his defense.

32-6. a. When an accused person shall refuse to obey a citation, he shall be

cited a second time. This second citation shall be accompanied with a notice

that if he does not appear at the time appointed (unless providentially hindered,

which fact he must make known to the court) he shall be dealt with for his

contumacy (cf. BCO 33-2; 34-4).

b. When an accused person shall appear and refuse to plead, or

otherwise refuse to cooperate with lawful proceedings, he shall be dealt with

for his contumacy (cf. BCO 33-2; 34-4).

32-7. The time which must elapse between the serving of the first citation

on the accused person, and the meeting of the court at which he is to appear,

shall be at least ten (10) days. The time allotted for his appearance on the

subsequent citation shall be left to the discretion of the court, provided that it

be quite sufficient for a seasonable and convenient compliance with the

citation.

32-8. When the offense with which an accused person stands charged took

place at a distance, and it is inconvenient for the witnesses to appear before the

court having jurisdiction, that court may either appoint a commission of its

body, or request the coordinate court contiguous to the place where the facts

occurred to take the testimony for it. The accused shall always have reasonable

notice of the time and place of the meeting of this commission or coordinate

court.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 32-9

32-9. When an offense, alleged to have been committed at a distance, is not

likely otherwise to become known to the court having jurisdiction, it shall be

the duty of the court within whose bounds the facts occurred, after satisfying

itself that there is probable ground for accusation, to send notice to the court

having jurisdiction, which shall at once proceed against the accused; or the

whole case may be remitted for trial to the coordinate court within whose

bounds the offense is alleged to have been committed.

32-10. Before proceeding to trial, courts ought to ascertain that their citations

have been duly served.

32-11. In every process, if deemed expedient there may be a committee

appointed, which shall be called the Judicial Committee, and whose duty it

shall be to digest and arrange all the papers, and to prescribe, under the

direction of the court, the whole order of the proceedings. The members of

this committee shall be entitled, notwithstanding their performance of this

duty, to sit and vote in the case as members of the court.

32-12. When the trial is about to begin, it shall be the duty of the moderator

solemnly to announce from the chair that the court is about to pass to the

consideration of the case, and to enjoin on the members to recollect and regard

their high character as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and the solemn duty

in which they are about to engage.

32-13. In order that the trial may be fair and impartial, the witnesses shall be

examined in the presence of the accused, or at least after he shall have received

due citation to attend. Witnesses may be cross-examined by both parties, and

any questions asked must be pertinent to the issue.

32-14. On all questions arising in the progress of a trial, the discussion shall

first be between the parties; and when they have been heard, they may be

required to withdraw from the court until the members deliberate upon and

decide the point.

32-15 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

32-15. When a court of first resort proceeds to the trial of a case, the following

order shall be observed:

1. The moderator shall charge the court.

2. The indictment shall be read, and the answer of the accused heard.

3. The witnesses for the prosecutor and then those for the

accused shall be examined.

4. The parties shall be heard: first, the prosecutor, and then the

accused, and the prosecutor shall close.

5. The roll shall be called, and the members may express their

opinion in the case.

6. The vote shall be taken, the verdict announced and judgment

entered on the records.

32-16. Either party may, for cause, challenge the right of any member to sit

in the trial of the case, which question shall be decided by the other members

of the court.

32-17. Pending the trial of a case, any member of the court who shall express

his opinion of its merits to either party, or to any person not a member of the

court; or who shall absent himself from any sitting without the permission of

the court, or satisfactory reasons rendered, shall be thereby disqualified from

taking part in the subsequent proceedings.

32-18. Minutes of the trial shall be kept by the clerk, which shall exhibit the

charges, the answer, record of the testimony, as defined by BCO 35-7, and all

such acts, orders, and decisions of the court relating to the case, as either party

may desire, and also the judgment.

The clerk shall without delay assemble the Record of the Case which

shall consist of the charges, the answer, the citations and returns thereto, and

the minutes herein required to be kept.

The parties shall be allowed copies of the Record of the Case at their

own expense if they demand them.

When a case is removed by appeal or complaint, the lower court shall

transmit “the Record” thus prepared to the higher court with the addition of

the notice of appeal or complaint, and the reasons therefor, if any shall have

been filed.

Nothing which is not contained in this “Record” shall be taken into

consideration by the higher court. On the final decision of a case in a higher

court, the judgment shall be sent down to the court in which the case

originated.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 32-19

32-19. No professional counsel shall be permitted as such to appear and plead

in cases of process in any court; but an accused person may, if he desires it, be

represented before the Session by any communing member of the same

particular church, or before any other court, by any member of that court. A

member of the court so employed shall not be allowed to sit in judgment in the

case.

32-20. Process, in case of scandal, shall commence within the space of one

year after the offense was committed, unless it has recently become flagrant.

When, however, a church member shall commit an offense, after removing to

a place far distant from his former residence, and where his connection with

the church is unknown, in consequence of which process cannot be instituted

within the time above specified, the recent discovery of the church

membership of the individual shall be considered as equivalent to the offense

itself having recently become flagrant. The same principle, in like

circumstances, shall also apply to ministers.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 33-1

CHAPTER 33

Special Rules Pertaining to Process Before Sessions

33-1. Process against all church members, other than ministers of the

Gospel, shall be entered before the Session of the church to which such

members belong, except in cases of appeal. However, if the Session refuses

to act in doctrinal cases or instances of public scandal and two other Sessions

of churches in the same Presbytery request the Presbytery of which the church

is a member to initiate proper or appropriate action in a case of process and

thus assume jurisdiction and authority, the Presbytery shall do so.

33-2. When an accused person is found contumacious (cf. 32-6), he shall

be immediately suspended from the sacraments (and if an officer from his

office) for his contumacy. Record shall be made of the fact and of the charges

under which he was arraigned, and the censure may be made public, should

this be deemed expedient by the Session. The censure shall in no case be

removed until the offender has not only repented of his contumacy, but has

also given satisfaction in relation to the charges against him.

33-3. If after further endeavor by the court to bring the accused to a sense of

his guilt, he persists in his contumacy, he shall be excommunicated from the

Church.

33-4. When it is impracticable immediately to commence process against an

accused church member, the Session may, if it thinks the edification of the

Church requires it, prevent the accused from approaching the Lord’s Table

until the charges against him can be examined.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 34-1

CHAPTER 34

Special Rules Pertaining to Process Against a Minister

(Teaching Elder)

34-1. Process against a minister shall be entered before the Presbytery of

which he is a member. However, if the Presbytery refuses to act in doctrinal

cases or cases of public scandal and two other Presbyteries request the General

Assembly to assume original jurisdiction (to first receive and initially hear and

determine), the General Assembly shall do so.

34-2. As no minister ought, on account of his office, to be screened in his

sin, or slightly censured, so scandalous charges ought not to be received

against him on slight grounds.

34-3. If any one knows a minister to be guilty of a private offense, he should

warn him in private. But if the offense be persisted in, or become public, he

should bring the case to the attention of some other minister of the Presbytery.

34-4. a. When a minister accused of an offense is found contumacious (cf.

32-6), he shall be immediately suspended from the sacraments and his office

for his contumacy. Record shall be made of the fact and of the charges under

which he was arraigned, and the censure shall be made public. The censure

shall in no case be removed until the offender has not only repented of his

contumacy, but has also given satisfaction in relation to the charges against

him.

b. If after further endeavor by the court to bring the accused to a sense

of his guilt, he persists in his contumacy, he shall be deposed and

excommunicated from the Church.

34-5. Heresy and schism may be of such a nature as to warrant deposition;

but errors ought to be carefully considered, whether they strike at the vitals of

religion and are industriously spread, or whether they arise from the weakness

of the human understanding and are not likely to do much injury.

34-6. If the Presbytery find on trial that the matter complained of amounts

to no more than such acts of infirmity as may be amended, so that little or

nothing remains to hinder the minister’s usefulness, it shall take all prudent

measures to remove the scandal.

34-7 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

34-7. When a minister, pending a trial, shall make confession, if the matter

be base and flagitious, such as drunkenness, uncleanness, or crimes of a greater

nature, however penitent he may appear to the satisfaction of all, the court shall

without delay impose definite suspension or depose him from the ministry.

34-8. A minister under indefinite suspension from his office or deposed for

scandalous conduct shall not be restored, even on the deepest sorrow for his

sin, until he shall exhibit for a considerable time such an eminently exemplary,

humble and edifying life and testimony as shall heal the wound made by his

scandal. A deposed minister shall in no case be restored until it shall appear

that the general sentiment of the Church is strongly in his favor, and demands

his restoration; and then only by the court inflicting the censure, or with that

court’s consent. The removal of deposition requires a three-fourths (3/4) vote

of the court inflicting the censure, or a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the court to

which the majority of the original court delegates that authority.

34-9. When a minister is deposed, his pastoral relation shall be dissolved;

but when he is suspended from office it shall be left to the discretion of the

Presbytery whether the censure shall include the dissolution of the pastoral

relation.

34-10. Whenever a minister of the Gospel shall habitually fail to be engaged

in the regular discharge of his official functions, it shall be the duty of the

Presbytery, at a stated meeting, to inquire into the cause of such dereliction

and, if necessary, to institute judicial proceedings against him for breach of his

covenant engagement. If it shall appear that his neglect proceeds only from

his lack of acceptance to the Church, Presbytery may, upon the same principle

upon which it withdraws license from a licentiate for lack of evidence of the

divine call, divest him of his office without censure, even against his will, a

majority of two-thirds (2/3) being necessary for this purpose.

In such a case, the clerk shall under the order of the Presbytery

forthwith deliver to the minister concerned a written note that, at the next stated

meeting, the question of his being so dealt with is to be considered. This notice

shall distinctly state the grounds for this proceeding. The party thus notified

shall be heard in his own defense; and if the decision pass against him he may

appeal, as if he had been tried after the usual forms. This principle may apply,

with any necessary changes, to ruling elders and deacons.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 35-1

CHAPTER 35

Evidence

35-1. All persons of proper age and intelligence are competent witnesses, except

such as do not believe in the existence of God, or a future state of rewards and

punishments. The accused party may be allowed, but shall not be compelled to

testify; but the accuser shall be required to testify, on the demand of the accused.

Either party has the right to challenge a witness whom he believes to be incompetent,

and the court shall examine and decide upon his competency. It belongs to the court

to judge the degree of credibility to be attached to all evidence.

35-2. A husband or wife shall not be compelled to bear testimony against one

another in any court.

35-3. The testimony of more than one witness shall be necessary in order to

establish any charge; yet if, in addition to the testimony of one witness,

corroborative evidence be produced, the offense may be considered to be proved.

35-4. No witness afterwards to be examined, unless a member of the court, shall

be present during the examination of another witness on the same case, if either

party object.

35-5. Witnesses shall be examined first by the party introducing them; then cross-

examined by the opposite party; after which any member of the court, or either party,

may put additional interrogatories. No question shall be put or answered except by

permission of the moderator, subject to an appeal to the court. The court shall not

permit questions frivolous or irrelevant to the charge at issue.

35-6. The oath or affirmation to a witness shall be administered by the

Moderator in the following or like terms:

Do you solemnly promise, in the presence of God, that you will declare the

truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, according to the best of

your knowledge in the matter in which you are called to witness, as you shall

answer it to the great Judge of the living and the dead?

If, however, at any time a witness should present himself before a court, who for

conscientious reasons prefers to swear or affirm in any other manner, he should

be allowed to do so.

35-7. All testimony shall be recorded (transcription, audiotape, videotape, or

some other electronic means) and witnesses informed of such prior to testifying.



35-7 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Such recording becomes part of the Record of the Case. However, in order to be

referenced in written or oral briefs, such recording must be transcribed and the

transcription authenticated by the trial court. The court of final appeal may assess

the cost of transcription equitably among the parties.

35-8. The records of a court or any part of them, whether original or

transcribed, if regularly authenticated by the moderator and clerk, or by either of

them, shall be deemed good and sufficient evidence in every other court.

35-9. In like manner, testimony taken by one court and regularly certified shall

be received by every other court as no less valid than if it had been taken by itself.

35-10. When it is not convenient for a court to have the whole or perhaps any

part of the testimony in any particular case taken in its presence, a commission

shall be appointed, or coordinate court requested, to take the testimony in question,

which shall be considered as if taken in the presence of the court.

Due notice of the commission or coordinate court, and of the time and

place of its meeting, shall be given to the opposite party, that he may have an

opportunity of attending. If the accused shall desire on his part to take testimony

at a distance for his own exculpation, he shall give notice to the court of the time

and place at which it shall be taken, in order that a commission or coordinate court,

as in the former case, may be appointed for the purpose. Testimony may be taken

on written interrogatories by filing the same with the clerk of the court having

jurisdiction of the case, and giving two weeks’ notice thereof to the adverse party,

during which time he may file cross-interrogatories, if he desire it. Testimony

shall then be taken by the commission or coordinate court in answer to the direct

and cross-interrogatories, if such are filed, and no notice need be given of the time

and place of taking the testimony.

35-11. A member of the court shall not be disqualified from sitting as a judge

by having given testimony in the case, unless a party makes an objection, and

the court subsequently determines that such member should be disqualified.

The elder against whom the objection has been made shall retain the right to

vote in the determination of qualification. A member of the court who is the

prosecutor in the case (BCO 31-2) is disqualified from sitting as a judge.

35-12. An officer or private member of the church refusing to testify may be

censured for contumacy.

35-13. If after trial before any court new testimony be discovered, which the

accused believes important, it shall be his right to ask a new trial and it shall

be within the power of the court to grant his request.

35-14. If, in the prosecution of an appeal, new evidence be offered which, in the

judgment of the appellate court, has an important bearing on the case, it shall be

competent for that court to refer the case to the lower court for a new trial; or, with

the consent of parties, to admit the evidence and proceed with the case.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 36-1

CHAPTER 36

The Infliction of Church Censures

36-1. When any member or officer of the Church shall be found guilty of an

offense the court shall proceed with all tenderness and shall deal with its

offending brother in the spirit of meekness, the members considering

themselves lest they also be tempted.

36-2. Church censures and the modes of administering them should be

suited to the nature of the offenses. For private offenses, censure should be

administered in the presence of the court alone, or in private by one or more

members of the court. In the case of public offenses, the degree of censure and

mode of administering it shall be within the discretion of the court, acting in

accordance with paragraphs below which deal with particular censures.

36-3. The Censure of Admonition should be administered in private by one

or more members of the court if the offense is known only to a few and is not

aggravated in character. If the offense is public the Admonition should be

administered by the moderator in presence of the court and may also be

announced in public should the court deem it expedient.

36-4. Definite suspension from office should be administered in the

presence of the court alone or in open session of the court, as it may deem best,

and public announcement thereof shall be at the court’s discretion.

36-5. Indefinite suspension from office or the Sacraments should be

administered after the manner prescribed for definite suspension, but with

added solemnity, that the indefinite suspension may be the means of

impressing the mind of the delinquent with a proper sense of his danger.

Indefinite suspension should also be administered under the blessing of God

of leading him to repentance. When the court has resolved to pass this

sentence, the moderator shall address the offending brother to the following

purpose:

36-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Whereas, you, ___________________ (here describe the

person as a teaching elder, ruling elder, deacon, or private

member of the church) are convicted by sufficient proof (or are

guilty by your own confession) of the sin of ______________ (here

insert the offense), we the _______________________ Presbytery

(or Church Session) in the name and by the authority of the Lord

Jesus Christ, do now declare you suspended from the Sacraments

of the Church (and from the exercise of your office), until you give

satisfactory evidence of repentance.

To this shall be added such advice or admonition as may be judged

necessary, and the whole shall be concluded with prayer to almighty God that

He would follow this act of discipline with His blessing.

36-6. Excommunication is to be administered according to one or other of

the two modes laid down for indefinite suspension, or to be inflicted in public

as the court may decide. In administering this censure the moderator of the

Session shall make a statement of the several steps which have been taken with

respect to the offending brother, and of the decision to cut him off from the

communion of the church. He shall then show from Matthew 18:15-18 and 1

Corinthians 5:1-5 the authority of the church to cast out unworthy members,

and shall explain the nature, use and consequences of this censure. He shall

then administer the censure in the words following:

Whereas, _________________________, a member of this

church has been by sufficient proof convicted of the sin of

_______________________, and after much admonition and

prayer, obstinately refuses to hear the Church, and has

manifested no evidence of repentance: Therefore, in the name and

by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we, the Session of

________________________ church do pronounce him to be

excluded from the Sacraments, and cut off from the fellowship of

the Church.

Prayer shall then be made that by God’s blessing this solemn action of

the court may issue in the repentance and restoration of the offender, and in

the establishment of all true believers.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 36-7

36-7. The censure of deposition shall be administered by the moderator in

the words following:

Whereas, ____________________, a teaching elder of this

Presbytery (or ruling elder or deacon of this church), has been

proved, by sufficient evidence to be guilty of the sin of

____________________, we, the ____________________

Presbytery (or Church Session), do adjudge him disqualified for

the office of the Christian ministry (or ruling eldership, or

deaconship), and therefore we do hereby, in the name and by the

authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, depose from the office of a

teaching elder (or ruling elder or deacon) the said

____________________, and do prohibit him from exercising any

of the functions thereof.

If the censure includes suspension or excommunication, the moderator

shall proceed to say:

We do moreover, by the same authority, suspend the said

____________________ from the Sacraments of the Church, until

he shall exhibit satisfactory evidence of sincere repentance,

We do moreover, by the same authority, exclude the said

____________________ from the Sacraments, and cut him off

from the fellowship of the Church.

The sentence of deposition ought to be inflicted with solemnities

similar to those already prescribed in the case of excommunication.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 37-1

CHAPTER 37

The Removal of Censure

37-1. A person who has been definitely suspended from office shall be

restored by the court at the end of the term of his suspension by declaring

words of the following import to him:

Whereas, you ____________________ have been debarred

from the office of teaching elder, (or ruling elder, or deacon), but

have now fulfilled the time of your censure, we, of the

__________________ Presbytery (or Church Session) do hereby,

in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, absolve

you from the sentence of suspension and do restore you to the

exercise of your said office, and all the functions thereof.

37-2. After any person has been indefinitely suspended from the

Sacraments, it is proper that the rulers of the church should frequently converse

with him as well as pray with him and for him, that it would please God to give

him repentance.

37-3. When the court shall be satisfied as to the reality of the repentance of

an indefinitely suspended offender, he shall be admitted to profess his

repentance, either in the presence of the court alone or publicly. At this time

the offender shall be restored to the Sacraments of the Church, and/or to his

office, if such shall be the judgment of the court. The restoration shall be

declared to the penitent in the words of the following import:

Whereas, you, ______________, have been debarred from

the Sacraments of the Church (and/or from the office of teaching

elder, or ruling elder, or deacon), but have now manifested such

repentance as satisfies the church, we, the _______________

Church Session (or Presbytery), do hereby, in the name and by

the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, absolve you from the said

sentence of suspension from the Sacraments (and/or your office)

and do restore you to the full communion of the Church (and/or

the exercise of your said office, and all the functions thereof).

After which there shall be prayer and thanksgiving.

37-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

37-4. When an excommunicated person shall be so affected with his state as

to be brought to repentance, and to desire to be readmitted to the communion

of the church, the Session, having obtained sufficient evidence of his sincere

penitence, shall proceed to restore him. This may be done in the presence of

the court, or of the congregation as seems best to the Session.

On the day appointed for his restoration, the minister shall call upon

the excommunicated person and propose to him in the presence of the court or

the congregation the following questions:

1. Do you, from a deep sense of your great wickedness, freely

confess your sins in thus rebelling against God, and in refusing

to hear His Church; and do you acknowledge that you have

been in justice and mercy cut off from the communion of the

Church?

Answer, I do.

2. Do you now voluntarily profess your sincere repentance and

contrition for your sin and obstinacy; and do you humbly ask

the forgiveness of God and His Church?

Answer, I do.

3. Do you sincerely promise, through divine grace, to live in all

humbleness of mind and circumspection; and to endeavor to

adorn by a holy life the doctrine of God our Saviour?

Answer, I do.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 37-4

Here the minister shall give the penitent a suitable exhortation,

encouraging and comforting him. Then he shall pronounce the sentence of

restoration in the following words:

Whereas, you ____________________, have been shut out from

the communion of the church, but now have manifested such

repentance as satisfies the Church; in the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ, and by His authority, we, the Session of this church, do

declare you absolved from the sentence of excommunication

formerly pronounced against you, and we do restore you to the

communion of the Church, that you may be a partaker of all the

benefits of the Lord Jesus to your eternal salvation.

The whole shall be concluded with prayer and thanksgiving.

37-5. The restoration of a deposed officer, after public confession has been

made in a manner similar to that prescribed in the case of the removal of

censure from an excommunicated person, shall be announced to him by the

Moderator in the following form, namely:

Whereas, you, ______________ , formerly a teaching elder of this

Presbytery (or a ruling elder or deacon of this church), have been

deposed from your office, but have now manifested such

repentance as satisfies the Church; in the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ, and by His authority, we, the _______________ Presbytery

(or Church Session) do declare you absolved from the said

sentence of deposition formerly pronounced against you; and we

do furthermore restore you to your said office, and to the exercise

of all the functions thereof, whenever you may be orderly called

thereto.

After this there shall be prayer and thanksgiving, and the members of

the court shall extend to him the right hand of fellowship.

37-6. When a ruling elder or deacon has been absolved from the censure of

deposition, he cannot be allowed to resume the exercise of his office in the

church without re-election by the people. The removal of deposition requires

a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the court inflicting the censure, or a three-fourths

(3/4) vote of the court to which the majority of the original court delegates that

authority.

37-7 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

37-7. When a person under censure shall reside at such a distance from the

court by which he was sentenced as to make the continued exercise of spiritual

oversight impractical (cf. BCO 37-2), it shall be lawful for the court, with the

acquiescence of the offender and the concurrence of the receiving court, to

transmit a certified copy of its proceedings to the court where the delinquent

resides, which shall assume jurisdiction, take up the case, and proceed with it

as though it had originated with itself.

37-8. In the restoration of a minister who is under indefinite suspension from

the Sacraments, and/or his office, or has been deposed, it is the duty of the

Presbytery to proceed with great caution. It should first admit him to the

Sacraments, if he has been debarred from them. Afterwards it should grant

him the privilege of preaching on probation for a time, so as to test the sincerity

of his repentance and prospect of his usefulness. When satisfied in these

respects, the Presbytery shall take steps to restore him to his office. But the

case shall always be under judicial consideration until the declaration of

restoration has been pronounced.

37-9. In the case of the removal of censures from, or the restoration of, a

minister, jurisdiction shall be as follows:

a. If the censure(s) does not include excommunication, the presbytery

inflicting the censure(s) shall retain the authority to remove the

censure(s) and, at its discretion, restore him to office. This authority

is retained by the presbytery even when a divested or deposed minister

is assigned, under the provisions of BCO 46-8, to a session.

b. If the censure includes excommunication, the penitent may only be

restored to the communion of the church through a session (BCO 1-3;

6-4; 57-4; 57-5; 57-6). Once the penitent is restored, and therefore a

member of a local church, the authority to remove any other censure(s)

in respect to office, concurrently imposed with that of

excommunication shall belong to the court originally imposing such

censure(s).

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 38-1

CHAPTER 38

Cases Without Process

38-1. When any person shall come forward and make his offense known to

the court, a full statement of the facts shall be recorded and judgment rendered

without process. In handling a confession of guilt, it is essential that the person

intends to confess and permit the court to render judgment without process.

Statements made by him in the presence of the court must not be taken as a

basis of a judgment without process except by his consent. In the event a

confession is intended, a full statement of the facts should be approved by the

accused, and by the court, before the court proceeds to a judgment. The

accused has the right of complaint against the judgment.

38-2. A minister of the Gospel against whom there are no charges, if fully

satisfied in his own conscience that God has not called him to the ministry, or

if he has satisfactory evidence of his inability to serve the Church with

acceptance, may report these facts at a stated meeting of Presbytery. At the

next stated meeting, if after full deliberation the Presbytery shall concur with

him in judgment, it may divest him of his office without censure. This

provision shall in like manner apply with any necessary changes to the case of

ruling elders and deacons; but in all such cases the Session of the church to

which the ruling elder or the deacon who seeks demission belongs shall act as

the Presbytery acts in similar cases where a minister is concerned.

38-3. a. When a member or officer in the Presbyterian Church in America

shall attempt to withdraw from the communion of this branch of the visible

Church by affiliating with some other branch (BCO 2-2), if at the time of the

attempt to withdraw he is in good standing, the irregularity shall be recorded,

his new membership acknowledged, and his name removed from the roll. But

if at the time of the attempt to withdraw there is a record of an investigation in

process (BCO 31-2), or there are charges (BCO 32-3) concerning the member

or minister, the court of original jurisdiction may retain his name on the roll

and conduct the case, communicating the outcome upon completion of the

proceedings to that member or minister. If the court does not conduct the case,

his new membership shall be acknowledged, his name removed from the roll,

and, at the request of the receiving branch, the matters under investigation or

the charges shall be communicated to them.

38-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

b. When a member or minister of the Presbyterian Church in America

shall attempt to withdraw from the communion of this branch of the visible

Church by affiliating with a body judged by the court of original jurisdiction

as failing to maintain the Word and Sacraments in their fundamental integrity

(BCO 2-2), that member or minister shall be warned of his danger, and if he

persists, his name shall be erased from the roll, thereby, so far as the

Presbyterian Church in America is concerned, he is deemed no longer to be a

member in any body which rightly maintains the Word and Sacraments in their

fundamental integrity, and if an officer, thereby withdrawing from him all

authority to exercise his office as derived from this Church. When so acting

the court shall make full record of the matter and shall notify the offender of

its action.

38-4. When a member of a particular church has willfully neglected the

church for a period of one year, or has made it known that he has no intention

of fulfilling the church vows, then the Session, continuing to exercise pastoral

discipline (BCO 27-1a and 27-4) in the spirit of Galatians 6:1, shall remind the

member, if possible both in person and in writing, of the declarations and

promises by which he entered into a solemn covenant with God and His

Church (BCO 57-5, nos. 3-5), and warn him that, if he persists, his name shall

be erased from the roll.

If after diligently pursuing such pastoral discipline, and after further

inquiry and due delay, the Session is of the judgment that the member will not

fulfill his membership obligations in this or any other branch of the Visible

Church (cf. BCO 2-2), then the Session shall erase his name from the roll. This

erasure is an act of pastoral discipline (BCO 27-1a) without process. The

Session shall notify the person, if possible, whose name has been removed.

Notwithstanding the above, if a member thus warned makes a written

request for process (i.e., BCO Chapters 31-33, 35-36), the Session shall grant

such a request. Further, if the Session determines that any offense of such a

member is of the nature that process is necessary, the Session may institute

such process.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 39-1

CHAPTER 39

Modes in Which the Proceedings of Lower Courts Come

Under the Supervision of Higher Courts

39-1. The acts and decisions of a lower court are brought under the

supervision of a higher court in one or another of the following modes:

1. Review and Control;

2. Reference;

3. Appeal; and

4. Complaint.

39-2. When the proceedings of a lower court are before a higher court, the

members of the lower court shall not lose the right to sit, deliberate and vote

in the higher court, except in cases of appeal or complaint.

39-3. While affirming that the Scripture is “the supreme judge by which all

controversies of religion are to be determined” (WCF 1.10), and that the

Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America is “subordinate to the

Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inerrant Word of God” (BCO

Preface, III), and while affirming also that this Constitution is fallible (WCF

31.3), the Presbyterian Church in America affirms that this subordinate and

fallible Constitution has been “adopted by the church” (BCO Preface, III) “as

standard expositions of the teachings of Scripture in relation to both faith and

practice” (BCO 29-1) and as setting forth a form of government and discipline

“in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity” (BCO 21-5.3).

To insure that this Constitution is not amended, violated or disregarded in

judicial process, any review of the judicial proceedings of a lower court by a

higher court shall be guided by the following principles:

1. A higher court, reviewing a lower court, should limit itself to the

issues raised by the parties to the case in the original (lower) court.

Further, the higher court should resolve such issues by applying the

Constitution of the church, as previously established through the

constitutional process.

39-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

2. A higher court should ordinarily exhibit great deference to a lower

court regarding those factual matters which the lower court is more

competent to determine, because of its proximity to the events in

question, and because of its personal knowledge and observations of

the parties and witnesses involved. Therefore, a higher court should

not reverse a factual finding of a lower court, unless there is clear

error on the part of the lower court.

3. A higher court should ordinarily exhibit great deference to a lower

court regarding those matters of discretion and judgment which can

only be addressed by a court with familiar acquaintance of the events

and parties. Such matters of discretion and judgment would include,

but not be limited to: the moral character of candidates for sacred

office, the appropriate censure to impose after a disciplinary trial, or

judgment about the comparative credibility of conflicting witnesses.

Therefore, a higher court should not reverse such a judgment by a

lower court, unless there is clear error on the part of the lower court.

4. The higher court does have the power and obligation of judicial

review, which cannot be satisfied by always deferring to the findings

of a lower court. Therefore, a higher court should not consider itself

obliged to exhibit the same deference to a lower court when the issues

being reviewed involve the interpretation of the Constitution of the

Church. Regarding such issues, the higher court has the duty and

authority to interpret and apply the Constitution of the Church

according to its best abilities and understanding, regardless of the

opinion of the lower court.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 40-1

CHAPTER 40

General Review and Control

40-1. It is the right and duty of every court above the Session to review, at

least once a year, the records of the court next below, and if any lower court

fails to present its records for this purpose, the higher court may require them

to be produced immediately, or at any time fixed by this higher court.

40-2. In reviewing records of a lower court the higher court is to examine:

1. Whether the proceedings have been correctly recorded;

2. Whether they have been regular and in accordance with the

Constitution;

3. Whether they have been wise, equitable and suited to promote the

welfare of the Church;

4. Whether the lawful injunctions of the higher court have been

obeyed.

40-3. It is ordinarily sufficient for the higher court merely to record in its

own minutes and in the records reviewed whether it approves, disapproves or

corrects the records in any particular; but should any serious irregularity be

discovered the higher court may require its review and correction by the lower.

Proceedings in judicial cases, however, shall not be dealt with under review

and control when notice of appeal or complaint has been given the lower court;

and no judgment of a lower court in a judicial case shall be reversed except by

appeal or complaint.

40-4. Courts may sometimes entirely neglect to perform their duty, by which

neglect heretical opinions or corrupt practices may be allowed to gain ground;

or offenders of a very gross character may be suffered to escape; or some

circumstances in their proceedings of very great irregularity may not be

distinctly recorded by them. In any of these cases their records will by no

means exhibit to the higher court a full view of their proceedings. If, therefore,

the next higher court be well advised that any such neglect or irregularity has

occurred on the part of the lower court, it is incumbent on it to take cognizance

of the same, and to examine, deliberate and judge in the whole matter as

completely as if it had been recorded, and thus brought up by review of its

records.

40-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

40-5. When any court having appellate jurisdiction shall receive a credible

report with respect to the court next below of any important delinquency or

grossly unconstitutional proceedings of such court, the first step shall be to cite

the court alleged to have offended to appear before the court having appellate

jurisdiction, or its commission, by representative or in writing, at a specified

time and place, and to show what the lower court has done or failed to do in

the case in question.

The court thus issuing the citation may reverse or redress the

proceedings of the court below in other than judicial cases; or it may censure

the delinquent court; or it may remit the whole matter to the delinquent court

with an injunction to take it up and dispose of it in a constitutional manner; or

it may stay all further proceedings in the case; as circumstances may require.

40-6. In process against a lower court, the trial shall be conducted according

to the rules provided for process against individuals, so far as they may be

applicable.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 41-1

CHAPTER 41

References

41-1. A reference is a written representation and application made by a

lower court to a higher for advice or other action on a matter pending before

the lower court, and is ordinarily to be made to the next higher court.

