WRPC: Book of Church Order

PCA Book of Church Order - 1998

Rules for Assembly Operations
as Amended by the 23rd General Assembly

Original Introduction to Electronic Version of 1993 BCO on the Valley Presbyterian Church Site

The electronic BCO is taken from the version of The Book of Church Order as amended by the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly in 1993. Minor modifications have been made since that time (and will be revised accordingly later), but the essential tenets of ecclesiology are clearly set forth in this document. The text was provided by Center for the Advancement of Paleo Orthodoxy and reformated by Valley Presbyterian Church to make it a searchable web document.

Introduction to the 1998 Electronic Version of BCO

This 1998 electronic BCO is taken from the 1993 electronic version found on the Valley Presbyterian Church site with the inclusion of the 1994 - 1998 BCO amendments adopted by the General Assembly (taken from the 1998 published Fifth Edition of the BCO). The Rules of Assembly Operation (as amended by the 23rd General Assembly) and the Manual of SJC (as of June 1997) have also been added. You may Download the 1998 PCA book of Church Order as a Microsoft Word document.

1998 BCO

Click here to access Chapters 1-20

I. THE KING AND HEAD OF THE CHURCH
II. PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES
III. THE CONSTITUTION DEFINED
PART I FORM OF GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 1.THE DOCTRINE OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER 2. THE VISIBLE CHURCH DEFINED.
CHAPTER 3.THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CHURCH POWER.
CHAPTER 4.THE PARTICULAR CHURCH.
CHAPTER 5.THE ORGANIZATION OF A PARTICULAR CHURCH.
CHAPTER 6. CHURCH MEMBERS.
CHAPTER 7. CHURCH OFFICERS-GENERAL CLASSIFICATION.
CHAPTER 8. THE ELDER.
CHAPTER 9. THE DEACON.
CHAPTER 10. CHURCH COURTS IN GENERAL.
CHAPTER 11. JURISDICTION OF CHURCH COURTS.
CHAPTER 12. THE CHURCH SESSION.
CHAPTER 13. THE PRESBYTERY.
CHAPTER 14.THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
CHAPTER 15. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONS.
CHAPTER 16. CHURCH ORDERS -- THE DOCTRINE OF VOCATION.
CHAPTER 17. DOCTRINE OF ORDINATION.
CHAPTER 18. CANDIDATES FOR THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.
CHAPTER 19. LICENSURE AND INTERNSHIP
CHAPTER 20. THE ELECTION OF PASTORS.
CHAPTER 21 THE ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF MINISTERS.

Click here to access Chapters 21-63

CHAPTER 22. THE PASTORAL RELATIONS.
CHAPTER 23. THE DISSOLUTION OF THE PASTORAL RELATION AND THE PROCEDURE FOR HONORABLE RETIREMENT.
CHAPTER 24. ELECTION, ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS.
CHAPTER 25. CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS.
CHAPTER 26. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH.
PART II THE RULES OF DISCIPLINE
CHAPTER 27. DISCIPLINE -- ITS NATURE, SUBJECTS AND ENDS.
CHAPTER 28. DISCIPLINING OF NONCOMMUNING MEMBERS.
CHAPTER 29. OFFENSES.
CHAPTER 30. CHURCH CENSURES.
CHAPTER 31. THE PARTIES IN CASES OF PROCESS.
CHAPTER 32.GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL CASES OF PROCESS.
CHAPTER 33. SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO PROCESS BEFORE SESSIONS.
CHAPTER 34. SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER (TEACHING ELDER).
CHAPTER 35. EVIDENCE.
CHAPTER 36. THE INFLICTION OF CHURCH CENSURES.
CHAPTER 37.THE REMOVAL OF CENSURE.
CHAPTER 38. CASES WITHOUT PROCESS.
CHAPTER 39. MODES IN WHICH THE PROCEEDINGS OF LOWER COURTS COME UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF HIGHER COURTS.
CHAPTER 40. GENERAL REVIEW AND CONTROL.
CHAPTER 41.REFERENCES.
CHAPTER 42.APPEALS.
CHAPTER 43. COMPLAINTS.
CHAPTER 44.(VACATED)
CHAPTER 45. DISSENTS, PROTESTS, AND OBJECTIONS.
CHAPTER 46. JURISDICTION.
PART III THE DIRECTORY FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD
CHAPTER 47. THE PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
CHAPTER 48. THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE LORD'S DAY.
CHAPTER 49. THE ORDERING OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
CHAPTER 50 THE PUBLIC READING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
CHAPTER 51. THE SINGING OF PSALMS AND HYMNS.
CHAPTER 52 PUBLIC PRAYER.
CHAPTER 53. THE PREACHING OF THE WORD.
CHAPTER 54. THE WORSHIP OF GOD BY OFFERINGS.
CHAPTER 55. CONFESSING THE FAITH.
CHAPTER 56. THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM
CHAPTER 57. THE ADMISSION OF PERSONS TO SEALING ORDINANCES.
CHAPTER 58. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
CHAPTER 59. THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER 60. THE VISITATION OF THE SICK.
CHAPTER 61. THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.
CHAPTER 62. DAYS OF FASTING AND THANKSGIVING.
CHAPTER 63. CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE HOME.

Rules for Assembly Operations as Amended by the 23rd General Assembly

Click here to access the Operating Manual for the Standing Judicial Commission

1. Membership
2. Officers and Their Duties
3. Meetings
4. Expenses
5. Quorum
6. Eligibility for Voting
7. Conduct of Members
8. The Record of the Case
9. Briefs
10. Administrative Procedure
11. Judicial Panels
12. Hearing by the Full Commission
13. Procedure for Hearing a Judicial Reference Case (BCO 41)
14. Procedure for Hearing an Appeal (BCO 42)
15. Procedure for Hearing a Complaint (BCO 43)
16. Procedure for Hearing a Memorial (BCO 40-5) VACATED
17. Initial Procedures for Hearings Before a Judicial Panel or Full Commission
18. Decisions, Review and Rehearsing Thereof
19. Miscellaneous
20. Reports
21. Amendments, Use and Distribution of Operating Manual

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