After the General Assembly votes on a flurry of overtures, the presbyteries undertake their duty to advise and consent to any proposed amendments to the Constitution (including the Book of Church Order). As two elders who have written many overtures to amend the BCO, we want to encourage presbyteries to consider passing 10 of the 13 amendments being voted on. While we don’t agree on every proposal sent down by the General Assembly, we both believe that these 10 amendments represent helpful changes to our BCO and we hope will garner broad support.
ITEM 2 – Overture 37 – Amend BCO 12-3 so that a Session May Elect One of Its Members as Moderator in Judicial Cases
This is a prudent revision because sometimes a ruling elder will have more judicial experience than the teaching elders available. In addition, there might be times when it is wiser for a ruling elder session member, rather than the church’s pastor, to serve as moderator in a judicial case. Regardless of who serves as moderator in a judicial case, he must be (or become) familiar with BCO requirements and general trial procedures.
ITEM 3 – Overture 29 – Amend BCO 15-5.c to Clarify the Handling of an SJC Minority Decision by GA
The provision of BCO 15-5 for a minority decision out of the Standing Judicial Commission has never been invoked. But if it were, there are multiple logistical problems that would occur. First, the stated clerk’s office would have to undertake the considerable expense and work of making physical copies of the decision in question and mailing them to every PCA session. Second, without access to the record of the case and the parties’ briefs, the General Assembly commissioners would not have all the information necessary to vote wisely. This amendment provides for the distribution of all documents electronically and clarifies what would happen in the event that the General Assembly rejects both the SJC and minority decisions.
ITEM 4 – Overture 6 – Amend BCO 18-2 to Allow Flexibility on Timing of Candidate Applications
Presently, the BCO requires every candidacy applicant to file his application with the clerk of presbytery “at least one month before” the presbytery meeting. This amendment deletes that requirement and gives presbytery the flexibility to set its own rule on the matter.
ITEM 6 – Overture 24 – Amend BCO 24-1 to Clarify a Session’s Role in Examining Officer Nominees Who Are Already Ordained
This concise amendment to BCO 24-1 clarifies what is likely already the case, that candidates for office who are already ordained may be examined by the session in Christian experience. The amendment also establishes the same standard for examining both ruling elders and teaching elders. BCO 13-6 requires the presbytery to examine an already ordained minister with respect to his personal character.
ITEM 7 – Overture 31 – Amend BCO 31-10 to Require Vote of the Entire Court (and not just a Commission) to Administratively Suspend an Officer’s Official Functions during Process
The BCO currently permits a small commission of a court to suspend an officer from all his official functions before any process has been completed, and the process often takes several months. This suspension might not be significant for ruling elders and deacons, but suspending the pastor can be a significant hardship for the church and the minister, including loss of compensation. If there is real need for such an administrative suspension, the entire court should vote on the matter.
ITEM 8 – Overture 40 – Amend BCO 35-9 to Require Recording All Parts of a Trial
The BCO presently stipulates “All testimony shall be recorded.” But there are other parts of a trial that should also be recorded, like instructions from the court, the parties’ proposed admission of evidence, objections of the parties during trial and the court’s response to those objections, opening and closing arguments, etc. If a person appeals, the recording will be transcribed for the record, and these other items could be important during that appeal. The PCA stated clerk’s office has reviewed and provided a list of six affordable transcription services.
ITEM 9 – Overture 15 – Amend BCO 36-4 to Add Language for the Administration of Definite Suspension from Office
This simply adds language to consider using when a court is imposing definite suspension, including specifying the dates on which the suspension begins and ends. Some presbyters believe it is wise to set the ending date to coincide with a stated meeting, but presbyters should understand that definite suspension ends automatically on the date indicated.
ITEM 10 – Overture 16 – Amend BCO 36-5 to Conform the Language to BCO 37-3, re Suspension from Office
This amendment may be one of the easiest ever to advocate for. It is both concise (only the addition of one word and the move of one parenthesis) and clear. It makes the language of BCO 36-5 consistent with the language of BCO 37-3.
ITEM 11 – Overture 32 – Amend BCO 36-8 and 42-2 to Provide Procedures for Increasing a Censure without an Entirely New Trial
The BCO currently offers no guidance on how a court can elevate the censure of someone under discipline. The BCO is so unclear that a recent case on this matter was considered by the SJC. The SJC and then the 2025 General Assembly considered two competing paths to resolve this. This amendment was passed by the Assembly, and it provides for some process and protections while not treating someone who has been convicted as having all the rights of someone presumed innocent. Clarity on this aspect of discipline will be very helpful.
ITEM 12 – Overture 23 – Amend BCO 41-3 to Allow Supplemental Judges for a Session Trial
The average session has a minister and three to four elders. If one of them needs to serve as prosecutor, and one or more will be prosecution witnesses, it could be hard to get a quorum. This amendment would allow a session to request that presbytery provide additional teaching or ruling elders to sit as judges for a session trial. Presbytery can decline the request, and the session can decline men recommended by presbytery. But this revision would allow more flexibility and even the opportunity for a session to use men with more judicial experience from outside the session. We note that the 52nd General Assembly adopted and enacted a change allowing a defendant in a session trial to recruit defense assistance who is “any member in good standing of a church in the same Presbytery or by any Teaching Elder member of that Presbytery” (BCO 32-19).
We are grateful that amending our Constitution requires the participation of the broader church and the deliberation of the PCA’s 87 Presbyteries. We hope that our thoughts will help them in their debate.
Howie Donahoe is a ruling elder in Pacific Northwest Presbytery who served as the moderator of the 47th General Assembly. Fred Greco is a teaching elder in Houston Metro Presbytery who served as moderator of the 50th General Assembly.