1
Q
Who is the head of the Church? How does he exercise his authority?
A
Christ alone is the head of the church. He exercises his authority and governs by his word and spirit and has appointed officers to guide his church by following his word and spirit.
2
Q
List at least two key principles of Presbyterian church government. Can the church “bind” men’s consciences? Why or why not?
A
- God alone is Lord of the conscience.
- Every church, or body, has the right to determine its qualifications for its members.
- Christ himself has appointed officers in his church.
- Godliness is founded on truth.
- Teachers should be sound in the faith.
- Each particular body has a right to elect its own officers.
- Church power is only ministerial and declarative and therefore not legislative.
- Church discipline must be purely moral and spiritual in nature and therefore not civil.
Part 2…
All church power is “only ministerial and declarative”; “no church judicatory may make laws to bind the conscience.” God has set the standard and human courts are fallible, along with the church’s power being purely moral and spiritual, declarative and ministerial.
3
Q
What is the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America.
A
All the following as adopted by the Church and subject to the Scriptures:
- Westminster Confession of Faith (Doctrinal standards)
- Larger & Shorter Catechisms
- The Book of Church Order, consisting of Form of Government, the Rules of Discipline and the Directory of Worship
4
Q
- What is the visible church? Who are its members?
A
The visible church consists of all who make profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their children with them
5
Q
- What is the power of the church? How does it differ from that of the state?
A
CHURCH:
Power exclusively spiritual
Constitution derived from a higher source
STATE:
Includes the use of force
Derives from human reason and the course of providential events
6
Q
What is a particular church?
A
A particular church is a local congregation with a permanent governing body
7
Q
What is a mission church?
A
A mission church is described in the same fashion as a particular church except that it has no permanent governing body and thus must be governed or supervised by others. Goal is to mature and be organized as a particular church as soon as this can be done decently and in good order
8
Q
What two kinds of members does the church have? What are their respective rights and privileges?
A
· Communing- all rights and privileges of the church (voting, office holding, and admission to the Lord’s table)- BCO 6-2, 6-4
· Non-communing members- entitled to baptism, pastoral oversight, instruction, and government of the church (BCO 6-1)
· Associate members- all the rights and privileges of the church except voting in congregational meetings and holding office in that church (6-4)
9
Q
What are the qualifications for an elder?
A
1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9
- Competency of human learning
- Blameless life
- Sound in faith
- Apt to teach
- Sobriety and holiness of life becoming of the gospel
- Rules his own house well
- Have a good report of those outside the church (BCO 8-2)
10
Q
What are an elder’s duties?
A
- Watch over the flock committed to their charge in doctrine and morality
- Exercise government and discipline
- Oversight of both the local church and the “general” church
- Visitation (especially of sick), instruction, comforting, nourishing, and guarding the children of the church.
- Set worthy examples for the rest of the church
- Love, pray with and for people (BCO 8-3)
11
Q
How are ruling and teaching elders alike?
A
- Watch over the flock committed to their charge in doctrine and morality
- Exercise government and discipline
- Oversight of both the local church and the “general” church
- Visitation (especially of sick), instruction, comforting, nourishing, and guarding the children of the church.
- Set worthy examples for the rest of the church
- Love, pray with and for people (BCO 8-3)
12
Q
How are ruling and teaching elders different?
A
- Only those elders who are specially gifted, called and trained by God to preach may serve as teaching elders (BCO 8-4)
- TE feeds flock by reading, expounding, and preaching the word of God
- Administers the sacraments (BCO 8-5)
- Christ furnishes Ruling Elders with gifts and commission to govern (BCO 8-8)
13
Q
What is meant by the “parity” of ruling and teaching elders?
A
The class of elder is one class only. Ruling elders and teaching elders possess the same authority and eligibility to office in the courts of the church. Both, (but especially the Teaching Elders) are called to teach the Bible (BCO 8-9).
14
Q
What are the duties of deacons?
A
- Not an office of rule, but rather of service both to the physical and spiritual needs of the people
- Ministers to those in need, the sick, the friendless, and any in distress
- Devise methods to collect the gifts of the congregation
- Keep church in proper (physical) repair (BCO 9-2).
