Book of Church Order PCA Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the 4 parts of the Book of Church Order (BoCO)?

Part I: Form of Government (1-26) (correct)

Part II: Rules of Discipline (27-46) (correct)

Preface (correct)

Part III: The Directory for the Worship of God (47-63) (correct)

What are the 3 sections of the preface?

Authority of Scriptures

Constitution Defined (correct)

Preliminary Principles (correct)

King and Head of the Church (correct)

What are the Preliminary Principles?

God alone is the Lord of the conscience; 2. Each church is free to set membership requirements; 3. Officers within the church to guard purity; 4. Godliness is founded on truth; 5. Teachers must be sound in faith; 6. Power to elect officers resides with the local body; 7. Church power is ministerial and declarative; 8. Church discipline is moral and spiritual, not civil.

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the relation of church and state?

Ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object, and not attended with any civil effects. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the relation of truth and godliness?

Godliness is founded on Truth. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Preliminary Principles, what is the nature of Church power?

All church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or by representation, is only ministerial and declarative since the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Constitution of the PCA?

Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism; Book of Church Order: Form of Government, Rules of Discipline, Directory for Worship. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scriptural form of Church government; is it essential to the Church's existence?

The scriptural form of church government, which is representative or presbyterian, is necessary to the perfection of the order of the visible Church, but is not essential to its existence. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the officers of the Church; where in Scripture are their qualifications found?

The officers of the Church are teaching and ruling elders and deacons. Their qualifications can be found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the members of the visible Church?

The members of this visible Church catholic are all those persons in every nation, together with their children, who make profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and promise submission to His laws. Signup and view all the answers

What denominations are to be recognized as true branches of the Church of Jesus Christ?

All those which maintain the Word and Sacraments in their fundamental integrity. Signup and view all the answers

In what body does the power which Christ has committed to His Church rest?

The power which Christ has committed to His Church vests in the whole body, the rulers and those ruled, constituting it a spiritual commonwealth. Signup and view all the answers

Do the 'extraordinary officers' and 'extraordinary gifts' continue in the Church today?

Such officers and gifts related to new revelation have no successors since God completed His revelation at the conclusion of the Apostolic Age. Signup and view all the answers

What is a particular Church?

A particular church consists of a number of professing Christians, with their children, associated together for divine worship and godly living, with officers and ordinances. Signup and view all the answers

What are the ordinances of the Church?

<ol> <li>Prayer; 2. Singing of Praises; 3. Reading, Expounding & Preaching the Word; 4. Administering Sacraments; 5. Public Solemn Fasting & Thanksgiving; 6. Catechizing; 7. Offerings for Relief of Poor; 8. Exercising Discipline; 9. Taking Solemn Vows; 10. Ordination to Sacred Office.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are communing members of the Church; what are non-communing?

Communing members are those who have made a profession of faith in Christ, have been baptized, and have been admitted by the Session to the Lord's Table. Non-communing members are the children of believers. Signup and view all the answers

What are the duties of the deacons?

To minister to those who are in need, to develop the grace of liberality in the members, to devise effective methods of collecting the gifts of the people, and to distribute those gifts among the objects. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Book of Church Order Overview

The Book of Church Order (BoCO) comprises four parts: Preface, Form of Government (1-26), Rules of Discipline (27-46), and Directory for the Worship of God (47-63).

Preface Sections

The Preface includes three sections: King and Head of the Church, Preliminary Principles, and Constitution Defined.

Preliminary Principles

God is the ultimate authority over conscience.
Churches can establish their own membership criteria.
Officers are responsible for maintaining the church's purity.
Godliness is rooted in Truth.
Teachers must hold to sound doctrine.
Local bodies possess the authority to elect officers.
Church authority is ministerial and declarative, based on Scripture.
Church discipline is inherently moral and spiritual, devoid of civil implications.

Church and State Relationship

Ecclesiastical discipline must remain purely moral or spiritual, without civil consequences.

Truth and Godliness

Godliness is fundamentally based on Truth.

Nature of Church Power

Church power is exclusively ministerial and declarative, governed by the Holy Scriptures as the sole guide for faith and practice.

Constitution of the PCA

The Constitution includes the Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechism, and the Book of Church Order.

Scriptural Form of Church Government

The church government model is representative or presbyterian, encompassing the Church, its members, officers, courts, and orders.
This model is crucial for the church's order but not essential for its existence.

Officers of the Church

The officers, responsible for administering its powers, are teaching and ruling elders and deacons, as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

Members of the Visible Church

Visible Church members are those professing faith in Christ and their children, regardless of nationality.

True Branches of the Church

Denominations upholding the integrity of the Word and Sacraments are recognized as genuine branches of Christ's Church.

Power in the Church

Christ’s power rests in the entire body of the church, comprising rulers and the ruled, forming a spiritual commonwealth.

Extraordinary Officers and Gifts

Extraordinary officers and gifts related to new revelation ceased with the completion of God's revelation at the Apostolic Age.

Particular Church Definition

A particular church consists of professing Christians and their children gathered for worship, governance, and use of ordinances.

Ordinances of the Church

Includes Prayer, Praises, Reading and Preaching the Word, administering Sacraments, Fasting, Thanksgiving, Catechizing, offerings for the poor, exercising discipline, taking vows, and ordination to sacred office.

Communing vs Non-Communing Members

Communing members have professed faith, been baptized, and partaken of the Lord's Table; non-communing members are the children of believers, recognized through covenant and birthright.

Duties of Deacons

Deacons serve those in need, foster a spirit of generosity, organize gift collection, and distribute assistance.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Book of Church Order (BoCO) with these flashcards. This quiz covers its parts, preface sections, and foundational principles, providing a comprehensive overview. Perfect for students and members of the PCA seeking to deepen their understanding.