The Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order
Preface to the Book of Church Order
I. King and Head of the Church |
II. Preliminary Principles |
III. The Constitution Defined |
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Section 2 : The Preliminary Principles
Unnumbered Concluding Paragraph
If the preceding scriptural principles be steadfastly adhered to, the vigor and strictness of government and discipline, applied with pastoral prudence and Christian love, will contribute to the glory and well-being of the Church.
Historical Summary: The current text arose as a recommendation from the Ad Interim Committee on Judicial Procedure (AICJP) which was adopted and sent down to the presbyteries for advice and consent by the Twenty-fourth General Assembly (1996) [M24GA (1996): 72]. The proposed change was then adopted by the Twenty-fifth General Assembly (1997) after forty-four Presbyteries voted in favor of the revised text. Five Prebyteries voted against revision. [M25GA (1997): 112-113]. The adopted change also included the addition of an unnumbered concluding paragraph.