The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 57 : The Admission of Persons to Sealing Ordinances

Paragraph 4 :

57-4. It is recommended, as edifying and proper, that baptized persons, when admitted by the Session to the Lord’s Supper, make a public profession of their faith in the presence of the congregation. But in all cases, there should be a clear recognition of their previous relation to the church as baptized members.

DIGEST :With minor differences of capitalization, the current PCA text is unchanged from that of all previous editions, back to PCUS 1894, which was the first approved PCUS edition.

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
1. PCA 1973, DfW, 11-4, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 159
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, DfW 11-4, Proposed text, p. 71
3. PCUS 1933, DfW, XI, § 353
It is recommended, as edifying and proper, that baptized persons, when admitted by the Session to the Lord’s Supper, make a public profession of their faith in the presence of the congregation. But in all cases, there should be a clear recognition of their previous relation to the Church as baptized members.

PCUS 1925, DfW, X-4, § 343
and
PCUS 1894, DfW, X-4
It is recommended, as edifying and proper, that baptized persons, when admitted by the Session to the Lord’s supper, make a public profession of their faith in the presence of the congregation. But in all cases, there should be a clear recognition of their previous relation to the church as baptized members.