49-2. Let the people assemble at the appointed time, that all being present
at the beginning they may unite with one heart in all the parts of public
worship. Let none unnecessarily depart until after the blessing be
pronounced.
DIGEST: BCO 26-2 having been temporarily suspended in 1973 (then numbered as 27-2), many changes to the BCO were later proposed by the Constitutional Documents Committee. The current text of this paragraph dates to those changes adopted in 1975. (M3GA, 3-15, p. 57). For the current text, as shown above, the notable difference is the deletion of the phrase "be careful." Otherwise, the substance of paragraph 49-2, with minor differences primarily of punctuation, dates to the second draft of the PCUSA Constitution (1786).
BACKGROUND AND COMPARISON :
1. PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW 2-1 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 155]
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, 2-1, p. 63
3. PCUS 1929, DfW II-1
Let the people be careful to assemble at the appointed time, that all being present at the beginning they may unite with one heart in all the parts of public worship, and let none unnecessarily depart until after the blessing be pronounced.
1. PCUS 1925, DfW, I-5
2.
PCUS 1894, II
Let the people be careful to assemble at the appointed time; that, being all present at the beginning, they may unite, with one heart, in all the parts of public worship; and let none unnecessarily depart till after the blessing be pronounced.
PCUSA 1789, DfW, I-5
Let the people be careful to assemble at the appointed time; that, being all present at the beginning, they may unite, with one heart, in all the parts of public worship : and let none necessarily depart, till after the blessing be pronounced.
PCUSA 1786, DfW, 2d Draught
Let the people be careful to assemble at the appointed time, that, being all present at the beginning, they may unite, with one heart, in all the parts of public worship : and let none necessarily depart, till after the blessing be pronounced.
COMMENTARY
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 410.
This paragraph speaks to two practical matters: the arrival at the place of worship and the departure from it. The instruction is quite clear. All should be present at the beginning, and none should leave until the blessing has been pronounced. There may, of course, be the emergency situations that require a late arrival or an early departure, but no one should neglect or show his disdain of the worship service as to regularly be late or leave early. The Session should take note of any who willful and regularly show such disdain for the worship of God, and call them to account.
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