D. Church Courts (10-15)

Question 1

Name the courts of the church.

Answer 1

• Sessions, Presbyteries, General Assembly

Question 2

What is the proper or original jurisdiction of each court?

Answer 2

• Session: over single church
• Presbytery: over ministerial matters, sessions and its churches
• GA: over matters as concern the whole church

Question 3

What officers must each court have and how are they chosen?

Answer 3

• Moderator for Session (is the pastor), for the Presbytery and GA (elected or chosen)
• Clerk (elected)

Question 4

Who are the members of the church session?

Answer 4

• Pastor, associate pastor(s), ruling elders

Question 5

What are the main duties of the session?

Answer 5

• Maintain spiritual government, regarding… Members, officers and budget, property, general duties, worship, higher courts

Question 6

Who are the members of the presbytery?

Answer 6

• All teacher elders and churches in its bounds and which it accepts

Question 7

To what church does a minister belong?

Answer 7

The presbytery

Question 8

How is an ordained minister received into a presbytery?

Answer 8

• Receive a call to an ecclesiastical works within the geographical bounds
• Be honorably retired
• Non-PCA (tested)- extraordinary provision

Question 9

What are the main duties and responsibilities [powers] of the presbytery?

Answer 9

• To receive under its care candidates for the ministry
• To review the records of church sessions
• To establish the pastoral relation and to dissolve it
• To set apart evangelists
• To see that the lawful injunctions of the higher courts are obeyed
• To oversee the churches under their care: condemn wrong views, form/receive new churches, etc.
• To order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches
• To purpose to the GA such measures as may be of common advantage to the Church

Question 10

What are the main duties and responsibilities [powers] of the General Assembly?

Answer 10

• Receive and issue appeals, references, complaints brought from lower court
• Bear testimony against doctrinal error and immoral practice injuring the church
• Decide in all controversies
• Give advice and instruction
• Review Presbyteries records
• Devise measures to promote the propensity/enlargement of the church
• Erect new Presbyteries, united or divide others with their consent
• Institute and superintend the agencies necessary in work of the Great Commission
• Appoint ministers of labors falling under its jurisdiction
• Suppress schismatical contentions and disputations
• Receive other bodies conforming to PCA doctrine and order
• Authorize Presbyteries to receive bodies suited to become “constituents”
• Superintend the affairs of the whole church
• Corresponds with other churches
• United with other ecclesiastical bodies conforming to PCA doctrine and order
• Recommend measures to promote charity, truth, and holiness

Question 11

What are the permanent committees and agencies of the GA?

Answer 11

• Administrative Committee of GA
• Committee on Discipleship Ministries
• Committee on Mission to North America
• Committee on Mission to the World
• Committee on Reformed University Fellowship
• Agencies: Covenant College; Covenant Theological Seminary, PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc.; PCA Foundation; Ridge Haven Conference Center

Question 12

What is the difference between a committee and a commission?

Answer 12

• “A commission differs from an ordinary committee in that while a committee is appointed to examine, consider and report, a commission is authorized to deliberate upon and conclude the business referred to it.”