Bco Reveiw

Front 1

Have you carefully studied The Book of Church Order, and are you prepared to affirm, with a clear conscience before God and the Presbytery, the following vows: (1) Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and edification of the Church? (2) 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?

Back 1

Yes.

Front 2

What are the parts of BCO?

Back 2

Form of Government, Rules of Disciples, Directory for Worship

Front 3

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the relation of church and state?

Back 3

The state governs with the power of force. It is distinct from the church, whose power is spiritual, and the two are governed and maintained distinctly from one another.

Front 4

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the relation of truth and godliness?

Back 4

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.

Front 5

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the nature of church power?

Back 5

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.

Front 6

What is the Constitution of the PCA?

Back 6

The constitution of the PCA, subject to the Scriptures, is the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order.

Front 7

What is the Scriptural form of church government; is it essential to the Church’s existence? Explain.

Back 7

The scriptural form of church government, which is not essential to the existence of the church, is Presbyterian, which means that it is governed by elders and the churches are accountable to each other and to God for the maintenance of the Word and Sacrament, and proper order and discipline.

Front 8

What is the purpose of the Church?

Back 8

The purpose of the church is the gathering and perfecting of believers.

Front 9

Who are the officers of the Church; where in Scripture are their qualifications found?

Back 9

Elders (REs and TEs) and Deacons, whose qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

Front 10

What are some of the responsibilities of the Session?

Back 10

To watch over the flock for moral and doctrinal purity; to exercise government and discipline; to look after both the local church and the general church; to visit, pray with and for, instruct, and care for the church member and their children; to set a worthy example of Christian character and love.

Front 11

Who is to serve as the moderator of Session & Congregational meetings?

Back 11

The pastor, by the prudence of this office.

Front 12

Who are the members of the visible Church?

Back 12

All those who profess faith in Christ, together with the children.

Front 13

What denominations are to be recognized as true branches of the Church of Jesus Christ?

Back 13

Any denomination that maintains the fundamental integrity of the Word and Sacrament is recognized as a true branch of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Front 14

In what body does the power which Christ has committed to His Church rest?

Back 14

The power which Christ has committed to his church rests in the whole church, both with the rulers and those ruled, constituting a spiritual commonwealth. (3-1)

Front 15

What is a particular church?

Back 15

A particular church is a group of believers with a permanent governing body who meet regularly for worship in word and sacrament, agreeable to the Scriptures, and endeavor to live godly lives, submitting to the Kingdom of Christ.

Front 16

What are the ordinances of the Church?

Back 16

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.

Front 17

What are communing members of the church; non-communing?

Back 17

Communing members are baptized, profess faith in Christ, and have been admitted by the session to the Lord’s Table. They are entitled vote, hold office, and take communion. Non-communing members are the children of communing members. They are entitled to pastoral oversight, instruction, and church government.

Front 18

What are the necessary requirements for membership in a PCA church?

Back 18

Must be a baptized, professing Christian, and must be admitted by the session to the Lord’s Table.

Front 19

Who receives members into a church and dismisses them to other churches?

Back 19

The session.

Front 20

Do the “extraordinary offices” and “extraordinary gifts” continue in the church today?

Back 20

Extraordinary gifts and offices concern the giving of new revelation, and ceased with the end of the apostolic age.

Front 21

What are the duties of the deacons?

Back 21

The office of deacon is not one of rule, but of care. The duties center around helping those in need, be it financial need, care for the sick, friendlessness. They are also responsible for collecting funds to be distributed to those in need, and for the maintenance of the church property.

Front 22

What are the courts of the church and what are their respective jurisdictions?

Back 22

Session – the local church; Presbytery – the TEs and churches within its bounds; General Assembly – the presbyteries of the PCA

Front 23

What is the difference between a committee and an ecclesiastical commission?

Back 23

A committee is appointed to inspect, consider, and report on matters to its governing body. A commission is appointed to deliberate and conclude business, except in the case of judicial commissions.

Front 24

What are the five permanent committees of General Assembly?

Back 24

Administrative Committee of General Assembly, Committee on Christian Education and Publications, Committee on Mission to North America, Committee on Mission to the World, and Committee on Reformed University Ministries.

Front 25

What constitutes a particular church?

Back 25

A particular church is a group of believers with a permanent governing body who meet regularly for worship in word and sacrament, agreeable to the Scriptures, and endeavor to live godly lives, submitting to the Kingdom of Christ. The key here is the permanent governing body.

Front 26

In what ways are mission churches like particular churches?

Back 26

Mission church are exactly like particular churches, except that they do not have a permanent governing body, and they have the goal of maturing and being particularized as soon as can be done in a good and decent manner.

Front 27

What is the doctrine of vocation?

Back 27

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.

Front 28

What is ordination?

Back 28

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.

Front 29

What is licensure, what is its purpose, and who may be licensed?

Back 29

Licensure is the testing and approval of regular preachers within the PCA by the presbytery in whose bounds the licentiate will be preaching. Its purpose is to preserve the purity of preaching the gospel. Any man may be licensed to preach, but most often licensure is given to REs, interns, and ministers in other denominations.

Front 30

What is the difference between an assistant and an associate pastor?

Back 30

An assistant pastor is called by the session, is not a member of the session, and his relationship with the church is determined by the session. An associate pastor is called by the congregation, is a member of the session, and his relationship to the church is determined by the congregation.

Front 31

What are the purposes of church discipline?

Back 31

The exercise of authority given by Christ to the church to instruct and guide its members, and to promote the purity of the church.

Front 32

What are the proper steps of church discipline?

Back 32

The proper steps are instruction, admonition, the calling of witnesses, and the action of the church court. They must be done within the command and direction of the Bible, especially Jesus’ charge Matthew 18. 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.

Front 33

What are the censures that may be inflicted by church courts?

Back 33

Admonition (public warning), Suspension from Sacraments (indefinite), Suspension from Office (definite or indefinite), Excommunication (excision from the church), and Deposition (of an officer); 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.

Front 34

How do the proceedings of the lower courts come before the higher courts? Briefly describe each.

Back 34

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.

Front 35

What methods are there for declaring dissatisfaction with actions taken by a court?

Back 35

Appeal, Complaint, Dissent, Objection, Protest

Front 36

How may the parts of the Constitution of the PCA be amended?

Back 36

WCF, WSC, WLC – with ¾ vote from GA, ¾ consent from presbyteries, and ¾ vote at the subsequent GA; BCO – with majority vote from GA, 2/3 consent from presbyteries, and majority vote at the subsequent GA

Front 37

What chapters of the Directory for Worship have constitutional authority?

Back 37

56, 57, 58 – per the vote of the 11th GA, with consent from 2/3 of presbyteries

Front 38

What is the regulative principle of worship?

Back 38

That only the principles of church worship are to be found in or derived from the Bible alone, and no other source.

Front 39

What is the end or purpose of public worship?

Back 39

To glorify God.

Front 40

What is the significance of the ordination vow that you will “be in submission” to your brethren in the Lord?

Back 40

It means that I will submit to the instruction, counsel, and leadership of all Christians in the body of Christ, as befits the occasion. I will not operate as though I were the only Christian, or as though I had some special innate importance, but will pray and care for all, and regard others as valuable members of Christ, bound together in Spirit and Word.