The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 56 : The Administration of Baptism
(The Baptism of Infants and Children)

Paragraph 3 : Of Presentation for Baptism

56-3. After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, or some other responsible person, signifying the desire that the child be baptized.

DIGEST : The current PCA text dates to that of the PCUS revision adopted by their Sixty-seventh General Assembly (1927). In substance, the text dates back to at least the 1786 PCUSA draft. Reasoning behind the PCUS addition in 1927 of "or some other responsible person" remains for the moment a mystery.

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON :
PCA 1975, Adopted text for 57-3, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, 3-70, p. 83
PCA 1973, text for 10-4, as printed in the Appendix of the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 158
Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, Directory for Worship, 10-4
PCUS 1932, DfW, X-4 [§346], p. 166.
After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, or some other responsible person, signifying the desire that the child be baptized.
PCUS 1927, Minutes of General Assembly, p. 125.

PCUS 1925, IX.3 [§337]
After previous notice is given to the Minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

PCUS 1894, IX-3, p. 112.
After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

PCUSA, 1789, VII-3, p. 193.
After previous notice is given to the Minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents; signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

PCUSA, 1786 draft, ¶-3, p. 77.
After previous notice is given to the Minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

COMMENTARY :