12-4. Associate or assistant pastors may substitute for the pastor as moderator of the Session at the discretion of the pastor and the Session.

DIGEST: The two paragraphs originally in the PCA's BCO, then numbered 13-4 and 13-5, were conflated to create the what is now 12.4. What is of note here is that the Proposed text had the conflated arrangement, but that for whatever reason, there was a division of the text into the two paragraphs, 13-4 and 13-5.

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1973, 13-4 and 13-5, Adopted text, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 133
13-4 An Associate Pastor, being called by the congregation, is also a member of the Session, and may substitute for the Pastor as Moderator of the Session, at the discretion of the Pastor and Session.
13-5 An Assistant Pastor, being called by the Session, is not a member of the Session, but should attend the meetings and may, upon request, moderate a Session meeting.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, 13-4, Proposed text, p. 13
Associate or Assistant Pastors are also members of the Session and may substitute for the Pastor as Moderator of the Session at the discretion of the Pastor and Session.

No comparable text in these editions:
1. PCUS 1879, Chapter V
2. PCUS 1869 draft, Chapter V
3. PCUS 1867 draft, Chapter V

COMMENTARY:
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order (1898)
[no comparable text]