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Part 8 - Worship Model Chapter 1 Keeping the Sunday holy 1. Since it is a man's natural duty to commemorate the Sunday, he should arrange and prepare all the work of the flesh in advance so that there is no restriction in keeping the day holy as taught in the Bible. 2. Since this day is a Sunday, it is to be kept holy all day long. It is proper to pass as a public meeting or private worship service. All day long, holy rest, and do not engage in any business or carnal pleasure except for an emergency. . 3. Prepare even food in advance, and on this day, even family members and guests in the house should not be concerned about worship at the church and sanctifying Sundays. 4. On Sunday morning, pray for yourself and others, individually or as a family, and prepare to communicate with God in corporate worship by praying, studying the Bible, and meditating, especially for blessings while the pastor is serving. 5. It is right to gather together at the appointed time to participate in the worship service in unity from the opening day, and it is not right to enter without special connection until the last blessing. 6. After finishing the official worship service with this solemn attitude, the rest of the day is spent praying and reading the spiritual discipline, especially studying the Bible, meditating, teaching the Bible Q&A, speaking about faith, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It is right to call upon the sick, to visit the sick, to give to the poor, to teach the weak, to evangelize to the unbeliever, to exhort, to love, and to do gracious deeds. Chapter 2 Actions in Church Meetings and Worship 1. When it is time for worship, they will enter the chapel and each have their seats, but keep a neat, solemn and reverent appearance, and pray for their pastor and all those present and those who cannot attend with prayers of contemplation. 2. During the worship service, everyone should worship with a solemn attitude and respect, and do not read anything other than the Bible read or certified by the pastor. Whispers, greetings, squinting, drowsiness, laughter, or any other inappropriate behavior should not be tolerated. Children should have their parents with them, so it is appropriate for a family to sit together in the house of God. This must lead to attendance. Chapter 3 Reading the Bible in Worship 1. The Bible reading during worship is a part of the official worship service, so it must be read by a pastor or other person with permission. 2. The Bibles of the Old and New Testaments are read aloud in Korean so that the audience can understand them. 3. The chapter and verse of the Bible to be read should be decided according to the wishes of the pastor. If you think it is beneficial, you can interpret any part of it while reading it. Don't make it too short or too boring. Chapter 4 Poems and Hymns 1. It is the duty of all believers to sing praises to God in the chapel, either together or with one family member, in psalms and hymns, so use words that are consistent with the Bible and words that glorify God. 2. When singing songs praising God, we must do it with all our heart, understand its meaning, and put our hearts into the tune. Practice the knowledge of music to praise God with our hearts and also to sing with our voices. It is right, and it is right for the church members to prepare a hymnbook and sing together. Chapter 5 Official Prayer 1. It is right to pray at the beginning of the official worship service in the church. We worship the eternal authority of God with humility and confess that we have turned away from God because of the lusts of the flesh and that we have become sinners of no merit. We humbly ask that God grant us the help of the Holy Spirit and the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ in our worship to receive us. 2. After singing a poem or hymn, before preaching, pray including all wishes of the believer, so the following should be included in the prayer. 1) Giving glory. Respect the glory and perfection that God reveals in the creation and counsel of the world, and the clear and complete manifestation in the Scriptures. 2) Thanks. Give thanks for the various graces that God has given you, giving thanks for common grace, special grace, spiritual grace, physical grace, corporate grace, and personal grace, but above all grace the grace that is transcendent, that is, Jesus Christ, the indescribable gift, and the hope of eternal life through him. Thank you very much for the sending of the Holy Spirit and the working of the Holy Spirit. 3) Confession. Confessing the original sin and the sins they have committed, let all those who worship together realize that sin is a very evil thing because its nature is separate from God, and we will speak of every sin that originates from the root of sin. It is a crime that harms a person, a crime committed by accident, a crime committed by habit, and a sin added to the sin, for example, a sin that is erroneous, a sin that is different from a crime committed when there is a way to distinguish it, a sin that is committed after receiving special mercy, and a sin committed after receiving a privilege. These are the sins committed after making an oath with 4) supplication. I have several petitions for you to ask for: forgiveness of sins through the merits of the redeemed blood, and peace with God, and the great and pleasurable results that arise from it, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and for the fulfillment of our offices. We will pray for the empowerment to be satisfied, and to give us comfort in the midst of the suffering we deserve as human beings and sinners, and to live in a miserable world. You will ask for it, knowing that it is given for progress. 