41-2. Among proper subjects for reference are matters that are new, delicate

or difficult; or on which the members of the lower court are very seriously

divided; or which relate to questions involving the Constitution and legal

procedures respecting which the lower court feels the need of guidance.

41-3. In making a reference the lower court may ask for advice only, or for

final disposition of the matter referred; and in particular it may refer a judicial

case with request for its trial and decision by the higher court.

41-4. A reference may be presented to the higher court by one or more

representatives appointed by the lower court for this purpose. It should be

accompanied with so much of the record as shall be necessary for proper

understanding and consideration of the matter referred.

41-5. Although references are sometimes proper, in general it is better that

every court should discharge the duty assigned it under the law of the Church.

A higher court is not required to accede to the request of the lower, but

it should ordinarily give advice when so requested.

41-6. When a court makes a reference, it ought to have all the testimony and

other documents duly prepared, produced and in perfect readiness, so that the

higher court may be able to fully consider and handle the case with as little

difficulty or delay as possible.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 42-1

CHAPTER 42

Appeals

42-1. An appeal is the transfer to a higher court of a judicial case on which

judgment has been rendered in a lower court, and is allowable only to the party

against whom the decision has been rendered. The parties shall be known as

the appellant and appellee. An appeal cannot be made to any court other than

the next higher, except with its consent.

42-2. Only those who have submitted to a regular trial are entitled to an

appeal.

42-3. The grounds of appeal are such as the following: any irregularity in

the proceedings of the lower court; refusal of reasonable indulgence to a party

on trial; receiving improper or declining to receive proper evidence; hurrying

to a decision before all the testimony is taken; manifestation of prejudice in

the case; and mistake or injustice in the judgment and censure.

42-4. Notice of appeal may be given the court before its adjournment.

Written notice of appeal, with supporting reasons, shall be filed by the

appellant with both the clerk of the lower court and the clerk of the higher

court, within thirty (30) days of notification of the last court’s decision.

Notification shall be deemed to have occurred on the day of mailing (if

certified, registered or express mail of a national postal service or any private

service where verifying receipt is utilized), the day of hand delivery, or the day

of confirmed receipt in the case of e-mail or facsimile. Furthermore,

compliance with such requirements shall be deemed to have been fulfilled if a

party cannot be located after diligent inquiry or if a party refuses to accept

delivery. No attempt should be made to circularize the courts to which appeal

is being made by either party before the case is heard.

42-5. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the lower court to file with the clerk

of the higher court, not more than thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of

appeal, a copy of all proceedings in connection with the case, including the

notice of appeal and reasons therefor, the response of the lower court, the

evidence, and any papers bearing on the case, which together shall be known

as “the Record of the Case”, and the higher court shall not admit or consider

anything not found in this “Record” without the consent of the parties in the

case. Should new evidence come to light the case shall be remanded to the

lower court from which the appeal was made, unless both parties consent to

admit the new evidence and proceed with the case.



42-6 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

42-6. Notice of appeal shall have the effect of suspending the judgment of

the lower court until the case has been finally decided in the higher court.

However, the court of original jurisdiction may, for sufficient reasons duly

recorded, prevent the appellant from approaching the Lord’s Table, and if an

officer, prevent him from exercising some or all his official functions, until the

case is finally decided (cf. BCO 31-10; 33-4). This shall never be done in the

way of censure.

42-7. If a lower court shall neglect to send up “the Record of the Case” or

any part of it, to the injury of the appellant, it shall receive a proper rebuke

from the higher court, and the judgment from which the appeal has been taken

shall be suspended until “the Record” is produced upon which the issue can be

fairly tried.

42-8. After a higher court has decided that an appeal is in order and should

be entertained by the court, the court shall hear the case, or in accordance with

the provisions of BCO 15-2 and 15-3, appoint a commission to do so. At the

hearing, after the Record has been read, each side should be allotted not over

thirty (30) minutes for oral argument, the appellant having the right of opening

and closing the argument. After the hearing has been concluded, the court or

commission should go into closed session, and discuss the merits of the case.

The vote then should be taken, without further debate, on each

specification in this form:

Shall this specification of error be sustained?

If the court or commission deem it wise, it may adopt a minute

explanatory of its action, which shall become a part of its Record of the Case. The

court or commission shall designate one of its members to write the opinion, which

opinion shall be adopted by the court or commission as its opinion.

42-9. The decision of the higher court may be to affirm in whole or in part;

to reverse in whole or in part; to render the decision that should have been

rendered; or to remand the case to the lower court for a new trial. In every

case a written opinion shall be prepared, and a copy of the opinion and

judgment entered will be delivered personally or mailed to the lower court and

the appellant, with a written receipt required.

42-10. An appellant may represent himself or be represented as provided in

BCO 32-19.

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 42-11

42-11. An appellant shall be considered to have abandoned his appeal if he

fails to appear before the higher court, in person or by counsel, for a hearing

thereof, after he has been properly notified; but an appellant may waive, in

writing, his right to appear with permission of the court and not be considered

to have abandoned his case. In case of such failure to appear, the judgment of

the lower court will stand unless the appellant gives to the court a prompt and

satisfactory explanation.

42-12. If an appellant manifests a litigious or otherwise un-Christian spirit in

the prosecution of his appeal, he shall receive a suitable rebuke by the appellate

court.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 43-1

CHAPTER 43

Complaints

43-1. A complaint is a written representation made against some act or

decision of a court of the Church. It is the right of any communing member of

the Church in good standing to make complaint against any action of a court

to whose jurisdiction he is subject, except that no complaint is allowable in a

judicial case in which an appeal is pending.

43-2. A complaint shall first be made to the court whose act or decision is

alleged to be in error. Written notice of complaint, with supporting reasons,

shall be filed with the clerk of the court within sixty (60) days following the

meeting of the court. The court shall consider the complaint at its next stated

meeting, or at a called meeting prior to its next stated meeting. No attempt

should be made to circularize the court to which complaint is being made by

either party.

43-3. If, after considering a complaint, the court alleged to be delinquent or

in error is of the opinion that it has not erred, and denies the complaint, the

complainant may take that complaint to the next higher court. If the lower

court fails to consider the complaint against it by or at its next stated meeting,

the complainant may take that complaint to the next higher court. Written

notice thereof shall be filed with both the clerk of the lower court and the clerk

of the higher court within thirty (30) days of notification of the last court’s

decision. Notification shall be deemed to have occurred on the day of mailing

(if certified, registered or express mail of a national postal service or any

private service where verifying receipt is utilized), the day of hand delivery,

or the day of confirmed receipt in the case of e-mail or facsimile. Furthermore,

compliance with such requirements shall be deemed to have been fulfilled if a

party cannot be located after diligent inquiry or if a party refuses to accept

delivery.

43-4. Notice of complaint shall not have the effect of suspending the action

against which the complaint is made, unless one-third (1/3) of the members

present when the action was taken shall vote for its suspension, until the final

decision in the higher court.

43-5. The court against which complaint is made shall appoint one or more

representatives to defend its action before the higher court, and the parties in

the case shall be known as complainant and respondent. The complainant

himself may present his complaint, or he may obtain the assistance of a

communing member of the Presbyterian Church in America, who is in good

standing, in presenting his complaint.

43-6 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

43-6. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the lower court to file with the clerk

of the higher court, not more than thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of

complaint, a copy of all its proceedings in connection with the complaint

including the notice of complaint and supporting reasons, the response of the

lower court, if any, and any papers bearing on the complaint. If the clerk of

the lower court shall neglect to send up the proceedings on the complaint, he

shall receive a proper rebuke from the higher court, and the act or decision

complained against shall be suspended until the proceedings are produced so

that the higher court can fairly consider the complaint.

43-7. The complainant shall be considered to have abandoned his complaint

if he fails to appear before the higher court, in person or by counsel, for a

hearing thereof, after he has been properly notified; but a complainant may

waive, in writing, his right to appear with permission of the court and not be

considered to have abandoned his case. In case of such failure to appear, the

judgment of the lower court will stand unless the complainant gives to the

court a prompt and satisfactory explanation.

43-8. Subject to the provisions below, after the higher court has decided that

the notice filed with its clerk was timely and that the complaint is otherwise in

order for it to be heard by the higher court, it shall hear the complaint, or in

accordance with the provision of BCO 15-2 and 15-3, appoint a commission to

do so. Ordinarily the court or its commission shall schedule a hearing in a manner

that reasonably accommodates the schedules of the respective parties and affords

each party a prior opportunity to file a written brief upon such terms and in

accord with a briefing schedule established by the court or its commission in

the reasonable exercise of its discretion.

43-9. At the hearing, after all the papers bearing on the complaint have been

read, the complainant and respondent will be given the opportunity to present

argument, the complainant having the right of opening and closing the

argument. After the hearing has been concluded, the court or the commission

should go into closed session, and discuss and consider the merits of the

complaint. The vote should then or later be taken as to what disposition should

be made of the complaint, and the complainant and respondent notified of the

court’s decision.

43-10. The higher court has power, in its discretion, to annul the whole or any

part of the action of a lower court against which complaint has been made, or

to send the matter back to the lower court with instructions for a new hearing.

If the higher court rules a lower court erred by not indicting someone, and the

lower court refers the matter back to the higher court, it shall accept the

reference if it is a doctrinal case or case of public scandal (see BCO 41-3).

RULES OF DISCIPLINE 45-1

CHAPTER 44

(Vacated)

CHAPTER 45

Dissents, Protests, and Objections

45-1. Any member of a court who had a right to vote on a question, and is

not satisfied with the action taken by that court, is entitled to have a dissent or

protest recorded.

None can join in a dissent or protest against an action of any court

except those who had a right to vote in the case.

Any member who did not have the right to vote on an appeal or

complaint (see BCO 39-2), and is not satisfied with the action taken by the

court, is entitled to have an objection recorded.

A dissent, protest or objection shall be filed with the clerk of the lower

court within thirty (30) days following the meeting of the lower court or with

the clerk of the General Assembly before its adjournment.

45-2. A dissent is a declaration on the part of one or more members of a minority,

expressing a different opinion from the majority in its action on any issue before the

court, and may be accompanied with the reasons on which it is founded.

45-3. A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration by members of a

minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem an improper or

erroneous action on any issue before the court, and is generally accompanied

with the reasons on which it is founded.

45-4. An objection is a declaration by one or more members of a court who

did not have the right to vote on an appeal or complaint, expressing a different

opinion from the decision of the court and may be accompanied with the

reasons on which it is founded.

45-5. If a dissent, protest, or objection be couched in temperate language, and be

respectful to the court, it shall be recorded; and the court may, if deemed necessary,

put an answer to the dissent, protest, or objection on the records along with it. Here

the matter shall end, unless the parties obtain permission to withdraw their dissent,

protest, or objection absolutely, or for the sake of amendment.

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RULES OF DISCIPLINE 46-1

CHAPTER 46

Jurisdiction

46-1. When a church member shall remove his residence beyond the bounds

of the congregation of which he is a member, so that he can no longer regularly

attend its services, it shall be his duty to transfer his membership by presenting

a certificate of dismission from the Session of the church of which he is a

member to the church with which he wishes to unite.

When the church of which he is a member has no Session, or for other

good reasons it seems impossible for the member to secure a certificate of

dismission, he may be received by the Session upon other satisfactory

testimonials, in which case the church of which he was a member shall be duly

notified.

46-2. When a church member shall remove his residence beyond the bounds

of the church of which he is a member into the bounds of another, it shall be

the duty of the teaching and ruling elders of the church of which he is a

member, as far as possible, to continue pastoral oversight of him and to inform

him that according to the teaching of our Book of Church Order it is his duty

to transfer his membership as soon as practicable to the church in whose

bounds he is living.

It shall also be the duty of the church from whose bounds the member

moved to notify the teaching and ruling elders of a church into whose bounds

he has moved and request them to take pastoral oversight of the member, with

a view of having him transfer his membership, unless BCO 18-7 applies.

If a member, after having thus been advised, shall neglect for one (1)

year to have his membership transferred, the Session shall then proceed,

according to BCO 38-4, except in special cases such as: servicemen, students,

etc.

The name of any member whose residence has been unknown for one

year to the Session shall be removed from the roll and such names are not to

be counted in the annual statistical reports, though act of removal should be

recorded in the Session’s minutes. If such a person at a later date should appear

or desire transfer of his or her letter, the Session will inform the governing

body of the inquiring church of their action in removing said person from their

roll.

46-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

46-3. Members of one church dismissed to join another shall be held to be

under the jurisdiction of the Session dismissing them until they form a regular

connection with that to which they have been dismissed.

46-4. Associate members are those believers temporarily residing in a

location other than their permanent homes. Such believers may become

associate members of a particular church without ceasing to be communicant

members of their home churches. An associate member shall have all the

rights and privileges of that church, with the exception of voting in a

congregational or corporation meeting, and holding an office in that church.

46-5. (Vacated) [see 38-4]

46-6. When a Presbytery shall dismiss a minister, licentiate or candidate, the

name of the Presbytery to which he is dismissed shall be given in the

certificate, and he shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery

dismissing him until received by the other.

46-7. No certificate of dismission from either a Session or a Presbytery shall

be valid testimony of good standing for a period longer than one (1) year,

unless its earlier presentation be hindered by some providential cause; and

such certificates given to persons who have left the bounds of the Session or

Presbytery granting them shall certify the standing of such persons only to the

time of their leaving those bounds.

46-8. When a Presbytery shall divest a minister of his office without

censure, or depose him without excommunication, it shall assign him, to

membership in some particular church, subject to the approval of the Session

of that church.



PART III

THE DIRECTORY FOR THE WORSHIP

OF GOD

Temporary statement adopted by the Third General Assembly to preface the

Directory for Worship: The Directory for Worship is an approved guide and

should be taken seriously as the mind of the Church agreeable to the Standards.

However, it does not have the force of law and is not to be considered

obligatory in all its parts. BCO 56, 57 and 58 have been given full

constitutional authority by the Eleventh General Assembly after being

submitted to the Presbyteries and receiving the necessary approval of two-

thirds (2/3) of the Presbyteries. BCO 59-3, as amended, has been given full

constitutional authority by the Forty-seventh General Assembly after being

submitted to the Presbyteries and receiving the necessary approval of two-

thirds (2/3) of the Presbyteries.

CHAPTER 47

The Principles and Elements of Public Worship

47-1. Since the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and

practice, the principles of public worship must be derived from the Bible, and

from no other source.

The Scriptures forbid the worshipping of God by images, or in any

other way not appointed in His Word, and requires the receiving, observing,

and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God

hath appointed in His Word (WSC 51, 50).

47-2. A service of public worship is not merely a gathering of God’s

children with each other, but before all else, a meeting of the triune God with

His chosen people. God is present in public worship not only by virtue of the

Divine omnipresence but, much more intimately, as the faithful covenant

Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “Where two or three are gathered together

in My name there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

47-3. The end of public worship is the glory of God. His people should

engage in all its several parts with an eye single to His glory. Public worship

has as its aim the building of Christ’s Church by the perfecting of the saints

and the addition to its membership of such as are being saved -- all to the glory

47-3 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

of God. Through public worship on the Lord’s day Christians should learn to

serve God all the days of the week in their every activity, remembering,

whether they eat or drink, or whatever they do, to do all to the glory of God (1

Corinthians 10:31).

47-4. Public worship is Christian when the worshippers recognize that

Christ is the Mediator by whom alone they can come unto God, when they

honor Christ as the head of the Church, who rules over public worship, and

when their worship is an expression of their faith in Christ and of their love for

Him.

47-5. Public worship must be performed in spirit and in truth. Externalism

and hypocrisy stand condemned. The forms of public worship have value only

when they serve to express the inner reverence of the worshipper and his

sincere devotion to the true and living God. And only those whose hearts have

been renewed by the Holy Spirit are capable of such reverence and devotion.

47-6. The Lord Jesus Christ has prescribed no fixed forms for public

worship but, in the interest of life and power in worship, has given His Church

a large measure of liberty in this matter. It may not be forgotten, however, that

there is true liberty only where the rules of God’s Word are observed and the

Spirit of the Lord is, that all things must be done decently and in order, and

that God’s people should serve Him with reverence and in the beauty of

holiness. From its beginning to its end a service of public worship should be

characterized by that simplicity which is an evidence of sincerity and by that

beauty and dignity which are a manifestation of holiness.

47-7. Public worship differs from private worship in that in public worship

God is served by His saints unitedly as His covenant people, the Body of

Christ. For this reason the covenant children should be present so far as

possible as well as adults. For the same reason no favoritism may be shown

to any who attend. Nor may any member of the church presume to exalt

himself above others as though he were more spiritual, but each shall esteem

others better than himself.

47-8. It behooves God’s people not only to come into His presence with a

deep sense of awe at the thought of His perfect holiness and their own

exceeding sinfulness, but also to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and

into His courts with praise for the great salvation, which He has so graciously

wrought for them through his only begotten Son and applied to them by the

Holy Spirit.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 47-9

47-9. The Bible teaches that the following are proper elements of worship

service: reading of Holy Scripture, singing of psalms and hymns, the offering

of prayer, the preaching of the Word, the presentation of offerings, confessing

the faith and observing the Sacraments; and on special occasions taking oaths.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 48-1

CHAPTER 48

The Sanctification of the Lord’s Day

48-1. “The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set

times as he hath appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to

be a holy sabbath to himself.” (WSC 58).

48-2. God commanded His Old Testament people to keep holy the last day

of the week, but He sanctified the first day as the Sabbath by the resurrection

of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. For this reason the Church of the new

dispensation has from the time of the apostles kept holy the first day of the

week as the Lord’s Day.

48-3. It is the duty of every person to remember the Lord’s Day; and to

prepare for it before its approach. All worldly business should be so ordered,

and seasonably laid aside, as that they may not be hindered thereby from

sanctifying the Sabbath, as the Holy Scriptures require.

48-4. The whole day is to be kept holy to the Lord; and to be employed in

the public and private exercises of religion. Therefore, it is requisite, that there

be a holy resting, all the day, from unnecessary labors; and an abstaining from

those recreations which may be lawful on other days; and also, as much as

possible, from worldly thoughts and conversation.

48-5. Let the provisions for the support of the family on that day be so

ordered that others be not improperly detained from the public worship of God,

nor hindered from sanctifying the Sabbath.

48-6. Let every person and family, in the morning, by secret and private

prayer, for themselves and others, especially for the assistance of God to their

minister, and for a blessing upon his ministry, by reading the Scriptures, and

by holy meditation, prepare for communion with God in his public ordinances.

48-7. Let the time not used for public worship be spent in prayer, in

devotional reading, and especially in the study of the Scriptures, meditation,

catechising, religious conversation, the singing of psalms, hymns, or spiritual

songs; visiting the sick, relieving the poor, teaching the ignorant, holy resting,

and in performing such like duties of piety, charity, and mercy.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 49-1

CHAPTER 49

The Ordering of Public Worship

49-1. When the congregation is to meet for public worship, the people

(having before prepared their hearts thereunto) ought all to come and join

therein; not absenting themselves from the public ordinances through

negligence, or upon pretence of private meetings.

49-2. Let the people assemble at the appointed time, that all being present at

the beginning they may unite with one heart in all the parts of public worship.

Let none unnecessarily depart until after the blessing be pronounced.

49-3. Let the people upon entering the church take their seats in a decent and

reverent manner, and engage in a silent prayer for a blessing upon themselves,

the minister, and all present, as well as upon those who are unable to attend

worship.

49-4. All who attend public worship are expected to be present in a spirit of

reverence and godly fear, forbearing to engage in any conduct unbecoming to

the place and occasion. Since the family, as ordained by God, is the basic

institution in society, and God in the Covenant graciously deals with us, not

just as individuals but also as families, it is important and desirable that

families worship together.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 50-1

CHAPTER 50

The Public Reading of the Holy Scriptures

50-1. The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is performed by the minister

as God’s servant. Through it God speaks most directly to the congregation,

even more directly than through the sermon. The reading of the Scriptures by

the minister is to be distinguished from the responsive reading of certain

portions of Scripture by the minister and the congregation. In the former God

addresses His people; in the latter God’s people give expression in the words

of Scripture to their contrition, adoration, gratitude and other holy sentiments.

The psalms of Scripture are especially appropriate for responsive reading.

50-2. The reading of the Holy Scriptures in the congregation is a part of the

public worship of God and should be done by the minister or some other

person.

50-3. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments shall be read from

a good translation, not a paraphrase, in the language of the people, that all may

hear and understand.

50-4. How large a portion shall be read at once is left to the discretion of

every minister; and he may, when he thinks it expedient, expound any part of

what is read; always having regard to the time, that neither reading, singing,

praying, preaching, nor any other ordinance, be disproportionate the one to the

other; nor the whole rendered too short, or too tedious.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 51-1

CHAPTER 51

The Singing of Psalms and Hymns

51-1. Praising God through the medium of music is a duty and a privilege.

Therefore, the singing of hymns and psalms and the use of musical instruments

should have an important part in public worship.

51-2. In singing the praises of God, we are to sing in the spirit of worship,

with understanding in our hearts.

51-3. It is recommended that Psalms be sung along with the hymns of the

Church, but that caution be observed in the selection of hymns, that they be

true to the Word. Hymns should have the note of praise, or be in accord with

the spirit of the sermon.

51-4. The leadership in song is left to the judgment of the Session, who

should give careful thought to the character of those asked to lead in this part

of worship, and the singing of a choir should not be allowed to displace

congregational singing.

51-5. The proportion of the time of public worship given to praise is left to

the judgment of the minister, and the singing of psalms and hymns by the

congregation should be encouraged.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 52-1

CHAPTER 52

Public Prayer

52-1. It is proper to begin the public worship in the sanctuary with the

Doxology followed by a short prayer, in which the minister shall lead the

people, humbly adoring the infinite majesty of the living God, expressing a

sense of our distance from Him as creatures, and our unworthiness as sinners;

and humbly imploring His gracious presence, the assistance of His Holy Spirit

in the duties of His worship, and His acceptance of us through the merits of

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is appropriate that this prayer conclude

with the Lord’s Prayer in which all may unite.

52-2. Then, after singing a psalm, or hymn, it is proper that, before the

sermon, there should be a full and comprehensive prayer:

a. Adoring the glory and perfections of God, as they are made known to

us in the works of creation, in the conduct of Providence, and in the

clear and full revelation He has made of Himself in His written words;

b. Giving thanks to Him for all His mercies of every kind, general and

particular, spiritual and temporal, common and special; above all, for

Christ Jesus, His unspeakable gift, the hope of eternal life through

Him, and for the mission and work of the Holy Spirit;

c. Making humble confession of sin, both original and actual,

acknowledging, and endeavoring to lead the heart of every worshipper

with a deep sense of the evil of all sin, as such, as being a departure

from the living God; and also taking a particular and affecting view of

the various fruits which proceed from this root of bitterness; as sins

against God, our neighbor and ourselves; sins in thought, in word, and

in deed; sins secret and presumptuous; sins accidental and habitual.

Also, the aggravations of sin, arising from knowledge, or the means

of it; from distinguishing mercies; from valuable privileges; from

breach of vows, etc.;

d. Making earnest supplication for the pardon of sin, and peace with God,

through the blood of the atonement, with all its important and happy

fruits; for the Spirit of sanctification, and abundant supplies of the

grace that is necessary to the discharge of our duty; for support and

comfort, under all the trials to which we are liable, as we are sinful

and mortal; and for all temporal mercies that may be necessary in our

passage through this valley of tears; always remembering to view them

as flowing in the channel of covenant love, and intended to be

subservient to the preservation and progress of the spiritual life;

52-2 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

e. Pleading from every principle warranted in Scripture; from our own

necessity; the all-sufficiency of God; the merit and intercession of our

Saviour; and the glory of God in the comfort and happiness of His

people;

f. Intercession and petition for others, including the whole world for

mankind; for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh; for the

peace, purity, and extension of the Church of God; for ministers and

missionaries in all lands; for all who are persecuted for righteousness’

sake; for the particular church then assembled, and all other churches

associated in one body with it; for the sick, dying, and bereaved; for

the poor and destitute; for strangers, for prisoners, the aged and the

young; for those who travel; for the community in which the church is

situated; for civil rulers; and for whatever else may seem to be

necessary or suitable to the occasion.

The prominence given each of these topics must be left to the

discretion of the minister.

52-3. Ordinarily there should be prayer after the sermon having relation to

the subject that has been treated in the discourse; and all other public prayers

should be appropriate to the occasion.

52-4. Ministers are not to be confined to fixed forms of prayer for public

worship, yet it is the duty of the minister, previous to entering upon his office,

to prepare and qualify himself for this part of his work, as well as for preaching.

He should, by a thorough acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures, by the study

of the best writers on prayer, by meditation, and by a life of communion with

God, endeavor to acquire both the spirit and the gift of prayer. Moreover,

when he is to offer prayer in public worship, he should compose his spirit, and

so order his thoughts, that he may perform this duty with dignity and propriety,

and with profit to the worshippers, lest he disgrace this important service by

coarse, undignified, careless, irregular or extravagant expressions.

52-5. All prayer is to be offered in the language of the people.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 53-1

CHAPTER 53

The Preaching of the Word

53-1. The preaching of the Word is an ordinance of God for the salvation of

men. Serious attention should be paid to the manner in which it is done. The

minister should apply himself to it with diligence and prove himself a “worker

who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2

Timothy 2:15).

53-2. The subject of a sermon should be some verse or verses of Scripture,

and its object, to explain, defend and apply some part of the system of divine

truth; or to point out the nature, and state the bounds and obligation, of some

duty. A text should not be merely a motto, but should fairly contain the

doctrine proposed to be handled. It is proper also that large portions of

Scripture be sometimes expounded, and particularly improved, for the

instruction of the people in the meaning and use of the sacred Scriptures.

53-3. Preaching requires much study, meditation, and prayer, and ministers

should prepare their sermons with care, and not indulge themselves in loose,

extemporary harangues, nor serve God with that which costs them naught.

They should, however, keep to the simplicity of the Gospel, and express

themselves in language that can be understood by all. They should also by

their lives adorn the Gospel which they preach, and be examples to believers

in word and deed.

53-4. As a primary design of public ordinances is to unite the people in acts

of common worship of the most high God, ministers should be careful not to

make their sermons so long as to interfere with or exclude the important duties

of prayer and praise, but should preserve a just proportion in the several parts

of public worship.

53-5. By way of application of the sermon the minister may urge his hearers

by commandment or invitation to repent of their sins, to put their trust in the

Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and to confess him publicly before men.

53-6. No person should be invited to preach in any of the churches under

our care without the consent of the Session.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 54-1

CHAPTER 54

The Worship of God by Offerings

54-1. The Holy Scriptures teach that God is the owner of all persons and all

things and that we are but stewards of both life and possessions; that God’s

ownership and our stewardship should be acknowledged; that this

acknowledgement should take the form, in part, of giving at least a tithe of our

income and other offerings to the work of the Lord through the Church of Jesus

Christ, thus worshipping the Lord with our possessions; and that the remainder

should be used as becomes Christians.

54-2. It is both a privilege and a duty, plainly enjoined in the Bible, to make

regular, weekly, systematic and proportionate offerings for the support of

religion and for the propagation of the Gospel in our own and foreign lands,

and for the relief of the poor. This should be done as an exercise of grace and

an act of worship, and at such time during the service as may be deemed

expedient by the Session.

54-3. It is appropriate that the offerings be dedicated by prayer.

CHAPTER 55

Confessing the Faith

55-1. It is proper for the congregation of God’s people publicly to confess

their faith, using creeds or confessions that are true to the Word, such as, the

Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Westminster Standards.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 56-1

CHAPTER 56

The Administration of Baptism

The Baptism of Infants and Children

56-1. Baptism is not to be unnecessarily delayed; not to be administered, in

any case, by any private person; but by a minister of Christ, called to be the

steward of the mysteries of God.

56-2. It is not to be privately administered, but in the presence of the

congregation under the supervision of the Session.

56-3. After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized

is to be presented, by one or both the parents, or some other responsible person,

signifying the desire that the child be baptized.

56-4. Before baptism, the minister is to use some words of instruction,

touching the institution, nature, use, and ends of this sacrament, showing:

a. That it is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ;

b. That it is a seal of the Covenant of Grace, of our ingrafting into Christ,

and of our union with Him, of remission of sins, regeneration,

adoption, and life eternal;

c. That the water, in baptism, represents and signifies both the blood of

Christ, which taketh away all guilt of sin, original and actual; and the

sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ against the dominion of sin,

and the corruption of our sinful nature;

d. That baptizing, or sprinkling and washing with water, signifies the

cleansing from sin by the blood and for the merit of Christ, together

with the mortification of sin, and rising from sin to newness of life, by

virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ;

e. That the promise is made to believers and their children; and that the

children of believers have an interest in the covenant, and right to the

seal of it, and to the outward privileges of the Church, under the

Gospel, no less than the children of Abraham in the time of the Old

Testament; the Covenant of Grace, for substance, being the same; and

the grace of God, and the consolation of believers, more plentiful than

before;

f. That the Son of God admitted little children into His presence,

embracing and blessing them, saying, “For of such is the kingdom of

God”;

56-4 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

g. That children by Baptism, are solemnly received into the bosom of the

Visible Church, distinguished from the world, and them that are

without, and united with believers; and that all who are baptized in the

name of Christ, do renounce, and by their Baptism are bound to fight

against the devil, the world, and the flesh;

h. That they are federally holy before Baptism, and therefore are they

baptized;

i. That the inward grace and virtue of Baptism is not tied to that very

moment of time wherein it is administered; and that the fruit and

power thereof reaches to the whole course of our life; and that outward

baptism is not so necessary, that through the want thereof, the infant

is in danger of damnation;

j. By virtue of being children of believing parents they are, because of

God’s covenant ordinance, made members of the Church, but this is

not sufficient to make them continue members of the Church. When

they have reached the age of discretion, they become subject to

obligations of the covenant: faith, repentance and obedience. They

then make public confession of their faith in Christ, or become

covenant breakers, and subject to the discipline of the Church.

In these or the like instructions, the minister is to use his own liberty

and godly wisdom, as the ignorance or errors in the doctrine of Baptism, and

the edification of the people, shall require.

He is also to admonish all that are present to look back to their

Baptism, to repent of their sins against their covenant with God; to stir up their

faith; to improve and make right use of their Baptism, and of the covenant

sealed between God and their soul.

He is to exhort the parent to consider the great mercy of God to him

and his child; to bring up the child in the knowledge of the grounds of the

Christian religion, and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and to let

him know the danger of God’s wrath to himself and child, if he be negligent;

requiring his solemn promise for the performance of his duty.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 56-4

The minister is also to exhort the parents to the careful performance

of their duty, requiring:

a. That they teach the child to read the Word of God;

b. that they instruct him in the principles of our holy religion, as

contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, an

excellent summary of which we have in the Confession of Faith,

and in the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster

Assembly, which are to be recommended to them as adopted by

the Church, for their direction and assistance, in the discharge of

this important duty;

c. that they pray with and for him;

d. that they set an example of piety and godliness before him; and

endeavor, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring up their

child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

56-5. The minister shall then read the covenant promises:

For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all

that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto

him. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and

thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting

covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. Believe

on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.

(Acts 2:39; Gen. 17:7; Acts 16:31)

The minister shall then propose the following questions:

1. Do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood

of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises in (his) behalf, and do

you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for (his) salvation,

as you do for your own?

3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and

promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will

endeavor to set before (him) a godly example, that you will

pray with and for (him), that you will teach (him) the doctrines

of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means

of God’s appointment, to bring (him) up in the nurture and

admonition of the Lord?

56-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

To the congregation (optional):

Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of

assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of this child?

