5. FORM OF GOVERNMENT 

 

Christianity, ever since the split between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism in 1517, has seen numerous subsequent denominations, each with her own creeds, liturgies, rules of discipline, forms of government, etc., to teach her own doctrines. There are five forms of government, as listed below:

1. Papal Government: Primarily adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, this is the form of government where the Pope governs all local churches.

 

2. Episcopalian  Government: Adopted  by  the  Methodist  Church  and  by  the Episcopalian Church, this is the form of government where bishops govern local churches.

 

3. Independent Government: In this form of government, each local congregation rules and administers on her own, free from the jurisdiction and rule of any ecclesiastical body.

 

4. Congregational Government: Similar to Independent government, this form of government is characterized by an association made up of the representatives of each local congregation, to discuss matters of mutual concern for their own benefit, but with no authority of order or jurisdiction over local churches. Each local congregation is free to determine her own rules, discipline, liturgy, and interpretations of doctrinal matters.

 

5. Presbyterian Government: This is the form of government where members of each local congregation elect elders to form a session having tile authority to rule over the congregation. Therefore, this is the most democratic form of government since tile members have the hegemony.

The session is made up of ruling elders and teaching elders, including pastors, who govern the local congregation. The session has, as its superior ruling bodies, tile presbytery and tile General Assembly. This form of church government existed in the times of Moses (Ex. 30:16; 18:25,26; Num. 11:16) and of the apostles (Acts 14:23; 18:4; Tit. 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1; Jas. 5:14), as is fully attested in the Bible. Furthermore, from the standpoint of church history, the most prominent churches of historical significance in the past adopted this form of government. Presbyterian church government is based upon the Westminster Standards, which, at the direction of the Parliament of England, were first drafted by 120 ordained ministers and 30 ruling elders at Westminster Abbey in 1643 and were approved by presbytery meetings in England, and then were officially adopted by the General Assembly as the Constitution of the Church.

The Constitution of the World Korean Presbyterian Church, which was ratified in 1978 when the General Assembly was first organized, is based on the Constitution of the Korean Presbyterian Church (Hapdong) of our motherland, which, in turn, is based upon the Westminster Standards. Minor modifications were made to suit ecclesiastical life worldwide.

 

 

CHAPTER 1 Preliminary Principles

 

There are eight preliminary principles within the Presbyterian form of government, a proper understanding of which are essential to understanding the nature of the church.

 

Article 1 Liberty of Conscience

God alone is the Lord of the conscience, and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which may be contrary to the Scriptures in terms of faith and worship. Therefore, the rights of private judgment in all matters pertaining to religion are universal and inalienable.

 

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Article 2 Liberty of the Church

1. In accordance with the principle stated above, every Christian church, as an example of individual freedom, is entitled to declare the terms of admission into its communion and the qualifications of its ministers and members, as well as the whole system of its internal government which Christ has appointed.

 

2. No church should depend on a civil power, but rather should expect that the civil power will protect all religious organizations and that it will treat each religion fairly. 

 

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Article 3 Church Officers and Their Responsibilities

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, for the edification of his Body, the church, has appointed various officers, not only to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline for the preservation of truth and duty. It is therefore incumbent upon these officers and upon the whole church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and the scandalous, observing in all cases the rules contained in the Scriptures.

  

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Article 4 Truth and Practice

Truth is founded on holiness. A test of truth is its power to promote holiness, as our Lord said, “By their fruits you shall know them.”(Matt. 7:20) No word can be more pernicious or more absurd than that which brings truth and falsehood upon the same level. There is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. Otherwise, it would be futile either to discover truth or to embrace it.

 

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Article 5 The Qualifications of Officers

In accordance with the principles stated above, it is necessary to make effective provision for the church to elect officers sound in the faith. There are truths and forms with respect to which men of good character and principles may differ, in which cases it is the duty for both private Christians and the church to exercise mutual forbearance towards each other.

