Note : In 1981, chapters 56, 57 and 58 were given constitutional status
[cf. M8GA (1980), III, Item 9, p. 118 and M9GA (1981), 9-65, Item 6, p. 137]

57-2. The time when young persons come to understand the Gospel cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the Session, whose office it is to judge, after careful examination, the qualifications of those who apply for admission to sealing ordinances.

DIGEST : For BCO 11-2 in PCA 1973, the third sentence ("In addition, answering . . .") was deleted in 1981, .
Note that PCUS 1929 & 1933 do note have that third sentence, as found in PCA 1973.

ANTECEDENT TEXTS :
1. PCA 1973, DfW, 11-2, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly,
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, DfW, 11-2, Proposed text, p. 71
The time when young persons come to years of discretion cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the Session, whose office it is to judge, after careful examination, the qualifications of those who apply for admission to sealing ordinances. In addition, answering the Constitutional questions for admission, all persons making their profession of faith should testify to the Session in their own words as to their Christian experience.

1. PCUS 1933, DfW, XI, §351
2. PCUS 1929, DfW, XI, §351
3. PCUS 1927, DfW, X-2, §342
4. PCUS 1894, DfW, X-2
The time when young persons come to years of discretion cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the Session of the church, whose office it is to judge, after careful examination, the qualifications of those who apply for admission to sealing ordinances.

1. PCUSA 1823, DfW, IX-2
2. PCUSA 1797, DfW, IX-2
The years of discretion, in young Christians, cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the eldership. The officers of the church are the judges of the qualifications of those to be admitted to sealing ordinances; and of the time when it is proper to admit young Christians to them.

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 435
Each individual case of profession of faith is left to the discretion of the Session. No age is set, or even suggested by the Book. The caution is given that there should be a careful examination of the individual, so that no one about whom there is any question will be admitted to the Table. This is a solemn duty of the Session, and should be handled very diligently.