15
Q
What are the qualifications for deacons?
A
1 Timothy 3:8-13
- Men of spiritual character
- Honest repute
- Exemplary lives
- Brotherly Spirit
- Warm sympathies
- Sound judgement (BCO 9-3)
16
Q
How is a man called to office in the church?
A
- The individual-through the inward testimony of a good conscience as a calling of the Spirit.
- The church-declaring it believes the man is called and it wants him to serve.
- The Court-a court of the church agrees and is satisfied that he is qualified.
- A call to a church office is based on being elected by the congregation-BCO 16-2.
17
Q
What is a licentiate?
A
A licentiate is a person examined and permitted to preach within the pulpits of the PCA with the authority of the presbytery of the jurisdiction where he will preach.
18
Q
In what areas is a prospective licentiate examined?
A
- Christian experience and inward call.
- Written or oral: Theology (Westminster Standards), English Bible, and Book of Church Order .
- Orally before Presbytery: on same as above.
- Provide written sermon and deliver it before Presbytery.-BCO 19-2
19
Q
What steps must a church take in calling a pastor?
A
- Session calls a meeting to elect a search committee34-BCO 20-2
- A congregational meeting must be called for the election of the pastor-BCO 20-3
3 Elected by the congregation and reports to the congregation.
20
Q
In what areas must a candidate for ordination be examined?
A
- Experiential religion
- Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew
- English Bible
- Theology
- Sacraments
- Church history
- History of the Presbyterian Church in America
- Government and Discipline
- Paper on a Theological subject
- Paper on Exegesis (using Greek and Hebrew)
- Preach a sermon.
21
Q
What vows must he take?
A
- Commitment to the inerrant, infallible Bible.
- Submission to the Confession and Catechisms.
- Submission to the form of Church government.
- Submission to your brethren.
- Perceive yourself called of God.
- Promise to maintain the truth of the Gospel and the purity and peace of the church.
- Promise to fully exercise your duties.
- Willing to take charge of the church.
22
Q
How may a pastoral relation be dissolved?
A
A pastoral relation is dissolved when a presbytery accepts the resignation of a minister after a congregational meeting has been called and conducted, and its commissioners then appear before the presbytery to show cause why the presbytery should or should not accept the resignation of the pastor.
23
Q
What is the difference between an associate pastor and an assistant pastor?
A
The associate pastor is called by the congregation and as such becomes a member of the Session and his pastoral relation is determined by the congregation. The assistant pastor is called by the Session and his pastoral relation to the church is determined by them.
24
Q
What steps must be followed in electing ruling elders or deacons?
A
- Public notice given of congregational meeting for election.
- If 25% of eligible voters ask for additional officers, the session shall call the meeting.
- Notice given as least one month before election
- Congregation asked to submit names to session.
- Session shall examine those nominated.
- Session shall present list of nominees to congregation.
- Session recommends congregation determines the number of officers to be elected.
- Majority vote of those present needed for election.
- Moderator asks congregation if it is ready to proceed to voting is done by private ballot.-BCO 24-1,4,5
25
In what areas is a nominee to be examined?
1. Christian experience (especially personal character).
2. Knowledge of doctrine, Church government, discipline contained in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America (BCO preface ill)
3. Duties of office to which he is nominated.
4. Willingness to give assent to the question required for ordination.-BCO 24-1
26
How may a congregational meeting be called?
The session shall decide when a meeting is necessary and call it, or shall respond to a written notice of a set fraction of the church
27
Who can vote?
The congregation consists of all communing members of a particular church, and they only are entitled to vote
28
What officers are required?
Moderator (Pastor or elected person)
Clerk (elected person)
BCO 25-4 The pastor shall be the moderator of congregational meetings by virtue of his office. If it should be impractible 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 of the Presbyterian Church in America, or any male member of that particular church
BCO 25-5 A clerk shall be elected by the congregation to serve at the 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 shall 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.
29
Who owns the property of the local church?
The local church
30
How may the BCO be amended?
1. Approval of majority at General Assembly
2. Consent of 2/3 Presbyteries
3. Approval of majority at subsequent General Assembly
31
How may the doctrinal standards be amended?
