PCA HISTORICAL CENTER
Archives and Manuscript Repository for the Continuing Presbyterian Church

The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 6 : Church Members
Paragraph 4 : Of Rights and Privileges

6-4. Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the church. (See BCO 57-4 and 58-4)

DIGEST: Though initially built on the text of PCUS 1933, all PCA texts, including the Proposed BCO (1973) express a fuller statement which includes baptism and admittance by the Session. Parenthetical references to BCO 57-4 and 58-4 were added in ______.

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, 6-4, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly,
Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, 6-3, Proposed text,
Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.

PCUS 1933, VII, § 28
Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.

PCUS 1879, III-3
Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.

PCUS 1869 draft, III-3
But those only, who have made a profession of faith in Christ, are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.

PCUS 1867 draft, III-3
Those only who have been admitted to the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, on a profession of faith in Christ, are entitled to all the privileges of believers, and are partakers in all the promises made to them. All other members are considered and treated as minors in the house and kingdom of Christ.

COMMENTARY :
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order
(1898, pp. 42-43), on III-1 :
31--III Those only who have made a profession of faith in Christ are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Church.
For if they are not yet competent to act for themselves, there are some rights and privileges that they are not yet capable of exercising and enjoying; and much more is this so if they neglect to have faith in Christ. They cannot be recognized as having this faith if they do not profess it
.