 

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Article 6 The Right to Elect Officers

Inasmuch as the character, qualifications, and authority of church officers are laid down in the Scriptures, the proper method of officer investiture, and the power to elect officers in any particular body of church court, rest with that body of church court.

 

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Article 7 Church Power

Whether exercised by the body in general or by representation, all church power is only ministerial and declarative, according to the commandments of God. Since the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice, no church judicatory may make laws and rules to bind the conscience, but must follow and submit to his revealed will.

 

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Article 8 Discipline

If the church steadfastly adheres to the preceding principles, discipline will contribute to the glory and well-being of the church, for the discipline exercised by the church is moral and spiritual in nature. Ecclesiastical discipline does not derive from the power of civil authorities, but from the power, authority, and grace of Christ, the Head of the church universal, for the sake of justice in church polity.

 

 

CHAPTER 2 Particular Churches

 

Article 1 The Organization of a Particular Church

God has elected his people from all nations, that they may be endowed with eternal grace and with his infinite wisdom to constitute the church of the living God, the Body of Jesus, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. The church, consisting of the saints of all nations of the past, the present, and the future, is called the holy catholic church.

 

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Article 2 Classifications of the Church

The church may be classified as the church visible and the church invisible. The church invisible is known to God alone, whereas the church visible is spread all over the world, consisting of all Christians who honor God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

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Article 3 Church Assemblies

Inasmuch as it is impossible for all the saints to assemble at a single, fixed location for fellowship and worship, it is proper that local churches be established in various locations for public worship services, which is completely in accord with scriptural teaching (Gal. 1:22; Rev. 1:4,20).

 

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Article 4 The Local Church

A congregation is called a local church, where people who openly profess faith in Jesus Christ, along with their children, assemble at an appointed place and an appointed time to worship God with one accord, leading godly lives in unity as set forth in the Scripture and obeying the Constitution of the Church for the furtherance of his kingdom (Acts 2:47).

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3 Church Officers

 

Article 1 The Founding Officer

Our Lord Jesus, having exercised his power and authority in his miracles (Matt. 10:8), chose his people from each nation (Ps. 2:8; Rev. 7:9) to form one body (1 Cor. 10:17).

 

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Article 2 Perpetual Officers

Elders, or bishops (Acts 20: 17,28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7), and deacons constitute the perpetual officers of the church. Elders are classified as:

1. Pastors, who administer the word of God and rule over the congregation, and

2. Ruling elders, whose function is to rule over the congregation.

 

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Article 3 Temporary Officers

In certain circumstances, a local church may temporarily have unordained officers as listed below:

 

1. Evangelist (Jundosa): Upon the recommendation of the session, a ministerial candidate, male or female, may be examined by the presbytery for qualification for such a position. Upon approval of the presbytery, he or she may render salaried assistance to the minister.

(a) The authority of an evangelist: An evangelist may not be present at session meetings. He may, however, act as moderator of the officers’ meeting in an unorganized church with the consent of the moderator of the session.

(b) The qualifications of an evangelist: An evangelist is a seminary graduate or a seminarian who has sustained a qualifying examination administered by the presbytery, with a few exceptions depending on the circumstances. No written examination may be given to those who have been given a similar examination by another presbytery and to those who have graduated from the denominationally controlled seminary.

 

2. Kwonsa:

(a) The qualifications of a kwonsa: A kwonsa is a woman, 45 years of age or older, who has been a communicant member in good standing for a reasonable period of time, serving the church in faith, and who has been elected by a two-thirds vote in a congregational meeting.

(b) The duties of a kwonsa: A kwonsa’s duties, under the supervision of the session, include visiting church members, especially those who are infirm and afflicted.

 

3. Acting deacon and deaconess: The church may appoint faithful men and women, without ordination, to serve as acting deacons and deaconesses for a term of one year.

 

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Article 4 Extraordinary Officer

A ministerial candidate is known as an extraordinary officer. A ministerial candidate is one who seeks to be a pastor, and may be examined by the presbytery for his qualifications before or while attending a seminary. Functionally, he is under the supervision of the session, whereas formally he is supervised by the presbytery.