56-6 Then the minister is to pray for a blessing to attend this ordinance,

after which, calling the child by name, he shall say:

I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

As he pronounces these words, he is to baptize the child with water,

by pouring or sprinkling it on the head of the child, without adding any other

ceremony; and the whole shall be concluded with prayer.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 57-1

CHAPTER 57

The Admission of Persons to Sealing Ordinances

57-1. Believers’ children within the Visible Church, and especially those

dedicated to God in Baptism, are non-communing members under the care of

the Church. They are to be taught to love God, and to obey and serve the Lord

Jesus Christ. When they are able to understand the Gospel, they should be

earnestly reminded that they are members of the Church by birthright, and that

it is their duty and privilege personally to accept Christ, to confess Him before

men, and to seek admission to the Lord’s Supper.

57-2. The time when young persons come to understand the Gospel cannot

be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the Session, whose

office it is to judge, after careful examination, the qualifications of those who

apply for admission to sealing ordinances.

57-3. When unbaptized persons apply for admission into the Church, they

shall, ordinarily, after giving satisfaction with respect to their knowledge and

piety, make a public profession of their faith, in the presence of the

congregation, and thereupon be baptized.

57-4. It is recommended, as edifying and proper, that baptized persons,

when admitted by the Session to the Lord’s Supper, make a public profession

of their faith in the presence of the congregation. But in all cases, there should

be a clear recognition of their previous relation to the church as baptized

members.

57-5. The time having come for the making of a public profession, and those

who have been approved by the Session having taken their places in the

presence of the congregation, the minister may state that:

Of the number of those who were baptized in infancy as

members of the Church of God by birthright, and as heirs of the

covenant promises, the Session has examined and approved (call

them by name), who come now to assume for themselves the full

privileges and responsibilities of their inheritance in the

household of faith.

57-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

If there be present any candidates for Baptism, the minister may state that:

As applicants for admission into the Church of God by

Baptism, which is a sign and seal of our engrafting into Christ,

and of our engagement to be the Lord’s, the Session has examined

and approved (call them by name), who are cordially welcomed

into the fellowship of the household of faith.

The minister may then address those making a profession in the

following terms:

(All of) you being here present to make a public profession

of faith, are to assent to the following declarations and promises,

by which you enter into a solemn covenant with God and His

Church.

1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of

God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save

in His sovereign mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and

Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone

for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?

3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the

grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as

becomes the followers of Christ?

4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work

to the best of your ability?

5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of

the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

The minister may now briefly admonish those making a profession of

faith as to the importance of the solemn obligations they have assumed; then

baptism may be administered, if there be present any candidates for the

ordinance, and the whole concluded with prayer.

57-6. Persons received from other churches by letters of dismissal as well as

those being received by reaffirmation of faith should give a testimony of their

Christian experience to the Session. Their names are to be announced to the

congregation with a recommendation of them to its Christian confidence and

affection.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 58-1

CHAPTER 58

The Administration of the Lord's Supper

58-1. The Communion, or Supper of the Lord, is to be observed frequently;

the stated times to be determined by the Session of each congregation, as it

may judge most for edification.

58-2. The ignorant and scandalous are not to be admitted to the Lord's

Supper.

58-3. It is proper that public notice should be given to the congregation, at

least the Sabbath before the administration of this ordinance, and that, either

then, or on some day of the week, the people be instructed in its nature, and a

due preparation for it, that all may come in a suitable manner to this holy feast.

58-4. On the day of the observance of the Lord's Supper, when the sermon

is ended, the minister shall show:

a. That this is an ordinance of Christ; by reading the words of

institution, either from one of the Evangelists, or from 1 Corin-

thians 11, which, as to him may appear expedient, he may explain

and apply;

b. That it is to be observed in remembrance of Christ, to show forth

His death till He come; that it is of inestimable benefit, to

strengthen His people against sin; to support them under troubles;

to encourage and quicken them in duty; to inspire them with love

and zeal; to increase their faith, and holy resolution; and to beget

peace of conscience, and comfortable hopes of eternal life.

Since, by our Lord's appointment, this Sacrament sets forth the

Communion of Saints, the minister, at the discretion of the Session, before the

observance begins, may either invite all those who profess the true religion,

and are communicants in good standing in any evangelical church, to

participate in the ordinance; or may invite those who have been approved by

the Session, after having given indication of their desire to participate. It is

proper also to give a special invitation to non-communicants to remain during

the service.

58-5 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

58-5. The table, on which the elements are placed, being decently covered,

and furnished with bread and wine, and the communicants orderly and gravely

sitting around it (or in their seats before it), the elders in a convenient place

together, the minister should then set the elements apart by prayer and

thanksgiving.

The bread and wine being thus set apart by prayer and thanksgiving,

the minister is to take the bread, and break it, in the view of the people, saying:

That the Lord Jesus Christ on the same night in which He

was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He

broke it, gave it to His disciples, as I, ministering in His name, give

this bread to you, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is

for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (Some other biblical

account of the institution of this part of the Supper may be substituted

here.)

Here the bread is to be distributed. After having given the bread, he

shall take the cup, and say:

In the same manner, He also took the cup, and having

given thanks as has been done in His name, He gave it to the

disciples, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood,

which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Drink from it,

all of you."

While the minister is repeating these words, let him give the cup.

58-6. Since believers are to act personally in all their covenanting with the

Lord, it is proper that a part of the time occupied in the distribution of the

elements should be spent by all in silent communion, thanksgiving,

intercession and prayer.

58-7. The minister may, in a few words, put the communicants in mind:

Of the grace of God, in Jesus Christ, held forth in this

sacrament; and of their obligation to be the Lord's; and may

exhort them to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are

called; and, as they have professedly received Christ Jesus the

Lord, that they be careful so to walk in him, and to maintain good

works.

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 58-7

It may not be improper for the minister to give a word of exhortation

also to those who have been only spectators, reminding them:

Of their duty, stating their sin and danger, by living in

disobedience to Christ, in neglecting this holy ordinance; and

calling upon them to be earnest in making preparation for

attending upon it at the next time of its celebration.

Then the minister is to pray and give thanks to God,

For His rich mercy, and invaluable goodness, vouchsafed

to them in that Sacred Communion; to implore pardon for the

defects of the whole service; and to pray for the acceptance of their

persons and performances; for the gracious assistance of the Holy

Spirit to enable them, as they have received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so to walk in Him; that they may hold fast that which they have

received, that no man take their crown; that their conversation

may be as becomes the Gospel; that they may bear about with

them, continually, the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of

Jesus may be manifested in their mortal body; that their light may

so shine before men, that others, seeing their good works, may

glorify their Father who is in heaven.

An offering for the poor or other sacred purpose is appropriate in

connection with this service, and may be made at such time as shall be ordered

by the Session.

Now let a psalm or hymn be sung, and the congregation dismissed,

with the following or some other Gospel benediction:

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead

our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the

blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good

work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in

His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and

ever. Amen.

58-8. As past custom has been found in many parts of the Presbyterian

Church, our congregations are urged to have a service of spiritual preparation

for the Lord’s Supper during the week previous to the celebration of the

Sacrament.

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

DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 59-1

CHAPTER 59

The Solemnization of Marriage

59-1. Marriage is a divine institution though not a sacrament, nor peculiar

to the Church of Christ. It is proper that every commonwealth, for the good of

society, make laws to regulate marriage, which all citizens are bound to obey

insofar as they do not transgress the laws of God (Acts 5:29).

59-2. Christians should marry in the Lord; therefore it is fit that their

marriage be solemnized by a lawful minister, that special instruction be given

them, and suitable prayers offered, when they enter into this relation.

59-3. Marriage is only to be between one man and one woman only (Gen.

2:24,25; Matt. 19:4-6, 1 Cor. 7:2), in accordance with the Word of God.

Therefore, ministers in the Presbyterian Church in America who solemnize

marriages shall only solemnize marriages between one man and one woman.

59-4. The parties should be of such years of discretion as to be capable of

making their own choice; and if they be under age, or live with their parents,

the consent of the parents or others, under whose care they are, should be

previously obtained, and well certified to the minister before he proceeds to

solemnize the marriage.

59-5. Parents should neither compel their children to marry contrary to their

inclinations, nor deny their consent without just and important reasons.

59-6. Marriage is of a public nature. The welfare of civil society, the

happiness of families, and the credit of Christianity, are deeply interested in it.

Therefore, the purpose of marriage should be sufficiently published a proper

time previously to the solemnization to it. It is enjoined on all ministers to be

careful that, in this matter, they obey the laws of the community to the extent

that those laws do not transgress the laws of God as interpreted by the

Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America; and that they may not

destroy the peace and comfort of families, ministers should be assured that,

with respect to the parties applying to them, no just objections lie against their

marriage.

59-7. The minister should keep a proper register of the names of all persons

whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom

it may concern.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 60-1

CHAPTER 60

The Visitation of the Sick

60-1. The power of the prayer of faith is great, and Christians therefore

should make entreaty for the sick at the throne of heavenly grace, and should

also seek God’s blessing upon all proper means which are being employed for

their recovery. Moreover, when persons are sick, their minister, or some

officer of the church, should be notified, that the minister, officers and

members may unite their prayers in behalf of the sick. It is the privilege and

duty of the pastor to visit the sick and to minister to their physical, mental, and

spiritual welfare. In view of the varying circumstances of the sick, the minister

should use discretion in the performance of this duty.

CHAPTER 61

The Burial of the Dead

61-1. The services proper for such an occasion are:

a. The singing of appropriate psalms or hymns;

b. The reading of some suitable portion or portions of Scripture, with

such remarks as it may seem proper to the minister to make;

c. Prayer, in which the bereaved shall be especially remembered, and

God’s grace sought on their behalf, that they may be sustained and

comforted in their sorrow, and that their affliction may be blessed

to their spiritual good.

61-2. The funeral services are to be left largely to the discretion of the

minister performing them, but he should always remember that the proper

object of the service is the worship of God and the consolation of the living.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 62-1

CHAPTER 62

Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving

62-1. The observance of days of fasting and of thanksgiving, as the

dispensations of Divine Providence may direct, is both scriptural and rational.

62-2. Fasting and thanksgiving may be observed by individual Christians;

by families; by particular congregations; by a number of congregations

contiguous to each other; by the congregations under the care of a Presbytery;

or by all the congregations of our Church.

62-3. It should be left to the judgment and discretion of every Christian and

family to determine when it is proper to observe a private fast or thanksgiving;

and to the church Sessions to determine for particular congregations; and to the

Presbyteries, to determine for larger districts. When it is deemed expedient that

a fast or thanksgiving should be general, the call for it should be issued by the

General Assembly. If at any time the civil power should appoint a fast or

thanksgiving, in keeping with the Christian faith, it is the duty of the ministers

and people of our communion to pay all due respect to it.

62-4. Public notice should be given a sufficient time before the appointed

day of fasting or thanksgiving, that persons may so order their affairs as to

allow them to attend properly to the duties of the day.

62-5. There should be public worship upon all such days; and the prayers,

psalms or hymns, the selection of Scripture, and sermons, should all be in a

special manner adapted to the occasion.

62-6. On days of fasting, the minister should point out the authority and

providences calling for the observance; and he should spend more than the

usual time in solemn prayer, particular confession of sin, especially for the sins

of the day and place; and the whole day should be spent in prayer and

meditation.

62-7. On days of thanksgiving, he should give information respecting the

authority and providences which call for the observance; and he should spend

more than the usual time in giving thanks, agreeably to the occasion, and in

singing psalms or hymns of praise. On these days, the people should rejoice

with holy gladness of heart; but their joy should be tempered with reverence,

that they indulge in no excess or unbecoming levity.

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DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP 63-1

CHAPTER 63

Christian Life in the Home

63-1. In addition to public worship, it is the duty of each person in secret,

and of every family in private, to worship God.

63-2. Secret worship is most plainly enjoined by our Lord. In this duty

everyone, apart, should spend some time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, holy

meditation, and serious self-examination. The many advantages arising from

a conscientious performance of these duties are best known to those who are

found in the faithful discharge of them.

63-3. Family worship, which should be observed by every family, consists

in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and singing praises; or in some briefer form

of outspoken recognition of God.

63-4. Parents should instruct their children in the Word of God, and in the

principles of our holy religion. The reading of devotional literature should be

encouraged and every proper opportunity should be embraced for religious

instruction.

63-5. Parents should set an example of piety and consistent living before the

family. Unnecessary private visits on the Lord’s Day and indulgence in

practices injurious to the spiritual life of the family, should be avoided.

63-6. In the supreme task of religious education, parents should co-operate

with the Church by setting their children an example in regular and punctual

attendance upon the sessions of the church school and the services of the

sanctuary, by assisting them in the preparation of their lessons, and by leading

them in the consistent application of the teachings of the Gospel in their daily

activities.

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APPENDICES

Editorial Note: None of these Appendices has constitutional authority. They

are provided for information.

OPTIONAL FORMS FOR PARTICULAR SERVICES

These forms were approved by the General Assembly, to be printed

with the Book of Church Order, but not to be a part of the Constitution. They

were derived from the PCUS Book as approved in 1893, and from the OPC

Book as approved in 1940. Appendix G was adapted from forms used by the

OPC and RPCNA.

APPENDIX A

MARRIAGE SERVICE

Whether the marriage is in the church or in a private house, the betrothed shall

present themselves attended by witnesses, the man having the woman at his

left hand, before the minister, who shall say:

The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face

shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His

countenance upon you, and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

If any here present can show just cause why these persons

may not lawfully be joined together in marriage, let them now

speak, or hereafter forever hold their peace.

Marriage is a divine ordinance instituted for the promotion

of man’s happiness and the glory of God. The sacredness of the

relation is revealed by the fact that the Holy Spirit has selected it as

an apt emblem of the union existing between our Lord and His

bride, the Church. Hence, beloved friends, take heed to the

exhortation of the inspired apostle, “Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it”

(Ephesians 5:26). “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the

Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). The happiness contemplated by this union

is realized only by those who fully appreciate its sacredness and are

faithful in the performance of the mutual obligations growing out

of it, and seek daily God’s blessing.

And now as you enter into this new relation, consecrated by

heaven’s benediction and hallowed by all that is tenderest and

truest in human affection, I entreat you both to join with me in the

prayer that God may bless this union, and sanctify it to the

furtherance of your good and to the glory of His most holy Name.

APPENDIX A THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

The Prayer

Most gracious God, fountain of life and love and joy, look

with merciful favor upon these your servants now to be joined in

holy wedlock, and enable them ever to remember and truly keep

the vows which they make as they enter into covenant with one

another and with you, in accordance with the Holy Word, through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Covenant

Here the parties join their right hands, and the minister says:

Do you, M--, take N--, whom you now hold by the hand to

be your lawful and wedded wife, and do you promise in the

presence of God and these witnesses to be to her a faithful, loving

and devoted husband, so long as you both shall live?

The man answers:

I do.

The minister shall say:

Do you, N--, take M--, whom you now hold by the hand to

be your lawful and wedded husband and do you promise in the

presence of God and these witnesses to be to him a faithful, loving

and obedient wife, so long as you both shall live?

The woman answers:

I do.

If a ring is given and received, the minister shall say:

Let this ring be the token of your plighted faith, and the

memorial of your mutual and unending love.

MARRIAGE SERVICE APPENDIX A

Then the minister, addressing himself to the company present, says:

Forasmuch as these persons have covenanted together in

marriage in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth, I do

now pronounce them husband and wife, after the ordinance of

God. “Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man

separate” (Matthew 19:6).

The Prayer

Almighty and ever blessed God, our heavenly Father,

place the seal of your loving approval upon the union of these two

hearts and lives in the sacred bonds of matrimony. Enable your

servants, by the gift of thy sufficient grace to be faithful in keeping

the vows they have now assumed. Whether in prosperity or in

adversity, in sickness or in health, in sorrow or in joy, may their

love and sympathy for each other never fail. Into your holy

keeping we now commit them, praying that they may ever live “as

being heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). For Jesus’

sake. Amen.

Benediction

Then the married pair standing, or kneeling, the minister shall pronounce the

benediction:

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless,

preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look

upon you, and so fill you with his grace that you may live faithfully

together in this life and in the world to come may have life

everlasting. Amen.

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APPENDIX B

A SECOND MARRIAGE SERVICE

At the time and place appointed for the solemnization of matrimony, the

persons to be married shall take their places before the minister, the man

having the woman at his left hand, and all present reverently standing.

The minister shall say:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God

to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.

Marriage was instituted by God himself in the time of man’s

innocency and uprightness. The Lord God said, “It is not good that

man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him”

(Genesis 2:18). Thereupon God created woman of man’s own

substance and brought her to the man. Our Lord Jesus Christ

honored marriage by His presence at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

And He confirmed it as a divine ordinance and a union not to be

severed when He declared, “Therefore, what God has joined

together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6). Moreover, the

apostle Paul set forth the sacred and exalted nature of marriage when

he likened it to the mystical union that subsists between Christ and

His Church.

The purpose of marriage is the enrichment of the lives of

those who enter into this estate, the propagation of the race, and the

extension of Christ’s Church to the glory of the covenant God.

Let us reverently hear what the Holy Scriptures teach

concerning the duty of husbands to their wives and of wives to their

husbands:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the

church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify, and cleanse

it with the washing of water by the Word. ...So husbands ought to

love their own wives as their own bodies” (Ephesians 5:25-28).

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For

the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the

church, and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:22-23).

These two persons are come to be joined in this holy estate of

marriage. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully

be wedded, let him now declare it, or else hereafter forever hold his

peace.

I require and charge you both that, if either of you knows

any cause why you may not be lawfully joined together in

matrimony, you do now confess it.

APPENDIX B THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Let us pray:

Most holy and most merciful Father, at once the God of

nature and of grace, creator, preserver and redeemer of mankind,

fill these, your servant and your handmaiden, with a sense of the

solemnity of the vows they are about to make. May they look to

you for your assistance, and enter into these sacred obligations in

humble dependence upon your enabling grace. Grant this, O

Father, with the forgiveness of our sins, through Jesus Christ,

your Son. Amen.

After prayer the minister shall say:

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

The father of the woman, or someone in his stead, shall place her right hand in

that of the minister, and the minister shall cause the man to take with his right

hand the right hand of the woman.

The minister shall then say:

M--, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to

live with her after God’s commandments in the holy estate of

marriage? And will you love her, honor and cherish her, so long

as you both shall live?

The man shall answer:

I will.

Then the minister shall say:

N--, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to

live with him after God’s commandments in the holy estate of

marriage? And will you love him, cherish and obey him, so long

as you both shall live?

MARRIAGE SERVICE APPENDIX B

The woman shall answer:

I will.

The man shall say:

I, M--, take you, N--, to be my wedded wife, and I do

promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be your

loving and faithful husband in sickness and in health, in plenty

and in want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.

The woman shall say:

I, N--, take you, M--, to be my wedded husband, and I do

promise and covenant before God and these witnesses to be your

loving and faithful wife in sickness and in health, in plenty and in

want, in joy and in sorrow, as long as we both shall live.

The man shall then put the ring on the third finger of the woman’s left hand,

and shall say after the minister:

This ring I give you as a symbol and pledge of constant

faith and abiding love.

The minister shall say to the woman:

Do you, N--, receive this ring as a token of your pledge to

keep this covenant and perform these vows?

The woman shall say:

I do.

The minister shall say:

Let us pray.

After prayer the minister shall say:

By virtue of the authority committed unto me by the church of

Christ and the law of the state, I now pronounce you, M--, and N--,

husband and wife, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

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APPENDIX C

A FUNERAL SERVICE

Let the service begin with the reading of the whole or a part of the following

selections from Scripture:

I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me,

though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes

in Me, shall never die (John 11:25-26).

Man who is born of woman is of few days, and full of

trouble. He comes forth like a flower, and fades away; he flees

like a shadow, and does not continue (Job 14:1-2).

For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our

fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and without hope

(1 Chronicles 29:15).

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we

can carry nothing out (1 Timothy 6:7).

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be

the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

Prayer of Invocation:

O God, You who are our God, and our fathers’ God; You

whose compassions fail not, but who are the same yesterday,

today, and forever, grant us now your presence, we beseech you,

that our souls may be strengthened, and that we faint not under

your afflicting providence, but that through your condescension

we may find all grace to help in this our time of need, which we

ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to whom,

with You and the Holy Ghost, we will ascribe all honor, majesty

and might, world without end. Amen.

Hymn.

Then let the whole or a part of the following selections of Scripture be read:

APPENDIX C THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Psalm 39:4-13:

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of

my days, that I may know how frail I am.

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age

is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but

vapor. Selah.

Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy

themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will

gather them.

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the

reproach of the foolish.

I was mute, I did not open my mouth, because it was You who

did it.

Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of

Your hand.

When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make

his beauty melt away like a moth; surely every man is vapor. Selah

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not be

silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my

fathers were.

Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,

before I go away and am no more.

Psalm 90:1-12:

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had

formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting,

You are God.

You turn man to destruction, and say, “Return, O children of

men.”

For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it

is past, and like a watch in the night.

You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the

morning they are like grass which grows up:

In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is

cut down and withers.

For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your

wrath we are terrified.

You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the

light of Your countenance.

For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish

our years like a sigh.

FUNERAL SERVICE APPENDIX C

The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason

of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and

sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of

You, so is Your wrath.

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart

of wisdom.

1 Corinthians 15:20-58:

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the

firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came

death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in

Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each

one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who

are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers

the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule

and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all

enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is

death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He

says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put

all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made

subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him

who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the

dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized

for the dead? And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I

affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our

Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with

beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not

rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be

deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to

righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge

of God. I speak this to your shame.

APPENDIX C THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with

what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive

unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be,

but mere grain -- perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it

a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the

same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts,

another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and

terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the

terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the

moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another

star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown

in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is

raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a

natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and

there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam

became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the

spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man

is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who

are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are

heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall

also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that

flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption

inherit incorruption.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall

all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last

trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised

incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put

on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this

corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on

immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your

victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But

thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus

Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is

not in vain in the Lord.

Instead of the foregoing passage from 1 Corinthians 15, one or more of the

following may be substituted as the occasion may require:

FUNERAL SERVICE APPENDIX C

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7:

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before

the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no

pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars,

are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day

when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down;

when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through

the windows grow dim; when the doors are shut in the streets, and the

sound of grinding is low; when one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all

the daughters of music are brought low; also when they are afraid of

height, and of terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the

grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal

home, and the mourners go about the streets.

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the

golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the

wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,

and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Psalm 27:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The

Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the

wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they

stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart

shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may

dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty

of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He

shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall

hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around

me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes,

I will sing praises to the Lord.

Here, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon

me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to

You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; do

not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave

me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my

mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path,

because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness

of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!

APPENDIX C THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Revelation 22:1-5:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of

its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore

twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves

of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no

more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and

His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name

shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no night there: they

need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.

And they shall reign forever and ever.

Prayer:

Almighty and most merciful God, our heavenly Father, the

consolation of the sorrowful and the support of the stricken, who does

not willingly afflict the children of men, look in pity, we beseech you,

on all upon whom You have laid your afflicting hand, and, in the

multitude of Your tender mercies, be pleased to uphold and comfort

them in the day of their trial and distress. Grant us all grace that we

may lay to heart the lesson of this solemn providence, and work while

the day lasts, knowing that the night comes, when no man can work;

and that we may set our affections on things that are in heaven, and

not on things that are on the earth. Enable us to live by faith in the Son

of God, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also may

appear with Him in glory.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Lamb of God, which takes

away the sin of the world, to whom shall we go but to You? You have

the words of eternal life. You who were a Man of Sorrows and

acquainted with grief, have pity upon those who cry unto You. When

our eyes grow dim in the shadows of death, and we pass through the

deep waters, by Your agony and bloody sweat, and by Your death on

Calvary, we beseech You to remember us. O You who have saved us

forsake us not in the trying hour; You who has vanquished death, give

us the victory, and bring us to Your own everlasting rest in the

assembly of Your saints on high.

O God, the Holy Ghost, author of light and life and truth,

inspire our souls with hope through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ, imparting the benefits of His atonement, and the power of His

all-sufficient grace. Release us from our sins; fill us with the fruits of

Your own indwelling, and form us anew in the image of God. Help us

now, O blessed Comforter; heal our wounded spirits and do not

despise our broken and contrite hearts.

FUNERAL SERVICE APPENDIX C

O God the Father, God the Son, and god the Holy Spirit,

Triune Jehovah, have mercy upon us, Your servants, as we wait

before You: and hear our prayer. Be pleased graciously to attend

to our humble requests, and to do for us all that we need,

glorifying Yourself by us both in this present world, and in that

which is to come: all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your

kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give

us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we

forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but

deliver us from the evil one: For Yours is the kingdom, and the

power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Benediction:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

After which the service may be concluded with a hymn. For service at the

grave, see Appendix E.

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APPENDIX D

A CHILD’S FUNERAL

Let the service begin with the reading of the whole or a part of the following

selections from Scripture:

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the

name of the God of Jacob defend you; may He send you help from

the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion (Psalm 20:1-1).

Man who is born of a woman is of few days, and full of

trouble. He comes forth like a flower, and fades away; he flees like

a shadow and does not continue (Job 14:1).

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be

the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and

I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Prayer:

Father of mercies, God of all grace, ever comforting us by the

tender assurance of Your love for all those whom you chasten, be near

to us now in this hour of sorrow, as we come to cast our care upon You,

and seek the strength and consolation You only can impart.

As a father pities His children, so do You pity those who sit

before You, smitten and afflicted. As one whom his mother comforts,

do You comfort them, and so sanctify to them this sorrow that theirs

may be everlasting consolation.

O You who leads Joseph like a flock, who knows Your own

sheep by name as they follow You, carrying the lambs in Your arms and

folding them in Your bosom, it is not Your will that one of these little

ones should perish. When You do send your messenger, like a gentle

shepherd, to lead them into the heavenly pastures, may bereaved

parents hear the voice which says, “Let the little children come to Me

and do not forbid them” (Matthew 19:14). Fill them with resignation

to Your will; give them the consolations of Your Spirit, and grant that,

through Your grace, this chastening may be for their profit, that, being

made partakers of Your holiness, they may be prepared for everlasting

blessedness in that world where, after the separations and sorrows of

this life, they may be forever with one another and with the Lord,

through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior.

Amen.

Hymn.

The minister may read the whole or a part of the following selections:

APPENDIX D THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie

down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores

my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear

no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You

anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the

Lord forever.

2 Samuel 12:16-23:

David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David

fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. So the elders of his

house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he

would not, nor did he eat food with them. Then on the seventh day it

came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid

to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the

child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice.

How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived

that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the

child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” So David arose from the

ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he

went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own

house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.

Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You

fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died,

you arose and ate food?” So he said, “While the child was still alive, I

fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be

gracious to me, that the child may live?’ “But now he is dead; why

should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he

shall not return to me.”

Isaiah 51:12, 66:13:

I, even I, am He who comforts you. . . .As one whom his mother

comforts, so I will comfort you.

John 13:7:

What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know

after this.

FUNERAL SERVICE APPENDIX D

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-12:

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be

discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves

He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure

chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom

a father does not chasten? . . . Now no chastening seems to be joyful for

the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable

fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore

strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.

Romans 8:15-18:

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but

you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,

Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are

children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs

with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified

together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not

worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

John 14:1-2:

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also

in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I

would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and

prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that

where I am, there you may be also.

Isaiah 40:1, 11:

Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. . . .He shall feed

his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and

carry them in His bosom.

Mark 10:13-16:

Then they brought young children to Him, that He might touch

them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when

Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little

children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom

of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom

of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up

in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

APPENDIX D THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Matthew 18:10-14:

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say

to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is

in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What

do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray,

does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one

that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices

more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these

little ones should perish.

Revelation 7:15-17:

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day

and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among

them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun

shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of

the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Prayer:

O God, our heavenly Father, who through the blood of Your Son

has provided redemption for all Your own, we would render to You most

hearty thanks, in this our time of grief, for the sure confidence we have

that the soul of this dear child whose loss we mourn is at rest in You. Not

a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father, and those who are of

more value than many sparrows cannot die until You, who regards with

tender compassion the weakest of Your creatures, call them to Yourself.

We would not sorrow as those who have no hope, but bow in humble

submission to Your sovereign decree, and by divine grace would say,

Your will be done.

Vouchsafe unto Your servants, we beseech You, the consolations

of Your Spirit, giving us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. May this chastisement

which now seems so grievous yield us the peaceable fruits of righteousness,

by drawing us into closer fellowship with You, that we may not set our

affections on the things of this world; but upon that blessed home above,

where all who have departed in Christ await us beyond the reach of

sorrow.

Shine upon our darkness, O Lord; pardon all our sins; build us

up and strengthen us in our most holy faith; and at last give us the victory

over death, bringing us in holiness and joy to Your own eternal rest.

FUNERAL SERVICE APPENDIX D

Hear now our prayer, O God, and be pleased mercifully

to bestow the blessings which we need, for the love of Jesus Christ,

Your well-beloved Son, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be

all dominion, glory and praise, world without end. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your

kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give

us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we

forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but

deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the

power and the glory forever. Amen.

Benediction:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and

the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

Hymn.

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APPENDIX E

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

After the body has been lowered into the grave (or to sea), the following words

may be said:

Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God, in His wise

providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased (brother),

we therefore commit (his) body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to

ashes, dust to dust: awaiting the hour when all who are in the graves

will hear the voice of the Son of God, and come forth, “those who have

done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to

the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:29).

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning

those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have not

hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will

bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write:

‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says

the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow

them” (Revelation 14:13).

Prayer:

Almighty God, who has sanctified the grave by Your Son’s rest

therein, and by His glorious resurrection has brought life and immortality

to light, accept, we pray, our unfeigned thanks for the victory which He

has obtained for us and for all who sleep in Him, and keep us who are still

in the body, in everlasting fellowship with all that wait for You on earth,

and with all that are around You in heaven, in union with Him who is the

resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy

Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

O Merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the

resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believes, shall live, though

he die; and whosoever lives and believes in Him, shall not die eternally;

who also has taught us, by His holy Apostle Paul, not to be sorry, as men

without hope, for those who sleep in Him; we humbly beseech You, O

Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that

when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him; and that, at the general

resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in Your sight;

and receive that blessing, which Your well-beloved Son shall then

pronounce to all who love and fear You, saying, Come, blessed children

of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning

of the world. Grant this, we beseech You O merciful Father, through

Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

This prayer is from John Knox's Liturgy.

APPENDIX E THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Benediction:

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus

from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the

blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every

good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in

His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and

ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

APPENDIX F

THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH BUILDING

The congregation shall stand, and the following portions from the Psalter shall

be read by the presiding minister and the people responsively, or, if desired,

by the minister alone.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with

gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He

is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people

and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and

into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For

the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all

generations (Psalm 100).

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is

built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of

the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace

be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my

brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because

of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good (Psalm 122).

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longs, yes,

even faints for the court of the Lord; my hear and my flesh cry out for the

living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest

for herself, where she may lay her young -- even Your altars, O Lord of

hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

they will still be praising You. ... For a day in Your courts is better than a

thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than

dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:1-4, 10).

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who

dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon

the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand

in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not

lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing

from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is

Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah.

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord

strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you

gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall

come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of

glory. Selah (Psalm 24).

APPENDIX F THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

The minister shall say:

Beloved in the lord, we are gathered to consecrate and set

apart this house for the worship of the one living and true God.

Let us therefore dedicate this place to its proper and sacred uses.

Then the minister and the people shall say responsively:

To You, God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord:

We dedicate this house.

To You, eternal Son of God, Redeemer of Your people and

Head of they church:

We dedicate this house.

To You, Spirit of God, lord and giver of life, our teacher,

sanctifier and comforter:

We dedicate this house.

For the worship of God in praise and prayer;

For the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God;

For the celebration of the holy Sacraments:

We dedicate this house.

For the diffusion of sacred knowledge;

For the promotion of righteousness;

For the extension of the kingdom of God:

We dedicate this house.

For release of the captives;

For recovering of sight to the blind;

For rest to the heavy laden:

We dedicate this house.

