Pca Boco Exam Questions

Front 1

Who is the head of the church?

Back 1

Jesus Christ (P-1)

Front 2

How does the head of the church exercise his authority?

Back 2

Jesus is the sole Priest, Propet, King, and Saviour who rules and teaches the Church through His Word and Spirit by the ministry of men. (P-1)

Front 3

List at least two key principles of Presbyterian church government.

Back 3

1. God alone is Lord of the conscience.
2. Jesus has appointed officers not only to preach the Gospel and admininster the Sacraments, but also to preserve truth and duty by exercising discipline. (P-2)

Front 4

Can the church "bind" men's consciences?

Back 4

No. God alone is Lord of the conscience. (P-2.7)

Front 5

What is the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America?

Back 5

The Constitution is subject to and subordinate to teh Scriptures, consisting of doctrinal standards set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order. (BCO P-3)

Front 6

What is the visible church? Who are its members?

Back 6

The body of Christ consisting of all those who make profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, together with all their children. (BCO 2-1)

Front 7

What is the power of the church? How does it differ from that of the state?

Back 7

The power of the Church is exlusively spiritual; that of the State includes the exercise of force. (BCO 3-4)

Front 8

What is a particular church?

Back 8

A particular church consists of professing Christians and a permanent governing body meeting together for worship and godly living, agreeable to Scriptures, and submitting to the government of Christ's kingdom. (4-1)

Front 9

What is a mission church?

Back 9

Same as particular church but that it has no permanent governing body (BCO 5-1)

Front 10

What two kinds of members does the church have?

Back 10

There are non-communing (children of believers) and communing members (those who have made a profession of faith in Christ, baptized, admitted by Session) BCO 6-1&2

Front 11

What are the church members rights and privileges?

Back 11

Members are privileged to receive the Lord's Supper. (6-4)

Front 12

What permanent officers has Christ given to his Church?

Back 12

Elders and deacons. Elders are divided into two orders of teaching elders and ruling elders. BCO 7-2

Front 13

What are the qualifications for an elder?

Back 13

Wise, blameless, sober, above reproach, rules his house well, and has a good report with those outside the Church. (BCO 8-2)

Front 14

What are the duties of an elder?

Back 14

Watch over the flock through proper government & discipline. For the members of the church he should visit, instruct, comfort, guard, pray with and for the people and be a worthy example. 8-3

Front 15

How are ruling and teaching elders alike?

Back 15

Elders are of one class of office. They have the same authority in the courts of the Church. However, teaching elders preach and administer Sacraments while ruling elders are commissioned to govern. 8-9

Front 16

What is meant by the "parity" of ruling and teaching elders?

Back 16

Within the Old Testament and the New Testament, Christ has always furnished others beside ministers of the Word with gifts to govern. BCO 8-8

Front 17

What are the duties of deacons?

Back 17

1. Their duties are toward sympathy and service, helping those in need.
2. They are to care for the property of the church and keep it in good repair. BCO 9-1; 9-2

Front 18

What are the qualifications for deacons?

Back 18

The are to be chosen for spiritual character, honesty, exemplary lives, brotherly spirit, warm sympathies and sound judgment. BCO 9-3

Front 19

Name the courts of the church.

Back 19

Sessions, Presbyteries, and the General Assembly. BCO 10-2

Front 20

What is the proper or original jurisdiction of each court of the church?

Back 20

They have no jurisdiction in political or civil affairs but only ministerial and declarative. It relates to the doctrines and precepts of Christ, to the order of the Church, and to the exercise of discipline. BCO 11-1; 11-2

Front 21

What officers must each court have? How are they chosen?

Back 21

1. Moderator- the pastor for the session or an elected minister for the Presbytery
2. Clerk- elected by each court to serve for a period of time. BCO 10-3; 10-4

Front 22

Who are the members of the church session?

Back 22

Pastor, associate pastor and ruling elders. BCO 12-1

Front 23

What are the main duties of the session?

