.

The Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order

Preface to the Book of Church Order

I. King and Head
of the Church
II. Preliminary Principles
III. The Constitution Defined
         

Section 2 : The Preliminary Principles
Paragraph 7 : Of Church Power

7. That all church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or in the way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and declarative, that is to say, that the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and manners; that no church judicatory ought to pretend to make laws to bind the conscience in virtue of its own authority; and that all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God. Now though it will easily be admitted that all synods and councils may err, through the frailty inseparable from humanity, yet there is much greater danger from the usurped claim of making laws, than from the right of judging upon laws already made and common to all who profess the gospel; although this right, as necessity requires in the present state, be lodged with fallible men.

Footnote: 1 Corinthians 2:5; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 17:11; Confession of Faith, Chapter 31. [as per M4GA, Appendix J, p. 203]

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, page 128
That all church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or in the way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and declarative, that is to say, that the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and manners; that no church judicatory ought to pretend to make laws to bind the conscience in virtue of its own authority; and that all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God. Now though it will easily be admitted that all synods and councils may err, through the frailty inseparable from humanity, yet there is much greater danger from the usurped claim of making laws, than from the right of judging upon laws already made and common to all who profess the gospel; although this right, as necessity requires in the present state, be lodged with fallible men.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, Preface, Preliminary Principles, paragraph 2
That all church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or in the way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and declarative, that is to say, that the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and manners; that no church judicatory ought to pretend to make laws to bind the conscience in virtue of its own authority; and that all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God. Now though it will easily be admitted that all synods and councils may err, through the frailty inseparable from humanity, yet there is much greater danger from the usurped claim of making laws, than from the right of judging upon laws already made and common to all who profess the gospel; although this right, as necessity requires in the present state, be lodged with fallible men.

PCUS 1879
PCUS 1869 draft
and
PCUS 1867 draft
[we have not located printed editions of the PCUS Constitution which include the Preliminary Principles. Reportedly the first edition, printed in 1861, did include the Principles, but we have been unable to locate subsequent editions with this material included.]


COMMENTARY:
Hodge, J. Aspinwall, What Is Presbyterian Law? (Philadelphia, 1882, pp. 27) :
VII
. What is the seventh principle?
"All church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or in the way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and declarative."
What is meant by this?
"That the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and manners ; that no church judicatory ought to pretend to make laws, to bind the conscience, in virtue of their own authority ; and that all their decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God."
Whence comes the danger in the exercise of church power?
"All synods and councils may err, through the frailty inseparable from humanity ; yet there is much greater danger from the usurped claim of making laws, than from the right of judging upon laws already made and common to all who profess the gospel ; although this right, as necessity requires in the present state, be lodged with fallible men."

 



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Chapter Index [links to Par. 1 of each chapter]:
FoG..
1
2
3.
4
5.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
I. King & Head of Church
.§1.
§4
§5
RoD
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
II. Preliminary Principles
§1
§2
§3
§4
§5
§6
§7
§8
DfW
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
[FoG = Form of Government ; RoD = Rules of Discipline ; DfW = Directory for Worship]