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18 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Name the Courts of the Church**
-Session: jurisdiction over single church
-Presbytery: jurisdiction over what’s common to ministers, Sessions, churches in prescribed district
-GA: jurisdiction over matters that concern entire church
What is the proper or original jurisdiction of the courts?
BCO 11-2
Jurisdiction 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.
1. they can make no laws binding the conscience
2. they have power to establish rules for the government, discipline, worship, and extension of the Church, (according to the Word)
3. they possess the right to require obedience to the laws of Christ.
Each court exercises original jurisdiction over its own business (i.e., people).
What officers must each court have?
BCO 11
Moderator
Clerk
How are court officers chosen?
BCO 11
Except for the moderator of the session (which is the pastor by prudence of his office) they are elected by the body, which they will serve.
Who are the members of the church session?**
BCO 12-1
the pastor,
the associate pastor(s), if there be any,
and the ruling elders of a church.
What constitutes a quorum of the session?
BCO 12-1
With a pastor:
- If there are 3 or more RE’s, the pastor and 2 RE’s constitute a quorum
- If there are fewer than 3 RE’s, the pastor and 1 RE constitute a quorum
Without a pastor:
-If there are 5 or more RE’s, 3 RE’s constitute a quorum
- If there are fewer than 5 RE’s, 2 RE’s constitute a quorum
What are the main duties of the session?
The session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the church
-Spiritual oversight, including examination and receiving of members, and discipline
-Examination and ordination of RE’s and deacons
-Approve important actions affecting church property
-Call congregational meetings
-Exercise authority over corporate worship
-Observe and carry out lawful injunctions of higher courts
Who are the members of Presbytery?**
BCO 13-1.
-All TE’s & churches within presbytery’s bounds.
-For court mtgs: All TE’s, 2 RE’s for churches of >350, 1 for each 500 more
To what church does a minister belong? **
BCO 13-2
Minister belongs to presbytery, not particular church
How is an ordained minister received into presbytery?
BCO 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 honorably retired, or in those cases deemed necessary by the Presbytery, subject to the review of the General Assembly.
How is a church received into a presbytery?
BCO 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.
What are the main duties and responsibilities of the presbytery?
BCO 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:
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.
What Are The Main Duties And Responsibilities Of The General Assembly?**
BCO 14-1
-Receive and issue appeals, references, complaints from lower courts in matters of doctrine or life (morals)
-Advise church regarding conformity to Constitution
-Review and control records of Presbyteries
-Devise measures to promote enlargement of church
-Erect new Presbyteries
-Institute and superintend its agencies
-Correspond and Receive other ecclesiastical bodies
-Suppress schisms
What are the permanent committees and agencies of the General Assembly?
BCO 14-1.
1. Administrative Committee of General
Assembly
2. Committee on Christian Education and Publications
3. Committee on Mission to North
America
4, Committee on Mission to the World, 5. Committee on Reformed University
Ministries
What is a Committee of Commissioners?
BCO 15-6.
A commission (called by the GA) consisting of not less than three elders, with the task of forming a provisional Presbytery in a foreign country where there exists no compatible indigenous Presbyterian and Reformed Church.

This commission has the 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 GA.

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
What are the agencies of the GA?
1. Christian Education and Publication
2. Covenant College
3. Covenant Seminary
4. PCA Retirement & Benefits Inc.
5. MNA
6. MTW
7. Ridge Haven Conference Center
8. Reformed University Ministries
How Do A Committee Of Commissioners And A Permanent Committee Or Agency Differ?
A permanent committee reports to an appointing body to conclude business.

A committee of commissioners is charged with the concluding of business.
What Is The Difference Between A Committee And A Commission?**
BCO 15-1
-A committee is formed by a court in order to investigate, research, and/or make recommendation on an issue. It then reports back to the court its recommendation for the court to issue.
- A commission is given the authority to act in the name of the court on any issue it addresses