BCO

Question 1

What is the constitution of the PCA?

Answer 1

The Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order (BCO Preface III)

Question 2

Does that include the Bible?

Answer 2

No, the Bible is not part of the Constitution but is the supreme standard (BCO Preface III)

Question 3

What are the three parts of the BCO?

Answer 3

Form of Government, Rules of Discipline, Directory for Worship (BCO Contents)

Question 4

Which parts are constitutionally binding?

Answer 4

The Form of Government and Rules of Discipline are binding (BCO Preface III), along with chapters 56, 57, 58, and 59-3.

Question 5

What are the three general types of church governments?

Answer 5

Episcopal, Congregational, and Presbyterian (BCO 1-1)

Question 6

What are the 5 categories under which we can comprehend presbyterian government?

Answer 6

The Church, Members, Officers, Courts, Orders (BCO 1-1)

Question 7

Who is part of the visible church?

Answer 7

All those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and their children (BCO 2-1)

Question 8

What are the ordinary offices Christ has given to his church today?

Answer 8

Elders and Deacons (BCO 7-2)

Question 9

What do the terms severally and jointly mean with regard to presbyterian polity? Give some examples of what an elder can do severally or jointly.

Answer 9

Severally means individual authority, jointly refers to collective authority in courts. For example, teaching the Bible severally, exercising discipline jointly (BCO 3-2)

Question 10

What are some of the things Teaching Elders have power to do but Ruling Elders do not have the power to do?

Answer 10

Teaching Elders can preach and administer sacraments, while Ruling Elders cannot (BCO 8-5, 8-9)

Question 11

Do teaching elders and ruling elders have the same authority and eligibility to office in the church courts?

Answer 11

Yes, they have the same authority and eligibility in church courts (BCO 8-9)

Question 12

What are the three gradated courts of the PCA?

Answer 12

Session, Presbytery, General Assembly (BCO 10-2)

Question 13

What is the difference between a particular and a mission church?

Answer 13

A particular church has a permanent governing body, a mission church does not (BCO 5-1, 5-9)

Question 14

Who has the authority to organize a particular church?

Answer 14

The Presbytery (BCO 5-9)

Question 15

Who is responsible for the ministry of sympathy and service?

Answer 15

Deacons (BCO 9-1)

Question 16

What happens when a church is unable to ordain a diaconate?

Answer 16

The duties devolve upon the elders (BCO 9-2)

Question 17

Name some of the duties of the church Session:

Answer 17

Maintain spiritual oversight, exercise discipline, approve the budget, oversee church services (BCO 12-5)

Question 18

Who are members of the church session?

Answer 18

The pastor, associate pastors, and ruling elders (BCO 12-1)

Question 19

Who is the moderator of the church session?

Answer 19

The pastor is the moderator by virtue of office (BCO 12-2)

Question 20

Who approves the church budget?

Answer 20

The Session approves the budget (BCO 12-5)

Question 21

Who elects Ruling Elders to shepherd a church?

Answer 21

The congregation (BCO 24-1)

Question 22

Who elects Teaching Elders to shepherd a church?

Answer 22

The congregation, with Presbytery approval (BCO 20-1, 20- 2)

Question 23

When examining a possible new member, what are the three “classifications” by which members are added to the church?

Answer 23

Baptized non-communing members, communicant members, and transfers (BCO 57). We receive people by Transfer if coming from another PCA church, Reaffirmation of faith, if previously members of a non-PCA church, or profession of faith if they are a convert.

Question 24

What are the two kinds of members in a church? How does someone move from one kind to the other?

Answer 24

Non-communing and communing members. Non communing members become communicants after profession of faith (BCO 6-1, 6-2)

Question 25

What are the 5 membership vows new members  make before the Church? (Paraphrase is fine)

Answer 25

Acknowledge sin, trust in Christ, promise to walk in  newness of life, support the church, submit to elders (BCO  57-5)

Question 26

In which court do Teaching Elders hold their  membership in the church? 

Answer 26

The Presbytery (BCO 13-1)

Question 27

Who else are members of Presbytery?