For comfort to those who mourn;

For strength to those who are tempted;

For assurance to those of little faith:

We dedicate this house.

For the sanctifying of the family;

For the nurture of the young;

For the perfection of believers:

We dedicate this house.

In gratitude for the gracious keeping of the divine

covenant throughout past generations;

In reliance upon the promise that the gates of hell shall not

prevail against the church;

In the hope of the eternal glory of the Church Triumphant:

We dedicate this house.

DEDICATION OF A CHURCH BUILDING APPENDIX F

Then the minister shall say:

Beloved in the Lord, seeing that it has pleased Almighty

God to prosper us in our undertaking to build (or secure) a house

for His worship, let us now invoke upon it His abiding blessing, to

the end that pure apostolic doctrine and order may be maintained

herein, and that the Holy Spirit may make His own ordinances

effectual. In so doing let us reverently set this house apart for

these sacred uses with prayer and supplication.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, maker of heaven and earth,

who dwells in the high and holy place, with Him also who is of contrite

and humble spirit, we adore You for Your manifold perfections, for

the infinite majesty and glorious beauty of Your being, and for the

truthfulness and sanctity of Your divine revelation.

We give thanks unto You for Your infinite mercies to us, and,

in particular, for the gift of Your Son to be our Saviour. We praise

You for the Church of God, of which He is the only Head and King

and of which we are humble and unfaithful members. We

acknowledge that we are not worthy to receive from Your hand the

blessings of Your common grace; and especially do we recognize the

abundance of Your great goodness in granting to us, through Your

particular grace, membership in the Church Universal, the mystical

Body of Christ.

You have put it into our hearts to prepare this house of

worship where men may gather in Your service. We earnestly beseech

You that You will watch over and protect this place which we have

dedicated in Your name. We ask that here may be preached only the

pure Gospel of the free grace of God. May all that is proclaimed be

firmly grounded upon the unchanging foundation of Holy Scripture.

Grant that no portion of Your sacred revelation to man may be

neglected but that Your servants who minister here shall give to all its

parts that due regard which will exhibit its majesty and scope. We

pray that by the favor of Your Spirit sinners may in this house be

converted unto You, and that the saints of God, the members of Your

holy body, may be built up and edified by the proclamation of Your

matchless Word.

May the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the blessed

Trinity ever be present to guide, illumine and inform those who teach

here. May He prepare the hearts of the hearers to receive with

meekness the instruction which is presented, so that their lives may

show forth the wonders of His grace and truly adorn the doctrine of

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

APPENDIX F THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Bless this Your house that it may serve without surcease

the extension of the kingdom of God. Teach us to look for the

return of the Lord of glory that we shall be quickened day by day

in our present service of Him, and shall be always prepared to

greet Him and to enter in with Him to the marriage supper of the

Lamb, forever to dwell in that holy city where there is no candle

neither light of the sun for the Lamb is the light thereof.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who

alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1

Timothy 1:17).

An offering to the Lord may then be received.

After the singing of an appropriate psalm or hymn, a sermon shall be preached.

APPENDIX G

SUGGESTED FORMS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH

THE

RULES OF DISCIPLINE

CHARGE AND SPECIFICATIONS

In the name of the Presbyterian Church in America

____________________ (title of the trial judicatory) charges

___________________ with ______________ (name the alleged offense):

_________________________ (give references to applicable portions of the

Word of God, and, where pertinent, to relevant provisions of the Constitution),

against the peace, unity and purity of the Church, and the honor and majesty

of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the King and Head thereof.

Specifications: That on or about _____________ the said

___________________ did __________________ (set forth briefly the place

and circumstances of the alleged offense).

Witnesses and/or Documents: ____________________________

(set forth the names of witnesses and/or titles of documents to be produced in

support of the charge and specifications).

__________________________________________(Moderator)

______________________________________(Clerk)

Date: ___________________________

APPENDIX G THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

CITATION OF ACCUSED

To__________________:

You are hereby cited to appear before ________________, meeting

on ______ at _____ o’clock at _________, then and there to hear and receive

certain charges and specifications which have been preferred against you by

___________________ (here insert the title of the trial judicatory) of the

Presbyterian Church in America.

(In the case of a second citation, add the appropriate warning

prescribed by BCO 32-6.)

By order of ______________ (insert the title of the trial judicatory) of

the Presbyterian Church in America.

________________________________________(Moderator)

____________________________________________(Clerk)

Date: ____________________

FORMS FOR JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE APPENDIX G

III

CITATION OF WITNESS

To __________:

You are hereby cited to appear before _____________, meeting on

_______ at ________ o’clock, at ______________, then and there to give

evidence in the trial of ____________ (here insert the name of the accused.)

(In the case of a second citation of a witness who has failed to appear

after one citation, add the warning prescribed in BCO 32-6.)

By order of ___________ (here insert the title of the trial judicatory)

of the Presbyterian Church in America.

_____________________________________ (Moderator)

___________________________________________(Clerk)

Date: ___________________

APPENDIX G THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPEAL

To __________, Clerk of __________________ (here insert the title

of the judicatory form which the appeal is to be taken) of the Presbyterian

Church in America.

And now, this _______________ day of ____________, A.D.

___________, comes _________________________ and gives notice of

intention to appeal to ___________________ from the judgment of

_________________ in the case of ___________________ (here insert the

name of the accused).

_______________________________________Appellant

Date: ___________________

FORMS FOR JUDICIAL BUSINESS APPENDIX G

APPEAL

To _________________, Clerk (or Moderator) of

__________________ (here insert the title of the judicatory to which the

appeal is taken) of the Presbyterian Church in America.

And now, this _____________ day of _____________, A.D.

__________________________, comes __________________________ and

appeals from the judgment of ________________________________ in the

case of _________ (here insert the name of the accused), and in support of said

appeal sets forth the following specifications of error:

__________________________ (Here insert the title of the judicatory

from which the appeal is taken) of the Presbyterian Church in America erred

in ____________________________________________(here state concisely

the error alleged to have been made).

(Additional specifications of error may be filed).

_______________________________________ Appellant

Date: ________________________________

APPENDIX G THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

COMPLAINT

To _____________, Clerk of _______________(here insert the title

of the judicatory to which the complaint is taken) of the Presbyterian Church

in America.

And now, this ___________ day of _____________, A.D.

_________, comes ____________________ and complains against the action

(or delinquency) of _____________ in connection with ___________ (here

state briefly the matter of which complaint is made), and in support of said

complaint sets forth the following reasons:

(Here set forth concisely in numbered paragraphs the reasons for the

complaint).

__________________________________, Complainant

Date: ____________________________

APPENDIX H

SUGGESTED PROCEDURES FOR

PRESBYTERY JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS

ACTING AS APPELLATE COURTS

1. These procedures are suggested when a Presbytery, as an appellate

court, decides that an appeal or complaint arising from a Session is in order,

and in accordance with BCO 15, chooses to appoint a Judicial Commission to

hear the case. The Presbytery Stated Clerk shall promptly notify the parties of

the names of the Commission members and the initial contact information.

(See flowchart.)

2. A hearing shall not be conducted until the Commission determines that

the Record of the Case is complete (perfected), the parties have had

opportunity to file briefs, and the members of the Commission have had

adequate time to read the Record and all briefs.

3. The convener or chairman of the Commission shall convene the first

meeting within 10 days of the Presbytery meeting at which the Commission

was appointed. This meeting may be held the same day Presbytery appoints

the Commission. At this convening meeting the Commission shall elect its

chairman and secretary, unless Presbytery had previously appointed them. In

addition to other preliminary matters, the Commission may discuss potential

dates for a hearing and the current status of the Record. The chairman shall

promptly notify the parties of all addresses necessary for filing purposes.

4. Conference calls are acceptable for all Commission meetings other

than the hearing. This includes the meetings to: 1) convene the Commission,

2) resolve disputes on the Record, 3) adopt a Judgment, and 4) adopt a written

decision and approve minutes.

5. At its discretion and with the consent of both parties, the Commission

may decide to accept email, fax or similar means for filings after establishing

procedures to confirm the date that a document is filed and received.

6. Record of the Case – After the Commission is appointed, the Presbytery Stated

Clerk shall promptly ensure delivery of the Record to each Commission member and

to all parties to the case. It shall be delivered to the appellant/ complainant in person or

in some other manner providing verification of the date of receipt. If the

appellant/complainant believes the Record is incomplete or incorrect,

APPENDIX H THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

he shall, within 14 days of receiving such Record, file written notice with the

Commission and with the Session (clerk or respondent). Such notice shall

specify the alleged defects and suggestions for corrections. Failure to file a

timely objection will constitute acceptance of the Record. Within 14 days of

receiving such written notice, the Session shall file a written response with the

Commission and with the appellant/complainant. The chairman shall

promptly send to the commissioners the notice of objection and the Session’s

response. If no objection is filed, the parties are considered to have received

the perfected Record on the day they received the original Record.

7. Resolving Disputes on the Record - If the Session agrees to any

suggested correction, the Record shall be revised accordingly. If the Session

does not agree to a suggested correction, the Commission shall consider the

written arguments of both parties and rule whether the change(s) should be

made. This ruling shall be made within 14 days of when the Commission

received the Session’s response and the chairman shall promptly notify the

parties of the ruling. If the original Record is revised, the chairman shall

ensure both parties receive the perfected Record and the date of its receipt shall

be recorded. In this event, the chairman shall also ensure the commissioners

receive copies of the revision.

8. Filing Briefs - After the Record has been perfected, the parties may

file briefs with the Commission. Such briefs are optional and additional to the

notice of appeal/complaint (BCO 42-4, 43-3) and to the Session’s initial

response (BCO 42-5, 43-6).

1. The appellant/complainant’s brief shall be filed no later than 14

days after he receives the perfected Record (or the original Record

if undisputed.) The Commission will immediately send this brief

to the Session and the delivery date shall be recorded. The

chairman will promptly send this brief to the commissioners.

2. The Session’s brief shall be filed no later than 28 days after it

receives the perfected Record (or the original Record if

undisputed) or 14 days after it receives the

appellant/complainant’s brief, whichever is later. The

Commission will immediately send this brief to the

appellant/complainant. The chairman will promptly send this

brief to the commissioners.

APPELLATE COURTS APPENDIX H

3. The Commission should not schedule the hearing for sooner than

42 days after the date the parties receive the perfected Record (or

the original Record if undisputed), unless both parties, in writing,

waive their right to file briefs.

4. The briefs shall include the party’s position with regard to: a

summary of the facts, a summary of the proceedings before the

Session, a proposed statement of the issue(s), the proposed

judgment & relief, and the argument in favor of judgment & relief.

5. No brief shall make reference to any evidence not already part of

the perfected Record. The Commission may, at its discretion,

strike the part of any brief that makes such reference. Parties may

petition the Commission to strike any alleged new evidence from

a brief. At the same time, briefs may mention and the Commission

may take judicial notice of facts not subject to reasonable dispute.

6. A brief is limited to 10 pages. It must be typewritten on 8 ½ x 11-

inch paper, with 1-inch margins on all sides, and no smaller than

10-point type. Any brief that does not meet these standards of

form shall be returned to the sending party with reasons. If this

occurs, a revised brief may be submitted, provided such brief is

filed with the Commission within 5 days of when the party

received notification that the brief did not meet the standard of

form.

9. Before the hearing begins, the chairman shall call the members of the

Commission to order and he shall:

1. Open the meeting with prayer and certify a quorum is present.

2. Ask each member individually if he has read the Record and all

briefs. Any member who cannot affirm such is disqualified from

deliberating and voting.

3. Remind the members to disregard all evidence not in the Record,

even though such evidence may be found in the briefs of the

parties or in oral argument.

4. Read to the members the four principles adopted as Standards of

Review in BCO 39-3.

10. During the hearing:

1. Before arguments begin, commissioners may question the parties

on any matter before the court.

APPENDIX H THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

2. The arguments shall be heard in the following order: 1) the

appellant/complainant opens, 2) the Session responds, and 3) the

appellant/complainant closes. Each party should be present to

hear the arguments of the other.

3. A party shall have a maximum of 30 minutes to argue his case.

For the appellant/complainant, these 30 minutes are inclusive of

both his opening and closing arguments. He may divide that time

as he chooses.

4. At any time during which a party is presenting an argument, a

commissioner may ask questions of that party. The time taken for

such questions shall not form a part of the argument time of the

party questioned.

11. Judgment - As soon as possible after hearing oral arguments, the

Commission shall go into closed session and discuss the issues in the case. In

that discussion, the Commission may frame the issues and vote on a Judgment.

Or, the Commission may adjourn and reconvene within the next 10 days, as

often as necessary, to do so.

12. Written Decision - After the Judgment is adopted, the chairman shall

designate a member who voted with the majority to draft the written decision.

If the chairman did not vote in the majority, the majority will select their own

drafter. The decision shall contain four parts:

1. Summary of Facts (chronological summary of relevant history and

facts bearing on case)

2. Statement of the Issue(s) (concise framing by the court of specific

issue(s) being judged in case)

3. Judgment (definite conclusion rendered on the specific issue(s)

being adjudged)

4. Reasoning and Opinion (reasons for judgment rendered and

resolution of any disputed facts)

The drafter of the decision shall send it to the commissioners promptly enough

so that within 21 days of adopting the Judgment, the Commission shall adopt

a written decision and approve the minutes of its meetings. Any Commission

member may file a concurring or dissenting opinion.

APPELLATE COURTS APPENDIX H

13. Reporting – Within 42 days after the hearing, the Commission shall

file its report with the Presbytery Stated Clerk. In addition, any commissioner

writing a concurring or dissenting opinion shall file it with the Presbytery

Stated Clerk within 42 days after the hearing. The Commission’s report shall

include the following:

1. Commission’s written decision, including the vote.

2. Minutes of the meetings of the Commission.

3. Briefs of the Parties

4. Record of the Case as perfected

14. Distribution – The Presbytery Stated Clerk shall promptly forward to

both parties a copy of the Commission’s decision and any concurring or

dissenting opinions. The Stated Clerk shall send the same to the members of

the Presbytery, in sufficient time for them to review prior to voting on the

Commission’s judgment.

15. For the purposes of computing times, the day of the act or event from

which a designated period of time begins shall not be included. The last day

of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or postal

holiday, in which case the period extends until the end of the next day which

is not a Saturday, Sunday or postal holiday. “Filing” shall not be timely unless

the documents are received by the appropriate party within the time fixed for

such filing. “Received” shall be when the documents are actually delivered to

the party.

16. The Commission may extend any of the deadline dates in this

Appendix, or page limits for briefs, upon its determination that so doing is

required in the interest of justice.

SUMMARY – This procedure would only apply to a Presbytery Judicial

Commission acting as an appellate court. This procedure does not apply if a

Presbytery chooses to hear any case as a whole body. Furthermore, Presbytery

would still need to vote on adopting any judgment of its Judicial Commission.

These procedures provide three distinct six-week (42 day) periods:

1. Resolving any disputes on the Record

2. Filing, distributing and reading briefs

3. Conducting hearing, deliberating and filing full report with Stated

Clerk

APPENDIX H THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Long Process – If the Record is disputed, and the parties choose to file briefs,

and the full time is taken for all deadlines, the Commission might not file its

final report with the Stated Clerk until four months (126 days) after the

Presbytery meeting at which it was appointed. However, if the full time is not

taken for all deadlines, the Commission may be able to file its report in time

for consideration at the next Presbytery meeting, even if the Record is disputed

and briefs are filed.

Medium Process – If either the Record is not disputed or the parties waive their

right to file briefs, and the full time is taken for all deadlines, a Commission

should file its final report within 84 days (12 weeks). In most Presbyteries,

this should be in time for the next meeting.

Short Process – If the Record is not disputed, and the parties waive their right

to file briefs, the Commission should file its report within 42 days of the

hearing, which could be held as soon as the Commissioners have read the

Record. This scenario would also result in Presbytery considering the

Commission’s report at the next Presbytery meeting.

APPELLATE COURTS APPENDIX H

Commission

Convening

Meeting

Commission Rules on Disputed Record

Concurring/Dissenting Opinions

Filed with Stated Clerk

Presbytery Clerk Forwards Decision to Parties and Presbyters

Parties Receive Original Record from Presbytery Clerk

Presbytery Appoints Commission

Session Files Response

If desired, Session Files Brief

14 days

Hearing

14 days

If desired, Appellant Files Brief

If desired, Session Files Brief

14 days

10 days

42 days

84 days

Appendix H Chapter 44 Procedures

Commission Adopts W ritten Decision

21 days

14 days

Commission Adopts Judgment

42 days 42 days

10 days

Appellant Accepts Record

& if desired, Files Brief with

Presbytery and Session

If desired, Appellant Files

Objection to Record with

Presbytery and Session

Commission Files Full

Report with Stated Clerk

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APPENDIX I

BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

PREFACE

When the 30

General Assembly approved including Appendix I, Biblical

Conflict Resolution, in the BCO, it was approved “as a non-binding

informational Appendix to the BCO” (M30GA, 2002, page 297, item 30-62,

recommendation 14). Appendix I, has no binding constitutional authority.

As we continue to seek to become a church holy before God, the manner in

which we respond to sin and conflicts in the body, and gently shepherd those

caught in sin, will reflect our commitment to the authority of God’s Word and

the spirit of love, which should define all of our actions and relationships.

Biblical peacemaking is one of God’s highest priorities (Matt. 5:23-24; Rom.

12:18; Gal. 6:1); therefore, it must be one of our highest priorities. The Book

of Church Order (BCO) reflects our commitment to following God’s

procedure for reclaiming those going astray. It says, “Scriptural law is the

basis of all discipline because it is the revelation of God’s Holy will. Proper

disciplinary principles are set forth in the Scriptures and must be followed”

(BCO 27-5). It also says, “An injured party shall not become a prosecutor of

personal offenses without having tried the means of reconciliation and of

reclaiming the offender, required by Christ” (BCO 31-5). The purpose of this

Appendix is to provide guidance through the steps of biblical peacemaking

required as pre-conditions to judicial process in cases of personal offense (BCO

31-5), and for use whenever possible in cases of general offense (BCO 31-7).

Each presbytery should endeavor to have several elders trained in the methods

of “Christian conciliation” (including mediation and arbitration), and available

to serve as Christian conciliators in cases that could and should be resolved

privately before judicial process is initiated. We would do well to follow the

wisdom of those who have considered the importance of this matter. For

example, Elder Edmund Clowney states, “Discipline...is not first an exercise

of negative judgment, a matter of church courts and censures. It begins with

the care of friends with whom we strive to follow Christ” (Clowney, E.P., The

Church, IVP, 1995).

THE BIBLICAL STEPS OF DISCIPLINE

AS THEY RELATE TO BIBLICAL PEACEMAKING

BCO 27-5 outlines the proper principles for the exercise of church discipline.

This BCO section emphasizes that the steps indicated, (a) through (d), must be

followed in proper order. The steps are:

a) Instruction in the Word;

APPENDIX I THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

b) An individual’s responsibility to admonish one another (Matt. 18:15; Gal.

6:1);

c) If the admonition is rejected, then the calling of one or more witnesses

(Matt. 18:16);

d) If rejection persists, then the church must act through her court unto

admonition, suspension, excommunication and deposition.

This Appendix addresses the first three steps, (a) through (c), by providing an

expanded discussion of the implications raised by Scriptural direction for a

complete process at each step. Step (d), formal church discipline, is addressed

by Part II of the Book of Church Order, The Rules of Discipline.

1. The first step - Instruction in the Word.

Many Christians do not fully understand the emphasis God places on living at

peace and in unity with others (Eph. 4: 3). Preaching and teaching should

regularly address this emphasis and the purposes for church discipline as set

forth in BCO 27-3 and BCO 27-4. Attention should be drawn to the fact that

the main procedural passage related to church discipline, Matthew 18:15-20,

is set forth in the context of two powerful parables teaching the extent and

depth of God’s love in reclaiming those who have strayed (Matt. 18:10-14),

and the vast measure of His forgiveness and the expansive forgiveness He

expects from His children toward one another (Matt. 18:21-35). The extent of

instruction on reconciliation provided to church members in “new member

classes” and regular preaching from the pulpit will have a significant bearing

on the extent to which a church member understands the benefits of church

discipline and has consented to ecclesiastical jurisdiction (which is helpful for

the church if it is to avoid legal liability for the proper exercise of church

discipline).

Teaching God’s Word concerning sin, and conflicts that result from it, and

how Christians should respond biblically to conflict, will equip church

members to become peacemakers themselves. Peacemaking has always been

one of a Christian’s most important ministries. As we are reminded in 2

Corinthians 5:18, God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us

the ministry of reconciliation.” One of the most powerful ways that we can

encourage reconciliation with God is to model reconciliation among people.

When others see us resolve our differences in a loving and biblical manner,

they are inclined to give more weight to what we say about the Lord (John

13:34-35; 17:20-23). On the other hand, when they see Christians embroiled

in disputes, they tend to write God’s people off as hypocrites and dismiss the

claims of Christ (Rom. 2:21-24; 1 Cor. 6:1-8).

The Bible sets forth a process for resolving personal and substantive disputes

in a constructive manner. This process is sometimes referred to as “Christian

BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION APPENDIX I

conciliation” and it may be used to resolve everything from minor personal

differences to church divisions or lawsuits involving church members. As

indicated in passages such as Proverbs 19:11, Matthew 5:23-25 and 18:15-20,

1 Corinthians 6:1-8, and Galatians 6:1, conciliation involves three basic steps:

(1) when Christians are involved in a conflict that is too serious to

overlook, the first thing that they should do is meet together privately and in

person to try to resolve their differences; (2) if this effort is unsuccessful, they

should ask one or more other Christians to meet with them and help them to

seek reconciliation and a voluntary settlement of their differences (a process

sometimes referred to as mediation); and (3) if they cannot arrive at a voluntary

settlement, they should ask one or more other Christians to hear both sides of

the matter and render a biblically based decision that both sides are obligated

to accept (a process sometimes referred to as arbitration).

There are many benefits to resolving disputes through Christian conciliation.

It prevents a public quarrel that would dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ and

diminish the credibility and witness of His Church. Conciliation also allows

Christians to demonstrate their faith in Christ and their confidence in His

teachings (John 13:34; 14:15; 17:20-23). In addition, conciliation encourages

forgiveness and promotes reconciliation, which can help to preserve valuable

relationships and strengthen the Church (Eph. 4:29-32; Col. 3:12-17).

Conciliation also helps people to identify and deal with the root causes of

conflict, which may include such things as pride, selfishness, fear, vengeance,

greed, bitterness, or unforgiveness (see Matt. 7:3-5). This allows people to

make changes in their lives so that they will enjoy more peaceful relationships

in the future (Eph. 4:1-3, 22-24).

Christian conciliation is especially beneficial for people who sincerely want to

do what is right and are open to learning where they have been wrong (Prov.

15:31-32). Conciliators can help them to identify improper attitudes or unwise

practices, to understand more fully the effects of their decision and actions,

and to make improvements in their lives that will help them to honor and serve

the Lord more effectively in the future (1 Peter 2:12).

Teaching and Ruling elders are encouraged to learn all they can about

Christian conciliation and develop local ministries that will equip members

under their care to respond to conflicts in a manner that reflects the power of

Christ working in their lives. The more church members understand these

concepts and benefits, the more likely they will be to apply biblical principles

when conflicts occur.

APPENDIX I THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

2. The second step - An individual’s responsibility to admonish another

(Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1).

Scripture warns against making a premature judgment about a matter (Matt.

7:1-5). By first going personally and in private to those who have offended,

we provide the opportunity for clarification of misunderstandings and avoid

premature judgment. This step includes the three responses of personal

peacemaking as follows:

Overlook an offense: An individual may overlook an offense of another if it

is minor in nature and it has not significantly dishonored God, damaged a

personal relationship, or hurt other people (including the offender). “A man’s

wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov.

19:11).

Discussion: When personal wrongs are too serious to overlook, the parties are

required to seek to resolve them privately through loving confrontation and

confession. “If your brother has something against you...go and be reconciled”

(Matt. 5:23-24). “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault,

just between the two of you” (Matt. 18:15).

Negotiation: When a substantive issue related to money, property, or other

material issues or rights divides Christians, a process of biblical negotiation

should be followed that will meet the interests of all those involved. “Each of

you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of

others” (Phil. 2:4).

Privately responding to conflict early, before it escalates, through the means

of these three forms of personal peacemaking will often result in reconciliation

and no need for further peacemaking attention. Successful personal

peacemaking is usually based on at least one parties’ willingness to accept

responsibility for how they have contributed to the conflict and by being

willing to humble themselves for the greater goal of God’s glory through

“making every effort” (Eph. 4:3) to keep the unity of the spirit.

3. The third step - If private admonition is rejected, then calling of one or

more witnesses (Matt. 18:16; 1 Cor. 6:1-9).

Involving others is a serious escalation of a conflict and should be considered

only after the elements of step two have been fully exhausted. Step three

includes the three assisted peacemaking responses as follows:

BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION APPENDIX I

Mediation: If a dispute cannot be resolved through personal peacemaking, the

parties should ask one or more other Christians to meet with them to help the

parties communicate more effectively and explore possible solutions. The

mediators may give advice but have no power to impose solutions. They may

later act as witnesses in formal church disciplinary proceedings, should

mediation fail due to hardness of heart or the unrepentant sin of one or both

parties. “If he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter

may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Matt. 18:16).

Arbitration: When two parties to a conflict cannot come to a voluntary

agreement on a substantive issue, one or more arbitrators may be appointed to

listen to the arguments and evidence of each side and render a binding

decision. “If you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even

men of little account in the church” (1 Cor. 6:1-8).

Church Discipline: Formal church discipline, pursuant to the procedures of

BCO Part II, is reserved for those cases where the person who professes to be

a Christian refuses to be reconciled, repent of personal sin, and do what is right.

Church leaders bearing ecclesiastical jurisdiction over such persons should

formally intervene to promote justice, repentance, and forgiveness. “If he

refuses to listen, tell it to the church” (Matt. 18:17-20).

APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES

Judicial cases that come to the attention of church courts frequently begin as

personal disputes between two or more individuals. Typically, when one side

feels they are not getting what they want, they bring charges of sin against the

other side. In this manner, sessions and presbyteries are drawn into conflicts

that would better be resolved at a personal level through Christian conciliation.

Of course, when conflicted parties refuse to be reconciled, the accountability

afforded by formal church discipline should be used to further the goals of

purity in the Church, the rebuke of offenses, the removal of scandal, and the

spiritual good of offenders (1 Cor. 5:5). Every effort should be made,

however, to resolve the conflict through repentance, confession, forgiveness

and reconciliation before formal charges are entertained by a church court.

The intent of the relevant BCO provisions is to encourage Christian unity

before the formal provisions of church discipline are brought to bear on a

situation. Of course, not every situation will lend itself to Christian

conciliation. However, every effort should be made to utilize private

confrontation, mediation, and arbitration in order to

APPENDIX I THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

reserve the use of formal church discipline, and the time of church courts, for

those matters related to the purity of the Church and the keeping and

reclaiming of disobedient sinners (BCO 27-3). Many of these ends will be

realized through the processes of Christian conciliation and, therefore, should

be viewed as prerequisite procedures to the formal disciplinary process.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE STEPS

Churches unwilling or unable to instruct their members completely in the full

breadth of the steps of conciliation and discipline encourage resorting to

unbiblical, worldly responses to conflict. The escape responses of denial,

flight, and even suicide can be expected if church members are not positively

directed to the biblical processes of Christian conciliation. Others, when not

given the hope of having matters responded to within the body of Christ, will

resort to civil litigation, verbal and physical attack, and possibly even murder

to remove an opponent where there is no avenue for a just resolution.

Moving a case too quickly to formal church discipline can build barriers that

could otherwise be dealt with in mediation or arbitration. Every church and

presbytery is encouraged to equip elders and mature members with the skills

of Christian conciliation, and to exhaust conciliation processes and remedies

before moving to formal church discipline.

USE OF CONCILIATION CLAUSES

IN MEMBERSHIP DOCUMENTS

One significant way church members can be educated and prepared for biblical

conflict resolution is through the use of a conciliation clause in the membership

covenant or other agreement signed by new members when they join the

church. The recommended language for this clause is set forth below. It

should be noted that signing this clause cannot be made a condition for

membership, but may be encouraged as a voluntary biblical commitment. It

should be clearly offered as an optional statement for the resolution of any

disputes that may arise.

BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION APPENDIX I

Christian Conciliation

Members are encouraged but not required to make this additional

commitment.

If I ever have a dispute with the church that cannot be resolved

through its own internal procedures, I agree to resolve the dispute

according to biblical principles (such as those set forth in Matthew

5:23-25 and 18:15-20, and 1 Corinthians 6:1-8) by submitting the

matter to mediation and, if necessary, arbitration, according to the

Bylaws of this church and the Rules of Procedure of the Institute for

Christian Conciliation. I understand that arbitration is a legally

binding process, and that judgment upon an arbitration award may

be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction.

Dated this day of , 20____

_____

Name (Printed) Signature

_____

Name (Printed) Signature

_____

Parent’s or Guardian’s Name Parent’s or Guardian’s Signature

(for minors)

THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE

[STATE] ARBITRATION ACT, TITLE ##, CHAPTER #, [STATE] CODE

ANNOTATED.

APPENDIX I THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

AMEND CHURCH BYLAWS TO ALLOW CONTINUING

CHURCH JURISDICTION

The following clause is recommended for inclusion in local church bylaws to

allow the continuing ecclesiastical jurisdiction over a member who may

otherwise simply flee from the church to avoid biblical discipline:

Members may be removed from membership at their own request following

the steps of appropriate pastoral care as set forth in BCO 38-4. If a member

requests to withdraw because of specific problems or disappointments with the

church, the Session shall attempt to resolve those matters so that the member

may remain in the church and enjoy greater fruitfulness and personal spiritual

growth. If the Session is unable to resolve those matters, it shall offer to assist

the member in locating a church of like faith and practice that can respond

more effectively to his gifts and needs. If it appears to the Session that a

member has requested removal merely to avoid church discipline, that request

shall not be given effect until the disciplinary process has been properly

concluded.

Use of this clause will also help the church avoid serious legal liability for

following through with all of the steps of church discipline. Members should

be informed of its provisions and carefully taught the Scriptural basis for

continuing shepherding and pastoral care especially when caught in sin (see

also BCO 38-3 and 38-4).

CONCLUSION

The courts of the church are encouraged to employ the means of

Christian conciliation whenever possible. That is, churches and presbyteries

are encouraged to defer judicial action until all other remedies have been

exhausted. Peace, unity, and the mission of the Church can be furthered

through careful and complete attention to every step of the process as set forth

in BCO 27-5 as understood through the expanded guidance concerning

Christian conciliation as set forth above.

APPENDIX J

SAMPLE FORM FOR TERMS OF CALL

Subject to the approval of the _______________ Presbytery, the __________ (Session, or Congregation, or Session on

behalf of the congregation) of _____________________Church in ________________________ earnestly calls you,

__________________, to undertake the office of ___________________ in our congregation, promising you, in the

discharge of your duty, all proper support, encouragement and obedience in the Lord. That you may be free from worldly

care and avocations, we hereby promise and oblige ourselves to provide you with the following:

Annual Cash Salary & Housing Allowance, paid _________ (semi-monthly,

etc.) $ __________

The amount/portion dedicated to housing allowance will be determined by

the Minister and approved by the Session before employment with the

church in this new position and shall be reviewed prior to each fiscal year.