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CHAPTER 4 Pastor (Teaching Elder)

 

Article 1 Definition

Ordained and installed by the presbytery, a pastor (also called a teaching elder) may proclaim the gospel of Christ, administer the holy sacraments, and rule over the church, and is therefore an officer of utmost importance and usefulness in the church (Rom. 11:13). The pastor is known by many titles in the Holy Scripture; each describes his duty as a minister of the word.

1. He is called a shepherd as he oversees the flock (Jer. 3:15; 1 Pet. 5:2-4).

 

2. He is called a servant of Christ as he serves the Lord in the church, or a messenger of

Christ, and sometimes a deacon (Phil. 1: 1; 1 Cor. 4: 1; 2 Cor. 3:6).

 

3. He is called a presbyter as he, in his wisdom, sets an example to all men and faithfully administers God’s house and his kingdom (1 Pet. 5:1-3).

 

4. He is called a messenger as he is sent by God (Rev. 2:1).

 

5. He is called an ambassador of Christ, or of the gospel, as he proclaims the holy will of God to sinners, by which he exhorts them to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 6:20).

 

6. He is called a teacher as he exhorts in honest instruction and rebukes the rebellious to repentance (Tit. 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11).

 

7. He is called an evangelist as he brings the good news of salvation to those perishing in sin (2 Tim. 4:5).

 

8. He is called a steward as he dispenses God’s immeasurable grace and executes his statutes (Luke 12:42; 1 Cor. 4:1-2).

These titles exhibit the pastor’s responsibilities, not his rank.

 

 

Article 2 The Qualifications of a Pastor

A candidate for pastoral ministry should be a seminary graduate, should be learned, blameless in life, sound in the faith, and apt to teach, should exhibit sobriety and holiness as shown in the gospel, should rule his own house well, should have a good report of those that are outside the church, and should be no younger than age 27 (1

Tim. 3:1-7).

 

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Article 3 The Duties of a Pastor (Teaching Elder)

Since God has given different gifts to pastors, and has committed to them various works to execute, the church is authorized to call and appoint them to labor as pastors and teachers, and in such other works as may be needed, according to the gifts in which they excel (Eph. 4:11).

1. When a pastor is called to labor as a pastor in a local congregation, it belongs to his office to pray for the flock, to feed the flock by reading, expounding, and preaching the word, to direct the congregation in singing praise to God, to administer the holy sacraments, to pronounce the benediction representing God, to catechize the children and youth, to visit church members, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, and to exercise the power of ruling over the church in close cooperation with the ruling elders.

 

2. When a pastor is appointed to be a teacher in a seminary, school, or university approved by the General Assembly, it belongs to his office to take pastoral oversight of those committed to his charge and to be diligent in sowing the seed of the word, gathering the fruit thereof as one watching over souls.

 

3. When a pastor labors as a home or foreign missionary, he may administer the holy sacraments, and is given power to plant and organize churches.

 

 

Article 4 The Titles of a Pastor

A pastor may be given a specific title according to his type of labor and circumstances.

1. Entrusted Pastor: A pastor, having receiving a call from a local congregation, may be entrusted by the presbytery with the full power to rule over the local congregation. Unless circumstances compel him to leave, he may have lifelong ministry therein.

 

2. Pastor in Charge: This is a pastor who has received a call from an unorganized church and ministers to a local congregation. Once the congregation becomes an organized church and reports to the presbytery, the pastor in charge may be approved by the presbytery to become an entrusted pastor.

 

3. Associate Pastor: A temporary pastor, with a term of one year, may assist the entrusted pastor with the consent of the presbytery. Approval of the presbytery is required annually.

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4. Pastor Emeritus: A pastor who retires after 20 or more years of active ministry, counted from the year of his ordination, may be designated pastor emeritus with a fixed salary, if the congregation so votes and if the presbytery agrees to this honor.

 

5. Pastor Meritorious: A pastor retiring because of old age after 25 or more years of active ministry, with remarkable merit during the course of his ministry, may be given the title of pastor meritorious to honor him if the presbytery so decides by a two-thirds vote.

