Chapter 7 : Church Officers - General Classification

Paragraph 3 : Of Scriptural Authority and Titles

7-3. No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive any official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as are employed in the Scriptures.

[Historical Summary : The current PCA text remains unchanged from that of PCUS 1879, IV-3.]

Background and Comparison :
1. PCA 1973, 7-3, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 130
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, 7-3, Proposed text, p. 7
and
3. PCUS 1933, ch. VIII, § 32
and
4. PCUS 1879, IV-3
No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive any official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as are employed in the Scriptures.

PCUS 1869 draft, IV-3
No one who exercises office in the Church ought to usurp dominion therein, or receive any titles of spiritual preeminence or lordship; but only those titles that are employed in the word.

PCUS 1867 draft, IV-3
No one who exercises office in the church ought to usurp dominion therein, or receive any titles of spiritual eminence or lordship; but only those of minister, disciple, and servant of Christ, and such others as are employed in the word.