Back 23

1. To inquire about the conduct of church members for their care.
2. To install ruling elders and deacons.
3. To approve actions affecting church property.
4. To establish and control Sunday Schools and Bible classes.
5. To exercise authority and control over all religious services.
6. To carry out the decisions handed down by the higher courts. BCO 12-5

Front 24

Who are the members of presbytery?

Back 24

All the teaching elders and churches within its bounds BCO 13-1

Front 25

To what church does a minister belong?

Back 25

In the Prebytery within whose geographical bounds he resides BCO 13-2

Front 26

How is an ordained minister received into a presbytery?

Back 26

1. Only a minister who receives a call to a definite ecclesiastical work in a particular Presbytery.
2. Ministers from other Presbyteries in the PCA shall be examined on Christian experience and touch on their views in theology, Sacraments, and church government.
3. Ministers from other denominations will be thoroughly examined just as candidates to ordination would be. BCO 13-5; 13-6

Front 27

What is the difference between a committee and a commission?

Back 27

A commission differs from an ordinary committee in that while a committe is appointed to examine, consider and report, a commission is authorized to deliberate upon and conclude the business referred to it, except in the case of judicial commissions of a Presbytery appointed under BCO 15-3. (BCO 15-1)

Front 28

How is a man called to office in the church?

Back 28

A man is called by the Spirit, through the inward testimony, the testimony of God's people, and the concurring judgment of a lawful court of the Church. (BCO 16-1)

Front 29

What is a candidate?

Back 29

A candidate for the ministry is a member of the Church in full communion who, believing himself to be called to preach the Gospel, submits himself to the care and guidance of the Presbytery in his course of study and of practical training to prepare himself for this office. (BCO 18-1)

Front 30

What is required to become a candidate?

Back 30

1. Every applicant for the ministry must put himself under the care of Presbytery
2. Be endorsed by his Session
3. Be a member of the congregation whose session provides an endorsement for at least six months.
4. File an application one month before the meeting of the Presbytery. (BCO 18-2)

Front 31

What is a licentiate?

Back 31

A man who is licensed to preach on a regular basis. (BCO 19-1)

Front 32

In what areas is a prospective licentiate examined?

Back 32

1. Christian experience and innward call to preach the Gospel.
2. Tested by oral or written exam on Biblical doctrine, Bible content, and basic knowledge of the Book of Church Order.
3. Provide a written sermon and present it orally to Presbytery. (BCO 19-2)

Front 33

What is internship?

Back 33

The Holy Scriptures require that some trial be made of those who are to be ordained to the ministry of the Word, concerning their gifts and their ability to rule as teaching elders. (BCO 19-7)

Front 34

What steps must a church take in calling a pastor?

Back 34

1. Elect a pulpit committee
2. The committee will recommend a suitable pastoral candidate to the congregation.
3. Congregation will convene for an election of the pastor.
4. The call should be signed and certified to Presbytery by the minister who presided over the election. (BCO 20)

Front 35

In what areas must a candidate for ordination be examined?

Back 35

1. Experiential religion (personal character and family management)
2. Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew
3. Bible content
4. Theology
5. Sacraments
6. Church History
7. History of the PCA
8. Principles and rules of the government and discipline of the church.
9. Prepare a thesis on some theological topic
10. Prepare an exegesis on an assigned portion of Scripture.
11. Preach a sermon. (BCO 21-4)

Front 36

What vows must a candidate for ordination take?

Back 36

1. Belief that Scripture is infallible
2. Adopt the Confession of Faith and Catechism as systems of doctrine taught in Scripture.
3. Approve of form of government and discipline of PCA.
4. Promise to subject to your brethren in the Lord.
5. Seeking the office out of love to God and desire to promote His glory.
6. Promise to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths.
7. Faithful to exercise your duties.
8. Willing to take charge of the church. (21-5)