1. Approval of ¾ majority at General Assembly
2. Consent of ¾ Presbyteries
3. Approval of ¾ majority at subsequent General Assembly
32
What portions of the BCO cannot be amended?
All sections can be
33
What is church discipline?
"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 tern 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.
34
What is the goal of church discipline?
The glory of God, the purity of his church, the keeping and reclaiming of disobedient sinners.
“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. "-BCO 27-3
35
What are church discipline's proper steps?
* Instruction in the Word. Individual responsibility to admonish. Calling of one or more witnesses. Action of the church court.
* "Scriptural law is the basis of all discipline because it is the revelation of God's Holy will.
Properly 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. "-BCO 27-5
36
Who is primarily responsible for disciplining non-communing members?
* Primarily their parents.
* 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) "-BCO 28-1
37
List and define church censures.
* Admonition: Formal reproof of an offender
* Suspension from sacraments: the temporary exclusion from those ordinances (indefinite).
* Suspension from office: exclusion of a church officer from his office (definite or indefinite duration).
* Excommunication: excision of an offender from the communion of the church.
* Deposition-degradation of an officer from office (with/without other censure).
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 censure of indefinite suspension or excommunication shall be administered to an accused who, upon conviction, remains impenitent. "-BCO 30-1
* 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. "-BCO 30-2
* 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 offices, 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 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. "-BCO 30-3
* "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. "-BCO 30-4
* "Deposition is the degradation of an officer from his office, and may of may not be accompanied with the infliction of other censure."
38
With what court should the charges of discipline be filed?
With the court of original jurisdiction which rests with the body in which a person is a member (Pastor: presbytery, member: session).
39
What must be done before the formal charges are brought?
-Sessions and Presbyteries must determine from such persons satisfactory explanations concerning reports affecting their Christian character.
40
When must a formal judicial process be pursued?
When the court finds through investigation a strong presumption of guilt in the party involved.
41
How many witnesses are required?
More than one (unless corroborative evidence is produced)
42
How should a censure be administered?
-With all tenderness and in a spirit of meekness
-Suited to the nature of the offenses
See BCO 36
43
What is the goal of discipline in regard to the offender?
Repentance and restoration to the body
44
Define "review and control".
Every court above the session is to review the records of the court next below in the areas of :
1. Correct recording.
2. Regular and in accordance with the constitution.
3. Suited to promote the welfare of the Church.
4. Lawful junctions of the high court have been obeyed.
45
Define "reference"
A formal request for advice from a lower court to a higher court.
46
Define "appeal
A transfer to a higher court of a judicial case which has been ruled on by a lower court.
47
How quickly must an appeal be filed?
Within 30 days following the meeting of the court.
48
Define "complaint"
A written representation made against some act or decision of a court of the Church-
49
How quickly must a complaint be filed?
Within 30 days following the meeting of the court.
50
What should happen when a member moves out of the community?
That member should transfer his membership to his new church.
51
What is an associate member?
A member of a church who is temporarily living outside of their permanent home.
52
What parts of the Directory For Worship have constitutional authority (if any)?
BCO 56,57, and 58
53
What rule guides public worship?
Scripture.
“Since the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible rule for faith and practice, the principles of public worship must be derived from the Bible, and from no other source."
54
What is the purpose of public worship?
"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 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)."
55
What are the proper elements of worship?
```
Reading of Scripture
Singing of psalms and hymns
Prayer
Preaching of the Word
Presentation of offerings
Confession of Faith
Observing the Sacraments
On Special occasions taking oaths.
```
56
In brief, how ought we to keep the Lord's Day?
By keeping it holy, participating in public and private worship, and resting.
57
Who is responsible for deciding who preaches in a church?
The session
58
What vows do parents make at the baptism of their children? (summarize)
Set before him a godly example
Pray with and for him
Teach him the doctrines of true religion
Strive to bring him up in the admonition of the Lord
59
Who admits people to the Lord's Supper?
The session
60
What are the vows of membership?
Acknowledgement of sin and need of salvation in Christ
Endeavor to live as becomes a believer
Promise to support the church and submit to its authority and discipline
PCA Ordination
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