Answer 27

Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders elected by their Sessions  (BCO 13-1, 13-2)

Question 28

Who are members of the General Assembly?

Answer 28

Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders elected by their Session  (BCO 14-1)

Question 29

What are the 10 permanent committees and  agencies of the General Assembly?

Answer 29

10 permanent committees include: Administration,  Discipleship Ministries, Mission to North America, Mission  to the World, Covenant College, Covenant Theological  Seminary, Reformed University Fellowship, Ridge Haven,  PCA Foundation, Geneva Benefits. 

Question 30

What is the difference between a committee and  a commission? 

Answer 30

A committee reports, a commission acts (BCO 15-1)

Question 31

What areas of examination must a candidate for  coming Under Care be examined in? 

Answer 31

Christian experience, and calling (BCO 18-3)

Question 32

What areas of examination must a candidate for  ordination be examined in?

Answer 32

Christian experience, knowledge of Greek & Hebrew, Bible  Content, Theology, Sacraments, Church History, PCA history,  form of Government & rules of dsicipline. (BCO 21-4.c.)

Question 33

What does it mean to be licensed to preach the  gospel?

Answer 33

A license is official permission to preach regularly before  ordination (BCO 19-1)

Question 34

Can a Pastoral Candidate, during examinations,  hold to any exceptions to the Westminster  Standards?

Answer 34

Yes, they can hold stated differences, but the Presbytery  judges whether these differences strike at the system of  doctrine (BCO 21-4)

Question 35

What classifications can a stated difference to the  Standards be defined as?

Answer 35

Merely semantic, more than semantic but not out of accord  with any fundamental of our system of Doctrine, or "hostile  to the system & strikes at the vitals of religion."

Question 36

Who ordains Teaching Elders? 

Answer 36

The Presbytery (BCO 21-5)

Question 37

Who ordains Ruling Elders? 

Answer 37

The Session (BCO 24-6)

Question 38

Who can vote at a congregational meeting? 

Answer 38

All communicant members of the church (BCO 25-1)

Question 39

Who in the PCA owns the property of a church  building? 

Answer 39

The local congregation owns its property (BCO 25-9)

Question 40

Who receives and dismisses church members? 

Answer 40

The Session (BCO 57-4)

Question 41

What do we mean by discipline in the church?

Answer 41

Instruction or correction of erring members (informal) and  judicial processes (formal) (BCO 27-1)

Question 42

What are the 3 stated goals of church discipline?

Answer 42

The glory of God, the purity of the church, and the  reclaiming of the sinner (BCO 27-3)

Question 43

What are the five censures the church courts can  impose in a matter of formal discipline?

Answer 43

Admonition, suspension from the sacraments,  excommunication, suspension from office, and deposition  from office (BCO 30-1)

Question 44

Who has the primary responsibility for the  Christian nurture, eduction, and training of the  children in the church? 

Answer 44

The parents (BCO 63-1)

Question 45

Which court should file charges against a member  of the church? 

Answer 45

The Session (BCO 31-1)

Question 46

Which court should file charges against a minister  (TE) in the church? 

Answer 46

The Presbytery (BCO 34-1)

Question 47

What needs to take place before charges can  officially be filed?

Answer 47

Investigation of charges and citation of witnesses (BCO 31- 2)

Question 48

How many witnesses are necessary for charges to  be filed? 

Answer 48

At least two or more witnesses (BCO 35-3)

Question 49

What does the BCO mean when it talks about  “Review and Control?”

Answer 49

Review and Control ensures that higher courts examine the  records of lower courts for conformity to the Constitution  (BCO 40-1)

Question 50

What is a Reference?

Answer 50

A reference is when a lower court refers a matter to a  higher court for advice or judgment (BCO 41-1)

Question 51

What is an Appeal?

Answer 51

An appeal is when a decision of a lower court is challenged  in a higher court (BCO 42-1)

Question 52

What is a Complaint?

Answer 52

A complaint is a written representation against some  action or decision of a church court (BCO 43-1)