It must be noted that while a pastor emeritus or a pastor meritorious may continue to be an official member of the presbytery and of the General Assembly, neither of them shall have any duty nor authority to rule over the local congregation.

 

6. Pastor at Large: This is a pastor who does not have a pastorate. He may participate in discussion in presbytery meetings, but has no vote.

 

7. Chaplain: This is a pastor ordained by the presbytery who preaches and administers the holy sacraments in assigned military chapels.

 

8. Education Pastor: This is either:

a. A pastor who has received a call from, and labors in, an educational institution recognized by and connected with the General Assembly or the presbytery, or

b. A temporary pastor laboring in Christian education at a local congregation.

 

9. Pastor of Evangelism: This is a pastor who is sent to preach the gospel and evangelize Koreans.

 

10. Missionary: This is a pastor who is sent to preach the gospel, either at home or overseas.

 

11. Pastor of Music: This is a minister with a bachelor’s degree in music or higher who labors in church music at a local congregation.

 

 

CHAPTER 5 Ruling Elder

 

Article 1 Origin

As there were elders who oversaw the church in the Old Testament period, ruling elders are established in the New Testament period as well to rule over the church in collaboration with a pastor.

 

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Article 2 Power

Though their primary responsibility does not lie in the proclamation of the word and doctrine, they share with ministers the same power in administering various matters that come before the church courts (1 Tim. 5:17; Rom. 12:7-8).

 

 

Article 3 Qualifications

He that fills the office of elder should be 30 years of age or older, sound in the faith and blameless in life for at least five years, and should possess a competency of human learning, meeting the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

 

 

Article 4 Duties

It belongs to the office of elder:

1. To oversee the spiritual interests of the church.

Elders, as representatives of and elected by the membership of the church, should exercise, in close conjunction with ministers, government and discipline, and oversee the spiritual interests of the local or the whole church.

 

2. To see that no corruption of doctrine or of morals should enter into the church. Elders, individually or as a session, should exhort the flock committed to their charge, that they may not fall into doctrinal error or moral corruption. Elders should report to the session any church member who fails to repent of his or her sin.

 

3. To visit the people at their homes for comfort, guidance, and instruction.

They should especially comfort the mourning, instruct the ignorant, and nourish and guard the children of the church. Elders, by their office and function, assume heavier responsibilities than other laypeople.

 

4. To oversee the faith of members of the church and to pray for the people.

Elders should pray with and for the people and should be careful and diligent in seeking the results of the preached word among the flock.

 

5. To report to the ministers those requesting visitation.

They should report to the ministers those who are sick, those who are mourning, those who repent of their sins, and those who are in need of relief.

 

 

CHAPTER 6 Deacon

 

Article 1 Definition

The office of deacon, quite distinct from the offices of minister and elder, is set forth as perpetual in the church. One who fills the office of deacon should be a blameless man chosen by the membership of the local church, and should be ordained and installed by the minister.

 

 

Article 2 Qualifications

To the office of deacon shall be elected men of honest repute, good faith, wisdom, discretion, respect and honor becoming the gospel, and exemplary life. The service performed by deacons is the same as that of all believers, but ought to be carried out more responsibly by those ordained as deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13).

 

 

Article 3 Duties

It is the duty of deacons to minister, in cooperation with ministers and elders, to those who are in need: to the sick, to those in prison, to widows and orphans, and to those in distress, all under the supervision and authority of the session. It is also the duty of deacons to collect and to distribute relief funds and to manage the church finances (Acts 6:1-3).

 

 

CHAPTER 7 Church Government and Courts

 

Article 1 The Necessity of Church Government

In governing a church there should be a distinct government and organization (1

Cor. 14:40). Proper understanding of the matter, biblical teachings, and the practice of the apostolic church determine how the church is to be governed. The governing authority of the church lies not in any individuals, but in the church courts, such as the session, the presbytery, and the General Assembly (Acts 15:6).

