COMMENTARY :
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order (1898, p. 256), on XIV-2:
273.--II. A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration by members of a minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem a mischievous or erroneous judgment, and is generally accompanied with a detail of the reasons on which it is founded.
A protest is a dissent in the form of a solemn testimony, with or without reasons.
[Ed. - Note that Ramsay appears to allow for greater latitude on whether reasons are attached, whereas the paragraph itself states that reasons will usually be attached.]
The Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order
Chapter 45 : Dissents, Protests and Objections
Paragraph 3 : Protests Defined
45-3. A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration by members of a
minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem an improper or
erroneous action on any issue before the court, and is generally accompanied
with the reasons on which it is founded.
[Historical Summary : The current wording of this paragraph dates to 1987 [M15GA, 15-25, Item 1, p. 94]. The language has been improved but the sense of the provision remains the same.
Background and Comparison :
1. PCA 1973, RoD, 19-2, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 154
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, RoD, 19-2, Proposed text, p. 60
3. PCUS 1933, RoD, XIX-294
4. PCUS 1925, RoD, XIX-294
5. PCUS 1879, Rules of Discipline, XIV-2
6. PCUS 1869 draft, Canons of Discipline, XIV-2
7. PCUS 1867 draft, Canons of Discipline, XIV-2
A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration by members of a minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem a mischievous or erroneous judgment, and is generally accompanied with a detail of the reasons on which it is founded.
PCUSA 1858 draft, Revised Book of Discipline, IX-2
A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration, made by members of a minority as before mentioned, bearing their testimony against what they deem a mischievous or erroneous judgment; and is generally accompanied with a detail of the reasons on which it is founded.
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 |
50 |
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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