5) Grounds to seek. When we pray, God's glory is revealed in all the principles allowed in the Old and New Testaments, our shortcomings, God's riches, Jesus' merit, and His intercession for us, and the comfort and joy of His people. it is for 6) Pray for others. We will pray for others, all mankind in the world, for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all mankind, and for the peace, purity, and prosperity of the church of God, pray for the pastors and missionaries in each place, and pray for righteousness. All those who are harmed because of it, this church, every church with which we communicate, the sick, the dead, the wretched, the poor and the needy, the stranger, the prisoner, the young and old, the traveling man, and the present church You should pray for the region where you are located, for each official, for the soldiers, and for other necessary things. Which of the titles written above should be said less and more, the pastor who insists on it will think carefully about it. 3. After the sermon, pray for things related to the sermon, and for other formal prayers, pray according to all formalities at that time. 4. As mentioned above, the scope of prayer topics is wide and there are many types, so it is up to the faithfulness and thoughts of the minister in charge. Our Presbyterians do not follow a certain pattern of formal prayer, but it is right to prepare to pray as well as prepare the sermon before the pastor comes to the chapel. A pastor must peruse the Bible, study and meditate on the book of prayer, and through communion with God, he will gain the power and spirit to pray. In addition, when he intends to pray at any time, he must make up his mind and pray. We will prepare in turn in our hearts what kind of words would be best for us. In this way, we will be equipped with dignity and courtesy when we pray, and it will also be beneficial to those who worship together. A minister shall not defile a significant ceremony by insignificant, irregular, or careless conduct. 5. Everyone who participates in the official prayer should always have a reverent attitude, and it is natural for the congregation to have a certain attitude as much as possible. The posture of standing up to pray is mentioned in the Bible, and it is the practice of the old church and the ritual of the Presbyterian Church. But whether you stand up or sit straight is absolutely fine. Chapter 6 Sermon 1. Preaching is the policy of saving people, so it must be done with great care. A pastor must strive to be a worker who is not ashamed with all his heart, and must properly divide the word of truth. 2. The text of the sermon is to choose a verse or several verses of the Bible. The purpose of the sermon is to interpret one part of the scope of God's truth, to interpret a long text, or to preach the long text to teach the truth. Explain the nature and limitations of 3. It is right for a preacher to study many methods and meditate or pray and prepare carefully. Do not do it without caution or preparation (2 Samuel 24:24), and follow the simplicity of the gospel, whose language is appropriate for the Scriptures, and will make it easy for even ignorant people to understand. A pastor should not boast of his academics or talents, but should illuminate his teaching by his conduct (Titus 2:10) and set an example for believers in his thoughts, words, love, and purity. 4. The most important thing in official worship is to show group respect to the Most High God. The pastor should not make the sermon too long to prevent important prayers or hymns. It is right to perfect worship. 5. After the sermon, the pastor prays and gives thanks to Almighty God, then sings a poem or hymn and closes with a prayer of blessing on behalf of God. (2 Corinthians 13:14; Jude 24:25; Heb 13:20,21; Ephesians 3:20,21; 2 Thessalonians 3:16, 17; Num 6:24-26) 6. As clearly taught in the Bible, you should pay the church expenses, spread the gospel in and out of the country, and make regular, organized, and joyful donations to help the needy. Donation should be done knowing the purpose of receiving grace and as part of the worship service. 7. No church under the jurisdiction of the presbytery shall be permitted to preach without the permission of the session or pastor, except by a person sent by the presbytery. Chapter 7 Church School 1. The procedure applied at the church school is to study prayer, hymns, the Bible, creeds, the church's cooking and constitution, etc. Because of the church school, attendance at the official Sunday worship service and the responsibility of parents to directly educate their children should not be hindered. The church school should always be under the jurisdiction of the session. 