 

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Article 2 The Nature and Jurisdiction of Church Courts

There are different classes of church courts, but, since each and every court is made up exclusively of ministers and elders and therefore has the nature of a presbytery, they, having been organized on the basis of equal qualification, possess equal power. The scope of each court is specified in the Book of Church Order.

1. In case of a controversy over doctrine or the government of the church, one has to appeal, according to scriptural teaching, to a higher court in order to attain the purity and peace of the church. Each court should determine the scope of its jurisdiction so as to lawfully handle cases. While each court has its own particular authority, it is subject to the supervision and jurisdiction of a higher court.

 

2. Each court is not a separate entity, but is united with the other courts; therefore, regardless of what offense is handled in what court, the decision that is made by a lawfully constituted court ultimately becomes the decision of the whole church.

 

 

Article 3 Meetings

Every year each session and each presbytery should meet more than once, and the General Assembly but once, with each meeting opening and closing in prayer.

 

 

Article 4 The Power of Courts

No church court has the power to discipline people for violations of state law (Luke 12:2-14; John 18:36). A church court is concerned with cases which are moral and spiritual and must exhort believers as Christians to obey Christ’s law (Acts 15:1,32). The disobedient and lawless ones are subject to the deprivation of the privileges of their membership in the church. A church court, in order to vindicate the authority of the Scripture, should collect evidence pertaining to the offenses. The court is authorized to summon offenders for investigation and also to have them produce evidence in their favor. The severest form of discipline is to excommunicate the unrepentant and the doctrinally corrupt from the church (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:4-5).

 

 

CHAPTER 8 The Church Session

  

Article 1 The Organization of the Church Session

In order to form a church session, there shall be at least 20 communicant members of the church. The session will consist of the pastor and the ruling elders of the church (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5)

 

 

Article 2 The Quorum of the Church Session

If there are two elders on the session, one shall constitute a quorum. If there are three or more elders, the majority of the elders and a pastor shall constitute a quorum. If there is one elder, he may conduct all the business. But in the event that the elder opposes a disciplinary action pertaining to himself and with regard to other matters, the matter shall be referred to the presbytery for a decision.

 

 

Article 3 The Moderator of the Session

The pastor of the local church, by virtue of his office, is the moderator of the session. If an emergency should arise, the pastor of the church, with the concurrence of the session, may invite a minister of the same presbytery to which the church belongs to act as moderator, and the same applies when the pastor is absent because of illness or because he is away from home.

 

 

Article 4 The Interim Moderator of the Session

The office of moderator of the session is filled by the pastor in charge of a local church. When a church is without a pastor, the presbytery to which the church belongs shall appoint a minister until a pastor is installed, but in circumstances beyond control, the session may, even without the presence of a minister to act as moderator, take actions on church business, except for judicial cases and other matters of special importance.

 

 

Article 5 The Duties of the Church Session

1. Supervision of the faith and life of church members:

The session shall maintain the spiritual government of the church (Heb. 13:17), and supervise the knowledge and the conduct of church members.

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2. Admission and dismissal of church members: The session shall examine people for communicant membership, urge communicant parents to present their children for baptism, examine baptized children to see if they are ready to receive communion, receive and issue letters of transfer for those who have moved (confirming their confirmation, adult baptism, or infant baptism), and even dismiss members.

 

3. Conduct of the worship service and administration of the sacraments:

When a church is without a pastor, the session shall, under the supervision of the presbytery, invite a minister to preach the word and to administer the sacraments.

 

4. Ordination and installation of elders and deacons: Subsequent to the election of elders and deacons by the congregation, and to their training period of at least six months, elders are then ordained, following their examination and approval by the presbytery, and deacons are ordained following their examination and approval by the session.

 

5. Collection of offerings: The session determines the dates and methods of collecting church offerings of various types.

