College Hill Community Church PCUSA invites you to a join our Adult Sunday School on Zoom. Sunday 9:15 – 10:00.
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NOTES FROM FEBRUARY 2, 2025 Sunday School Class
Presbyterian Book of Order
A. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) consists of the Book of Confessions (Part I) and the Book of Order (Part II).
B. The Book of Order is organized into four parts
1. The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity; Sections are numbered beginning with the letter F
2. Form of Government; Sections are numbered beginning with the letter G
3. Directory for Worship; Sections are numbered beginning with the letter W
4. Rules of Discipline; Sections are numbered beginning with the letter D
C. The Presbyterian Church is descended from the Reform movement. Reformed Christians have marked the presence of the true Church wherever: the Word of God is truly preached and heard, the Sacraments are rightly administered, and ecclesiastical discipline is uprightly ministered. F-1.0303
D. The great ends of the Church are: the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. F-1.0304
E. The unity of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the Church’s membership. In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person. F-1.0403
F. The Historic Principles of Church Order are
1. F-3.01 God alone Is Lord of the Conscience. The rights of private judgment, in all matters that respect religion, as universal and unalienable: F-3.0101
2. Corporate Judgment. Every Christian Church is entitled to declare the terms of admission into its communion. If they err, they make improper use of their rights. F-3.0102
3. Officers not only to preach the gospel and administer the Sacraments, but also exercise discipline, for the preservation of both truth and duty; F-3.0103
4. Truth and Goodness. t there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. F-3.0104
5. Mutual Forbearance. There are truths and forms with respect to which men of good characters and principles may differ. It is the duty both of Christians to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other.
6. F-3.0105 Election by the People Though the character, qualifications, and authority of Church officers are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, the election of the persons to the exercise of this authority is within the group. .F-3.0106
7. Church Power. 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; F-3.0107
8. The Value of Ecclesiastical Discipline. ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object. it can derive no force but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and and blessing of the great Head of the Church universal. F-3.0108
G. Principles of Presbyterian Government are found in F-3.02. One Church, governed by presbyters (ruling and teaching elders) who do not “lord it over” the congregation but are chosen by the congregation to discern and guide in its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. They are gathered in Councils (sessions, presbyteries, synods and the general assembly) who seek and represent the will of Christ. Decisions are by Majority Vote following opportunity for discussion and discernment. A higher council shall have the right of review and control over a lower one, and shall have power to determine matters of controversy upon reference, complaint, or appeal. Presbyters (ruling elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament) and deacons are ordained only by the authority of a council. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is a shared power, to be exercised jointly by presbyters gathered in councils. Councils possess whatever administrative authority is necessary to give effect to duties and powers assigned by the Constitution of the church. The jurisdiction of each council is limited by the express provisions of the Constitution, with powers not mentioned being reserved to the presbyteries.
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