2. The church school principal opens at a certain time and examines each class from beginning to end, so that each class has a proper teacher, and the teacher and students maintain a proper order, inspire students to believe and focus on their studies, and have a godly attitude. should have 3. A church school teacher will prepare diligently for his work by studying the Bible, meditating, and praying. If there are students in the classroom who do not yet believe, it is important to personally exhort them and visit them, especially when there is someone who is sick or encounters an accident, and prays for God's blessing and is punctual to encourage students to be on time. Do. Chapter 8: Prayer Meeting 1. Meetings for the purpose of prayer should follow the guidance of the session, but if possible, continue to meet at regular weekly meetings. A meeting like this should be led by a pastor, a member of the session, or a brother with considerable qualifications in the church, and it will be conducted with prayers, hymns, Bible readings, and simple exhortations. 2. We will encourage each member of the church to pray, but be reverent and not be too boring. Chapter 9 Baptism of Infants 1. Baptism does not need to be delayed in vain, and, regardless of the circumstances, it cannot be performed by lay people, but must be performed by a minister of Christ who has been called to be a minister of God. 2. Baptism is customary in front of all the congregations in the church. 3. Those who wish to have their children baptized notify the pastor of their will, and one or two of their parents will bring the child to be baptized. 4. Before baptism, the minister explains the nature and necessity of the sacrament and the purpose of this rite as follows. 'This ceremony was established by Christ, and it is the certification of justification by faith. Just as the descendants of Abraham had the privilege to be circumcised in the Old Testament, so the descendants of the saints under the grace of the gospel have the privilege to perform this ceremony. He said, “The grace of the gospel extends to the saints and their families.” The apostles also baptized in the house. Because our dispositions have been defiled by our sins, we must wash them with the blood of Christ and be sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit.” will say The pastor also exhorted the parents as follows, saying that they should be careful and fulfill their duties as parents. 'Teach their children with the word of God and teach them according to the holy principles taught in the Old and New Testaments. The point of this principle is simply taught in the creeds of our church, the confession of faith, and the Great and Smaller Catechisms. All these books are to help parents. will be. I will pray for my children and pray with them myself, setting the example of faithfulness and godliness in the eyes of the child, gaining strength from God, and working hard to grow in the character and discipline of the Lord.' 5. The pastor asks: 1) Do you recognize the need for the washing of this child with the blood of Jesus Christ and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit? 2) Do you believe that this child will be saved by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, just as you long for the blessing of God's covenant for this child and strive for your own salvation? 3) Now you completely dedicate this child to God, rely on God's grace with a humble heart, and do your best to show this child your own godly duty, pray for this child, pray with this child, and follow the path of our holy faith. Do you pledge to teach and work hard in every institution God has directed, so that this child may grow up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord? 6. After that, the pastor prays for this ceremony and calls out the child's name, saying, 'I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen' something to do. While saying these words, the pastor baptizes the child's head with water and ends with a prayer. Baptism is of course performed in front of the congregation, but in special cases, it can also be performed in a private home, so the pastor decides on the matter. Chapter 10 Entrance Ceremony 1. A child of a church member who has been baptized as an infant shall be under the supervision and rule of the church, teach writing, read the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, pray, hate sin, fear God, and fear the Lord Jesus Christ It is one's duty and privilege to teach to love and obey to remember that 2. The age at which a boy reaches the age of majority cannot be determined, but the responsibility for determining the qualifications of general members lies with the session, that is, the session decides this as well. 3. When an unbaptized adult intends to enter the church, it is customary to baptize after showing satisfactory evidence of his knowledge and faithfulness to God and proclaiming his faith in public. 4. It is right for the infant baptized person to formally declare his or her faith in front of the church when he first partakes of the sacrament with the permission of the session, but it will make it clear that he or she has a special relationship with the church from birth. 5. The entrance questions and answers are as follows. 1) On the day of official declaration of the coming of age, those who enter the church with the permission of the session stand in front of the congregation, and the pastor states the fact as follows. 