51-4. The leadership in song is left to the judgment of the Session, who should give careful thought to the character of those asked to lead in this part of worship, and the singing of a choir should not be allowed to displace congregational singing.

DIGEST: The current PCA text, in place since 1973, dates back to the PCUS revision of 1929.

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
1. PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW 4-4 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 156]
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, p. 64.
3. PCUS 1933, IV, § 315.
4. PCUS 1929, IV, § 315.
The leadership in song is left to the judgment of the Session, who should give careful thought to the character of those asked to lead in this part of worship, and the singing of a choir should not be allowed to displace congregational singing.

1. PCUS 1925, IV
2. PCUS 1894, IV
[no comparable text]

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 417-418.
The Session is responsible for the music, including the leadership in song during the worship. The persons who may be used in this capacity are to be of high spiritual character.
This paragraph introduces the idea of a choir. No justification for choirs is given here. Under David the Old Testament Temple worship did include the use of choirs. There is no reference to such in the New Testament, either in connection with the Temple or the synagogue worship. There are those who object to the use of choirs, since they tend to become means of "entertaining" the people, and not of praising God. The Book cautions against choirs displacing congregational singing. The use of both instruments and choirs should be for the purpose of assisting the congregation in Biblical worship, not to entertain, or to displace the congregation's singing. One might add that they should not be allowed to displace the ministry of the Word.