Chapter 57 : The Admission of Persons to Sealing Ordinances

Paragraph 1 : Of Covenant Children

57-1. Believers’ children within the Visible Church, and especially those dedicated to God in Baptism, are non-communing members under the care of the Church. They are to be taught to love God, and to obey and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. When they are able to understand the Gospel, they should be earnestly reminded that they are members of the Church by birthright, and that it is their duty and privilege personally to accept Christ, to confess Him before men, and to seek admission to the Lord’s Supper.

[Historical Summary : The current PCA text of 57-1 dates to 1981, when Chapters 56, 57 and 58 were adopted with full constitutional authority, albeit with minor editorial corrections. PCA 1973 was unchanged from the text of the Proposed BCO 11-1 (4 December 1973) and that of PCUS 1933 § 350 (DfW ch. 11). Differences between the texts of the 1925 and 1933 editions of the PCUS DfW date to the 1929 DfW revision. The text of the 1925 edition dates to the 1894 edition, which was the first edition adopted by the PCUS. The PCUSA text from 1823, cited below, dates to 1789, and that text remained in use in the PCUSA until at least 1905, if not beyond.]

Background and Comparison :
1. PCA 1973, DfW 11-1, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 159
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, DfW 11-1, Proposed text, p. 71
3. PCUS 1933, DfW XI, § 350
Children born within the pale of the visible church, and especially those dedicated to God in baptism, are under the care of the Church. They are to be taught to love God, and to obey and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. When they come to years of discretion they should be earnestly reminded that they are members of the Church by birthright, and that it is their duty and privilege personally to accept Christ, to confess Him before men, and to seek admission to the Lord's Supper.

PCUS 1925, DfW X-1, § 341
and
PCUS 1894, DfW X-1
Children born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to God in baptism are under the inspection and government of the church, and are to be taught to read and repeat the Catechism, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, they ought to be urgently reminded that they are members of the church by birthright, and that it is their duty and privilege personally to accept Christ, confess him before men, and seek admission to the Lord’s supper.

PCUSA 1823, DfW IX-1
Children born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to God in baptism are under the inspection and government of the church, and are to be taught to read and repeat the Catechism, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, they ought to be informed, it is their duty and their privilege, to come to the Lord’s supper.

PCUSA 1789, DfW IX-1
Children, born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to God in baptism, are under the inspection and government of the church; and are to be taught to read, and repeat the catechism, the apostles creed, and the Lord's prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And, when they come to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body, they ought to be informed, it is their duty, and their privilege, to come to the Lord's supper.