'By being baptized as an infant, he became a member of the church from an early age, became heirs to the blessings of the covenant, and among those who made sacrifices to God through their parents' solemn vows, the 00 is now in the family of faith to bear the responsibilities and privileges related to his inheritance. Because he wants to become a Christian, the session decided to allow this member as a result of asking and answering questions about his faith in Christ and the knowledge of the Lord's body in the sacrament.' 2) If the person to be baptized was present, the pastor explained 'Baptism is the grafting of us into Christ and the mark and sealing of union with the Lord. Now that you have acknowledged it, you are welcome and grateful to be accompanied by the saints.' something to do. 3) After that, the pastor will tell the person who takes the oath in Paragraph 2 above. 'All of you who have participated in this event to formally profess your faith should know that you are making a strict covenant with God and his church by approving the following declarations and permissions.' (1) Do you believe that you are a sinner before God, and that you deserve His wrath and have no hope but to be saved from His great mercy? (2) Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of sinners, and do you receive Him and rely only on Him, knowing that Jesus is the only one who can save you, as the Gospel says? (3) Are you now determined to become followers of Christ, relying only on the grace of the Holy Spirit, to do the same, to forsake all your sins, and to live according to his teachings and examples? (4) Do you allow yourself to submit to the jurisdiction and discipline of the church and strive to achieve its purity and peace? It is then briefly admonished, baptized, and closed with prayer to those who bear the essentials of a strict duty. 6. A person who has a certificate of transfer from another church announces the name to the church and introduces its devotion and love. Chapter 11 The Eucharist 1. It is good to celebrate the Lord's Supper often, but the session of each church decides how many times a year it is to be celebrated, but it is decided as appropriate for edification. 2. Those who do not understand the doctrine and those who shame the church cannot partake of the Lord's Supper. 3. When you want to celebrate the sacrament, it is natural to make an official advertisement to the church. Advertise at least one week in advance. On the day of the advertisement or during that week, hold a preliminary worship service so that all members of the church can know the nature of the sacrament and prepare it with a reasonable mind. to attend this sacrament. 4. After the sermon is over, this is what the pastor is supposed to do. 'The Lord's Supper is a rite in remembrance of Christ, as a reminder of his death until his second coming; it gives strength to his people to resist sin, to strengthen them in all afflictions, to encourage and encourage them in their responsibilities, to love and to encourage them. It is of infinite benefit to inspire them with zeal, to arouse faith and holy thoughts, and to establish peace of conscience and hope.' Be on the lookout for those who violate the Bible, those who do not know the doctrine, those who shame the church, and those who have sinned in secret. To those who trust in the redemption of Christ for redemption, those who learn the doctrine of the gospel and have a perfect knowledge of discerning the body of the Lord, and those who are determined to cut off their sins and lead a holy and godly life. As the Lord has ordained this sacrament, this sacrament shows the unity of the saints. It is right to ask them to stay until 5. After preparing the bread and grape juice, neatly cover the table for the sacrament, arrange the seats for the believers to participate, and place the elders in a convenient place. ‘On the night the Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, he took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it. The Lord said, "This is my body, and it was given for your sake. Do this in remembrance of me." After giving it to the elders to share, he took the cup and said, 'Our Savior also took the cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to the disciples. As you said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' It is proper that the order of the sacrament is received by the pastor after all the church members have received it, and then the pastor gives it to the elders. 6. Each believer must act in the spirit of making a covenant with the Lord. During the dispensing of this sacrament, meditate quietly, give thanks, make supplications, and pray. 7. In a few words, the pastor can exhort the members who participated in the Lord's Supper to be remembered. In this ceremony, he describes the grace of God shown through Jesus and the duty he ought to perform as a man of God. They fulfill their duties satisfactorily, and since they have already received Christ Jesus as Lord, it is right to exhort them to walk in him and do good works. It is right for the pastor to give advice to those who are in the audience and to warn them as follows. 