Twelve Proposed BCO Changes Sent to Presbyteries
By Larry Hoop
PCA 50th anniversary

The PCA Constitution consists of the Westminster Standards, which set forth the denomination’s theology, and the Book of Church Order (BCO), which concerns the details of its polity. Though a procedure to amend the Standards exists, the PCA has never approved any changes to them. By contrast, the BCO has been amended frequently. The year, the 49th General Assembly (GA) proposed 12 changes to the BCO, the largest number sent to the presbyteries for their “advice and consent” since 1988.

Five of the proposals were held over from the 48th GA for consideration this year:

  • Amendments to BCO 38-1 and 42-2 to allow a person who voluntarily confesses to an offense (defined in BCO 29 as anything in doctrine or practice contrary to the Word of God) to appeal the censure imposed by his/her court to the next highest court. This would expedite action by the higher court, suspend the censure until the appeal is adjudicated, and allow the higher court to apply the censure that should have been imposed, rather than simply sending the case back to the lower court.
  • Amendments to BCO 31-10 and 33-4 regarding pre-trial, non-disciplinary suspensions. Under the current rules, a court may suspend a church officer who is being tried for an offense from serving in the official functions of his office and also may prevent a church member being tried from approaching the Lord’s Table during their trial. This change would require such an action be approved by a super-majority of the court (two-thirds).
  • An amendment to BCO 42-6 similar to the above. Currently, notice of appeal suspends the judgment of the lower court until the appeal is adjudicated, unless the lower court, for reasons it deems sufficient, prevents the person making the appeal from approaching the Lord’s Table, or if he is an officer, prevents him from exercising some or all his official functions, until the case is finally decided. The proposed amendment would require a two-thirds majority to take either of these actions.
  • Another amendment to BCO 38-1 would ensure that a person who voluntarily confesses an offense may be assisted by (unpaid) counsel throughout the process (as is allowed in BCO 32-19 for those subject to process or who file a complaint).
  • An amendment to BCO 35 to protect victims in cases involving abuse. The principal changes involve limiting in-person contact between the accused and the accuser when testimony is taken.

The remaining seven proposals were sent to the GA from the various presbyteries since the 48th GA:

  • Amendments to BCO 33-1 and 34-1 which concern the procedures for requesting a higher court to assume the right to first hear and decide (original jurisdiction) a doctrinal case or a case involving scandal, normally be the prerogative of a lower court. The amendments would make three changes: (1) Currently, the two paragraphs allow such a request when the lower court in question has refused to act in such a case; the proposed amendments would more specifically require that the lower court has not indicted the accused. (1) The two chapters currently require that the request be made by two other courts – either two presbyteries where the court in question is a presbytery or two sessions in the same presbytery as the session in question. The proposal would change this to a percentage (10%) of the presbyteries in the denomination or of the Sessions in the presbytery. (3) An added provision: the higher court would be allowed to assign “court costs” equitably among the parties, including those which requested the higher court assume original jurisdiction.
  • An amendment to BCO 7 that would add a new paragraph (BCO 7-4) that would disqualify men who describe themselves as homosexual, including those who refrain from homosexual conduct, from holding office in the PCA.
  • Amendments to BCO 43-2 and 43-3 concerning when a presbytery is required to consider a complaint. The current provision requires that when a complaint is filed it must be considered at the next stated meeting or at a meeting called for the purpose of considering the complaint. The proposed amendments limit this requirement to complaints received 10 days prior to the stated meeting. they would also require that a complaint that fails to meet that deadline be heard at a meeting not more than 60 days later.
  • Amendments to BCO 15-1 and 15-3 would make the decision of a presbytery judicial commission final without ratification by a vote of the presbytery as is currently the case.
  • An amendment to BCO 8-7 and the addition of a paragraph, BCO 8-8, that would make clear that one form of possible out of bounds ministry is service as a military and civilian chaplain and would encourage such chaplains to seek ecclesiastical endorsement from the endorsing agency authorized by the GA for that purpose.
  • An amendment to BCO 16 that would add a paragraph (BCO 16-4) requiring PCA officers to confess and mortify their remaining sins, to affirm the sinfulness of their fallen desires, the reality and hope of progressive sanctification, and their commitment to pursue Spirit-empowered victory over sinful temptations, inclinations, and actions.
  • Amendments to add a paragraph to BCO 21 (BCO 21-4) and a sub-paragraph to BCO 21-4 (BCO 21-4e, renumbering the paragraphs following) both of which would call for specific attention to be given to potentially notorious character concerns when a candidate/nominee for church office is examined. Careful examination for the candidate’s struggle against sinful actions and persistent sinful desires would be required, as well as a clear testimony by the candidate/nominee of his reliance on union with Christ and the work of the Spirit to make progress over sin. The amendments further state that when a candidate/nominee confesses his sins and temptations publicly, he not do so in a way that diminishes the seriousness of those sins.

The PCA’s 88 presbyteries will consider these proposed amendments between now and the 50th GA and will vote on each during the year. Those that are approved by two-thirds of the presbyteries (59) will be sent to the 50th GA for possible ratification. Any proposal ratified by a majority vote of the GA will become part of the Constitution.

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