Boco 31-40

Front 1

What vows must an ordained pastor take?

Back 1

1. Commitment to the inerrant, infallible Bible.
2. Submission to the Confession and Catechisms.
3. Submission to the form of Church government.
4. Submission to your brethren.
5. Perceive yourself called of God.
6. Promise to maintain the truth of the Gospel and the purity and peace of the church.
7. Promise to fully exercise your duties.
8. Willing to take charge of the church. J5

Front 2

Who has the final say in establishing or dissolving a pastoral relationship?

Back 2

The Presbytery has the final say in establishing or dissolving pastoral relations.

Front 3

How may a pastoral relation be dissolved?

Back 3

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.

Front 4

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

Back 4

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.

Front 5

What steps must be followed in electing ruling elders or deacons?

Back 5

* Note: at any time, if 25% of congregation asks for more men to be added to the elder board, then a congregational meeting should be called as below.
1. Public notice given of congregational meeting one month before election.
2. Congregation asked to submit names to session.
3. Session shall examine those nominated.
4. Session shall present list of eligible nominees to congregation.
5. Majority vote of those present needed for election.
6. Moderator asks congregation if it is ready to proceed to voting is done by private ballot.-BCO 24-1,4,5

Front 6

- In what areas is a nominee to be examined?

Back 6

1. Christian experience (especially personal character).
2. Knowledge of Bible content and Book of Church Order (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

Front 7

How may a congregational meeting be called?

Back 7

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- BCO 25-2

BCO 25-2 “Whenever it may seem for the best interest 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: by…”

Front 8

- Who can vote at a congregational meeting?

Back 8

The congregation consists of all communing members of a particular church, and they only are entitled to vote BCO 25.1

Front 9

What officers are required at a congregational meeting

Back 9

Moderator (Pastor or elected person)
Clerk (elected person)

Front 10

Who owns the property of the local church?

Back 10

The local church

BCO 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 board, or society, or committee or Sunday school class or branch thereof. The superior courts of the church may receive moneys or properties from a local church only by free and voluntary action of the latter.”