'Teach them the duty to believe, and if they do not obey Christ, they live in a disregard for the holy rites, so they speak of their sins and perils and exhort them, so that they can prepare themselves to participate in the next sacrament.' After that, the pastor prayed, thanking God for the abundant grace and infinite mercy given through this sacrament, and asking for forgiveness if there are any shortcomings during this ceremony and praying for receiving their bodies and deeds. Helped by the grace of the Holy Spirit to receive and walk in the Lord Jesus Christ, making sure that they hold fast to what they have received, that no one will snatch their crown, let their words and deeds conform to the gospel, that they always receive the death of Jesus in the body They will take it upon themselves to let the life of Jesus appear in their bodies, and to let their light shine before men, so that they may see their good deeds and glorify their Father in heaven. Donations are made at this time for the needy or for other spiritual works, and the order is determined by the resolution of the session. After that, a psalm and a hymn are sung and closed with a blessing prayer or other blessing prayer as follows. ‘God, who gave us the peace who brought our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant, perfect you in every good work to do his will, and bring joy before him into our hearts through Jesus Christ. May it be done. Glory be to you forever, Amen." 8. Some local churches have a habit of fasting before offering the Lord's Supper. In times like these, on Saturdays and Mondays other than Sundays, two or three pastors are invited to hold meetings and receive great grace. It is right to do what you want according to the customs and customs. Chapter 12 Wedding Ceremony 1. Marriage is not a sacrament, nor is it unique to the church of Christ, but it is a sacred rite established by God. The state enacts marriage rules for the benefit of the people, and all citizens are obliged to observe them. 2. Since the saints should marry in the Lord, it is right to have a pastor or other minister officiate in order to conduct the wedding with special admonition and proper prayer. 3. Marriage is limited to one son and one daughter, and cannot be within the limits of blood relatives and kinship forbidden in the Bible. 4. Men and women must each reach an appropriate age, so after obtaining the consent of parents or guardians and proving it in front of the pastor, the pastor officiates. 5. Parents shall not force their children to marry, nor shall they forbid their marriage without good cause. 6. Marriage is of a common nature. Since it is deeply related to the welfare of the people, family happiness, and religious honor, the wedding ceremony is decided several days in advance and widely announced. Pastors pay close attention to this matter, so that they do not violate the laws of God or the laws of the state, and in order not to damage the peace and security of the family, both sides' proof that they have no objection to this marriage is required. 7. The marriage will be held in the presence of sufficient witnesses and the minister will give the marriage certificate upon request. 8. The pastor records the name and date of the married person in the marriage register so that it is convenient for those who request it later. Chapter 13 Funerals 1. The proper ceremony to be performed at the funeral is to sing an appropriate poem or hymn, read a proper Bible, give a proper explanation according to the pastor's thoughts, help those who have suffered a particularly tragic event receive God's grace, turn their sorrows into eternal good, and I pray that you will be protected and comforted in your misery. 2. There are many things that the presiding pastor can do at this funeral, but do not lose sight of its main meaning. Be careful about warning, admonishment, and comforting the survivors. Those who have misused God's Word and lived without faith, but passed away, say that there is hope of the gospel. Be careful not to let anything happen. Chapter 14 The Day of Fasting and the Day of Thanksgiving 1. Although the days of fasting and thanksgiving are not disclosed in the Bible, keeping them according to the circumstances is appropriate according to the teachings of the Bible. 2. The day of fasting and thanksgiving is kept privately by an individual member or one family member, sometimes by a church or among close friends, and by all churches under the jurisdiction of a presbytery or by all churches across the country. 3. The days of fasting and thanksgiving are announced in advance at a convenient time so that the members of the church can organize their bodily affairs and prepare to fulfill their duties on this day. 4. It is right to hold official worship on a day like this, so sing a poem or a hymn, read the Bible, and preach, but let them all apply on that day. 5. On the fast day, the pastor explains the special reason for keeping this day. In times like these, we spend more time than we usually do during worship, pray earnestly and make special confessions, and spend the whole day with a contrite heart before God. 6. Regarding Thanksgiving Day, the pastor should explain the reason and special circumstances of keeping this day, but give thanks by singing poems and hymns so that it is appropriate for the time period. On a day like this, it is natural to spend it with a holy and pleasant heart, but in the midst of communication, I spend it in awe. Chapter 15 Secret Prayer and Family Worship 1. In addition to the official worship service in the church, it is a natural duty for individuals to pray privately and for a family to worship and pray privately to God. 2. Secret prayer is clearly commanded by our Lord. Each person should set aside a time to pray independently, read the Bible, meditate in holiness, and examine himself solemnly. 