 

6. Exercise  of  discipline: The  session  shall  summon the  offender(s) and  the witness(es) among the church members for investigation; if necessary, those who are not members of the church may be summoned as witnesses. Where there is clear evidence of the offense, the session should rebuke, reprimand, suspend, keep from the communion table, dismiss from the church roll, or excommunicate the unrepentant, as appropriate, and lift discipline on the penitent (1 Thess. 5:12-13; 2

Thess.3:6, 14-15; 1 Cor. 11:27-30).

 

7. Promotion of the spiritual interests and supervision of the organizations within the church: The session shall work for the spiritual interests of the church, visit church members, instruct them in the Scripture, guide and supervise the Church school, the choir, Christian Endeavor and other organizations within the church.

 

8. Appointment of representatives to the presbytery, and provision of reports and communications: The session shall choose and appoint the representative elder to the presbytery and submit communications and reports on the status of church activities thereto.

 

 

Article 6 The Power of the Church Session

The session exercises, in accordance with the Directory of Worship, authority over the time and place and the order for worship. The session shall purchase, own, manage, and sell the real property of the church. However, if any dispute arises regarding ownership of the property, the presbytery shall have authority over the property until the dispute is resolved.

 

 

Article 7 The Session Meeting

The session shall hold stated meetings at least once a year. Moreover, the pastor has power to convene the session when he judges it requisite, and he shall always convene it when requested to do so by the majority of the elders or when directed to do so by the presbytery. In the pastor’s absence, the majority of the elders may convene a session meeting if such necessity arises.

 

 

Article 8 Minutes of the Session

Every session shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings, and the minutes thereof and the record of any trial shall be submitted once every year to the presbytery for their inspection.

 

 

Article 9 Rosters

Every session shall keep these rosters up to date:

1. The roster of communicant members (date).

2. The roster of infants baptized and those allowed to participate in communion.

3. The roster of the disciplined and the pardoned.

4. The roster of the deceased (date).

5. The roster of those received by transfer (date received).

6. The roster of marriages (date of marriage).

Entries should be made using legal names, and for women and children the name of the family head should also be recorded. The maiden names of married women shall be included.

 

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CHAPTER 9 The Presbytery

 

Article 1 General Remarks

The church, as the Body of Christ, is divided into several local congregations (Acts 6:1-6; 9:31; 21:20). They should cooperate in an effort to maintain the doctrine and the purity of the church, to exercise proper discipline, to teach the knowledge of faith and right doctrine, and to keep members from apostasy and immorality. This calls for a higher court, such as the presbytery, to put these efforts into practice. The fact that there was a presbytery in the apostolic age and that the church consisted of many local congregations is quite evident from Acts 6:1; 9:31; 21:20; 2:41-47; 4:4, etc.

Each of these dispersed churches belonged to a presbytery (see Acts 15:2-4, 6-11,23-30; 21:17-18). Furthermore, evidence shows that besides the church at Ephesus, there were local congregations and presbyteries (Acts 19:20). (Cf. 1 Cor. 16:8,9,19; Acts 18:19,24-26; 20:17-18,25-31,36-37; Rev. 2:1-6.)

 

 

Article 2 Organization

The presbytery shall consist of the ministers (at least three), and of the ruling elders commissioned by the respective sessions of the congregations of the region.

 

 

Article 3 Qualifications

Membership of the presbytery consists of all the pastors, pastors emeritus, pastors meritorious, and the pastors at large commissioned by the presbytery or by the General Assembly. And they do have the right to vote and to be elected delegates. Other ministers have on right to vote or for election.

 

 

Article 4 Delegates

Elder delegates shall be eligible for membership after the stated clerk receives the recommendation and takes the roll.

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Article 5 Quorum

At least two ministers belonging to the presbytery, together with at least two ruling elders, meeting at the time and place appointed, shall be a quorum competent to transact business.

 

 

Article 6 Duties

1. The presbytery shall have general oversight of sessions, local congregations, ministers, evangelists, candidates for ministry, and all the unorganized churches within its bounds.

 

2. The presbytery shall have power to receive for action all the references, requests, appeals, complaints, questions, and cases for trial, duly submitted by respective sessions. Matters pertaining to trials shall be transferred to it for action, subject to the provisions of the Book of Discipline (1 Cor. 6: 1; 1 Tim. 5:19). The presbytery shall receive appeals to refer cases to the higher court.

