The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 36 : The Infliction of Church Censures

Paragraph 4 : Of Definite Suspension

36-4. Definite suspension from office should be administered in the presence of the court alone or in open session of the court, as it may deem best, and public announcement thereof shall be at the court’s discretion.

DIGEST : The current PCA text dates to 1990 [M18GA, 18-8, Item 4, p. 47].

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISON :
1. PCA 1973, RoD, 10-4, Adopted text, (M1GA, Part IV, Appendix B, p. 150)
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, RoD, 10-4, Proposed text, p. 51
3. PCUS 1933, RoD, X-§244
4. PCUS 1925, RoD, X-§244
Definite suspension should be administered in the presence of the court alone, or in open session of the court, as it may deem best, and public announcement thereof shall be at the court's discretion.

PCUS 1879, Rules of Discipline, X-4
Definite suspension being an exemplary censure, ought ordinarily to be either administered in open session, or announced to the church.

PCUS 1869 draft, Canons of Discipline, X-4
Definite suspension being an exemplary censure, ought ordinarily to be either administered in open Session, or intimated to the Congregation.

PCUS 1867 draft, Canons of Discipline, X-4
Definite suspension being an exemplary censure, ought ordinarily to be either administered in open session, or intimated to the congregation.

OTHER COMPARISONS :
RPCES 1973, VIII-5

COMMENTARY :
F.P. Ramsay, Exposition of the Book of Church Order (1898, p. 222), on X-4:
223.--IV. Definite suspension being an exemplary censure, ought ordinarily to be either administered in open session, or announced to the church.
"Ordinarily" leaves the court discretion. The announcement is to be made in such way and by such agent as the court may order.