3. Family worship should be held in every house, so pray morning and evening, read the Bible, and sing praises. 4. The one who takes the lead should exercise this office, but with due care he must be careful that all household members participate, and that no one is absent from the beginning to the end. When the Bible is read, he stops all ordinary business, he worships solemnly, but when he prays and sings, Be careful together. 5. The person taking the lead should be very careful to teach his children and family members according to the Christian principles, and strive for this work as soon as he gets a suitable opportunity. forbid Chapter 16 City Punishment 1. The church's censure should be given appropriately according to the nature of the offense. If it is a crime against an individual, it may be secretly chastised at the judgment seat, or it will be censored in public by the main judicatory or publicly announced in front of the church. Even if the sin is revealed, if it is not excessively serious due to a strange circumstance or a special reason, it is secretly admonished or punished for abandonment. However, if it is a punishment for weapons, it will often be announced to the church, and expulsion and dismissal from the church will be pronounced directly in front of the church, or it will only be announced to the church according to the resolution of the main governing body. 2. If a church member or staff member commits a crime that deserves punishment, this governing body shall judge the matter with a compassionate heart, and be wary of that person with meekness and humility. 3. If the discipline is not an accusation and it is a secret, this governing body may send one or two members to secretly give orders. However, if the fault is discovered, it is normal for the president to give orders from the judgment seat and announce it in the public meeting. 4. The censure of abandonment is a censure that serves as a model for others, so it is either pronounced on the person himself or announced at the time of the main judicatory's disclosure. 5. Weapon censure should be done with extreme caution, but let the offender realize his precarious stereotype because he is unable to participate in the sacraments of the Church of the Living God, and help him to achieve repentance by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. After judgment by the governing body, the president sentences the offender as follows: 'Now, since there is clear evidence that Mr. 000 (pastor, elder, deacon, general members) committed 00 sin (name of sin), the presbytery (or session) is satisfied with the complete repentance of the brother in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and his authority and his name. It is condemned (suspension of service) from participating in the sacrament of the church until the evidence is presented.' something to do. When it is deemed necessary, it closes by giving appropriate counsel or precepts and praying that Almighty God may bless you with this discipline. 6. After the decision to be excommunicated, the president of the session formally declared the conclusion of the examination of the guilty brother in front of the church and explained the reason why it cannot be placed in the church, then Matthew 18:15-18 and 1 Corinthians Based on the teaching in verses 5:1-5, we show that we have the right to expel unclean members from school, explain the nature and benefits of this punishment, and teach our friends how to be wary of fellowship with those under this serious punishment. Declare the facts together. 'Now, the member of this church, Mr. 000, has enough evidence of committing the 00 sin (name of sin), so he counseled and prayed many times, but he persisted and did not listen to the church's counsel and did not show evidence of repentance. The session declares that he cannot partake of the Lord's Supper and that fellowship among the saints is cut off.' do. After that, he prays to God to help those who have been excommunicated to realize their sins and repent, and to help build up all sincere believers. 7. The declaration of resignation will be made by the president as follows. 