 

3. The presbytery has power to examine and receive candidates for ministry; to train and to transfer them, along with the proper discipline; to approve the local congregation’s election of additional ruling elders; to examine and allow the ordination and installation of elders-elect; to examine and license evangelists; to administer examinations of ministerial candidates; to effect their ordination, installation, dismissal, and transfer in and out (1 Tim. 4:14; Acts 13:2-3); to approve or disapprove minutes of sessions, and to approve or disapprove records of trials; and to answer and interpret reasonable questions concerning doctrine and discipline (Acts 15:10; Gal. 2:2-5).

 

4. The presbytery shall prevent words and deeds that injure the sanctity or peace of the church (Acts 15:22-24), and shall visit churches with the purpose of investigating and redressing failures and evils that may have arisen in them (Acts 20: 17,30; 6:2; 15:30).

 

5. The presbytery has power to found, divide, unite, and close local churches; to organize sessions; to invite pastors for local churches and for unorganized churches; to supervise evangelism; and to direct other matters pertaining to finance.

 

6. The presbytery shall communicate with the higher court regarding requests and references; receive all the communications from the higher court to put their injunctions into practice in order to administer church business in an orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:33,40); engage in evangelistic activities; commission delegates to the higher court; and contribute to the spiritual welfare of all churches.

 

7. The presbytery shall examine candidates for the ministry. The subjects shall be the Confession of Faith, the Book of Discipline, the Directory for Worship, and pastoral ministry. There shall also be an oral interview.

 

8. The presbytery, exercising its powers of  oversight, shall set up  a  visitation committee to visit local churches, including unorganized churches.

They shall work together to support the overseeing work of the presbytery. The presbytery has the power to determine the number that should make up the visitation committee and to set the geographical boundaries for their work. Since the visitation committee is not a ruling body, it shall have no power to grant a request to call a pastor, nor has it the power to directly transmit a letter of call to a pastor, nor any power to install by its own will an interim pastor while the presbytery is in recess. However, the visitation committee shall have the power to render necessary assistance to sessions without a pastor that seek to invite guest preachers and to report to the presbytery regarding possible pastoral appointments for pastors within their jurisdiction and the salaries that they should be paid.

 

9. (a) The presbytery may entrust the work of appointing an interim pastor or an interim session moderator to the visitation committee or to a special committee, so that he may temporarily oversee the church without an installed pastor until the presbytery convenes. The visitation committee is established for the purpose of visiting and rendering care to the local churches on behalf of the presbytery, so it has the power, even when not invited, to be present at session meetings and officers’ meetings to observe, with power to speak, but without a vote. It is advisable for a session to consult with the visitation committee when it discusses the election of elders or the appointment of evangelists. The visitation committee shall report to the presbytery all the circumstances of the churches within its bounds and the matters brought to it, but it shall not infringe upon the power of sessions or individuals to submit a request directly to the presbytery, as that power is protected by the Book of Church Order.

(b) When an internal dispute arises in the local church that is within the jurisdiction of a presbytery, regarding membership in the presbytery and the ownership of church property, the right to manage the church property shall temporarily be placed within the hands of the presbytery until the dispute is resolved and the normal operation of the local church is restored.

 

10. The visitation committee shall occasionally visit and render care to pastors and churches to monitor their spiritual condition, financial affairs, evangelistic efforts, Church school work, and the activities of other organizations, and shall report to the presbytery whether the pastoral ministries are fruitful and beneficial to the members. The visitation committee shall submit to the presbytery any questions and requests presented by the ruling elders, sessions, officers’ board, and other representatives of the respective churches.

 

 

Article 7 The Record of the Presbytery and the Report Thereof

The presbytery shall maintain a full and accurate record of the licensure of evangelists, the ordination of ministers, their transfers in and out, and their deaths; and of the candidates to be ministers and evangelists; and of the founding, dividing, and uniting of churches within its region, and of all the proceedings pertaining to matters brought to the: local churches. The presbytery shall send these records annually to the higher court.

