BOOK OF ORDER

The 'Book of Order' contains the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and
Rules of Discipline for the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) and is designated "Part 2" of the PCUSA Constitution, "Part 1" being the Book of Confessions.

Contents

Organization

Form of Government

Directory for Worship

Rules of Discipline

See also

External links

Organization

The Book of Order does not have page numbers. Instead, the three parts of the Book of Order are abbreviated by the use of capital letters:

★ G – Form of Government

★ W – Directory for Worship

★ D – Rules of Discipline
Chapter and sections in each part of the Book of Order are represented by decimal numbers in the form (0.0000). For example, "Full Inclusion," which describes the inclusion of all types of people in Christian worship is found in G-4.0304. This means that Form of Government, Chapter 4, section .0300, part .0004 contains the section "Full Inclusion".

Form of Government

The Form of Government describes the polity of the PC(USA), which is their adopted form of presbyterian polity. Chapter topics in the Form Government are:

★ Chapter I - Preliminary Principles

★ Chapter II - The Church and Its Confessions

★ Chapter III - The Church and Its Mission

★ Chapter IV - The Church and Its Unity

★ Chapter V - The Church and Its Members

★ Chapter VI - The Church and Its Officers

★ Chapter VII - The Particular Church

★ Chapter VIII - The Church and Its Property

★ Chapter IX - Governing Bodies

★ Chapter X - The Session

★ Chapter XI - The Presbytery

★ Chapter XII - The Synod

★ Chapter XIII - The General Assembly

★ Chapter XIV - Ordination, Certification and Commissioning

★ Chapter XV - Relationships

★ Chapter XVI - Union Churches

★ Chapter XVII - Union Governing Bodies

★ Chapter XVIII - Amendments

Directory for Worship

The Directory for Worship includes the theological guidelines for worship within PC(USA) churches. In order to allow for a diversity of expression in worship, the Directory for Worship does not provide set orders for worship, but instead suggests the boundaires of worship that is in line with Reformed Christianity and the Scriptural warrants for worship. It is concerned more with standards and norms than any particular way or formulation of a liturgy or order of worship.
Chapter sections in the Directory for Worship are:

★ Preface

★ Chapter I - The Dynamics of Christian Worship

★ Chapter II - The Elements of Christian Worship

★ Chapter III - The Ordering of Christian Worship

★ Chapter IV - Ordering Worship for Special Purposes

★ Chapter V - Worship and Personal Discipleship

★ Chapter VI - Worship and Ministry in the Community of Faith

★ Chapter VII - Worship and Ministry of the Church in the World

Rules of Discipline

The Rules of Discipline provide the standards for discipline within the church for matters that the secular judicial system does not address. The Rules of Discipline concerns itself with matters of preserving the purity of the church, achieving justice and compassion for all participants involved, correcting or restraining wrongdoing, upholding the dignity of those who have been harmed by disciplinary offenses, restoring the unity of the church by removing the causes of discord and division, and securing the just, speedy, and economical determination of proceedings.
Chapter sections in the Rules of Discipline are:

★ Chapter I - Principles of Church Discipline

★ Chapter II - Judicial Process Defined

★ Chapter III - Jurisdiction in Judicial Process

★ Chapter IV - Reference

★ Chapter V - Permanent Judicial Commissions

★ Chapter VI - Remedial Cases

★ Chapter VII - Trial in a Remedial Case

★ Chapter VIII - Appeal in a Remedial Case

★ Chapter IX - Request for Vindication

★ Chapter X - Disciplinary Cases

★ Chapter XI - Trial in a Disciplinary Case

★ Chapter XII - Censure and Restoration in a Disciplinary Case

★ Chapter XIII - Appeal in a Disciplinary Case

★ Chapter XIV - Evidence in Remedial or Disciplinary Cases

See also

★ Book of Common Order

★ Directory of Public Worship

★ Westminster Assembly

External links

★ The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (Portable Document Format)