'The pastor of this presbytery (or elder, deacon) of this presbytery said that sufficient evidence of the sin of Mr. 00 was revealed. As a result of the examination, the presbytery (or session) of Mr. 00 decided that Mr. 000 should serve as the pastor (or elder, deacon) of Christ Church. Since it is confirmed that it does not make sense, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and his authority, the pastor (elder, deacon) office of Mr. If the declaration included censure or expulsion, the president continued to say, 'We also, by the same authority, refuse to participate in the sacrament of the church until he has shown satisfactory evidence of sincere repentance ( I declare the cessation of fellowship with saints.” The declaration of resignation will be as strict as the declaration of expulsion in the preceding chapter. Chapter 17 The Sea Punishment 1. The rulers of the church will often associate with the person whose sacrament is suspended, pray with him, and pray for him. 2. When the governing body is satisfied with the truth of the repentance of a person who has punished a person, by the resolution of the governing body, he or she may confess in front of the governing body or in a church vacancy, restore the right to participate in the sacraments of the church again, and possibly be reinstated. At this time the governing body declares to him as follows: 'Those who are now suspended from participating in the Lord's Supper (those who have been evangelized pastors, elders, deacons, and those who have been suspended) Mr. 000 now satisfies the church by showing evidence of repentance, so this session I will punish you by ex officio and restore your participation in church liturgy (whether you have an office, you will be reinstated and all rights to that office will be restored). 3. When a member who has been expelled from church repents and wants to rejoin the church, the session shall allow it after obtaining satisfactory evidence of his sincere repentance. announce the resolution When it is decided to restore the church, ask the excommunicated member and answer the following questions in front of the church. Q: Do you know that it was fair and merciful that you confessed your sin of rebellion against God and the great sin that harmed his church with a sincere heart? Answer: yes Q: Are you now confessing your sins and stubbornness with sincere repentance and contrite heart and asking for forgiveness from God and his church with a humble heart? Answer: yes Q: By the grace of God, will you promise to live with a humble heart and sobriety, do your best to shine the teachings of our Savior God, and do your best to make your words and deeds worthy of the Gospel? Answer: yes (Then the minister gives appropriate exhortations and comforts to the contrite, and publishes a proclamation of restoration as follows.) 'Even if he has been cut off from the saints now, Mr. 000 has shown satisfactory repentance, so with the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ and his authority, our church session lifted the excommunication declared the previous day to achieve eternal salvation and to participate in all the grace of the Lord Jesus. to restore the right to communion with the church' and close with prayer and thanksgiving. 4. If a person who has been dismissed from office has made an official confession and answered questions as in the preceding paragraph, he/she will receive an appointment ceremony. When reinstating an honest pastor and appointing a person who has been removed from office, the presbytery will be extremely disciplined. If the banquet has been ordered to be suspended, the banquet will be permitted. After granting the right to preach, he will be reinstated and installed, but he will not be able to exercise his office until this declaration is complete. 5. An elder or deacon who has been removed from office cannot serve unless he or she is re-elected from the church. 6. When a member under punishment wants to declare repentance and want to recover when he moves to a province far from the place of the jurisdictional where he was punished, he may sign the registration of the resolution of the governing body and issue it to that body. Punish with those who have been punished. Chapter 18 Offerings 1. Each member of the church should cultivate the regular offering of offerings with the wealth they have received from the Lord. This will help spread the gospel to all peoples under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a reasonable and very beautiful thing to set an opportunity for giving. As taught in the Bible, these offerings are part of the solemn worship of Almighty God. 2. In order to make the offering a part of the worship service, ask for blessings with a special simple prayer before and after offering, and offer it as the Lord's object. do. 3. The proceeds will be distributed under the supervision of the session for each church organization, other charitable works, and Christ's work. run The amount of donations received by the church school and other affiliated groups and institutions will be reported to the church session on a regular basis for approval, and the session shall not be able to offer or collect any donations or collections for any business unrelated to the World Presbyterian Church of Jesus Christ without permission. 4. It is right for every pastor to cultivate the habit of giving offerings with a sweet heart, so let each member donate according to his/her ability, not to mention a small amount.