Primary Benefits

Social Security/Medicare Allowance: ____ % of salary + housing $ __________

Medical Insurance &/or Medicare Supplement Insurance (specific $ amount) $ __________

Retirement Savings: ___ % of salary + housing $ __________

Long Term Disability Insurance: enough to replace ___% of salary + housing $ __________

Life Insurance: amount equal to ____ x (salary + housing) $ __________

Equity Allowance if Minister living in a manse $ __________

Other _______________ $ __________

Secondary Benefits

Dental Insurance $ __________

Vision Insurance $ __________

Long Term Care Insurance $ __________

Temporary Benefits

Relocation expenses reimbursed up to a maximum of: $ __________

Other _______________ __________

Miscellaneous Paid Leaves per year. (Any specific church policies are described in a separate document.)

Vacation ___ days Sick Leave ___ days

Educational Leave ___ days Paternity Leave ___ days

Sabbatical Leave accrual ___ days Funeral Leave ___ days

Any reimbursement of reasonable and necessary business expenses shall be in accord with a Session-adopted

Accountable Reimbursement Plan, with a maximum amount specified in the annual church budget.

I, having moderated the ________________________ (Session or Congregational) meeting which extended a call

to______________________________ for his ministerial services, do certify the call has been made in all respects

according to the rules in the PCA Book of Church Order and the persons who signed the call were authorized to do

so by vote of the _______________ (Session or Congregation).

(Check if applicable) ___ Authority to approve these Terms was delegated by the Congregation to the Session at a

congregational meeting on __________________ (date).

Meeting Moderator (sign) __________________________ Print name _______________________________

Position ________________________________________ Phone or e-mail ____________________________

Date of Meeting _________________________________ Vote: # Yes = ______ # No = ______

Minister-Elect (sign) ______________________________ Print name _______________________________

Send a copy to the Presbytery Clerk.

This page intentionally left blank.

INDEX

Absentee Church Members 46-2

Accusation Cautions ...................... 31-8

Accused

Barred from the Lord’s Table .. 33-4

New testimony, new trial ....... 35-13

Not compelled to testify ........... 35-1

Original party in case of process 31-3

Plead in writing ........................ 32-3

Protection of ............................ 31-8

Refusal to appear .................... 33-2

Refusal to plead ...................... 33-2

Accuser

Challenge to witness ................ 35-1

Church as accuser .................... 31-4

Original party in case of process 31-3

Testimony required .................. 35-1

Adjournment, General Assembly ... 14-8

Administration of the Lord’s Supper

............................ 58-1 thru 58-8

Administrative Committee ...... 14-1(12)

Admission to Sealing

Ordinances ............... 57-1 thru 57-6

Admonition

Administered ........................... 36-3

Church censure ........................ 30-1

Definition of ........................... 30-2

Adult Non-communing Members

Oversight of church ......... 6-3, 28-4

Under care of church................ 28-5

Advice

Requested of higher courts by lower

........................................... 41-1

Subjects for reference .............. 41-2

Advisory member ........................... 9-4

Amending Constitution

Book of Church Order ............. 26-2

Confession and Catechisms ..... 26-3

Presbytery action ..................... 26-6

Appeals

Abandoned ............................. 42-11

Circularizing the court ..............42-4

Decisions of higher court ......... 42-9

Definition of appellant

and appellee ....................... 42-1

Disqualification.........................39-2

Forms .......................... Appendix G

Grounds ................................... 42-3

Hearing by higher court ........... 42-8

Appeals (continued)

Litigious spirit by appellant .. 42-12

Lodging with higher court ....... 42-5

New testimony, new trial ...... 35-14

Notice of ................................. 42-6

Notice within 30 days ............. 42-4

Records of case .... 42-5, 42-7, 42-9

Who can appeal ....................... 42-2

Appellant

Counsel for ................. 32-19, 42-10

Defined.................................... 42-1

Failure to appear ................... 42-11

Litigious spirit ....................... 42-12

Lodge appeal within 30 days ... 42-4

Appellate Court . (see also Appendix H)

.......................................... 40-5

Appellee Defined .......................... 42-1

Assistant pastor

Called by Session .................... 22-3

Dissolution of relationship ...... 22-4

Moderator of Session ..... 12-4, 22-3

Succeed senior pastor .............. 23-1

When senior pastor leaves ....... 23-1

Associate Membership Defined .... 46-4

Associate pastor

Called by congregation ........... 22-2

Dissolution of relationship ...... 22-4

Moderator of Session .............. 12-4

Succeed senior pastor .............. 23-1

When senior pastor leaves ....... 23-1

Baptism

Adults ...................................... 57-3

Infants and children .. 56-1 thru 56-4

Record kept by Session ........... 12-8

Baptized Persons

Cared for ................................... 6-3

Disciplined .............................. 27-2

Bible Instruction for Children ....... 28-2

Biblical Conflict Resolution

................................. Appendix I

Binding Conscience ...................... 11-2

Bishop or Pastor .............................. 8-1

Book of Church Order

Amending ................................ 26-2

Composition of........................ 26-1

Budgets ................................... 9-2, 12-5

Burial Service

............ Appendices C, D and E

Call to Pastor ...................... 20-1, 20-6

Without Call ........................... 34-10

Called Meetings

Congregation .................. 20-2, 24-1

General Assembly ................... 14-3

Presbytery .............................. 13-12

Candidates for Gospel Ministry

Academic requirements ........... 21-4

Call to a definite work ............. 20-1

Christian service ...................... 18-5

Declaration and form of license 19-4

Definition ................................ 18-1

Different Presbytery may complete

examination ..................... 19-11

Dismissed to another Presbytery

.................................. 18-7, 46-6

Examination by Presbytery ..... 18-3

Examination for

licensure ............ 19-2 thru 19-4

Missionary Service ............... 20-12

Ordination .................. 19-13, 19-14

Procedure of receiving ............ 18-3

Questions for licensure ............ 19-3

Report to Presbytery yearly ..... 18-6

Supervised by Presbytery ........ 18-4

Trials for licensure .................. 19-7

Under care of Presbytery ......... 18-2

Under jurisdiction of Session .. 18-4

Cases of Process

Absence from court ............... 32-17

Accusation caution .................. 31-8

Accused

Answer to charge ............. 32-15

Confession ....... 32-3, 34-7, 38-1

Defendant only ................ 31-11

Testimony not required ..... 35-1

Accuser ........................... 31-3, 35-1

Against Lower Court ................ 40-6

Appeals .................................. 34-10

Appellant defined ........... 31-3, 42-1

Appellee defined ............ 31-3, 42-1

Attitude of court ...................... 32-1

Censure

Official functions ............ 31-10

Sacraments ............... 33-2, 33-4

Slight ................................. 34-2

Challenges .................... 32-16, 35-1

Character investigation ............ 31-2

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Charge

Forms ...................... Appendix G

Gross crime or heresy ........ 33-3

Origination................ 31-2, 32-2

Read ........................ 32-3, 32-15

To the court ..................... 32-15

Written ............................... 32-3

Citations

Contumacy................ 33-2, 34-4

Forms ..................... Appendix G

General .............. 32-3 thru 33-7

Committee, Judicial ............... 32-11

Confession ...................... 32-3, 34-7

Counsel ......................... 32-3, 32-19

Deposed minister ............ 34-8, 34-9

Dereliction of duty ................. 34-10

Discussions during trial ......... 32-14

Disqualification .. 32-16, 32-17, 32-19,

33-4, 35-11, 39-2

Divestiture ............................. 34-10

Excommunication .................... 34-4

Failure to act, or to consider . 33-1, 43-2

Heresy ...................................... 34-5

Indictment

Content .............................. 32-5

Drawn and served .............. 32-3

Form ............ 31-4, Appendix G

Read ................................. 32-15

Instituted ............... 31-2, 31-7, 32-2

Judgment recorded ................. 32-15

Judicial Committee ................ 32-11

Members of court ....... 32-15, 32-17

Minutes of trial ...................... 32-18

Oath of witness ........................ 35-6

Offense

General .............................. 31-6

Distant .......... 32-8, 32-9, 32-20

Public or private ....... 31-5, 34-3

Time limit for accusation . 32-20

Original jurisdiction 31-1, 33-1, 34-1

Plea

Refusal to .................. 32-6, 33-2

Written ............................... 32-3

Presbytery vs. ministers

.......................... 34-1 thru 34-10

Prosecutor

Appointed ................. 31-2, 32-3

Heard first ........................ 32-15

INDEX

Prosecutor (continued)

Represents church .............. 31-3

Voluntary ................. 31-3, 31-9

Reconciliation, reclaiming …31-5, 32-1

Record

Copies .............................. 32-18

Of charges .......................... 34-4

Other court’s use .... 32-18, 35-8

Testimony of witness ......... 35-7

Removals

Appeal or complaint ........ 32-18

Of scandal .......................... 34-6

Private ...................... 31-5, 31-7

Repentance ............................... 33-2

Restoration of minister............. 34-8

Roll call ................................. 32-15

Schism ..................................... 34-5

Sessions vs. members 33-1 thru 33-4

Spouse, testimony .................... 35-2

Statute of Limitation ............... 32-20

Suspension of Judgment . 42-6, 43-4

Suspension

Sacraments ........................ 33-2

Official function

.............. 31-10, 34-4, 34-7, 34-8

Testimony .............. 35-9 thru 35-14

Trial ..................... 32-12 thru 32-18

Witnesses

Challenge of ....................... 35-1

Distant .................................32-8

Examined ... 32-13, 32-15, 35-1,

................................. 35-4, 35-5

Number of .......................... 35-3

Oath ................................... 35-6

Verdict ................................... 32-15

Vote ....................................... 32-15

Cases without process

Communing member or officer

with charge .............. 38-2, 38-3

Demitting without censure ....... 38-2

Joining other church/

denomination ..................... 38-3

Voluntary statement ................. 38-1

Catechism (Larger and Shorter)

Amending ................................ 26-3

Children’s instruction .............. 28-2

Part of Constitution . Preface III, 26-1

Censures of Church

Admonition administered ........ 36-2

Admonition defined ................. 30-2

Censures of Church (continued)

Censure administered ............. 36-2

Deposition defined .................. 30-5

Deposition administered

................................. 36-7, 38-2

Excommunication defined ...... 30-4

Excommunication administered

.......................................... 36-6

Removal of censures

........................... 37-1 thru 37-7

Suspension defined ................. 30-3

Suspension administered

................................. 36-4, 36-5

Certificate of Dismission

Baptized children .................... 12-5

Presbytery to minister ............. 46-6

Secured by candidate .............. 18-7

Secured by interns ................... 19-8

Session to member .................. 12-5

Session to members in good

standing ............................. 46-1

Valid for one year .................. 46-7

Challenge (in Case of Process)

Member of the court .............. 32-16

Witness.................................... 35-1

Charge Against Offender

Caution in receiving

charges .................... 31-8, 34-2

Form ............................ Appendix G

Made by some person or

persons .............................. 32-2

Written .................................... 33-3

Children

Baptism of ............................... 56-4

Church instructs ...................... 28-2

Members of visible Church

................................... 2-1, 56-4

Pastoral oversight ...................... 6-1

Profession of faith ................... 28-3

Responsibility of parents and

church ............................... 28-1

Under care of church ............... 28-5

Christ

Doctrine, government, discipline

and worship ................ Preface I

King and Head of Church Preface I

Names in Scriptures ......... Preface I

Officers in church ............ Preface I

Present .............................. Preface I

Christian Life in Home 63-1 thru 63-6

Church

Agency Christ ordained ............. 3-5

Associate member ................... 46-4

Building dedication ..... Appendix F

Calling a pastor ..... 20-2 thru 20-11

Catholic, defined ....................... 1-3

Courts in general ..... 10-1 thru 10-6

Duties of officers ................ 7-2, 7-3

Incorporation of ...................... 25-7

Members of ........ 1-3, 6-1,6-4, 46-4

New church organization.. 5-1, 13-8

Officers of .......................... 4-2, 7-2

Ordinances ................................ 4-4

Particular, definition .................. 4-1

Polity consists of ....................... 7-2

Property .......................... 25-8, 25-9

Reception of, examination ....... 13-8

Unity ......................................... 2-2

Visible, definition ............... 1-3, 2-1

Withdrawal ............................ 25-11

Worship without teaching elder. 4-5

Church Courts

Authority moral or spiritual ..... 11-1

Binding conscience, may not ... 11-2

Clerks, duties .......................... 10-4

Expenses of members .............. 10-6

General Assembly ................... 14-1

Jurisdiction limited by

Constitution ....................... 11-4

Jurisdiction ministerial/

declarative ......................... 11-2

Moderators of .......................... 10-3

Names of ................................. 10-2

One in nature ........................... 11-3

Open and close with prayer ..... 10-5

Presbyteries composed of ........ 10-1

Presbytery .............. 13-1 thru 13-12

Referrals, lower courts to higher

........................................... 11-3

Rights of courts ....................... 11-4

Sessions ................... 12-1 thru 12-9

Sphere of action defined ......... 11-4

Church Government

Joint, not several ....................... 1-5

Officers ............................. 1-4, 16-2

Purpose of ................................. 1-2

Representative ........................... 1-1

Scriptural form .......................... 1-1

Church Organization of Particular

............... (see Particular Church)

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Church Power

Divine sanction .......................... 3-6

Ecclesiastical power Preface II-7, 3-2

Functions .................................. 3-3

Joint power in Session ............... 4-3

Limitation of Pref. II-1 and 7, 3-4,11-4

Representative ........................... 3-1

Spiritual exclusively .......... 3-1, 3-4

Vested in rulers and ruled .......... 3-1

Church Property

Buying and selling .......... 25-6, 25-7

Civil law ................................ 25-11

Dissolved churches ................ 25-12

Funds controlled and disbursed . 25-7

Ownership ............................... 25-8

Seizure of ............................... 25-10

Church Growth ....... 13-9g, 14-6d, 47-3

Circularizing ..........................42-4, 43-2

Citation (in Cases of Process)

Duly served ............................ 32-10

Form ............................ Appendix G

Issued and signed .................... 32-4

Refusal to obey ..... 32-6, 33-2, 34-4

Time lapse ............................... 32-7

Unconstitutional proceedings .. 40-5

Civil Authority Preface II-1, 25-6, 25-11

Clerk

Congregational meeting ........... 25-5

Courts ...................................... 10-4

Duties of ....................... 10-4, 32-18

Closed Session ...................... 42-8, 43-9

Commissions (Ecclesiastical)

................(see also Appendix H)

Appointed authority ............... 35-10

Authority ................................. 15-1

Consists of ............... 15-2 thru 15-4

Defined .................................... 15-1

Judicial cases ........................... 15-3

Provisional national churches .. 15-6

Quorum of ...................... 15-2, 15-3

Records .................................... 15-1

Standing Judicial ... 15-1,15-4, 15-5

Commissioners to General Assembly

Expenses, how paid ................. 10-6

Credentials ............................... 14-4

Congregational representation . 14-2

Quorum .................................... 14-5

Called meetings representation 14-3

Committees of General Assembly . 14-1

Communion ................... 58-1 thru 58-8

INDEX

Complainant Defined ..................... 43-3

Complaints

Abandoned ............................... 43-7

Circularizing the court .... 42-4, 43-2

Commission appointed ............ 43-8

Definition of ............................ 43-1

Denial of error ......................... 43-3

Disqualification.........................39-2

Form ........................... Appendix G

Hearing .................................... 43-9

Higher court ................. 43-6, 43-10

Representatives ........................ 43-5

Respondent .............................. 43-5

Suspension of action ................ 43-4

Time requirements ......... 43-2, 43-3

Written ..................................... 43-1

Confessing Faith as Part of Worship

........................................... 55-1

Confession of Faith

Amending ...................... 26-3, 26-5

Part of Constitution . Preface III, 26-1

Confession of Offense

Any person ..................... 32-3, 38-1

Minister .................................... 34-7

Confessional Subscription

Differences/Exceptions ...21-4.b, e, f

Questions for ordination .......... 21-5

Congregation

Presbytery affiliation ............. 25-11

Pastor selection .............. 20-2, 23-1

Property rights ....... 25-9 thru 25-12

Questions

Ordination/installation of

officers ............................ 24-6

Installation of minister ..... 21-10

Ordination of minister ........ 21-6

Congregational Meetings

Absentee voting prohibited ......20-4,

.................................. 24-3, 24-4

Clerk of .................................... 25-5

Members request ...................... 25-2

Trustees elected ....................... 25-6

Moderator elected . 20-3, 24-2, 25-4

Notice of one week .................. 25-2

Quorum for .............................. 25-3

Session calls .......... 12-5, 20-2, 25-2

Pastor elected ........... 20-2 thru 20-4

Ruling elders and deacons

elected ................ 24-1 thru 24-5

Voters ............................ 24-3, 25-1

Conscience .............. Preface II-1 and 7

............................ 11-2, 14-1(4)

Constitution of PCA

Definition ............. Preface III, 26-1

Amending ................. 26-2 thru 26-6

Principles applied ........ 32-20, 34-10

................................. 38-2, 40-6

Control (oversight) .............. 11-4, 13-9f

Contumacy ................... 32-6, 33-2, 34-4

Counsel

Assigned to necessarily absent 32-3

Professional not allowed ....... 32-19

Right of appellant to ................ 42-9

Who may represent the accused

........................................ 32-19

Court of Jurisdiction ... 11-4, 32-8 and 9

Deacons

Assistance from godly men or

women ................................. 9-7

Conferences .............................. 9-6

Definition of office ................... 9-1

Dissolve relationship against

their will ........ 24-7, 24-9, 34-10

Divested without censure

................................ 34-10, 38-2

Duties of ...................... 7-2, 7-3, 9-2

Election .... 3-1; 16-2; 24-1, 3 thru 8

Emeritus ................................. 24-10

Gifts of .................................... 16-3

Ordination by a court .............. 17-1

Ordination, questions .............. 24-6

Organized as board .................. 9-4

Pastor, advisory member ........... 9-4

Qualifications of ........................ 9-3

Resignation or dissolving

of office .......... 24-7 thru 9; 38-3

Session ordains and installs ..... 12-5

Session oversight .................... 12-5

Special assignments .................. 9-5

Definite Suspension

Administered ........................... 36-4

Church censure ........................ 30-1

Definition ................................ 30-3

Demission ...................................... 38-2

Deposed Minister

Conditions for restoration ....... 34-8

Restoration ..................... 37-5, 37-7

Deposition

Administration ........................ 36-7

Appeal ..................................... 42-6

Deposition (continued)

Church censure ........................ 30-1

Confession by minister ............ 34-7

Defined .................................... 30-5

Disobeying citations ................ 34-4

Heresy and schism ................... 34-5

Restoration of minister or

officer ................................ 37-5

Destitute Regions ............ 4-5, 8-6, 15-6

[cf. MTW Policy Manual 2.02.1(5)]

Differences to WCF ............ 21-4.b, e, f

Discipline

Definition

Administrative & judicial .. 27-1

Duty of Presbytery and

Session .............................. 32-1

Grounds for ............................. 29-2

Ordained by Christ ........... Preface I

Power of .................................. 27-4

Principles of ............................ 27-5

Purpose of ............................... 27-3

Who is subject to ..................... 27-2

Dismission

... (see Certificate of Dismission)

Dissent

Definition of ............................ 45-2

Time limitation ........................ 45-1

Treatment by court .................. 45-5

Who may join ................. 45-1, 45-5

Withdrawal .............................. 45-5

Dissolution of Pastoral Relation

Congregational initiative ......... 23-1

Deposition as cause ................. 34-9

Procedure of ............................ 23-1

Resignation of pastor ............... 23-1

Succeeding senior pastor ......... 23-1

Suspension of minister ............ 34-9

Divestiture from Office

Membership of divested minister 46-8

Minister against his will ........ 34-10

Minister at his request ............. 38-2

Officer against his will .. 24-7, 9; 34-10

Officer at his request ............... 38-2

Ecclesiastical Commission

..................... (see Commissions)

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Church courts .......... 11-1 thru 11-4

Joint power .......... 1-5, 3-6, 4-3, 8-3

Ecclesiastical Power .......... (see Church

Power)

........................... 46-1 thru 46-8

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Elders

Defined .............................. 7-2, 8-8

Duties ................................ 7-2, 8-3

Election ................ Preface II-6, 3-1

......... 16-2, 24-1 thru 24-5, 24-8

Emeritus ................................ 24-10

Gifts ........................................... 8-4

Inactive ..... 13-2, 24-7 thru 10, 37-6

Installation of ........................... 24-6

Ordination of .................. 24-6, 24-7

Parity ......................................... 8-8

Qualifications ............................ 8-2

Resignation ..................... 24-7, 24-9

Ruling elders ...................... 8-8, 8-9

............. (see also Ruling Elders)

Titles .......................................... 8-1

Teaching Elders ........... 8-4 thru 8-7

.................... (see also Ministers,

................. and Teaching Elders)

Election of Pastor

Call ..................................20-1, 20-6

Installation service . 21-8 thru 21-11

Minority refusal to concur ....... 20-5

Moderator, congregational

meeting .............................. 20-3

Presbytery approval ............... 20-10

Procedure of local church ........ 20-2

Prosecution of call .......... 20-8, 20-9

Pulpit committee ...................... 20-2

Subscription of call .................. 20-7

Voting ............................. 20-3, 20-4

Election of Ruling Elders and Deacons

Congregational meeting ........... 24-4

Electing additional officers ...... 24-1

Examination of nominees ........ 24-1

Moderator of congregational

meeting ..................... 24-2, 25-4

Number of officers .................. 24-1

Ordination and installation 24-6, 24-7

Public notice given .................. 24-1

Quorum of congregational

meeting .............................. 25-3

Re-elected, installed, not ordained 24-8

Voting ...................................... 24-3

Election of Officers

By congregation .. Preface II-6, 3-1,

........................ 16-2, 24-1, 24-4

Inalienable right of church ....... 16-2

Emeritus ............................. 23-3, 24-10

Evangelism Duty of Elders .............. 8-3

INDEX

Evangelist

Called and appointed ................ 8-5

Minister of the Word ................ 8-5

Ordination questions .............. 21-11

Organize churches/ordain

officers ................................ 8-6

Receive and dismiss members .. 8-6

Evidence

Accused not compelled to testify 35-1

Accuser required to testify ....... 35-1

Certified testimony valid ........ 35-9

Challenge of witnesses............. 35-1

Commission appointment ...... 35-10

Competency of witnesses ......... 35-1

Court judges evidence .............. 35-1

Examination of witnesses 35-4, 35-5

More than one witness

necessary ............................ 35-3

New testimony, new trial ...... 35-13,

............................... 35-14, 42-5

Oath of witness ........................ 35-6

Questions asked witness ..........35-7

Records authenticated .............. 35-8

Refusing to testify .................. 35-12

Spouse testimony ..................... 35-2

Taking testimony ......... 15-2, 35-10

Witness disqualified as judge, if

challenged ........................ 35-11

Examination

Admission to sealing ordinances 57-2

Candidate for Gospel ministry . 18-3

Candidate for internship ........... 19-9

Candidate for licensure ............ 19-2

Elders of congregation being

received .............................. 13-8

Intern for ordination ....... 21-4, 21-5

Minister from another

denomination/Presbytery ... 13-6

Officer nominees ........ 5-9(2), 12-5,

................................. 16-3, 24-1

Exceptions/Differences to WCF .... 21-4

Excommunication

Form for administering ............ 36-6

Appeal ...................................... 42-6

Church censure ........................ 30-1

Contumacy ............................... 34-4

Defined .................................... 30-4

Disobeying citations ................ 34-4

Purpose of ................................ 30-4

Restoration of person ............... 37-3

Expenses Attending Church Court

Paid ................................... 10-6

Extraordinary Case

Candidates ................................ 18-2

Licensure trials ........................ 19-2

Ordination trials ...................... 21-4

Fasting and Thanksgiving 62-1 thru 62-7

Forms

Baptism, infant ........................ 56-6

Call to a pastor ........................ 20-6

Censures .................. 36-5, thru 36-7

Communion ................... 58-5, 58-7

Dedication of Building . Appendix F

Funeral ...... Appendices C, D and E

General Assembly adjournment

.......................................... 14-8

Indictment ............................... 31-4

Internship ................................ 19-8

Judicial Discipline ....... Appendix G

Licensure ................................. 19-4

Marriage ......... Appendices A and B

Ministerial Obligation ............. 13-7

Ordination of minister ............. 21-7

Ordination/installation of officers 24-6

Organization of particular church 5-8

Restoration from

censures .. 37-1, 37-3, 37-4, 37-5

General Assembly

Actions, effect of ..................... 14-7

Adjournment ........................... 14-8

Called meeting of .................... 14-3

Committees of ......................... 14-1

Consists of ............................... 14-2

Definition of ............................ 14-1

Examining committee ....... 14-1, 14

Expenses of commissioners .... 10-6

Judicial cases to commission .. 15-3

Jurisdiction over whole church 11-4

Meets annually ........................ 14-2

Nominating committee ....... 14-1.11

Opens and closes with prayer .. 10-5

Organization ............................ 14-1

Permanent court ...................... 14-2

Powers of ................... 14-6, 7, 15-6

Quorum of ............................... 14-5

Quorum of Judicial Commission 15-3

Visiting brethren ................... 13-13

General offenses .......... 29-2, 29-3, 31-6

Government of Church

......... (see Church Government)

Heresy and Schism ........................ 34-5

Higher Court

Advice to lower court ..... 41-4, 41-5

Citation to lower court ............. 40-5

Complaints .............. 43-1 thru 43-5

Hearing an appeal ................... 42-8

Jurisdiction of .......................... 11-4

Limits of jurisdiction

....... Preface II-1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11-4

Neglect of lower court ............. 42-7

Process against lower court ..... 40-6

References ............... 41-1 thru 41-6

Review of lower courts ........... 11-4

Subjects for reference .............. 41-2

Holy Spirit, Application of Benefits

.................................... Preface I

Home

Christian life in ........ 63-1 thru 63-6

Church to promote religion in . 28-1

Honorably Retired ............... 23-2 and 3

Inactive Elders .................... (see Elders)

Incorporation ................................. 25-7

Indefinite Suspension

Administered ........................... 36-5

Defined .................................... 30-3

Removal of censure ................. 37-3

Infants

Baptism of ........ 6-1, 56-1 thru 56-6

Membership in church 1-3, 2-2, 6-1

Infliction of Church Censures

Private and public offenses ...... 36-2

Spirit of meekness ................... 36-1

Suited to offense ...................... 36-2

Interim Pastors ...... (see Stated Supply)

Intern, Internship

Applicant for ........................... 19-8

Approval of ........................... 19-13

Approval of call of ................ 19-14

Called by congregation .......... 19-14

Changing Presbyteries ........... 19-11

Cooperative agreements ........ 19-11

Disapproval of ....................... 19-13

Establishment of ...................... 19-7

Examination for ....................... 19-9

Previous Experience .............. 19-16

Relation of to Session ............ 19-15

Report on ............................... 19-12

Restrictions on ....................... 19-15

Testing gifts ............................. 19-7

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Installation of Minister

Procedure ................. 21-1 thru 21-9

Questions asked congregation

......................................... 21-10

Questions asked minister ......... 21-9

Investigation

Personal offenses by court

.................................. 31-5, 31-7

Requested by aggrieved ........... 31-2

Irregular(ity) ......................... 34-5, 40-3

Joint Power ......... 1-5, 3-6, 4-3, 7-2, 8-3

Judicial Case .. (see Appeals, Complaint

......................... and References)

Judicial Commissions

Matters executed by ................. 15-2

Quorum in Presbytery .............. 15-2

Record of Case ............... 15-1, 15-5

Standing Judicial

Commission .... 15-1, 15-4, 15-5

Taking of testimony ................. 15-2

Judicial Committee

................(see also Appendix H)

......................................... 32-11

Jurisdiction of Church Courts

Defined for each court ............. 11-4

Divested minister assigned church

membership ....................... 46-8

Joining another denomination . 38-3

Joint power ................................ 1-5

Limited by constitution ............ 11-4

Ministerial and declarative ...... 11-2

Moral or spiritual ..................... 11-1

Original: Session and

Presbytery .......... 46-1 thru 46-8

Persons under censure who move 37-7

Presbytery over minister, licentiate

or candidate 5-1, 13-2, 19-1, 46-6

Session over members ............. 12-5

Laboring Out of Bounds 8-7, 13-2, 13-5

Licensure, Licentiates

Candidates for the ministry ...... 19-1

Examination for ....................... 19-2

Ministers from other denominations

........................................... 19-1

Missionary Service ................ 20-12

Necessity .........................18-5, 19-1

Procedure for ........................... 19-2

Questions for ........................... 19-3

Renewal procedures ................. 19-6

INDEX

Licensure, Licentiates (continued)

Ruling elders ............................ 19-1

Terms ....................................... 19-6

Transfer to another Presbytery

................................. 19-5, 46-6

Litigious Spirit ................... 31-8, 42-12

Lord’s Day

Sanctification of ....... 48-1 thru 48-7

Lord’s Supper

Administration ......... 58-1 thru 58-8

Lower Court

Advice from higher court 41-1, 41-5

Cited by higher court ............... 40-5

Discharge of duty ..................... 41-5

Jurisdiction ...... 11-4, 46-1 thru 46-8

Neglect to send record of case . 42-7

Preparation of case ................... 41-6

Process against ......................... 40-6

Reference representatives ........ 41-4

References to higher court ....... 41-3

Review and control .................. 11-4

Subjects for reference .............. 41-2

Supervision of higher court ...... 39-1

Marriage

Service ........... Appendices A and B

Solemnization of ...... 59-1 thru 59-7

Members of Church

Associate, defined .................... 46-4

Baptized persons ...................... 6-3

Certificate of dismission .......... 46-7

Children of believers ................. 6-1

Communing, defined ................ 6-2

Corporation members .............. 25-7

Discipline ................................. 27-2

Erasure/dismissal 38-3, 38-4, (46-5)

Joining another denomination .. 38-3

Membership .............................. 1-3

Non-communing defined . 6-1, 56-4

Privileges of .............................. 6-4

Process against ......... 33-1 thru 33-4

Professing Faith ........................ 6-4

Questions to new members ...... 57-5

Received on profession of

faith .......................... 46-1, 57-6

Removal from roll .................... 46-2

Session jurisdiction

of transfers ............... 46-2, 46-3

Session, court of original

jurisdiction ......................... 31-1

Transferring membership ......... 46-1

Minister

Admission to Presbytery 13-5, 13-6

Call, terms and form ............... 20-5

Cases of process

. 31-1 thru 31-20, 34-1 thru 34-10

Demission ................................ 38-2

Deposing, demitting ....... 38-2, 46-8

Dissolving relationship ........... 23-1

Divested against his will 34-10, 46-8

Divested at his request ............ 38-2

Election of ... 16-2, 20-1 thru 20-11,

........................................ 23-1

Emeritus .................................. 23-3

Evangelist ................................. 8-6

From other denominations

.... 13-6, 19-1, 20-13, 21-1, 21-4

Gifts .......................................... 8-4

Installation of ......... 21-9 thru 21-11

Laboring out of bounds ........... 13-2

Laboring outside of PCA .......... 8-7

Membership in Presbytery

................................. 13-2, 46-6

Ministerial Obligation ............. 13-7

Missionary of another

denomination .................. 20-13

Ordination of ............ 21-1 thru 21-8

Organizing pastor ...................... 8-6

Other fields of service ........ 8-4, 8-7

Presbytery, court of

original jurisdiction ........... 31-1

Qualifications of ........................ 8-2

Questions for ordination .......... 21-5

Restoration after

censure ..... 34-8, 37-1 thru 37-9

Retirement ............................... 23-2

Transfer ......... 13-6, 20-9, 21-4, 46-6

Voting in Session .............. 4-3, 12-1

Without call .................. 13-2, 34-10

Minister, Process Against

Accusation cautioned .............. 34-2

Church of deposed minister .... 34-9

Citations disobeyed ................. 34-4

Confession .............................. 34-7

Deposed for heresy and schism

.......................................... 34-5

Deposed without excommunication

................................. 38-2, 46-8

Divested without censure

...................... 34-10, 38-2, 46-8

Minister, Process Against (continued)

