COMMENTARY :
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order, on Chapter 2, section 1 :
"The
The Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order
Chapter 18 : Candidates for the Gospel Ministry
Paragraph 4 :
18-4. The candidate continues to be a private member of the church and subject to the jurisdiction of the Session, but as respects his preparatory training for the ministry he is under the oversight of the Presbytery. It shall be the duty of the Presbytery to show a kindly and sympathetic interest in him, and to give him counsel and guidance in regard to his studies, his practical training, and the institutions of learning he should attend. In no case may a candidate omit from his course of study any of the subjects prescribed in the Form of Government as tests for ordination without obtaining the consent of Presbytery (see BCO 21-4); and where such consent is given the Presbytery shall record the fact and the reasons therefore.
[Historical Summary : The current PCA text differs only slightly from that of PCA 1973. Where PCA 1973 had "as tests for licensure and ordination", the current text deletes reference to licensure and now has "as tests for ordination". The current text also adds parenthetical reference to BCO 21-4.]
Background and Comparison :
1. PCA 1973, 19-4, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 137
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text,
3. PCUS 1933, XXI, § 105
and
4. PCUS 1925, XXI, § 105
The candidate continues to be a private member of the church and subject to the jurisdiction of the Session, but as respects his preparatory training for the ministry, he is under the oversight of the Presbytery. It shall be the duty of the Presbytery to show a kindly and sympathetic interest in him, and to give him counsel and guidance in regard to his studies, his practical training, and the institutions of learning he should attend. In no case may a candidate omit from his course of study any of the subjects prescribed in the Form of Government as tests for licensure and ordination without obtaining the consent of Presbytery; and where such consent is given the Presbytery shall record the fact and the reasons therefore.
PCUS 1879,
[no comparable text]
PCUS 1869 draft,
[no comparable text]
PCUS 1867 draft,
[no comparable text]
Chapter Index [links to Par. 1 of each chapter]: |
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FoG
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I. King & Head of Church
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.§1. |
RoD
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II. Preliminary Principles
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DfW |
47 |
48 |
49 |
51 |
52 |
53 |
54 |
55 |
56 |
59 |
60 |
61 |
62 |
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[FoG = Form of Government ; RoD = Rules of Discipline ; DfW = Directory for Worship] |
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