56-3. After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, or some other responsible person, signifying the desire that the child be baptized.

DIGEST : The current PCA text dates to that of the PCUS revision of 1929, though in substance, the text dates back to at least the 1786 PCUSA draft. Reasoning behind the PCUS addition in 1929 of "or some other responsible person" remains for the moment a mystery.

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON :
1. PCA 1975, Adopted text for BCO 57-3, as printed in the Minutes of General Assembly, 3-70, p. 83
2. PCA 1973, text for 10-4, as printed in the Appendix of the Minutes of General Assembly, p. 158
3. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed BCO text, Directory for Worship, 10-4, p. 69
4. PCUS 1933, DfW, X, §346
5. PCUS 1929, DfW, X, §346
After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, or some other responsible person, signifying the desire that the child be baptized.

PCUS 1927, DfW IX, §337–III
PCUSA, 1789, VII-3, p. 193.
PCUSA, 1786 draft, ¶-3, p. 77.
After previous notice is given to the Minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

PCUS 1894, DfW IX-3, p. 112.
After previous notice is given to the minister, the child to be baptized is to be presented, by one or both the parents, signifying their desire that the child may be baptized.

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 429-430.
This paragraph indicates that there should be due notice to the minister when a baptism is requested. Notice the various possibilities of who may bring a child: 1. one parent; 2. both parents; 3. someother responsible person. Though it is not stated here, the person presenting the child must be a believer.