Neglect of duty ...................... 34-10

Presbytery jurisdiction ............. 34-1

Removal of scandal ................. 34-6

Restoration after censure 34-8, 37-7

Warning in private ................... 34-3

Minutes

Case of trial ........................... 32-18

Presbytery .............................. 13-10

Session .................................... 12-7

Mission Church

Civil government, relationship .. 5-7

Defined ...................................... 5-1

Establishment of ......................... 5-2

Government ............................... 5-3

Judicial Process of ..................... 5-5

Members received ..................... 5-4

Particular church, distinction ..... 5-1

Missionary

Ordination ............................. 20-12

Other denomination ............... 20-13

Moderator

Authenticates records of court . 35-8

Authority of ............................. 10-3

Congregational

meetings .......... 20-3, 24-2, 25-4

Duties of ............ 10-3, 13-11, 13-12

General Assembly ................... 10-3

Presbytery ................................ 10-3

Session .................................... 10-3

Session when pastor is absent . 12-2

Session with associate or assistant

pastor ................................. 12-4

Session with no pastor ............. 12-3

Mutual Love and Confidence ...... 25-11

National Church Provisional

Presbytery ................................ 15-6

Neglect of Lower Court to

Send up Record ....................... 42-7

New Trial/New Evidence . 35-13, 35-14

Nominating Committee ............ 14-1.11

Nominating Procedures ......... 5-9, 16-2,

......................... 24-1, 24-3, 24-4

Non-communing Member of Church

Adult ....................... 6-3, 28-4, 28-5

Become communing members 28-3

Children .... 5-4, 6-1, 6-3, 28-1, 28-2

Discipline ................ 28-1 thru 28-5

Under care of church ............... 28-5

Non-Resident Members ................. 46-2

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Notice of Appeal

Effects ...................................... 42-6

Form ............................ Appendix G

Within 30 days ................ 42-4, 42-5

Written ..................................... 42-4

Objection Defined ......................... 45-4

Obligation Subscription ................. 13-7

Offenses Defined ........... 29-1 thru 29-4

Offenders

Charges .................................... 32-2

Reclaiming,

Reconciliation ....... 30-4, 31-5, 31-7

Restoration...... 34-8, 37-1 thru 37-7

Offerings, Worship of God

............................ 54-1 thru 54-3

Ordination and Installation of Ministers

Call to a work required ............ 21-2

Commission ............................. 15-2

Definition of ............................ 17-2

Differences to Standards ........... 21-4

Doctrine of ............... 17-1 thru 17-3

Presbytery jurisdiction over

church ................................ 21-3

Procedure of .......... 21-1 thru 21-11

Questions to

congregation ........... 21-6, 21-10

Questions to minister ...... 21-5, 21-9

Requirements for trials ............ 21-4

Ordination and Installation of Ruling

Elders and Deacons

Inducted by a court ........... 1-6, 17-1

Perpetual office ........................ 24-7

Procedure ................................. 24-4

Questions to congregation ....... 24-6

Questions to officers-elect ....... 24-6

Organic Union with Other Bodies . 26-4

Organization of Particular Church

By a commission ....................... 5-8

Deacons elected ....................... 5-10

Pastor elected ........................... 5-11

Presbytery authority only ........... 5-8

Procedure ................................... 5-8

Ruling Elders elected ................. 5-9

Original Jurisdiction ............ 11-4, 31-1,

.................................. 33-1, 34-1

Out of Bounds .................................. 8-7

Particular Church

Definition of .............................. 4-1

Examination of Session ........... 13-8

INDEX

Particular Church (continued)

Incorporation ........................... 25-7

New church organized . 5-1 thru 5-3

Officers of ................................. 4-2

Presbytery affiliation ... 13-8, 25-11

Property ownership .................. 25-9

Session jurisdiction ................... 4-3

Unincorporated, power of

trustees ............................... 25-6

Withdrawal ............................ 25-11

Parents Responsible for Children

........................................... 28-1

Parties in Cases of Process

........ (see also Cases of Process)

Accused and accuser ................ 31-3

Accused defendant only ......... 31-11

Challenge of member ............. 32-16

Copies of proceedings ............ 32-18

Withdrawal while court

deliberates ........................ 32-14

Witnesses examined ............... 32-13

Parts of Trials for

Licensure ................................. 19-7

Ordination ................................ 21-4

Pastor ............... (see also Minister, and

.......... Minister, Process against)

Call prosecuted ...... 20-8 thru 20-11

Dissolution of relationship ....... 23-1

Divestiture .......... 34-10, 38-2, 46-8

Duties ........................................ 8-5

Election of ............ Preface II-6, 3-1,

........................ 16-2, 20-2, 23-1

Emeritus ................................... 23-3

Expenses paid to church courts

........................................... 10-6

Installation service . 21-5 thru 21-10

Moderator of congregational

meetings ................... 24-2, 25-4

Moderator of Session ..... 12-3, 12-2

Non-PCA calls ......................... 20-1

Ordination ................ 21-1 thru 21-8

Power to convene Session ........ 12-6

Qualifications ............................ 8-2

Refusal by minority to concur .. 20-5

Testimonials furnished by his

Presbytery ........................ 20-11

Transferal ............................... 20-10

Voting ............. 4-3, 12-1, 20-4, 22-2

Personal Offenses Defined ... 20-2, 29-3

Polity .......... (see Church Government,

and Church Power) 7-2

Power ................... (see Church Power)

Powers of

Church judicatories Preface II-2, 7, 8

........................ 11-1, 11-2, 11-4

General Assembly .......... 14-6 and 7

Presbytery ............................... 13-9

Session ..................... 12-5 thru 12-8

Preaching of The Word ............. 12-5(e),

............................ 53-1 thru 53-6

Presbytery

Bounds, boundary ................... 13-1

Commission appointed by

................................. 15-2, 15-3

Consists of ............................... 13-1

Court of original jurisdiction for

minister ............................. 31-1

Dissolves pastoral relation ...... 23-1

Divest minister against his

will .................................. 34-10

Divest minister on

his request ................ 38-2, 46-8

Judicial Commission acting as

Appellate Court ...... Appendix H

Jurisdiction of.......................... 11-4

Jurisdiction over dismissed minister,

licentiate, or candidate ...... 46-6

Labor in bounds, out of

bounds ...................... 13-2, 13-5

Meetings, called and stated ... 13-12

Minister’s membership in ....... 13-2

Open and close with prayer ..... 10-5

Ordains ministers .................... 21-2

Powers of ....................... 12-6, 13-9

Process against minister .......... 34-1

Quorum of ............................... 13-4

Records ................................. 13-10

Reports to General Assembly 13-10

Visiting brethren ................... 13-13

Principles of Public

Worship .................... 47-1 thru 47-9

Private Offenses ................... 29-2, 29-4

Process, Cases of

............... (see Cases of Process)

Process Against Lower Court

........................... 40-4 thru 40-6

Process Against Minister

. (see Minister, Process Against)

Process Before Session

Against church member .......... 33-1

Barred from Lord’s Table........ 33-4

Censure for crime or heresy .... 33-3

Citations disobeyed ................. 33-2

Refusal to plead ....................... 33-2

Professional Counsel Not

Permitted ............................... 32-19

Prosecution of Call ...... 20-8 thru 20-11

Property

Care of ........................................ 9-2

Civil law ................................ 25-11

Covenant on property rights .. 25-10

Dissolved church ................... 25-12

Ownership ............... 25-7 thru 25-9

Prosecutor in Judicial Cases

Communing member ............... 31-2

Member of the court ................ 31-2

Professional counsel not

permitted ......................... 32-19

Reconciliation tried first .......... 31-5

Voluntary or appointed ... 31-2, 31-6

Warning to voluntary prosecutor

........................................... 31-9

Protest

Definition of ............................ 45-3

Time limitation ........................ 45-1

Treatment by court .................. 45-5

Who may ........................ 45-1, 41-5

Withdrawal .............................. 45-5

Provisional Presbytery Foreign

Country .................................... 15-6

Public Offenses .................... 29-2, 29-4

Public Prayer ................. 52-1 thru 52-5

Public Worship

Confessing the faith ................. 55-1

Offering ................... 54-1 thru 54-3

Ordering of ..................... 49-1, 49-2

Prayer ...................... 52-1 thru 52-5

Preaching of the Word

........................... 53-1 thru 53-6

Scripture Reading .... 50-1 thru 50-4

Singing .................... 51-1 thru 51-5

Questions to

Bride and groom

................. Appendices A and B

Candidates ............................... 18-3

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Questions to (continued)

Congregation

Baptism of infant ............... 56-5

Dedication of building

.................................. Appendix F

Election of officers ............ 24-4

Installation of minister ..... 21-10

Ordination/installation of

officers ........................ 24-6

Ordination of minister ....... 21-6

Evangelist .............................. 21-11

Licentiate ................................. 19-3

Minister .......................... 21-5, 21-9

Parents at infant baptism.......... 56-5

Person professing faith ............ 57-5

Restored person ....................... 37-4

Witnesses ................................. 35-6

Quorums

Commissions (ecclesiastical)

........................................... 15-2

Congregational Meetings ......... 25-3

General Assembly ................... 14-5

Judicial Commission ............... 15-2

Presbytery ................................ 13-4

Session ............................ 12-1, 15-2

Reading of Scriptures .... 50-1 thru 50-4

Reception of Church ...................... 13-8

Reception of Members

Certificate ....................... 46-1, 57-6

Profession of faith............12-5, 28-3

........................... 57-1 thru 57-5

Reconciliation Attempted by

Injured Party ............................ 31-5

Record of Case, of Process

Appeal or complaint ....... 15-5, 42-5

Definition of ................. 32-18, 42-5

Filing with higher court ......... 32-18,

...................................42-5, 43-6

Lower court rebuked for

failure ....................... 42-7, 43-6

Records of a Court

Annual review by higher court

.................................. 40-1, 40-3

Clerk’s duties ........................... 10-4

Examination by higher court ... 40-2

Evidence in all courts .............. 35-8

Sessional ......................... 12-7, 12-8

Records of Board of Deacons .......... 9-4

INDEX

References

Advice only on final disposition

........................................... 41-3

Definition of ............................ 41-1

Duty of higher court ................. 41-5

How and by whom presented ... 41-4

Mode for bringing proceedings

........................................... 39-1

Preparation of case by lower

court ................................... 41-6

Response by higher court ......... 41-5

Subjects for .............................. 41-2

Refusal of Accused to

Appear ..................................... 33-2

Plead ........................................ 33-2

Refusal of Witness to Testify ....... 35-12

Removal of Censure

By court ......................... 34-8, 37-7

Cautions ................................... 37-8

Converse with suspended person 37-2

Deposed person ........................ 37-5

Excommunicated person .......... 37-4

Offender has moved ................. 37-7

Suspended offender . 37-1 thru 37-3

Removal of Membership

Certificate ................................ 46-1

Duty of Sessions when

neglected ............................ 46-2

Willful neglect ......................... 38-4

Renouncing Jurisdiction ................ 38-4

Resignation

Of Pastor ...................................23-1

Of Elder/Deacon .......................24-7

Respondent Appointed to Answer

Complaint ................................ 43-3

Restoration of Censured

.................. 34-8, 37-1 thru 37-9

Retirement of Ministers ................. 23-2

Review of Records

Failure to follow

constitutional procedure ..... 40-5

Neglect on part of lower court

........................................... 40-4

Proceedings of lower

court before higher ... 11-4, 39-1

Process against lower court ...... 40-6

Record of approval,

disapproval or correction ... 40-3

Review of Records (continued)

Records of lower

court ................ 13-9, 12-7, 40-1

Subject of reviews ........ 11-4, 13-10,

............................... 14-6c, 40-2

Roll of Members ........................... 12-8

Ruling Elders

Authority and eligibility ............ 8-8

Certificate of appointment....... 13-3

Dissolving relationship

against their will 24-7, 24-9, 34-10

Dissolving relationship upon

request ............................... 38-2

Divested without censure 34-10, 38-2

Duties of ...................... 7-2, 7-3, 8-3

Duties to members who move . 46-2

Duties when there are no deacons 9-2

Election ............... Preface II-6, 3-1,

........ 16-2, 24-1 thru 24-5, 24-8

Emeritus ................................ 24-10

Examination of ........... 5-9(2), 12-5,

................................. 16-3, 24-1

Expense of church courts paid 10-6

Gifts of .................................... 16-3

Inactive................... 24-7 thru 24-10

Joining another denomination . 38-3

Licensure to preach ........ 19-1, 19-2

Officer of church ....................... 8-1

Ordination and installation of .. 24-6

Ordination by a court .............. 17-1

Process against . 33-1 thru 33-4, 34-10

Questions asked ruling elders-elect

and members ..................... 24-6

Qualifications of ........................ 8-2

Re-election to office ................ 24-8

Represents church in higher

Courts ............. 12-5f, 13-1, 14-2

Resignation or dissolving of

office ........................ 24-7, 24-9

Restoration of censured .......... 34-8,

........................... 37-1 thru 37-9

Teaching aptitude ...................... 8-9

Without call .............. 24-7 thru 24-9

Ruling Elder Supply

Defined.................................... 22-6

Length of service ..................... 22-6

Session oversight with

Presbytery approval .......... 22-6

Sabbath, Sanctification of 48-1 thru 48-7

Schism and Heresy ........................ 34-5

Sealing Ordinances ........ 57-1 thru 57-6

Session

Bar accused from Lord’s Table 33-4

Censure for gross crime/heresy 33-3

Certificates of dismission to

members in good standing . 46-1

Consists of ............................... 12-1

Contumacious member ............ 33-2

Court of original

jurisdiction ............... 31-1, 33-1

Delete names from roll ............ 46-5

Divest officer at his request . 24-7, 38-2

Divest officer against his

will ................ 24-7, 24-9, 34-10

Duties and power of 12-5 thru 12-8

Examines officers-elect ........... 24-1

Joint meetings with deacons ...... 9-4

Jurisdiction over dismissed member

until received ..................... 46-3

Jurisdiction over single church 11-4

Meetings .................................. 12-6

Open and close meetings ......... 12-9

Quorum ................................... 12-1

Records ........................... 12-7, 12-8

Records examined by Presbytery 40-2

Records to Presbytery annually . 12-7

Spiritual government ............... 12-5

Stated meetings held quarterly 12-6

Temporary or Interim ........ 5-3, 15-1

Singing of Psalms/Hymns 51-1 thru 51-5

Standing Judicial Commission . 14-1(15),

.......................... 15-1, 15-4, 15-5

Stated Meetings

Board of Deacons ....................... 9-4

Congregation ............................ 49-2

General Assembly .................... 14-2

Presbytery ............................... 13-12

Session ..................................... 12-6

Stated Supply

Defined .................................... 22-5

Length of service ..................... 22-6

Ruling elder .................... 22-5, 22-6

Session oversight with Presbytery

approval .. 18-5, 19-1, 22-5, 22-6

Student Supply . 18-5, 19-1, 22-5, 22-6

Suspended Minister

................. (see also Suspension)

THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER

Suspended Minister (continued)

Pastoral relation dissolved ....... 34-9

Restored ....... 34-8, 37-1, 37-3, 37-8

Suspended Person ................. (see also

Suspension)

Restoration of ......... 37- 1 thru 37-5

Session to visit ......................... 37-2

Suspension

Administered .................. 36-4, 36-5

Church censure ........................ 30-1

Citations disobeyed ................. 34-4

Contumacy............................... 34-4

Defined .................................... 30-3

Definite and indefinite ............. 30-3

Minister making confession ..... 34-7

Official functions ................... 31-10

Removal of and from . 37-1 thru 37-3

System of doctrine Preface I-4, 19-3(2),

........................ 21-5(2), 24-6(2)

Teaching Elders

........... (see also Elder, Minister,

Pastor)

Class of office ............................ 7-2

Duties ........................................ 8-5

Emeritus .................................. 23-3

Evangelists................................. 8-6

Gifts ........................................... 8-4

Other works ....................... 8-4, 8-7

Titles .......................................... 8-5

Transfer ................................... 46-6

Without call .................. 13-2, 34-10

Testimony

Commission ............................. 32-8

Coordinate court ........... 32-8, 35-10

More than one witness ............. 35-3

New testimony, new trial ....... 35-13

Of member of court ............... 35-11

Records for all courts ............... 35-8

Refusal ................................... 35-12

Valid in every court if certified 35-9

Transfer of membership...... 12-5a, 13-6,

....... 20-10, 46-1 thru 46-3, 46-6

Treasurer ........................................... 9-4

Trials

For Licensure ........................... 19-7

For Ordination ......................... 21-4

Of Offenders (see Cases of Process)

Trustees

Duties of .................. 25-6 thru 25-8

Elected ..................................... 25-6

Powers ..................................... 25-7

Union With Other Bodies ..... 26-4, 26-5

Usurpation of Authority .................. 7-3

INDEX

Visible Church

Kingdom of Grace ............. 1-2, 2-1

Unity Defined ............................ 2-2

Visitation of the Sick ..................... 60-1

Vitals of Religion ................. 21-4, 34-5

Vocation

Doctrine of ............................... 16-1

Gifts ......................................... 16-3

Voluntary Prosecutor

Accepted by court .................... 31-6

Probable cause of charges ........ 31-9

Voluntary Relationship ................ 25-11

Voter Qualifications ..... 20-4, 24-3, 25-1

Voting on Call to Minister ............. 20-4

Voting Percentages (Quorums) 12-1, 13-4

Wedding Services Appendices A and B

Witnesses

Challenge to ............................ 35-1

Citation.................................... 32-4

Distant from court ................... 32-8

Examination ........ 32-13, 35-4, 35-5

Form of citation ........... Appendix G

Member of court ................... 35-11

Oath of .................................... 35-6

Questions, written ................... 35-7

Refusing to testify ........ 32-6, 35-12

Spouses ................................... 35-2

Who is competent ................... 35-1

Women in the Church

Assist deacons ........................... 9-7

Sessional oversight of ................. 12

Please use the remainder of this page for notes

and additional index entries that are of assistance to you.

Communicating these entries to the Stated Clerk’s Office would be appreciated.

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RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

With revisions adopted through the 47

General Assembly (2019)

Revisions to the following section were adopted in 2019:

RAO 11-5; 11-12; 13-2; 13-6 (struck); 16-4.a; 16-4.c.1; 16-4.d

Published by

The Office of the Stated Clerk

of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America

Distributed with The Book of Church Order by

Committee on Discipleship Ministries

1700 North Brown Road, Suite 102

Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043-8143

1-800-283-1357

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

PREFATORY STATEMENT

In keeping with the concept that the Bylaws are designed for the conduct

of Presbyterian Church in America (A Corporation) in regard to civil

matters, the Rules of Assembly Operations (RAO) is designed to serve the

General Assembly itself as an ecclesiastical organization. Therefore, care

should be taken that these Rules contain only that which is essential for

the biblical and efficient operation of the General Assembly

ecclesiastically.

by the Office of the Stated Clerk

of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

CONTENTS

ARTICLE I THE ORGANIZATION OF A GENERAL

ASSEMBLY’S MEETING

ARTICLE II THE MODERATOR

ARTICLE III THE STATED CLERK

ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

ARTICLE V ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ARTICLE VI PROGRAM COMMITTEES

ARTICLE VII THE COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES

COMMITTEE

ARTICLE VIII SPECIAL COMMITTEES

ARTICLE IX AD INTERIM COMMITTEES

ARTICLE X THE ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENTS

ARTICLE XI COMMUNICATIONS AND OVERTURES

ARTICLE XII REPORTS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ARTICLE XIII NEW BUSINESS

ARTICLE XIV COMMITTEES OF COMMISSIONERS FOR

PERMANENT COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

ARTICLE XV THE OVERTURES COMMITTEE

ARTICLE XVI REVIEW OF PRESBYTERY RECORDS

ARTICLE XVII STANDING JUDICIAL COMMISSION

ARTICLE XVIII ASSEMBLY EXPENSES

ARTICLE XIX PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

ARTICLE XX AMENDMENT OR SUSPENSION OF RULES

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RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION OF A GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S

MEETING

1-1. The General Assembly shall be called to order at the designated time

by the Moderator, and shall begin with a worship service, including a season

of prayer, a sermon or exhortation by the retiring Moderator, and the

celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

1-2. The Stated Clerk shall present a report on the enrollment of

commissioners, and declare if a quorum is present. If it is present, then the

Assembly shall be declared to be properly constituted for the transaction of

business.

1-3. The first order of business shall be the election of a Moderator. There

shall be only one nominating speech not to exceed five minutes for each

nominee. No seconding speeches shall be permitted.

1-4. If more than one commissioner is nominated, election shall be by

ballot, on ballots provided by the Stated Clerk. Tellers appointed by the Stated

Clerk shall gather and count the ballots, and report the tabulation to the Stated

Clerk. If no nominee receives a majority of the votes cast, a second ballot shall

be called on the two nominees who received the highest number of votes on

the first ballot. The Moderator shall declare an election when a nominee

receives a majority of the votes cast by the commissioners present and voting.

1-5. As soon as a Moderator shall have been declared elected he shall

assume his constitutional duties as Moderator

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ARTICLE II. THE MODERATOR

2-1. The Moderator shall preside at all sessions of the Assembly except

when he may invite another commissioner to act temporarily as the presiding

officer.

2-2. The Moderator shall call the succeeding Assembly to order and

preside over its sessions until a successor has been elected. Ordinarily he shall

present a retiring Moderator’s sermon or exhortation. If the Moderator is

unable to act, the Stated Clerk shall call the Assembly to order and preside

over its sessions until a Moderator has been elected.

2-3. Any former moderator attending a General Assembly shall have the

privilege of the floor.

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RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

ARTICLE III. THE STATED CLERK

3-1. The Stated Clerk shall perform the duties assigned by the Book of

Church Order, the Rules of Assembly Operations, and the Bylaws of the

Presbyterian Church in America, (A Corporation). The Stated Clerk shall

serve as chief administrative officer of the Administrative Committee of

General Assembly. As such, he shall be responsible, under the supervision and

subject to the direction of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly,

for carrying out and executing the appropriate duties and responsibilities of

said Committee. The Stated Clerk shall be authorized to employ, with the

approval of the Administrative Committee of General Assembly, a Business

Administrator. All other staff personnel for said Committee shall then be

employed by the Business Administrator with the approval and consent of the

Stated Clerk.

3-2. The Stated Clerk shall have the following responsibilities to the

General Assembly:

a. In his office as an elder he may, as appropriate, advise and

counsel, and upon invitation, preach and teach.

b. His duties are clerical, and as an ordained elder in the

denomination he has no special role as spiritual leader or teacher

to the denomination.

c. He shall be responsible for the recording of the transactions of

each General Assembly.

d. He shall carefully preserve all of the records of each General

Assembly.

e. He shall obtain and grant abstracts from the Assembly records

whenever properly required or requested.

f. He shall prepare and distribute a Commissioner Handbook so as

to reach commissioners one month prior to the convening of each

General Assembly.

g. He shall gather and assemble the items of business that come

before each Assembly and refer such items of business to the

proper committee or committees.

h. He shall be responsible for publishing the minutes and statistical

reports of the Presbyterian Church in America and periodically

updating the digest of the minutes.

i. He shall be the parliamentarian of the General Assembly but may

fulfill this function through the use of assistant parliamentarians

whom he recommends to the Moderator for his appointment.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

j. He shall be an ex officio member of the Committee on Interchurch

Relations.

k. He shall be available to give advice to the Boards and Agencies of

the Presbyterian Church in America if, as, and when so requested.

l. He shall be responsible for the oversight of the PCA Historical

Center for the preservation of the archives of the Presbyterian

Church in America.

m. Under the supervision of the Administrative Committee of

General Assembly, he shall propose the docket of the General

Assembly and shall be available to advise the General Assembly

on means to expedite and complete the business of the General

Assembly.

n. He shall be responsible for notifying all appropriate persons of the

decisions of the General Assembly.

o. He shall serve as the secretary and treasurer of the Presbyterian

Church in America (A Corporation).

p. He shall receive progress reports and/or minutes from the

committees appointed by the General Assembly, including special

committees.

q. He shall have the privilege of the floor in all matters pertaining to

his office at the General Assembly, to present necessary

information on business before the meeting concerning the work

and report of any committee on which he serves, and at such times

when the Moderator, the coordinators, the executive directors,

chairmen of Assembly Committees and Agencies (or their

designated representative), or any commissioner may request that

he clarify matters before the court.

r. He shall serve as custodian of the rolls of each General Assembly.

s. He shall be the correspondent with the lower courts of the church.

t. He shall be authorized to make public statements for and on behalf

of the denomination only insofar as such statements are warranted

on the basis of specific actions of the General Assembly.

3-3. The Stated Clerk shall have responsibility to the Administrative

Committee of General Assembly as follows:

a. He shall work under the supervision of the Administrative

Committee of General Assembly between the meetings of General

Assembly.

b. He shall perform such duties as the Administrative Committee of

General Assembly shall direct.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

c. He shall recommend a person to fill the office of business

administrator, such recommendation to be made to the

Administrative Committee of General Assembly. He shall

employ such business administrator, with the prior approval of

this Administrative Committee. The person filling the office of

business administrator shall be responsible directly to the Stated

Clerk, and through the business administrator the necessary

personnel and equipment shall be obtained and utilized -- all under

the overall oversight of the Administrative Committee of General

Assembly.

d. He shall make a full report to the Administrative Committee of

General Assembly each year pertaining to his assessment of and

evaluation of the performance by himself and those under his

supervision and control during the year, which full report shall be

submitted by this Administrative Committee to the General

Assembly. This Administrative Committee shall have the

responsibility of adding its comments, recommendations and

suggestions to such report which shall include an evaluation of the

performance of the person filling the office of the Stated Clerk.

3-4. The Administrative Committee of General Assembly has the

responsibility of nominating to the General Assembly the person to fill the

office of the Stated Clerk. Additional nominations may be made from the floor

of the Assembly through the regular process for additional nominations.

3-5. The qualifications for the person to fill the office of the Stated Clerk

shall be as follows:

a. He must be either a teaching or ruling elder in the Presbyterian

Church in America.

b. He must be conversant with the history and distinctives of the

Presbyterian and Reformed tradition and in particular of the

history and distinctives of the Presbyterian Church in America.

c. He must possess a competent knowledge of the Book of Church

Order of the Presbyterian Church in America.

d. He must have demonstrated managerial and organizational skills.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

e. He must be loyal to the standards of the Presbyterian Church in

America and be able to fairly represent the actions of each General

Assembly. He must be conversant with the breadth of Reformed

thinking in the Presbyterian Church in America and be able to

communicate with the members of the Presbyterian Church in

America and with representatives of other Reformed

denominations.

f. He must be able to work in a capable, sensitive manner with

persons who are in positions of responsibility in the Presbyterian

Church in America organization structure.

g. He must understand and be committed to the proposition set out

in BCO 14-1, 3: "The work of the Church as set forth in the Great

Commission is one work. . ." Therefore, such person must

recognize and be committed to implementing the important

principle of the interdependency of each court, Committee, and

Agency of the PCA.

h. He must have an appreciation of the whole church of the Lord

Jesus Christ as defined in BCO 1-3 and thus be able to work with

the leaders of all branches of this true Church.

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ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

4-1. The affairs and programs of the General Assembly shall be conducted

primarily through its permanent Committees and Agencies.

4-2. The permanent Committees are those specifically created by the Book

of Church Order:

Administrative Committee (AC)

Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM)

Mission to the World (MTW)

Mission to North America (MNA)

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)

The Administrative Committee shall function as a service committee to the

General Assembly and the denomination. The Committees on Discipleship

Ministries, Mission to North America, Mission to the World, and Reformed

University Fellowship shall be known as program Committees.

4-3. The Agencies are:

Covenant College (CC)

Covenant Theological Seminary (CTS)

PCA Foundation (PCAF)

PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc. (RBI)

Ridge Haven Conference Center (RH)

The relationship of the Agencies to the Assembly remains as a Committee,

although they may be incorporated separately for civil purposes. The

composition and responsibilities of the Agencies are set forth in the Bylaws.

4-4. The Special Committees are:

Constitutional Business, Committee on (CCB)

Cooperative Ministries Committee (CMC)

Interchurch Relations Committee (IRC)

Nominating Committee (NC)

Review of Presbytery Records, Committee on (RPR)

Theological Examining Committee (TEC)

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

4-5. The membership of Committees or Agencies shall be limited to the

constitutional provisions for the permanent Committees or Agencies (BCO 14-

1.12): namely, that those who have served for at least a full term, or at least

two years of a partial term on one of the Assembly’s permanent Committees

or Agencies shall not be eligible for re-election to an Assembly Committee or

Agency until one year has elapsed, unless provision has been approved by the

Agency bylaws. Nominations shall be handled according to the BCO 14-1.11.

These provisions shall not apply to ad interim committees, study committees

or other committees appointed.

4-6. No individual shall serve on more than one Assembly committee or

agency at one time, except those who serve as permanent Committee or

Agency representatives on the Administrative Committee of General

Assembly and those who serve on ad interim committees.

4-7. Employees of the Assembly’s Committees and Agencies are not

eligible for office on an Assembly’s Committee or Agency which administers

matters directly related to their area of employment.

4-8. The chief administrative officer of the Administrative Committee of

General Assembly shall be the Stated Clerk. The chief administrative officer

of the four program Committees shall be the coordinators and of the Agencies

shall be the executive directors or presidents.

4-9. The four program Committees shall nominate annually a coordinator

for election by the General Assembly. The Administrative Committee shall

nominate annually a Stated Clerk for election by the General Assembly. If the

nominee has not been examined by the Theological Examining Committee,

such an examination must take place prior to the election when it is a first time

employment. A new coordinator shall assume office at the end of the

Assembly meeting, or at such time thereafter as designated by the General

Assembly.

4-10. Permanent Committees and Agencies may appoint subcommittees for

specific tasks or areas of responsibility assigned by the General Assembly,

according to the following guidelines:

a. Membership of subcommittees may include persons not elected to

the permanent Committee or Agency, provided the subcommittee

chairman is a permanent Committee or Agency member.

b. All policies and procedures of a subcommittee must be approved

by the permanent Committee or Agency prior to implementation.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

c. The staff of a subcommittee is controlled by the permanent

Committee or Agency through its chief administrative officer.

4-11. The budget for each permanent Committee and Agency shall be

submitted to the Administrative Committee of General Assembly, which shall

independently evaluate the proposed budget of each permanent Committee and

Agency and report to the Assembly its considered opinion on the adoption. To

protect the ministry and fiduciary responsibilities of the Committees and

Agency Boards, the financial coordination and independent evaluation of the

budgets by the Administrative Committee shall be for review, discussion, and

recommendation to the Assembly.

Should modifications in budgets be deemed necessary by the Assembly,

special care shall be taken that changes not be made in such a way as to

threaten the continuity or effectiveness of the Committee’s or Agency’s

ministry. Budgets of permanent Committees and Agencies that are agreed

upon by the Administrative Committee may be changed only by a two-thirds

vote of the Assembly commissioners present and voting at the time the budget

is submitted for adoption. In the event the Administrative Committee

disagrees with the budget submitted by one of the Committees or Boards, in

whole or any item thereof, the General Assembly may adopt either the

Committee’s or Board’s budget or the Administrative Committee’s

recommended budget by simple majority. The requirement of a two-thirds

vote of the General Assembly applies only to changes not recommended by

the Administrative Committee, initiated on the floor of the Assembly. With

respect to the Committees and Agencies, financial coordination is through the

Administrative Committee to the Assembly and from the General Assembly

to the Committees and Agencies. The Administrative Committee is a “filter

upward” and has no downward authority.

The Administrative Committee shall annually provide and publish

guidelines for the Partnership Share Giving Program of the PCA, including the

Ministry Ask. These guidelines shall include statistical information expressed

both in per capita giving terms and in proportional (percentage) giving terms

to demonstrate the giving necessary to attain full funding for budgets of the

General Assembly Committees and Agencies.

