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The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as defined in G-1.0500 consists of The Book of Confessions (Part I) and the Book of Order (Part II).
The Book of Confessions contains the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism, the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the Confession of 1967, and A Brief Statement of Faith¾Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The Book of Order contains the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline.
In this Book of Order
- SHALL and IS TO BE/ARE TO BE signify practice that is mandated,
- SHOULD signifies practice that is strongly recommended,
- IS APPROPRIATE signifies practice that is commended as suitable,
- MAY signifies practice that is permissible but not required.
- ADVISORY HANDBOOK signifies a handbook produced by agencies of the General Assembly to guide synods and presbyteries in procedures related to the oversight of ministry. Such handbooks suggest procedures that are commended, but not required.
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The 214th General Assembly (2002) took action to supplement the Book of Order with an index of scriptural allusions in selected chapters of the Form of Government. The index has been added to this addition of the book and is found at the back of the book prior to the alphabetical index.
The amendments to the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline, proposed to the presbyteries by the 218th General Assembly (2008) and approved by a majority of the presbyteries, are included in this volume. The new wording appears in boldface within the appropriate paragraph. These amendments take effect on June 28, 2009. Amendments have been made in the following places:
| Book of Order |
Minutes, 2008 |
Book of Order |
Minutes, 2008 |
| G-5.0200 |
48, 241 |
G-13.0202a |
23, 617 |
| G-6.0202b |
48, 239 |
G-13.0202b |
23, 617 |
| G-6.0401 |
48, 239 |
G-14.0431 |
36, 1279 |
| G-9.0701b |
23, 617 |
G-14.0720 |
23, 617 |
| G-9.0702 |
23, 617 |
G-14.0722 |
23, 617 |
| G-9.0901 |
23, 617 |
G-14.0730 |
49, 265 |
| G-9.0902c |
23, 617 |
G-14.0742a,b,c |
23, 617 |
| G-11.0102 |
19, 1262 |
G-14.0743 |
23, 617 |
| G-11.0407 |
48, 51, 277 |
D-2.0101a |
23, 617 |
| G-12.0102k |
19, 1262 |
D-2.0103 |
48, 49, 262 |
| G-13.0103h |
23, 617 |
D-2.0202 |
23, 617 |
| G-13.0107 |
49, 266 |
D-6.0202b |
23, 617 |
| G-13.0108 |
49, 266 |
D-6.0302 |
23, 617 |
| G-13.0200 |
23, 617 |
D-6.0302a |
23, 617 |
| G-13.0201c |
23, 617 |
D-10.0202h |
48, 49, 262 |
| G-13.0201d |
23, 617 |
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| Ecumenical Statement |
Minutes, 2008 |
| Korean Presbyterian Church in America—Covenant Relationship Agreement |
14, 15, 513 |
June 2009 |
Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMBER SYSTEM OF THE BOOK OF ORDER
The three parts of the Book of Order are abbreviated by the use of capital letters:
G — Form of Government
W — Directory for Worship
D — Rules of Discipline
Each reference in the text begins with the appropriate letter. The numeral appearing after the letter, and to the left of the decimal, indicates the chapter number. There are four numerals to the right of the decimal. The first two indicate the number of a section. The second two indicate the number of the subsection.
Each page is noted in numerals preceded by the proper letter to identify the material that appears on it. For example, in the Form of Government, the first page of Chapter VI bears the notation:
G-6.0000-.0106
This indicates that Chapter VI of the Form of Government begins here and the page includes Section 1 with six titled subsections: 6.0101, 6.0102, 6.0103, 6.0104, 6.0105, and 6.0106.
The chapters and sections of the Book of Order are so notated that it is possible for chapters and sections to be added by amendment without changing any of the present notations.
By avoiding page numbers, this notation makes it possible for citations to the Book of Order in minutes, reports, and correspondence to remain the same from year to year in English, Korean, Spanish, and Braille editions.
The words “[This section was stricken by...]” have been used in a few places to avoid renumbering, which would confuse citations to the Book of Order.
Back to the Book of Order Table of Contents
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