 

 

Article 8 Various Records the Presbytery Should Keep

The presbytery shall keep a record of (1) pastors in charge, (2) ministers at large, (3) pastors emeritus, (4) pastors meritorious, (5) evangelists, and (6) ministerial candidates.

 

 

Article 9 Presbytery Meetings

The presbytery shall meet at an appointed date and location. When there are special cases calling for meetings, the moderator shall, at the request of two ministers from different churches and of two ruling elders from different churches, call a special meeting. Should the moderator be for any reason unable to act, the vice-moderator or the stated clerk shall issue the call. When the moderator calls a special meeting, notice of that special meeting, stating the date and the business, shall be sent not less than ten days in advance to each member, and no business other than that named in the notice is to be transacted.

 

 

CHAPTER 10 The General Assembly

 

Article 1 Definition

The General Assembly is the highest court of all the congregations and courts of this church. It bears the title of the General Assembly of the World Korean Presbyterian Church.

 

 

Article 2 Organization

The General Assembly shall consist of ministers and ruling elders commissioned by the respective presbyteries; their names shall be sent to the stated clerk of the General Assembly no less than two months before the meeting is convened.

 

 

Article 3 Quorum

On the day appointed for the meeting, more than half of the presbyteries must be represented, and more than half of the ministers and ruling elders who are delegates must be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

 

Article 4 Duties

The General Assembly shall superintend all the affairs of all the congregations and the courts and their interrelations, and shall receive for action from the lower courts references, requests, complaints, appeals, questions, and cases that are lawfully submitted to the Assembly. It shall review all presbytery records for approval or censure, and correspond with all churches so that they may have confidence in one another.

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Article 5 Powers

1. The General Assembly shall have power to interpret the Book of Church Order (i.e., the Creed, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Form of Government, Constitutional Rules, the Rules of Discipline, and the Directory for the Worship of God); to decide all controversies involving doctrine and discipline; and to guard against errors in doctrine and immorality in practice.

 

2. The General Assembly shall have power to form, merge, divide, and terminate presbyteries; to determine geographical boundaries for jurisdiction; to examine ministerial candidates; to superintend all the churches of the General Assembly; and to correspond with representatives of other denominations according to the rules provided thereof.

 

3. The General Assembly shall suppress schismatic contentions and disputations, maintain orderly conduct for the whole church, and assist it by submitting an agenda for the promotion of charity, truth, and holiness.

 

4. The General Assembly shall have power to establish committees, to manage missionary endeavors at home and abroad, and to deal with other matters of importance brought before it. It also has the power to found seminaries and colleges/universities.

 

5. All property of the General Assembly shall be owned by the General Assembly.

 

 

Article 6 Meetings

The General Assembly shall meet annually on the date appointed. If for any reason the moderator is unable to be present, the vice-moderator or the moderator of the preceding assembly shall issue the call to order and shall remain in office until a new moderator is elected. No delegate shall have a right of membership in the General Assembly until he is enrolled and the roll is taken.

 

 

Article 7 The Opening and Closing of Meetings

The General Assembly shall open and close its meetings with prayer, and when the vote is taken for closing the present assembly, the moderator shall say from the chair,

 

“By virtue of the authority delegated to me by the church, let this General Assembly be closed, and I do hereby close it, and require another General Assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet at _____ on the _____ day of A.D. _______ ,” after which he shall pray and return thanks, and the benediction shall be pronounced.

 

 

Article 8 Qualifications for the Delegates

1. Delegates to  the General Assembly shall be the ministers and ruling elders appointed by the respective presbyteries.

 

2. No delegate appointed by a newly formed presbytery shall be qualified as such until a report of the formation of the presbytery is filed prior to the election of officers.

 

3. Only those who are delegates to their presbytery may serve as delegates to the

General Assembly.

 

 

Article 9 Travel Expenses for the Delegates

Travel expenses for the delegates are borne by each congregation.