The Committees and Agencies receiving support through the PCA

Partnership Share Giving Program shall present their financial needs and their

Ministry Ask to the Administrative Committee for review and

recommendation in the course of the regular budgeting process. Each

Committee and Agency shall then be free to request from the PCA churches

and constituency the contributions necessary to fund its approved budget.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

While all churches remain free to give their contributions as they by

God’s guidance determine, all churches are encouraged to give, as they are

able, at least ten percent (10%) of their tithes and offerings to the PCA causes

of presbyteries and General Assembly.

The Administrative Committee shall maintain a manual containing the

Affirmation of Core Financial Standards. This information, by which each PCA

General Assembly ministry (Committee or Agency) shall function and by

which the budget process is governed for each Committee and Agency, shall

be available to all constituencies.

4-12. All funds received by the Corporation that are designated for the

benefit of any particular permanent Committee or Agency shall be disbursed

by the treasurer to the proper Committee or Agency. There shall be no

equalization of funds so designated. Any funds received by the Corporation

not designated as being for the benefit of a particular permanent Committee or

Agency shall be distributed by the treasurer as directed by the General

Assembly.

4-13. Each permanent Committee or Agency, by resolution adopted by a

majority of its Committee or Board members, may designate the place, date,

and time for its regular meetings, which should be held as needed, but no less

than twice a year. Written or printed notice of such resolution should be given

to all Committee or Board members within a reasonable time after the adoption

thereof. Notice of the time, place or purpose of such regular meetings of the

permanent Committee or Board shall not be required to be given.

4-14. Special meetings of the permanent Committees and Agencies may be

called at any time or place by the chairman of the Committee or Board, or by

a majority of the Committee or Board members. Written notice stating the

place, date, and hour of such special meeting shall be delivered by the

chairman of the Committee or Board to each Committee or Board member at

least ten days prior to the date of such meetings, and such notice should specify

the purpose of such special meetings. Attendance of a Committee or Board

member at such a meeting will constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting.

The act of the majority of the Committee or Board members present at a

meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Committee or

Board.

4-15. A majority of a permanent Committee or Board shall constitute a

quorum.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

4-16. The chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and any other officers of each

permanent Committee or Agency shall be elected annually at the last regular

meeting of the Committee or Board prior to the meeting of the General

Assembly. Notice of this meeting shall include notice to the effect that these

elections shall take place.

4-17. In the event any administrative personnel employed by a Committee

or Agency and approved by the General Assembly resigns, dies, or is unable

to act, such Committee or Agency may employ a provisional replacement, who

has been examined and approved by the Assembly's Theological Examining

Committee, and who shall serve until the next General Assembly.

4-18. Chairmen of special committees (4-4), subcommittees, commissions

including the SJC, ad interim committees, and study committees (9-1 – 9-4 )

that are funded through the Administrative Committee or whose funds are

administered by the Administrative Committee, have the authority to call,

postpone, or cancel meetings. The Stated Clerk has the authority and

responsibility to notify the chairman that a meeting(s) to be held between

Assemblies will not be funded if the resources are not sufficient to meet the

General Assembly defined spending requirements. These requirements dictate

that Committee and Agency expenses not exceed income and reserve levels.

4-19. Copies of all permanent Committee and Agency meeting agendas and

minutes shall be sent, in a timely manner, to all chairmen and chief

administrative officers of the General Assembly permanent Committees and

Agencies.

4-20. All chairmen and chief administrative officers of the General

Assembly permanent Committees and Agencies (or their designees) shall be

given the opportunity to attend (at the expense of their respective permanent

Committee or Agency) any meeting of any permanent Committee or Agency.

4-21. Guidelines for Keeping Minutes of Permanent Committees and

Agencies of the General Assembly

a. The minutes of Assembly Committees and Agencies should be

kept either in a lock-type record book, with numbered pages, or

be printed, mimeographed, or otherwise reproduced.

b. The minutes should be typewritten or printed, or reproduced from

typewritten masters, and should be neat and legible.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

c. The opening paragraphs of the minutes should contain the

following information (which need not, however, be divided into

numbered or separate items):

1) The kind of meeting: regular, called, adjourned regular, or

adjourned called;

2) The name of the Committee or Agency;

3) The date and time of the meeting, and the place;

4) The name of the chairman, and if someone other than the

regular secretary served as a clerk pro-tem, his name should

be indicated;

5) If the minutes of the previous meeting were not approved at

that meeting, a record of their having been read and approved

by this session should be indicated, including the date of the

minutes being so approved.

6) The names of those present at the meeting should be recorded,

indicating whether they were teaching elders or ruling elders,

and the presbytery represented in each case. The names of

alternate elders and their respective churches should also be

included, and the names of visitors should be included.

d. The contents of the minutes should include the following items:

1) The names of persons leading in opening and closing prayers

at all sessions;

2) In the event of a called meeting, the portion of the call stating

the purpose of the meeting should be recorded verbatim in the

minutes;

3) A recording of the actions of the Committee or Board,

including all motions adopted and business transacted,

together with such additional information as the Committee or

Board deems desirable for historical purposes. Ordinarily in

church courts, motions that are lost are not included in the

record unless an affirmative vote for the lost motion is

recorded, in which case the lost motion must be shown. Each

main motion should normally be recorded in a separate

paragraph. Subsidiary and procedural motions may be

recorded in the same paragraph with the main motion to which

they pertain. Main motions may be recorded in the same

paragraph, if they are closely related and pertain to the same

item of business.

e. It may be desirable to number these paragraphs consecutively, and

to give a title over each paragraph indicating succinctly the

content of business included. This is not mandatory, but is

desirable for the later reading of the minutes. For historical

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

purposes, some notes as to the extent and kind of debate may be

included, but minutes should never reflect the secretary’s opinion,

favorable or otherwise, on anything said or done.

f. The minutes of the Committees and Boards should appear in the

minute book in the order in which the meetings occur. When a

previous action of the Committee or Board is cited, the date should

be given, and the volume and page and paragraph number.

g. The minutes of each meeting should be signed by the secretary.

h. The chief administrative officer, if there be one, and if not, the

chairman, shall be responsible for the custody of the minutes of

the Committee or Agency. He is responsible for the presentation

to the General Assembly for approval of all minutes of the

Committee or Agency which have been approved by the

Committee or Agency not previously approved by the General

Assembly. All other minutes of the Committee or Agency to

which specific reference is made in the minutes submitted to the

General Assembly for approval shall be submitted for purposes of

information.

i. A copy of the Guidelines for Keeping Committee or Agency

Minutes should be kept with the minutes of the Committee or

Agency.

j. An up-to-date copy of the bylaws and manual of the Committee

or Agency, if such exist, should be kept with the minutes.

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ARTICLE V. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

5-1. The Administrative Committee of General Assembly (AC) shall

consist of twenty (20) members:

a. Eleven members in classes elected through the standard

nomination and election procedure;

b. One member each from the following program Committees or

Agencies:

1) Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM);

2) Covenant College (CC);

3) Covenant Theological Seminary (CTS);

4) Mission to North America (MNA);

5) Mission to the World (MTW);

6) PCA Foundation (PCAF);

7) PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc (RBI);

8) Reformed University Fellowship (RUF);

9) Ridge Haven Conference Center (RH).

5-2. The eleven members at large shall serve a term of four years. The

chairman of the Administrative Committee shall be one of its members at

large.

5-3. Each program Committee and each Agency shall designate its member

each year at the last meeting of the Committee or Board before the meeting of

General Assembly. The chief administrative officers of the program

Committees and Agencies may attend any meeting of the Administrative

Committee. They shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but shall not

have a vote and must be excluded when an executive session is called.

5-4. In order to support the ministry of the Administrative Committee in

its unique role as a service committee to the to the General Assembly and to

the entire denomination, and in order to express financially a mutual

commitment to the theology of a spiritually connectional Church, Committees

and Agencies are directed, and particular churches and Teaching Elders are

encouraged, to contribute to the support of the Administrative Committee in

the following manner:

a. Each Committee and Agency of the General Assembly shall annually

contribute at an equal share to the operating budget of the

Administrative Committee. The General Assembly shall annually

determine the specific contribution to be given by each Committee or

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Agency based on a recommendation from the Administrative

Committee, not to exceed (in total) 5% of the budget of the

Administrative Committee. In a given year, should a Committee or

Agency have difficulty contributing its share, the Administrative

Committee may recommend to the Assembly a reduction for that

Committee or Agency, and so reduce the total contribution for that

year.

b. Particular churches are encouraged to contribute to the

Administrative Committee on an annual basis a percentage of their

operating budget. The General Assembly shall annually determine

the percentage of congregational operating budgets requested,

based on a recommendation from the Administrative Committee.

For the purpose of this provision, the operating budget shall be

defined as all funds received excepting those for capital campaign

expenditures.

c. All Teaching Elders are encouraged to pay an annual

“Administration Fee for Ministers.” The General Assembly shall

annually determine the Administration Fee for Ministers, based on

a recommendation from the Administrative Committee.

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ARTICLE VI. PROGRAM COMMITTEES

6-1. The Committee on Discipleship Ministries. The affairs of the

church in the areas of Christian education and publications are assigned to the

Committee on Discipleship Ministries, whose duties and authority shall be

designated by the General Assembly.

6-2. The Committee on Mission to North America. The affairs of the

church involved in its extension in the United States and Canada are assigned

to the Committee on Mission to North America, whose duties and authority

shall be designated by the General Assembly.

6-3. The Committee on Mission to the World. The affairs of the church

in the area of world missions outside of the United States and Canada are

assigned to the Committee on Mission to the World, whose duties and

authority shall be designated by the General Assembly.

6-4. The Committee on Reformed University Fellowship. The affairs

of the church in the area of campus ministry are assigned to the Committee on

Reformed University Fellowship, whose duties and authority shall be

designated by the General Assembly.

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ARTICLE VII. THE COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES COMMITTEE

7-1. Membership

a. The members of the Cooperative Ministries Committee shall be

the chairmen and chief administrative officers of the General

Assembly permanent Committees and Agencies.

b. The current Moderator and immediate past five moderators of the

General Assembly shall be advisory members, having six-year

terms.

7-2. Terms of office

a. The chairmen of the General Assembly permanent Committees

and Agencies shall serve as elected by their respective

Committees or Boards.

b. The chief administrative officers of the General Assembly

permanent Committees shall serve as elected by the General

Assembly and the chief administrative officers of Agencies shall

serve as elected by their respective Boards.

c. The Moderator shall begin service during the year he is elected by

the Assembly as Moderator.

d. Past moderators shall serve during six years following their

election by the Assembly as Moderator.

7-3. Responsibilities

a. Consider only such matters as enumerated below or such matters

as referred to it by the Committees and Agencies of the General

Assembly.

b. Meet together to foster cooperative ministry among Committees

and Agencies in accordance with the PCA purpose statement

adopted by the 10

Assembly in 1982, upon recommendation of

the Committee on Mission to the United States:

It is the purpose of the PCA to bring glory to God as a

worshipping and serving community until the nations in

which we live are filled with churches that make Jesus

Christ and His Word their chief joy, and the nations of the

world, hearing the Word are discipled in obedience to the

Great Commission.

c. Facilitate integrated long-range planning that supports progress

toward the overall mission and ministry of the PCA. Such

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planning shall be with respect to matters that fall within the

ordinary scope of the respective responsibilities of the PCA’s

Committees and Agencies, particularly with a view toward the

mission of the PCA as a whole. Any matters requiring General

Assembly action shall come to the General Assembly through

overtures from the lower courts.

d. Keep minutes of the meetings and distribute them to all chief

administrative officers and chairmen.

e. Establish appropriate subcommittees to deal with specific issues

as they are identified.

f. Send recommendations to chief administrative officers and their

respective Committees or Boards. Encourage them to deal with

the issues presented to them, and if necessary, for them to meet

together to resolve issues.

g. Monitor and evaluate the standards of effectiveness and efficiency

of permanent Committees and Agencies in light of the unique

ministry of each Committee or Agency, with particular attention

to inter-Committee-and-Agency communication, collaboration,

and cooperation.

h. Serve as a forum for resolving issues of inter-agency cooperation,

collaboration or conflict.

7-4. Meetings

a. Frequency – The committee shall have an annual meeting in

January, and other called meetings as necessary. The moderator

of the Cooperative Ministries Committee shall call a special

meeting of the committee when requested by the chief

administrative officers or chairmen of two Committees or

Agencies. There shall be thirty days advance notice of called

meetings. The moderator of the Cooperative Ministries

Committee shall call an emergency meeting of the committee

when requested by the chief administrative officers or chairmen

of three Committees or Agencies. There shall be seven days

advance notice of emergency meetings.

b. Moderator – The current Moderator of the General Assembly or

his designee shall moderate the meetings of the Cooperative

Ministries Committee.

c. Docket – The Stated Clerk shall be the secretary of the committee

for the purposes of maintaining the committee’s records, receiving

matters for the agenda from all committee members, working with

the moderator of the committee to

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propose the agenda at each meeting of the committee, and to

prepare the annual informational report to the General Assembly.

7-5. Appeal to the Administrative Committee for Unresolved Matters

In the event any matter considered by the Cooperative Ministries

Committee has not been satisfactorily resolved within the committee,

the matter may be referred to the Administrative Committee.

a. Any member of the Cooperative Ministries Committee may

request the advisory members to refer a matter arising from the

committee to the Administrative Committee.

b. A request shall be referred to the Administrative Committee only

if a majority of the advisory members of the Cooperative

Ministries Committee agree to make the reference to the

Administrative Committee by:

1) Giving notice of an intent to make the reference to the

chairman within three (3) business days after adjournment

and;

2) Submitting the reference signed and in writing to the Office

of the Stated Clerk at least thirty-five (35) business days prior

to the spring meeting of the Administrative Committee.

c. The committee by its own action may bring a matter arising from

the committee to the Administrative Committee.

d. Matters referred from the committee or the majority of advisory

members shall be considered by the Administrative Committee

only at its stated spring meeting.

e. The six advisory members of the Cooperative Ministries

Committee may attend the Administrative Committee meeting or

Administrative Committee subcommittee meetings when issues

referred to the Administrative Committee from the Cooperative

Ministries Committee are being addressed.

f. The chairmen, chief administrative officers, and immediate past

chairmen of the General Assembly permanent Committees and

Agencies or their designees may attend the Administrative

Committee meeting or Administrative Committee subcommittee

meetings when issues referred to the Administrative Committee

from the Cooperative Ministries Committee are being addressed.

g. The Administrative Committee may not act upon matters that are

solely within the specified areas of responsibility of the

Cooperative Ministries Committee until such matters are properly

referred to the Administrative Committee in order for the

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Administrative Committee to facilitate discussion and resolution

of such matters.

7-6. Reporting Process – The Cooperative Ministries Committee shall

submit an annual report to the General Assembly, but any recommendations

to the Assembly must come as set forth in 7-3.c.

7-7. Funding – The funding of the committee shall be as follows:

a. All travel and other expenses for each chief administrative officer

and chairman shall be borne by the respective Committee or

Agency.

b. All travel and other expenses of the advisory members shall be

shared equally by the Committees and Agencies.

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ARTICLE VIII. SPECIAL COMMITTEES

8-1. Interchurch Relations Committee

There shall be an Interchurch Relations Committee composed of three teaching

elders and three ruling elders who may serve two consecutive, three-year terms

of office. There shall be a ruling elder and a teaching elder to serve as

alternates.

The committee shall serve as liaison between the Presbyterian Church in

America and other denominations and church councils as approved by the

Assembly.

8-2. The Committee on Constitutional Business

a. There shall be a Committee on Constitutional Business composed

of eight members divided into four classes of two members each

serving four-year terms. Each class shall be composed of one

teaching elder and one ruling elder. There shall be one teaching

elder and one ruling elder to serve as alternates.

b. The Committee on Constitutional Business shall:

1) Function as advisor to the Stated Clerk when requested by

him. Such advice shall be for information only and without

binding authority.

2) Receive from the Stated Clerk all non-judicial references

submitted by presbyteries under BCO 41-1 and 41-4, and, if it

accedes to the request, give its advice to the presbytery

sending the non-judicial reference. Such advice shall be for

information only and without binding authority or precedent

but shall be included as a part of the annual report of the Stated

Clerk to the General Assembly.

3) Provide advice concerning the effect of any proposed

amendment to the Constitution or to the Rules of Assembly

Operations. Such advice shall be included in the report of the

committee as printed in the Commissioner Handbook, and

shall be presented orally to the Overtures Committee at the

time the proposed amendment is considered by the Overtures

Committee. Upon so advising the Overtures Committee, the

Committee on Constitutional Business’s responsibility with

respect to such proposed amendment shall cease.

4) Advise the Overtures Committee on any constitutional inquiry

submitted to it by the Overtures Committee.

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5) Report directly to the General Assembly on all constitutional

inquiries submitted to it by the General Assembly.

c. The Committee on Constitutional Business shall not be separately

funded but administratively shall operate as a subcommittee of the

Administrative Committee of General Assembly.

8-3. Theological Examining Committee

In accordance with BCO 14-1.14 there shall be a Theological Examining

Committee composed of three teaching elders and three ruling elders of three

classes of two men each. There shall also be one teaching elder and one ruling

elder as alternates to fill any vacancy that may occur during the year.

This committee shall conduct its work as specified in BCO 14-1.14.

Furthermore this committee shall record all nominees’ differences to our

denominational standards in their own words, as set forth in RAO 16-3.e.5.

Those differences shall be included in this committee’s annual report which is

submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

8-4. Nominating Committee

The Assembly’s Nominating Committee shall operate under the following

guidelines:

a. Every member of the Nominating Committee should make a

reasonable effort to attend the next General Assembly.

b. The Nominating Committee should be reminded of paragraph

BCO 14-1.9 regarding proportionate representation wherever

possible.

c. No presbytery shall ordinarily be represented by more than one

person nominated for any given Committee or Agency. This

includes alternates.

d. A typed biographical form must accompany each name submitted

to the Nominating Committee. All nominees should be contacted

by their presbyteries to ascertain their availability and willingness

to serve prior to submission of names to General Assembly’s

Nominating Committee.

e. Presbyteries should send names of nominees on forms to the

Stated Clerk’s office no later than four months prior to the General

Assembly. The Stated Clerk will then make the forms available

to the convener of the Nominating Committee.

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f. A list of members, by presbytery, currently serving on the

permanent Committees and Agencies should be furnished to the

convener of the Nominating Committee by the Stated Clerk. The

Directory of the current Assembly Committees should indicate the

presbytery of each Committee or Agency member.

g. “In addition to the new nominees from presbyteries, alternates not

assuming any vacancies during a year will be automatically

considered by the Nominating Committee as candidates for

nomination to that same committee” (BCO 14-1.11).

h. The committee shall present its nominations to the Assembly

through the Commissioner Handbook or Supplement. This

presentation shall include a brief statement regarding each

nominee.

i. Additional nominations may be submitted either (1) in writing or

(2) electronically, in either case on forms supplied by the Stated

Clerk, which shall include consent of the nominee to serve, if

elected, and a brief statement regarding the nominee. In the event

that a nomination is submitted electronically, the nominator

should be aware that responsibility for such nomination rests with

the nominator and that non-delivery is the sole responsibility of

the nominator. Because the nominator has sole responsibility for

delivery of a nomination, the nominator should obtain a receipt

verifying successful electronic delivery of the nomination. The

nominee is to give consent to only one nomination. In the event

that the nominee is nominated for more than one position, the

nominee may indicate to which nomination the nominee consents.

The deadline for these nominations is the close of the afternoon

session of the first day of the Assembly. The Clerk’s office shall issue

a supplement to the Assembly’s Nominating Committee report

during the second day’s business sessions.

j. The time for the election shall be docketed as a special order. Only

those commissioners present or on the floor of the Assembly shall

be eligible to vote. The voting procedures may be conducted

either by voice vote or by standing vote, or by use of ballots as

determined by the General Assembly.

k. In the event of the resignation of any member of an Assembly

elected Committee or Agency, such resignation should be

presented to the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General

Assembly. The Stated Clerk, shall, after consultation with the

chairman of the respective Committee or Board, be authorized to

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accept such resignation on behalf of the Assembly. He is to report

such actions to the next General Assembly, and arrange for the

nomination of a replacement by the Assembly’s Nominating

Committee, where such replacement is appropriate.

8-5. Committee on Review of Presbytery Records

a. The Committee on Review of Presbytery Records shall be

comprised of one representative from each presbytery elected by

the presbytery in the manner set forth in BCO 14-1.11 for the

election of the Nominating Committee. A person who is serving

as a member of or on the staff of one of the permanent or special

committees, or boards of the General Assembly shall be eligible

to serve on this committee.

b. The committee shall be scheduled to meet prior to the opening

session of the Assembly.

c. A chairman and vice-chairman for the following year shall be

elected by the committee from members who shall be serving in

at least the second year of their term.

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ARTICLE IX. AD INTERIM COMMITTEES

9-1. The Assembly may elect or appoint ad interim or study committees of

a temporary character to handle particular matters of business as designated by

the Assembly.

9-2. Recommendations for the appointment of ad-interim or study

committees shall arise only by way of overtures from Presbyteries, which shall

be submitted to the Overtures Committee for recommendations to the General

Assembly.

9-3. Only two (2) ad interim study committees may be appointed or

continued in any given year, (with no committee continuing with undesignated

Administrative Committee funding beyond the third year of its inception and

no more than two [2] committees existing in any one [1] year), and any

additional committees would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of

commissioners, with financing provided from outside the Administrative

Committee budget.

9-4. The total number of committee members per committee is not to

exceed seven (7) members. Each committee’s appointment and/or extension

must be ratified by a majority vote of the commissioners.

9-5. All ad interim and study committees shall be considered by the

General Assembly for appointment or extension at the time during the General

Assembly docket of the Administrative Committee’s report so that due

consideration be given as to their priority and their effect on the budgets.

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ARTICLE X. THE ASSEMBLY ARRANGEMENTS

10-1. There shall be a General Assembly Local Arrangements Committee,

which shall function under the Administrative Committee. Final approval of

all decisions regarding the Assembly shall rest in the Administrative

Committee. The Assembly’s Administrative Committee and the Local

Arrangements Committee shall operate under a Manual approved by the

Administrative Committee.

10-2. The Local Arrangements Committee shall be composed of the

following:

a. The chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee, who is

appointed by the host presbytery.

b. The treasurer of the local committee

c. Other members of the local committee as set forth in the General

Assembly Arrangements Manual.

d. The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.

e. The business administrator of the Administrative Committee.

10-3. Worship services shall be included as approved by the Assembly. The

Administrative Committee must approve any non-PCA speaker.

10-4. The Administrative Committee shall set a suitable registration fee,

subject to the approval of the General Assembly.

10-5. The Administrative Committee must approve any non-PCA exhibitors

in accordance with the following:

Guidelines for Displays at the Assembly.

Subject to space available, priorities for exhibitors will be as follows:

a. Committees and Agencies of the Presbyterian Church in America,

including agencies or institutions with which they have formally,

through their minutes, established a working relationship;

b. Agencies or institutions with which the General Assembly,

through its minutes has established a working relationship;

c. Agencies and institutions which in the opinion of the Committee

have objectives, policies, or programs in general conformity with

those of the Presbyterian Church in America;

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A disclaimer statement should be printed in the Commissioner

Handbook distributed to all commissioners, stating in effect that

permission granted to place an exhibit does not mean the Presbyterian

Church in America necessarily fully endorses the exhibitor’s product,

services, or objectives. These guidelines are to serve as the ordinary

guidelines. If the Administrative Committee feels that an exception

must be made, it has the authority to do so, and is to report such actions

and the reasons to the next Assembly.

10-6. In case of extraordinary events occurring or unusual circumstances

arising that make it impractical for the General Assembly to hold its annual

stated meeting on the dates or at the site previously approved by the Assembly,

the Moderator with the Administrative Committee shall be authorized, upon

the recommendation of the Stated Clerk and Moderator, to make alternative

arrangements.

10-7. The Administrative Committee shall be authorized to take the

initiative to investigate and recommend to the General Assembly sites for the

annual meeting of the General Assembly, and to that end, the Administrative

Committee shall be authorized to suggest to presbyteries their hosting the

annual meeting of the General Assembly.

10-8. Ordinarily the Administrative Committee will bring General

Assembly sites before the Assembly for approval before any contracts are

finalized. However, the Administrative Committee shall be authorized to

finalize contracts with hotels and convention centers before obtaining General

Assembly approval when circumstances arise wherein the Administrative

Committee approves the site, the presbytery (or presbyteries) has/have agreed

to host the Assembly, good facilities at favorable rates are available, and the

opportunity may be lost if a delay in finalizing the contract must await

approval at the next General Assembly.”

10-9. In order to assist more Presbyteries to host the annual meeting of the

General Assembly, each Presbytery is encouraged to contribute to the

Administrative Committee annually an amount determined by the General

Assembly. The Administrative Committee shall annually recommend to the

Assembly the amount of the requested Presbytery contribution. The

Administrative Committee will make such designated gifts available to the

Local Arrangements Committee of host Presbyteries.

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

ARTICLE XI. COMMUNICATIONS AND OVERTURES

11-1. A communication to the General Assembly is formal correspondence

received by the Stated Clerk from other churches, from interchurch agencies

to which this church may be related, from committees of this church on matters

which can not be included in regular reports, from presbyteries, and from

organized bodies outside the Church proper having business with the General

Assembly.

11-2. Communications from individuals shall not be received by the General

Assembly, unless they originate with persons who have no other access to the

Assembly. If the Assembly desires to receive and consider any such

communications, other than as information, the Stated Clerk shall recommend

reference to the proper Assembly committee. Letters, telegrams, or telephone

calls from communicants or congregations of the Presbyterian Church in

America are not proper communications, and are not to be received by the

Assembly.

11-3. The Stated Clerk shall recommend to the Assembly reference for all

proper communications.

11-4. An overture ordinarily is the request of a presbytery for action by the

General Assembly upon a specific matter.

11-5. Upon receipt the Stated Clerk shall refer all overtures requesting

amendment of the Book of Church Order or the Rules of Assembly Operations

to the Committee on Constitutional Business for its advice to the Overtures

Committee. Upon receipt, the Stated Clerk shall forward all overtures

concerning presbytery boundaries or a new presbytery to the permanent

Committee on Mission to North America. Any overture, other than an overture

proposing amendment to the Constitution (which shall be referred to the

Committee on Constitutional Business for its advice to the Overtures

Committee), having to do with the nature or responsibilities of a permanent

Committee or Agency shall be referred by the Clerk to the appropriate

permanent Committee or Agency or ad interim committee. All other overtures

shall be referred to the Overtures Committee. An overture proposing

amendment to the Constitution shall be referred only to the Overtures

Committee for consideration and recommendation; such an overture, however,

may be referred to other Committees of Commissioners, other permanent

Committees or Agencies, or other ad interim committees for advice only, to

the Overtures Committee. All overtures shall be published in the

Commissioner Handbook with reference for consideration indicated.

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

11-6. All overtures requiring references to the Committee on Constitutional

Business shall be delivered by at least sixty (60) days prior to the opening of

the General Assembly to the Stated Clerk in order to be referred to the

committee. No overture requiring reference to the permanent Committee on

Constitutional Business received later than sixty (60) days prior to the opening

of the General Assembly by the Stated Clerk shall be referred or considered

by the General Assembly convening in that year.

11-7. All other overtures shall be delivered to the Stated Clerk at least ninety

(90) days prior to the opening of the General Assembly in order to be included

in the Commissioner Handbook for the next meeting of the General Assembly.

11-8. Overtures received after the Commissioner Handbook is published,

and at least one (1) month (31 days) prior to the opening of the General

Assembly shall be reported to the Assembly by the Stated Clerk, together with

reference.

11-9. No overtures received by the Stated Clerk less than one month prior

to the opening of the meeting of the General Assembly shall be referred to or

considered by the General Assembly convening in that year. An overture

proposed by a commissioner to the General Assembly during its proceedings

shall be treated as new business (cf. 13-1, 13-2).

11-10. No overture will be considered by the General Assembly until it first

has been presented to a presbytery. If approved by the presbytery, it will come

before the Assembly as the overture of that court. An overture requested by

an individual communicant, a teaching elder, or a session, but rejected by the

presbytery, may be presented to the Assembly, provided the fact that it was

rejected by the presbytery is clearly stated with the overture.

11-11. All communications or overtures which propose or request that

General Assembly appoint a study committee for any purpose shall contain as

a part of the request or proposal a statement of the maximum amount to be

budgeted for the study committee (see 9-2).

11-12. No communication or overture shall be received that seeks to

memorialize someone.

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ARTICLE XII. REPORTS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

12-1. The permanent Committees and Agencies, special committees, and ad

interim committees of the Assembly shall make annual reports, which shall be

transmitted to the Stated Clerk by at least ninety (90) days prior to the opening

of the General Assembly. The Stated Clerk shall refer these reports to the

relevant committee of commissioners for their review and recommendation to

the General Assembly (cf. 14-6; 14-7). The Nominating Committee, the

Committee on Review of Presbytery Records, the Standing Judicial

Commission, the Committee on Constitutional Business, and ad interim

committees shall report directly to the General Assembly without reference to

a committee of commissioners. However, all recommendations proposing

amendment to the Constitution shall be referred to the Overtures Committee for their

review and recommendation to the General Assembly under the rules governing a

committee of commissioners as applicable (RAO 14-6.d.-k.; 14-7.c.-d.; 14-9.d.-h.).

12-2. Presentations informing the Assembly of the work reported by the

permanent Committees and Agencies shall be limited to fifteen (15) minutes.

12-3. All other business brought to the General Assembly shall be referred

to a committee of commissioners.

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

ARTICLE XIII. NEW BUSINESS

13-1. Any matter presented in any form which has not been received by the

Stated Clerk prior to the opening of the General Assembly shall be treated as

new business.

13-2. New business must be presented to the General Assembly before the

recess of the afternoon session on the first day of business, and if it was not

first presented as an overture to a Presbytery, the proposal must include an

explanation for why it was not. If received by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the

commissioners present and voting, it shall be referred by the Stated Clerk to

the appropriate committee of commissioners. No proposed amendment to the

Constitution shall be received as new business. No proposal that seeks to

memorialize someone shall be received as new business.

13-3. The appropriate committee shall receive and consider all such

references, deliberate, and report to the Assembly in compliance with the

directions of these Rules.

13-4. All matters introduced as new business, if received, and touching on

constitutional matters, including requested rulings by the Moderator on

questions of order involving constitutional questions, shall be referred in

writing to the Committee on Constitutional Business for consideration.

13-5. The Committee on Constitutional Business shall consider each such

constitutional matter referred to it, and make recommendation directly to the

Assembly.

13-6. [Struck in its entirety]

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ARTICLE XIV. COMMITTEES OF COMMISSIONERS FOR

PERMANENT COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

14-1. Committees of commissioners shall review the report and

recommendations of their assigned permanent Committees or Agencies or

special committee:

Title Committee/Agency Review Matters

Touching

1. Administrative Permanent Committee Administration

Committee

2. Committee on Permanent Committee Christian education

Discipleship Ministries and publications

3. Covenant College Agency Covenant College

4. Covenant Seminary Agency Covenant Seminary

5. Interchurch Relations Special Committee Comity, cooperation,

relations to other churches

6. Mission to North Permanent Committee Home missions

America

7. Mission to the World Permanent Committee World missions

8. PCA Foundation Agency PCA Foundation

9. PCA Retirement & Agency Retirement, insurance, &

Benefits, Inc. ministerial relief

10. Reformed University Permanent Committee Reformed University

Fellowship Fellowship

11. Ridge Haven Agency Ridge Haven

14-2. Each presbytery shall, prior to the meeting of the Assembly, elect one

of its commissioners to each of these committees of commissioners (cf. 14-1),

dividing them as to ruling and teaching elders by a formula established by the

Stated Clerk. In the event that presbytery does not have sufficient teaching

elders to supply the committees thus assigned, the presbytery may, at its own

discretion, elect ruling elders to these committees (or vice versa, may elect

teaching elders for insufficient ruling elders). In the event that presbytery is

not able to supply members for all the committees, the presbytery may select

the committees to which they wish to appoint representatives. Commissioners

serving on permanent Committees or Agencies or sub-committees of the

Assembly or the staffs thereof are not eligible to serve on any of these

committees of commissioners. For the purpose of defining those ineligible for

service in committees of commissioners, permanent Committee or Agency

“staff” is to be understood as persons required to be examined by the

Theological Examining Committee (BCO 14-1.12.) and all permanent

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Committee and Agency support personnel. All commissioners should bear in

mind Robert’s Rules of Order regarding abstaining from voting on a question

of direct personal interest (RRO § 45).

