The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 19 : The Licensure of Candidates for the Gospel Ministry and Internship

Paragraph 13 : Of Approval or Disapproval

19-13. At the end of the period of time set by the Presbytery for his internship, an intern shall have his internship either approved or disapproved. Even if it is approved, he cannot be ordained without a call to some specific work. If the internship is disapproved, the Presbytery may either extend it for another definite period of time or it may completely rescind his intern status and may revoke his internship. If the intern shall devote himself unnecessarily to such pursuits as interfere with a full trial of his gifts, it shall be the duty of the Presbytery to rescind his intern status, and to record its reasons therefor in the Minutes of Presbytery.

DIGEST:

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, Adopted text

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text

PCUS 1933

PCUS 1879, Chapter VI, Section VI, Paragraph 12 [§140.]
XII. When a Probationer shall have been preaching for a long time, and his services do not appear to be edifying to the Church, the Presbytery may, if it thinks proper, recall his license; and it shall be its duty to do so whenever the Probationer shall without necessity devote himself to such pursuits as interfere with a full trial of his gifts, according to his license.

PCUS 1869 draft

PCUS 1867 draft

COMMENTARY:
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order (1898)
XII. When a Probationer shall have been preaching for a long time, and his services do not appear to be edifying to the Church, the Presbytery may, if it thinks proper, recall his license; and it shall be its duty to do so whenever the Probationer shall without necessity devote himself to such pursuits as interfere with a full trial of his gifts, according to his license.
The dignity of a licensed Probationer should be kept inseparable from the obligation and aim of this tentative status.