OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA - pcaac.org

1 THE BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA Sixth Edition (2017 Reprint) Includes all amendments approved up to and including the 45th General Assembly, in Greensboro, North Carolina June 13-15, 2017 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 TO THE 2017 REPRINT OF THE SIXTH EDITION 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.

2 The Stated Clerk will appreciate receiving notice of any corrections needed to this reprint of the Sixth Edition. Editorial Note: For a chronological history of changes to the BCO, RAO, and OMSJC from 1990 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 Copyright 2017 by the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in AMERICA All rights reserved 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: 1990 BCO ; 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 ; ; 14-2; 15-2 1992 BCO 10-3; 42-11; 43-3; 43-7 1993 BCO ; 15-4; 24-5 1994 BCO 15-1; ; 24-1; 37-9; RAO 4-3; 4-6; 5-1; 13-1; 13-6; ; ; ; Corporate Bylaws Article VI, p.

3 R-39 and Certificate of Incorporation, pp. R-29-31 1995 BCO 13-10; ; 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 ; ; ; and [editorial changes to and ] 2000 BCO 13-12; 15-1; 24-1; 38-1; 43-5 2001 BCO ; Appendix B; Appendix H; RAO 4-5, 9-6, 15-2; Corporate Bylaws Article VI,1; VI,4; VI,5 2002 BCO , 13-1, , 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, , 13-1; SJC Manual , 6, 16, 18, 19-22 renumbered; Corporate Bylaws Article V,E; V,F; V,G; Article VI,1; VI,5 2003 BCO , 21-4, ; RAO , 13-2, 13-5d, , renumbered; , 14-8; SJC Manual.

4 Corporate Bylaws Article VI,1 2004 BCO 58-5; SJC Manual , , 2005 BCO 24-3; 24-5; 24-6-9 relettered; 24-9 (now 24-10) 2006 BCO 15-4; ; 40-5; RAO 2006 revised edition 2007 RAO 4-11; 11-1; ; 19-2; SJC Manual 21-3 2008 BCO 12-1, 12-2; RAO ; , g; relettered; , e; relettered. [Editorial note added RAO and ; editorial changes SJC ; ; ; (d); (a); ; ]] 2009 21-4 (editorial numeration); 59-1, 6; RAO (3); (3); ; SJC Manual ; (a), (b); ; ; ; ; ; 16; ; (a), (c); 2010 No BCO changes; no RAO changes; SJC Manual new Section 2 added with renumbering there- after; ; Sections 6 & 7 deleted; Section 17 moved to replace original 11:8; ; ; ; 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 ; SJC Manual ; ; ; ; ; Continued on next page 2012 BCO 19-11; RAO 5-4; 8-3; 10-8; 11-5; 12-1; ; 15-1; OMSJC , b; ; 18:12; 18:13 2013 BCO 19-2; 20-3; 24-2; 25-4; 42-4; 43-2; 43-3; Appendix J added; RAO ; 10-9 added; ; OMSJC ; ; 2014 BCO 34-8; 37-6; 43-10; [editorial corrections: BCO 13-6; 39-3]; RAO ; , 8 (renumbered); ; [editorial corrections: RAO 11-5; 11-8].

5 [OMSJC editorial corrections: ; (4)]; References to Committee on Christian Education and Publications (CEP) changed to Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) BCO ; RAO 4-2; ); 6-1; 2015 BCO 5-2; 8-6; 18-7; 43-3, 8, 9; RAO ; ; OMSJC ; ; ; ; 2016 [editorial correction: BCO 58-5]; RAO 8- ; OMSJC ; ; (add and re-letter); ; , c 2017 BCO 5-3; 13-2; editorial BCO 55-1 ; RAO ; 9-2 (added and renumbering); 13-2; 13-6 (added); 14-8; 17-4; OMSJC ; ; (6) and (7); ; ; Reformed University Ministries (RUM) name changed to Reformed University Fellowship (RUF): BCO ; RAO 4-2, 5-1, 6-4, ; Bylaws Article V. 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.

6 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)

7 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.]

8 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).

9 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.

10 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.