14-3. Minutes of the permanent Committee or Agency shall be submitted to

the committee of commissioners for review. Copies of the minutes shall be

sent by the Stated Clerk to the members of committees of commissioners one

month prior to the opening of the General Assembly.

14-4. The conveners of the committees shall be designated by the Moderator.

14-5. Committees may be scheduled to meet prior to the opening session of

the Assembly to handle the business referred by the Stated Clerk, as published

in the Commissioner Handbook.

14-6. The committees of commissioners shall proceed as follows:

a. At the proper time each committee shall assemble in its assigned

room, elect a chairman and a secretary, review material in hand,

appoint sub-committees as may be necessary, and begin its work.

Before the work of the committee begins, the committee of

commissioners chairman shall call on the Coordinator or Chairman

of the permanent Committee or Agency or his designee to report

on the work of that body and field questions or discussion from

the committee of commissioners.

b. Each committee shall be available to reconvene to consider

additional references that may come from the floor of the

Assembly.

c. Meetings of a committee of commissioners shall ordinarily be

open to the public as non-participating visitors, to the extent made

possible by the physical facilities of the available meeting room.

If such visitors desire the committee to consider a proposal on

some item of business that is before the committee, this must be

presented in writing.

d. Only business referred to a committee of commissioners by the

Stated Clerk may be considered. Proposed amendments to

recommendations must be germane according to Robert’s Rules.

[Editor’s Note: This rule defines germane according to the

definition stated in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 10th

ed., §12 (pp. 129-30).]

e. The chairman and representatives of the permanent Committees

and Agencies, and the coordinator and appropriate staff members

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shall be available for consultation with the committee of

commissioners reviewing their work. If a substitute recom-

mendation is made by the committee of commissioners during its

work of review, the permanent Committee or Agency staff

members should be consulted before the committee's report is

adopted and shall remain available for consultation throughout the

committee of commissioners meeting, including when the

committee goes into executive session.

f. After a committee of commissioners has received input from the

permanent Committee, coordinator, staff members, and visitors, it

should then go into executive session as it frames and adopts its

report to the General Assembly. It must be in executive session

when it actually adopts the report.

g. When necessary for the performance of its duties, a committee of

commissioners may, by a majority of those present and voting,

invite other persons to address the committee.

h. A committee of commissioners may, by a majority of those

present and voting, adopt a recommendation to be offered to the

Assembly as a substitute (cf. Robert’s Rules of Order, §12, pp.

149-54) for a recommendation of a permanent Committee or

Agency (cf. RAO 14-8.g). Should a recommendation of a

permanent Committee or Agency be properly liable to division, a

committee of commissioners may, by a two thirds (2/3) vote of

those present and voting, divide the recommendation. A minority

report from a committee of commissioners shall not be permitted.

i. Upon the adoption of a proposed substitute recommendation, the

chairman of a committee of commissioners shall provide written

notice to the Office of the Stated Clerk within one hour of any

recess or adjournment of the committee following the adoption of

said recommendation. The Office of the Stated Clerk shall inform

the chairman of the permanent Committee or Agency of such

notice as soon as practicable. The printed substitute

recommendation must be presented to the chairman of the

permanent Committee or Agency as soon as practicable, but in no

case less than fifteen (15) minutes before the recommendation in

question is brought to the floor.

j. Any recommendation affecting the budgets of the Assembly or the

Assembly’s Committees and Agencies shall be referred to the

committee of commissioners on Administrative Committee.

k. By majority vote the committee of commissioners may adopt

recommendations commending coordinators, staff, Committees

and/or Agencies for their efforts.

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14-7. The report of a committee of commissioners shall be brief and concise.

It shall include the following:

a. A list of all items referred to and considered by the committee.

b. A statement of the issues discussed.

c. A report of all recommendations contained in a Committee or

Agency report under consideration, and any recommendation to

be offered as a substitute for the permanent Committee or

Agency’s recommendation, with any rationale approved by the

committee of commissioners.

d. A statement of the division of the vote on every recommendation

made by the committee.

e. Reference to overtures by number with brief statement of content

and recommended answer. Amendments to the original overture

shall be reported and explained. Deference should be shown to

the intent of the body presenting the overture.

f. Reference to communications by number with brief statement of

content and recommended answer.

g. Only such portions of narrative sections of the printed reports as

are necessary to make the report of the committee of

commissioners intelligible.

h. A note that the audit of the reporting Committee or Agency has

been received and that the Committee or Agency is taking any

necessary action on any recommendation of its audits.

i. Where a study committee is proposed in any communication or

overture, a statement of the maximum amount that is to be

budgeted for the study committee.

j. The findings of the committee with respect to the minutes of the

relevant permanent Committee or Agency (cf. 14-11).

14-8. The completed report of a committee of commissioners shall contain

the full text of the report and shall be handled as follows:

a. Committee of commissioners sends report to Stated Clerk’s Office

in the manner prescribed by the Clerk.

b. Stated Clerk’s Office staff processes report for publication.

c. Committee of commissioners’ chairman or his designee presents

report to the Assembly, the text having been made available in

sufficient time that commissioners may read the entire report

before acting upon it. Any change ordered by the Assembly shall

be noted in the permanent records of the Assembly.

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d. The full report, as adopted by the Assembly, shall be included in

the permanent records of the Assembly.

14-9. Presentation of the Report of Permanent Committees and Agencies

through Their Respective Committees of Commissioners, to the

General Assembly

a. The informational report or portions of that report of a permanent

Committee or Agency shall be presented to the General Assembly

by the permanent Committee or Agency chairman or his designee.

b. No report printed in the Commissioner Handbook shall be read in

full to the Assembly.

c. After whatever informational presentation there may be (cf. 12-2),

the chairman of the committee of commissioners shall be called

upon to present the committee of commissioners’ report.

d. The chairman of the committee of commissioners or his designee

shall move each recommendation in turn, offering an explanation

of the motion and the committee’s rationale. The Moderator may

put to the Assembly in gross all recommendations passed by the

committee, unless there is objection from the floor to the inclusion

of specific recommendation(s), in which case such

recommendation(s) shall be voted upon separately.

e. A recommendation shall be considered under the standard rules

governing debate, but Subsidiary Motions (RRO VI) to Postpone

Indefinitely, to Amend, to Commit, and to Limit Debate; and

Incidental Motions (RRO VIII) to Divide a Question, to Consider

Seriatim, and Constitutional Inquiries, shall not be permitted. A

motion to Recommit shall be permitted, but a motion to Recommit

With Instructions shall not be permitted.

f. Recommendations recommitted may be considered and reported

by the committee of commissioners to that General Assembly, or

may be referred to the permanent Committee or Agency for report

to the following General Assembly (cf. 12-1).

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g. Should a recommendation proposing an answer to an overture in

the affirmative fail to be adopted, the overture shall be considered

to have been answered in the negative. Should a recommendation

proposing an answer to an overture in the negative fail to be

adopted, the overture by that action shall be recommitted to the

committee of commissioners.

h. If a committee of commissioners offers a substitute for a

recommendation of a permanent Committee or Agency, the

substitute shall be presented to the Assembly as follows:

1) The chairman of the permanent Committee or Agency or his

designee shall have ten (10) minutes to move the

recommendation and present the argument of the Committee;

the chairman of the committee of commissioners or his

designee shall have fifteen (15) minutes to move the substitute

and present the argument of the committee; the same

representative of the permanent Committee or Agency shall

have five (5) minutes to reply to the committee of

commissioners;

2) Consideration of the substitute and the main motion shall be as

above (d-e).

3) Debate on the main motion and the substitute shall be limited

to a total of sixty (60) minutes unless extended. When the

allotted time has elapsed the Moderator shall put the question

to the Assembly: "Will the Assembly extend the time on the

question ten (10) minutes?" A simple majority shall extend

the time; otherwise the Moderator shall put the question or

questions as the case may be. If time is extended, the question

of extension shall again be put every succeeding ten (10)

minutes until the matter is concluded. Each Commissioner

shall be limited to five (5) minutes on the same question unless

the Court by a simple majority grants additional time.

14-10. No partial report of a committee of commissioners shall be presented

without the consent of the Assembly.

14-11. Guidelines for Examining Committee and Agency Minutes

a. Minutes of Assembly Committees and Agencies shall be

examined for conformity to:

1) The primary and secondary standards of the church, as to

substance of the actions recorded;

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

2) The Assembly’s Guidelines for Keeping Minutes of

Permanent Committees of the General Assembly, as to form,

structure, and minimum content (4-21); and

3) Appropriate standards as to the use of the English language.

b. Each set of Committee or Agency minutes should be read by at

least two members of the committee of commissioners;

c. The committee may divide its work so that two or more members

examine them primarily as to form, and two or more members

may examine them primarily as to substance.

d. The findings of the committee with respect to the minutes of each

permanent Committee or Agency shall be reported under the

following categories as appropriate:

1) Notations: Typographical errors, misspellings, improper

punctuation, non-prejudicial misstatements of fact, etc., may

be reported under this category. Also failures to provide

proper or sufficient information or identification, etc., may be

reported under this category.

2) Exceptions: Violations of the Assembly’s Guidelines for

Keeping Minutes of Permanent Committees of the General

Assembly, prejudicial misstatements of fact, and actions

which in substance appear not to conform to the Standards of

the Presbyterian Church in America, or to be out of accord

with the deliverances of the General Assembly, should be

reported under this category.

e. The committee shall prepare a report concerning the minutes of

the permanent Committee or Agency. The filling out of a form,

designed for the purpose for each committee, shall meet the

requirement for this section. After action by the Assembly, one

copy of the report shall be sent by the Stated Clerk to the

permanent Committee or Agency. A second copy shall be

retained by the Stated Clerk in a permanent file. A third copy shall

be kept in the records of the committee of commissioners, which

shall be maintained in a suitable binder. The custody of the

records of the committee shall be the responsibility of the Stated

Clerk in the period between the General Assemblies.

f. Notations and exceptions in a Committee’s or Agency’s report

shall be disposed of as follows:

1) Notations shall normally be sent to the Committee or Agency

by the Stated Clerk without being read before the General

Assembly or recorded in its Minutes.

2) Exceptions shall be read before the Assembly, recorded in its

Minutes, and disposed of as the Assembly determines.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

3) The Assembly shall adopt an appropriate motion with respect

to the minutes of each permanent Committee or Agency, the

following being examples:

a) That the minutes of the Committee of be

approved without exception (show dates of minutes being

approved);

b) That the minutes of the Committee of be approved

with the exceptions noted (show dates of minutes being

approved).

g. The permanent Committee or Agency shall take note in its

minutes of exceptions taken by the Assembly, together with the

corrections or explanations adopted by the committee to rectify

them. Committees or Agencies shall advise the next General

Assembly of the disposition they have made of the exceptions.

h. Reports to the Assembly from the permanent Committees and

Agencies concerning disposition of exceptions taken by the past

Assembly shall normally be referred to the relevant committee of

commissioners.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

ARTICLE XV. THE OVERTURES COMMITTEE

15-1. The Overtures Committee shall consider and make recommendation

upon all overtures or recommendations (cf. RAO 12-1.) proposing amendment

to the Constitution, and all other overtures referred by the Stated Clerk.

15-2. Each presbytery shall, prior to the meeting of each General Assembly,

elect to the Overtures Committee one teaching elder and one ruling elder from

among its registered commissioners to the General Assembly. Unless

approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of his presbytery, no commissioner shall

serve on the Overtures Committee for more than two (2) consecutive

Assemblies. It is recommended that, where necessary, the presbytery

underwrite the expenses of its representatives to the Overtures Committee.

15-3. The Overtures Committee shall meet immediately preceding the

General Assembly in sufficient time, as determined by the Stated Clerk, for

the committee to complete its work before the convening of the Assembly.

Should the committee fail to finish before the convening of the Assembly, or

should the committee be called into session during the meeting of the

Assembly, the committee’s sessions shall be held during non-business sessions

of the Assembly, unless by majority vote the Assembly directs otherwise.

15-4. The Moderator shall designate a convener for the Overtures

Committee, and the Stated Clerk shall provide a meeting room large enough

for committee members, interested commissioners to the General Assembly,

and others to observe the proceedings of the committee.

15-5. The committee shall elect from among its number a chairman and

vice-chairman. The Stated Clerk shall be an advisory member of the

committee, and he, or his designee, shall serve as secretary and

parliamentarian. The chairman of the committee may appoint assistant

parliamentarians.

15-6. Special Rules of Procedure for the Overtures Committee.

a. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of

Order Newly Revised, § 50 and other relevant sections, shall

govern the Overture Committee in all cases to which they are

applicable, except as provided below.

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b. A quorum shall consist of fifteen (15) teaching elder members of the

committee and fifteen (15) ruling elder members of the committee.

c. Only business referred to the committee by the Stated Clerk may

be considered.

d. The chairman may not enter debate or make motions without

leaving the chair, and ordinarily should not vote on a question.

e. Members of the committee must obtain the floor before making

motions or speaking.

f. Motions must be seconded.

g. A motion to Limit or Extend Limits of Debate shall not be

permitted, but there shall be permitted a motion to order the

Previous Question, which motion shall be adopted upon three-

quarters (3/4) of the members present and voting.

h. Informal discussion of a subject shall not be permitted.

i. Proposed amendments to overtures must be germane according to

Robert’s Rules. [Editor’s Note: This rule defines germane

according to the definition stated in Robert’s Rules of Order

Newly Revised, 10th ed., §12 (pp. 129-30).]

j. Commissioners to the General Assembly shall have the right to be

present throughout the committee’s proceedings.

k. Commissioners to the General Assembly from a presbytery

sending an overture shall be permitted to appear before the

committee in order to present their views and respond to questions

but may not enter into debate.

l. The chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Business or his

designee shall be permitted to appear before the Overtures

Committee to present the Committee on Constitutional Business’s

advice on any proposed amendment to the Constitution and

respond to questions but may not enter into debate.

m. When necessary for the performance of its duties, the committee

may, by a majority of those present and voting, invite other

persons to address the committee.

n. Amendments adopted by the committee to proposed amendments

to the Constitution may be recommended to the General Assembly

without further consideration by the Committee on Constitutional

Business unless one-fifth (1/5) of the members of the Overtures

Committee request further consultation.

o. Upon majority vote a constitutional inquiry may be submitted to

the Committee on Constitutional Business.

p. The committee may go into executive session only upon three-

quarters (3/4) vote of the members present and voting, and such

executive session shall not exclude visiting General Assembly

commissioners.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

q. Each recommendation by the committee to the General Assembly

must be approved by a majority of members of the committee

present and voting.

r. Any recommendation affecting the budget of the Assembly shall

be referred to the Committee of Commissioners on Administrative

Committee.

s. Minority Reports.

1) With respect to any recommendation, prior to a recess or

adjournment of the Overtures Committee following the

adoption of said recommendation, any member of the

committee may indicate an intention to file a minority report

by giving notice to the chairman.

2) Written notice of intent to file a minority report, signed by at

least three teaching elder members of the committee and three

ruling elder members of the committee, must be delivered to

the Office of the Stated Clerk within one hour of any recess

or adjournment following the adoption of said

recommendation. The Office of the Stated Clerk shall inform

the chairman of the Overtures Committee of such notice as

soon as practicable.

3) The printed minority report, signed by at least three (3)

teaching elder members of the committee and three (3) ruling

elder members of the committee, must be presented to the

chairman of the committee as soon as practicable, but in no case

less than fifteen (15) minutes before the recommendation in

question is brought to the floor.

15-7. The written report of the Overtures Committee shall include the

following:

a. A list of all items referred to and considered by the committee.

b. A statement of the division of the vote on every recommendation

made by the committee.

c. Reference to overtures by number with brief statement of content

and recommended answer.

d. In the case of overtures requesting amendment of the Book of

Church Order, explicit indication of any language that would be

added or deleted from the Book of Church Order through adoption

of the overture. Such overture shall be sent to the presbyteries, if

approved by the General Assembly, in this particular form.

e. Reference to communications by number with brief statement of

content and recommended answer.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

f. Where a study committee is recommended, a statement of the

maximum amount to be budgeted for the study committee.

15-8. Presentation of the Report of the Overtures Committee to the General

Assembly.

a. The report or portions of the report shall be presented to the General

Assembly by the chairman of the committee or his designee.

b. The chairman or his designee shall move each recommendation in

turn, offering an explanation of the motion and the committee’s

rationale. The Moderator may put to the Assembly in gross all

recommendations passed by the committee, unless there is

objection from the floor to the inclusion of specific

recommendation(s), in which case such recommendation(s) shall

be voted upon separately.

c. A recommendation shall be considered under the standard rules

governing debate, but Subsidiary Motions (RRO VI) to Postpone

Indefinitely, to Amend, to Commit, and to Limit Debate; and

Incidental Motions (RRO VIII) to Divide a Question, to Consider

Seriatim, and Constitutional Inquiries, shall not be permitted. A

motion to Recommit shall be permitted, but a motion to Recommit

With Instructions shall not be permitted.

d. Recommendations recommitted may be considered and reported

by the Overtures Committee to that General Assembly, or may be

referred to a subsequent Overtures Committee for report to the

following General Assembly.

e. Should a recommendation proposing an answer to an overture in

the affirmative fail to be adopted, the overture shall be considered

to have been answered in the negative. Should a recommendation

proposing an answer to an overture in the negative fail to be

adopted, the overture by that action shall be recommitted to the

Overtures Committee.

f. A member of the Overtures Committee may not participate in

debate unless he is the designee of the chairman with respect to

the presentation of a particular recommendation, or presenting a

minority report. With respect to any recommendation, this

restriction may be removed for a particular member of the

Overtures Committee upon the adoption of a non-debatable

motion to that effect by majority vote.

g. If there is a minority report (cf. 15-6.s), that report shall be

presented to the Assembly as follows:

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

1) The chairman or his designee shall have ten (10) minutes to

move the recommendation and present the argument of the

committee; the minority shall have fifteen (15) minutes to

move the substitute and present the argument of the minority;

the same representative of the committee shall have five (5)

minutes to reply to the minority;

2) Consideration of the substitute and the main motion shall be as

above (c-d).

3) Debate on the main motion and the substitute shall be limited

to a total of sixty (60) minutes unless extended. When the

allotted time has elapsed the Moderator shall put the question

to the Assembly: "Will the Assembly extend the time on the

question ten (10) minutes?" A simple majority shall extend

the time; otherwise the Moderator shall put the question or

questions as the case may be. If time is extended, the question

of extension shall again be put every succeeding ten (10)

minutes until the matter is concluded. Each Commissioner

shall be limited to five (5) minutes on the same question

unless the Court by a simple majority grants additional time.

15-9. The completed report of the Overtures Committee, and any duly filed

minority report, in which case the provisions below shall be understood to

apply to a minority representative, shall contain the full text of the report and

shall be handled as follows:

a. Typed original by Assembly stenographers or committee secretary.

b. Proofread and signed by the chairman of the committee; and then

delivered to the Stated Clerk when duplicated copies are available

for the commissioners.

c. Docketed as agreed by the Moderator and Stated Clerk for

consideration by the Assembly.

d. Presented to the Assembly by the chairman or his designee, the

text having been made available by electronic means, or by copies

distributed, such that commissioners may read the entire report

prior to acting upon it. Any change ordered by the Assembly shall

be noted and included by the chairman with the assistance of the

Stated Clerk on the original copy.

e. The report, as adopted by the Assembly, shall be filed with the

Recording Clerk for the permanent record.

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RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

ARTICLE XVI. REVIEW OF PRESBYTERY RECORDS

16-1. It is the right and duty of the General Assembly to review, at least once

a year, the records of the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America

(BCO 40-1 and 2).

16-2. General Assembly carries out this review through its Committee on

Review of Presbytery Records. The operation of this committee shall be

considered a General Assembly expense.

16-3. Guidelines for Keeping Presbytery Minutes

a. The stated clerk of each presbytery is responsible for the custody

of the minutes of presbytery.

b. The minutes should be neat and legible. Minutes should be dated,

and the pages numbered. An official copy of the minutes should

be printed and either bound or kept in a good binder.

c. The minutes should contain the following information:

1) The kind of meeting: stated, called, adjourned stated, or

adjourned called. In the case of a called meeting the portion

of the call stating the purpose of the meeting should be

recorded verbatim in the minutes.

2) The name of the presbytery.

3) The date, time and place of the meeting.

4) The name of the moderator, and if someone other than the

regular stated clerk served as a clerk pro-tem, his name should

be indicated.

5) That sessions were opened and closed with prayer (BCO 10-5).

6) The names of those present at the meeting, indicating whether

they were teaching elders, or ruling elders and the church they

represented. The names of alternate ruling elders and their

respective churches should also be included, and the names of

visitors may be included.

7) Teaching elders not attending and churches not represented

should be listed as excused or unexcused.

8) Approval of current or previous minutes.

d. The minutes should be signed by the clerk.

e. Additional guidelines:

1) Points of order ruled against by the chair and appeals from the

decision of the chair, whether sustained or lost, together with

the reason given by the chair for his ruling, should be included

for the sake of any case that may be carried to a higher court

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

and for the protection of a minority. The record of the

presbytery’s actions should be recorded.

2) When a count has been ordered, or the vote is by ballot, the

number of votes on each side should be entered.

3) The proceedings of a committee of the whole should not be

entered in the minutes, but the fact that the assembly went into

the committee as a whole. The committee report should be

recorded.

4) When a commission is charged with carrying out a task

prescribed in the Constitution (such as organizing a church or

ordaining or installing a teaching elder), the minutes of

presbytery should reflect the completion of each action prescribed

in the respective constitutional provision. This may be

accomplished by reporting the work of the commission using

a form provided by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly,

which should be included in or appended to the minutes.

5) Minutes of presbytery relating to examinations must list all

specific requirements and trials for licensure and/or ordination

which have been accomplished, including that each candidate

being examined for ordination was required to “state the

specific instances in which he may differ with the Confession

of Faith and Catechisms in any of their statements and/or

propositions” (BCO 21-4). This does not mean that a separate

vote on each item must be recorded. Presbytery minutes shall

record ministers’ and ministerial candidates’ stated

differences with our Standards in their own words. Each

presbytery shall also record whether:

a) the candidate stated that he had no differences; or

b) the court judged the stated difference(s) to be merely

semantic; or

c) the court judged the stated difference(s) to be more than

semantic, but “not out of accord with any fundamental of

our system of doctrine” (BCO 21-4); or

d) the court judged the stated difference(s) to be “out of

accord,” that is, “hostile to the system” or “strik[ing] at

the vitals of religion” (BCO 21-4).

6) Minutes of presbytery relating to ministerial calls shall record

that the specific arrangements (BCO 20-1) and the call were

found to be in order.

7) Minutes of executive sessions are not exempt from the general

requirement that presbytery’s actions shall be recorded in the

presbytery’s minutes and that these minutes (even if kept in a

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS



separate section on executive sessions) shall be submitted to

the General Assembly for review (BCO 13-11; 14-6.c; 40-1).

Presbytery may ask that the Committee on Review of

Presbytery Records deal with these minutes confidentially.

However, any exceptions to these minutes must be submitted

to the General Assembly through the normal procedures.

8) Minutes of presbytery dealing with judicial cases shall not be

dealt with by Committee on Review of Presbytery Records

(BCO 40-3) when notice of appeal or complaint has been

given the lower court, but still must be submitted for review

as part of the record.

f. The following suggestions are made to clerks and presbyteries for

the keeping of minutes:

1) The minutes should record the actions of the presbytery,

including all motions adopted and business transacted,

together with such additional information as the presbytery

deems desirable for historical purposes.

2) Ordinarily in church courts, motions that are lost are not

included in the record, unless an affirmative vote for the lost

motion is recorded, in which case the lost motion must be shown.

3) Each main motion should normally be recorded in a separate

paragraph. Subsidiary and procedural motions may be

recorded in the same paragraph with the main motion to which

it pertains.

16-4. Guidelines for Submitting of Presbytery Records:

a. The stated clerk of each presbytery is to provide the Stated Clerk

of the General Assembly with copies of all minutes to be reviewed,

in one of two formats: (1) four bound, paginated hard-copies or

(2) two bound, paginated hard-copies and one paginated digital

copy (preferably as a single document).

b. The minutes to be reviewed shall include the unreviewed minutes

of all presbytery meetings that have been held through the end of

the previous calendar year (BCO 40-1).

c. In addition to the minutes themselves, the presbytery shall submit

three (3) copies of the following items:

1) A current Directory of Presbytery, including (1) a list of all

teaching elders, with their addresses; and of all churches and

missions with the address of the church, and the name and

address of the Clerk of Session, (2) a listing of all officers and

committee members of the regular committees of presbytery,

and (3) a list identifying all candidates under care, interns, and

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS



licentiates of the presbytery with their addresses and their

status.

2) An up-to-date copy of the Standing Rules of the presbytery.

3) A letter stating presbytery’s response to the Assembly

concerning disposition of any exceptions of substance taken

by the past Assembly.

d. The minutes are to be reviewed and the items listed under 16-4.c

shall be mailed to the office of the Stated Clerk of the General

Assembly by March 15 each year.

e. If a presbytery repeatedly fails to submit its minutes, or its

responses to exceptions of substance, the Committee on Review

of Presbytery Records may recommend to the General Assembly

that the provisions of BCO 40-1, 4, & 5 be applied.

16-5. The stated clerk of each presbytery, or his representative, should be

prepared to meet with the committee to answer questions and to clarify any

possible discrepancy. The committee should make every reasonable effort to

consult with the clerk of the presbytery (or his designee) on any questions

before finalizing the report to the General Assembly.

16-6. Guidelines for Examining Presbytery Records:

a. Presbytery minutes shall be examined for conformity to:

1) The Scriptures and the Constitution of the Presbyterian

Church in America as to the substance of the actions recorded

(BCO 40-2), and

2) The Assembly Guidelines for Keeping Presbytery Minutes, as

to form, structure, and minimum content (RAO 16-3).

b. Each set of presbytery minutes and other materials submitted

under RAO 16-4c should be read by at least two members of the

Committee on Review of Presbytery Records.

c. The findings of the committee with respect to the minutes of each

presbytery shall be noted under the following categories as

appropriate:

1) Exceptions of substance: Apparent violations of the Scripture

or serious irregularities from the Constitution of the

Presbyterian Church in America, actions out of accord with

the deliverances of the General Assembly, and matters of

impropriety and important delinquencies, and any non-

compliance with RAO 16-3.e.5 should be reported under this

category.

2) Exceptions of form: Violations of the Assembly's Guidelines

for Keeping Presbytery Minutes (RAO 16-3), rules of order,

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

etc. should normally be reported under this category. When a

minor irregularity from a BCO provision or requirement is

noted, it may be treated as an exception of form (BCO 40-3).

If subsequent minutes continue to reflect the same particular

exception of form, it may become an exception of substance.

3) Notations: The committee may report to the clerk of

presbytery any typographical errors, misspellings, improper

punctuation and other minor variations in form and clarity.

These are to be given as advice for the respective clerks.

16-7. Guidelines for Reporting on Presbytery Records: The report of the

committee shall be concise. It shall include the following:

a. A list of the minutes, by presbyteries, received by the committee.

b. A list of the presbyteries which have not submitted minutes, if any.

c. A recommendation concerning the minutes of each presbytery,

which shall include:

1) Minutes approved without exception;

2) Minutes approved with exceptions of form, which shall be

reported directly to the presbytery;

3) Minutes approved with exceptions of substance which shall

be presented to the General Assembly, which presentation

shall include citation of any relevant scriptural and/or

constitutional references, and provide the committee’s

rationale for finding the exception of substance;

4) Responses to exceptions of previous Assemblies, if any;

5) Recommendations concerning all responses to exceptions taken

by previous Assemblies that have not been disposed of suitably.

d. Any other recommendation to the Assembly.

e. A statement of the division of the vote on each recommendation.

f. Any recommendation which may affect the budget of the

Assembly shall be referred to the Committee of Commissioners

on Administrative Committee.

g. A list of members present.

h. Minority Reports

1) With respect to any recommendation, prior to a recess

or adjournment of the Review of Presbytery Records

Committee following the adoption of said recom-

mendation, any member of the committee may

indicate an intention to file a minority report by giving

notice to the chairman.

2) The minority report, from at least six (6) members of

the committee, must be filed with the chairman of the

committee and the office of the Stated Clerk of

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General Assembly not more than seven (7) days after

the adjournment of the RPR Committee meeting.

16-8. The report of the committee shall be prepared and handled in the same

manner as reports of committees of commissioners as set forth in RAO 14-8.

Neither the report of the committee nor the General Assembly’s approval or

disapproval of this report establishes doctrinal precedent.

16-9. No partial report of the committee shall be presented without the

consent of the Assembly.

16-10. Guidelines for Responding to General Assembly

a. Presbyteries shall be advised of exceptions of form; however, they

shall take note in their minutes of exceptions of substance taken

by the Assembly, together with their responses adopted by the

presbytery to these exceptions. These responses should normally

be adopted by Presbytery in the same calendar year as the

exceptions were taken by the Assembly. Regardless, responses

must be filed no less than one month prior to General Assembly.

b. Presbyteries shall correspond with the next General Assembly the

disposition they have made of the exceptions of substance

(including general), with specific reference to presbytery’s action

as recorded in its minutes. Responses shall be in one of the

following forms:

1) Presbytery agrees with the exceptions and corrects its record

(if possible), corrects its actions (if possible) and promises to

be more careful in the future. Or,

2) Presbytery respectfully disagrees with the exception, states its

grounds and refers the exception back to the Assembly.

c. If, in responding to an exception of substance, a presbytery reports

that it disagrees with the conclusion of the Assembly and/or has not

corrected or redressed the identified problem; and, the committee

(after reviewing the presbytery’s response and rationale, and, if a

majority so desires, consulting with the Committee on

Constitutional Business) continues to believe that the presbytery

has persisted in an error that is significant enough to require an

Assembly response; then, the committee shall notify the

Assembly of the continuing exception, and shall make

recommendation as to whether the Assembly should again seek a

more acceptable response from the presbytery, or should appoint

a representative to present its case and refer the matter to the

Standing Judicial Commission to cite the presbytery to appear for

proceedings according to BCO 40-5.

RULES OF ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS

ARTICLE XVII. STANDING JUDICIAL COMMISSION

17-1. There shall be a Standing Judicial Commission composed of twenty-

four members in accordance with BCO 15-4. Upon election, each new

member of the Standing Judicial Commission, before entering upon the duties

of this office, shall sign a printed copy of the following vows; further, if the

newly elected member is present, he shall affirm these vows in the presence of

the Assembly electing him:

“I do solemnly vow, by the assistance of the grace of God, in my

service as a judge in this branch of the church of our lord Jesus

Christ, that

1. I will act as before God, my Judge and the Searcher of

hearts;

2. I will judge without respect to persons, and if so tempted,

will recuse myself from judgment;

3. I will judge not according to appearances, but judge

righteous judgment;

4. I will judge according to the Constitution of the

Presbyterian Church in America, through my best efforts

applied to nothing other than the record of the case and