제5편 정 치 주후 1517년 신구 2대 분파로 나누어진 기독교는 다시 수다한 교파를 이룩하여 각각 자기들의 신경, 의식, 규칙, 정치제도가 있어서 그 교훈과 지도하는 것이 다른 바 이를 다음과 같이 구분한다. 1. 교황정치 : 이 정치는 주로 로마 가톨릭교회와 희랍정교회의 정치인바 교황 중심으로 산하 전 교회를 관리하는 정치이다. 2. 감독정치 : 이 정치는 감독이 교회를 주관하는 정치인바 감독교회와 감리교회에서 쓰고 있는 정치이다. 3. 자유정치 : 이 정치는 다른 회의 관할과 치리를 받지 아니하고 각 지교회가 자유로 행정하는 정치이다. 4. 조합정치 : 조합정치는 자유정치와 비슷하나 다만 각 지교회의 대표로 조직된 연합회가 있어 피차 유익한 문제를 의논한다. 그러나 산하 교회에 명령하거나 주관하는 권한은 없고 모든 치리하는 일과 권징과 예식과 도리해석을 각 교회가 자유로 하는 정치이다. 5. 장로회정치 : 이 정치는 지교회 교인들이 장로를 선택하여 당회를 조직하고 그 당회로 하여금 치리권을 행사하게 하는, 주권이 교인들에게 있는 민주적 정치이다. 당회는 설교와 치리를 겸하는 장로인 목사와 치리 장로의 두 반으로 조직되어 지교회를 주관하고 그 상회로서 노회와 총회가 있어 3심제의 치리회가 있다. 이 정치는 일찍이 모세(출30:16, 18:25, 26; 민11:16)와 사도(행14:23, 18:4; 딛1:5; 벧전5:1; 약5:14)시대부터 있었던 성경적 제도이다. 교회 역사로 보더라도 가장 오랜 역사와 항상 우위를 자랑하는 교회는 이 장로회 정치를 채용한 교회들이며 또한 이 장로회 정치는 다 웨스트민스터 헌법을 기초로 한 것으로 이 웨스트민스터 헌법은 영국정부의 주관으로 120명의 목사와 30명의 장로들이 1643년에 런던 웨스트민스터 예배당에 모여서 이 장로회 헌법을 초안하고 영국 각 노회와 대회에 수의 가결한 후에 총회가 완전히 교회의 헌법으로 채용 공포한 것이다. 본세계한인예수교장로회 헌법도 북미주에서 1978년 총회가 조직되고 헌법을 제정할 때에 웨스트민스터 헌법을 기초로 한 모국교회(합동측)의 헌법을 우리의 실정에 적합하도록 수정하여 채택한 것이다. 제1장 원리 장로회 정치의 일정한 원리 8개조가 있으니 이것을 이해하여야 교회의 성질을 알 것이다. 제1조 양심의 자유 양심의 주재(主宰)는 하나님뿐이시라, 그가 양심의 자유를 주사 신앙과 예배에 대하여 성경에 위반되거나 과분한 교훈과 명령을 받지 않게 하셨다. 그러므로 일반 인류는 종교에 관계되는 모든 사건에 대하여 속박을 받지 않고 각기 양심대로 판단할 권리가 있은 즉 누구든지 이 권리를 침해하지 못한다. 제2조 교회의 자유 1. 전조에 설명한 양심자유의 일례로 어느 교파나 어느 교회든지 각기 교인의 입회 규칙과 입교인 및 직원의 자격과 교회정치의 일체 조직을 예수 그리스도께서 정하신 대로 설정할 자유권이 있다. 2. 교회는 국가의 권력에 의지하지 아니하고 국가가 각 종교 기관의 안전을 보장하며 각 종교를 동일시 할 것을 바라는 것뿐이다. 제3조 교회의 직원과 그 책임 교회의 머리되신 주 예수 그리스도께서 그 지체된 교회에 덕을 세우기 위하여 직원을 두어 복음을 전파하며 성례를 시행하게 하실 뿐 아니라, 신도로 하여금 진리와 본분을 준수하도록 관리하게 하신 것이다. 이러므로 교우 중에 거짓 도리를 신앙하는 자와 행위가 악한 자 있으면 교회를 대표한 직원과 치리 회가 당연히 책망하거나 출교 할 것이다. 그러나 항상 성경에 교훈한 범례대로 행한다. 제4조 진리와 행위의 관계 진리는 선행의 기초이다. 진리가 진리 되는 증거는 사람으로 성결하게 하는데 있다. 주님께서 ?그의 열매로 그 들을 안다?(마7:20)고 말씀하셨으니 진리와 허위가 동일하다 하며 사람의 신앙이 어떠하든지 관계없다 하는 말보다 더 악독하고 해로운 것은 없다. 신앙과 행위의 관계나 진리와 본분의 관계는 서로 결탁되어 나누지 못할 것이니 그렇지 아니하면 진리를 연구하거나 선택할 필요가 없을 것이다. 제5조 직원의 자격 제4조의 원리에 의지하여 교회가 당연히 직원을 선정하되 교회의 도리를 온전히 순복하는 자로 선택하도록 규칙에 제정할 것이다. 그러나 직원의 사상과 성격이 선할지라도 교회규칙에 대한 의견과 주장하는 바가 다를 수 있다. 이런 경우에는 서로 용납하여야 한다. 제6조 직원 선거권 교회 직원의 성격과 자격과 권한과 선거와 위임하는 규례는 성경에 기록되었으니 어느 회에서든지 그 직원을 선정하는 권한은 교회에 있다. 제7조 치리권 치리권은 치리회나 혹은 택함받은 대표자가 행사하든지 다만 하나님의 명령을 받들어 전달하는 것 뿐이다. 성경은 신앙과 행위에 대한 유일한 법칙인즉 어느 교파의 치리 회든지 회원의 양심을 속박할 규칙을 자의로 제정할 권리가 없고 오직 하나님의 계시하신 뜻에 따라야 한다. 제8조 권징 교회가 이상 각 조의 원리를 힘써 지키면 교회의 영광과 복을 증진할 것이니 교회의 권징은 영적인 것과 도덕적인 것이요, 국법에 의한 시벌이 아닌즉 그 효력은 정치의 공정과 모든 사람의 공인과 만국 교회의 머리이신 구주의 권고와 은총에 있다. 제2장 교 회 제1조 교회 설립 하나님은 만민 중에서 그의 백성을 택하사 저희로 하여금 영원토록 무한하신 은혜와 지혜를 나타나게 하셨으니 이는 살아 계신 하나님의 교회요, 그리스도의 몸이요, 성령의 전이다. 이는 이전과 지금과 이후에 만국의 성도니 그 명칭은 거룩한 공회라 한다. 제2조 교회의 구별 교 회에는 두 가지가 있으니 유형한 교회와 무형한 교회이다. 무형한 교회의 교인은 하나님만 아시고 유형한 교회는 온 세계에 흩어져 있는 교회니 그 교회는 그리스도인이라 칭하고 성부 성자 성령 삼위일체 되시는 하나님을 공경하는 자들이다. 제3조 교회의 집회 대중이 한 곳에만 회집하여 교제하며 하나님을 경배할 수 없으니 각처에 지 교회를 설립하고 회집하는 것이 사리에 합당하고 성경이 교훈한 모범에도 그릇됨이 없다(갈1:22; 계1:4,20). 제4조 각지교회 예수를 믿는다고 공언하는 자들과 그 자녀들이 일정한 장소에서 그 원하는 대로 합심하여 하나님을 경배하며 성결하게 생활하고 예수 그리스도의 나라를 확장하기 위하여 성경에 교훈 한 모범대로 연합하여 교회의 헌법을 복종하며 시간을 정하여 공동예배로 회집 하면 이를 지교회라 칭한다(행 2:47). 제3장 교회직원 제1조 교회 창설 직원 우리 주 예수께서 최초에 이적을 행할 권능이 있는 자로(마10:8) 자기의 교회를 각 나라 중에서 선발하사(시2:8;계7:9) 한 몸 (고전10:17)이 되게 하셨다. 제2조 교회의 항존직 교회의 항존직은 장로(감독) (행20:17, 28; 딤전3:1-7)와 집사이다. 장로는 두 반이 있으니 1. 설교와 치리를 겸한 이를 목사라 부른다. 2. 치리만 하는 이를 장로라 부르나니 이는 교인의 대표자이다. 제3조 교회의 임시직원 교회의 사정에 의하여 아래와 같은 직원을 안수 없이 임시로 둘 수 있다. 1. 전도사 : 남녀 전도사를 당회의 추천으로 노회가 고시하여 자격을 인가하면 유급 교역자로 목사 밑에서 지 교회의 시무를 돕는다. (1) 권한 : 남전도사는 당회에 참석할 수 없으되 미조직교회에서는 당회장의 허락으로 제직회의 임시 회장이 될 수 있다. (2) 자격 : 신학생과 신학 졸업자로서 노회가 고시 인가한 자라야 하되 특별한 경우에는 이 한도에서 벗어난다. 단 다른 노회에서 전도사 고시를 받은 자와 본 총회의 신학교를 졸업한 자는 필답고사를 면제한다. 2. 권사 (1) 권사의 자격 : 여신도중 만 45세 이상 된 입교 인으로서 흠없이 다년간 교회에 봉사하고 공동의회에서 투표하여 투표수의 3분의 2 이상의 찬성표를 얻은 자로 한다. (2) 권사의 직무 : 당회의 지도대로 교인을 심방 하되 병자와 곤난을 당하는 자와 연약한 교인을 돌아본다. 3. 남녀 서리집사 : 교회 혹은 목사나 당회가 신실한 남녀를 선정하여 집사의 직무를 담당하게 하는 자이니 그 임기는 1년이다. 제4조 준직원 목사 후보생을 준 직원이라 한다. 목사 후보생은 목사직을 희망하는 자로 노회에서 자격 심사를 거쳐 신학을 전공하는 자로, 개인으로는 그가 속한 당회 관리 아래 있고 직무상으로는 노회 관리 아래 있다. 제4장 목 사 제1조 목사의 의의 목사는 노회의 안수로 임직을 받아 그리스도의 복음을 전파하고 성례를 거행하며 교회를 치리 하는 자이니 교회에 가장 중요하고 유익한 직분이다(롬11:13). 성경에 이 직분을 맡은 자에 대한 칭호가 많아 그 칭호로 모든 책임을 나타낸다. 1. 양의 무리를 감시하는 자이므로 목자라 하며(렘3:15; 벧전5:2-4) 2. 교회 안에서 그리스도를 봉사하는 자이므로 그리스도의 종 혹은 그리스도의 사역자라 하고 또 신약의 집사라 하며(빌1:1; 고전4:1; 고후3:6) 3. 엄숙하고 지혜롭게 하여 모든 사람의 모범이 되고 그리스도의 집과 그 나라를 근실하게 치리 하는 자이므로 장로라 하며(벧전5:1-3) 4. 하나님이 보내신 자이므로 교회의 사자라 하며(계2:1) 5. 하나님의 거룩하신 뜻을 죄인에게 전파하며 그리스도로 말미암아 하나님과 화목 하라 권하는 자이므로 그리스도의 사신이라 혹은 복음의 사신이라 하며(고후5:20; 엡6:20) 6. 정직한 교훈으로 권면하며 거역하는 자를 책망하여 각성하게 하는 자이므로 교사라 하며(딛1:9; 딤전2:7; 딤후1:11) 7. 죄로 멸망할 자에게 구원의 복된 소식을 전하는 자이므로 전도인 이라 하며(딤후4:5) 8. 하나님의 광대하신 은혜와 그리스도의 설립하신 율례를 시행하는 자이므로 하나님의 오묘한 도를 맡은 청지기라 한다(눅12:42; 고전4:1-2). 이는 계급을 가리켜 칭함이 아니오, 다만 여러 가지 책임을 가리켜 칭하는 것뿐이다. 제2조 목사의 자격 목사가 될 자는 신학을 졸업하고 학식이 풍부하며 선량하고 신앙이 진실하며 교수에 능한 자라야 할지니 모든 행위가 복음에 적합하여 범사에 단정함과 성결함을 나타낼 것이요, 자기 가정을 잘 다스리며 외인에게서도 칭찬을 받는 자로 연령은 만 27세 이상의 남자로 한다(딤전3:1-7). 제3조 목사의 직무 하나님께서 모든 목사인 자에게 각각 다른 은혜를 주사 상당한 사역을 하게 하시니 교회는 저희의 재능대로 목사나 교사나 그밖에 다른 직무를 맡길 수 있다(엡4:11). 1. 목사가 지 교회를 관리할 때에는 양무리가 되는 성도를 위하여 기도하며 하나님 말씀으로 교훈하고 설교하며 찬송하는 일과 성례를 거행할 것이요, 하나님을 대리하여 축복하고 어린이와 청년을 교육하며 고시하고 교우를 심방하며 궁핍한 자와 병자와 환난 당한 자를 위로하고 장로와 협력하여 치리권을 행사한다. 2. 목사가 신학교나 혹은 총회가 인정하는 학교 교사로 청함을 받아 교훈 하는 직무를 받을 때에는 목자같이 그 학생을 돌아보며 구원하기 위하여 각 사람 마음 가운데 성경말씀의 씨를 뿌리고 결실되도록 힘쓴다. 3. 선교사로 국내 및 국외에 선교할 때에는 성례를 거행하며 교회를 설립하고 조직할 권한이 있다. 제4조 목사의 칭호 목사가 그 담임한 시무와 형편에 따라서 다음과 같은 칭호가 있다. 1. 위임목사 : 조직된 지 교회의 청빙을 받고 노회로부터 위임을 허락 받은 목사니 특별한 이유가 없으면 그 담임한 교회에서 종신토록 시무 한다. 2. 담임목사 : 담임목사는 미조직교회의 청빙을 받아 지 교회에서 시무 하는 자니 교회가 조직교회가 되면 노회에 보고하고 위임을 받으면 위임목사가 된다. 3. 부목사 : 위임목사를 보좌하는 목사이니 당회의 결의에 의하여 청빙하되 계속 시무 하려면 매년 당회장이 노회에 청원하여 승낙을 얻어야 한다. 4. 원로목사 : 목사로 임직받고 20년 이상 시무한 목사가 연로하여 노회에 시무 사면을 제출할 때에 본 교회에서는 명예로운 관계를 지속하기 위하여 공동의회에서 원로목사 추대를 투표로 가결하고 생활비를 작정하여 노회에 청원하면 노회의 결의로 원로목사가 된다. 5. 공로목사 : 목사가 25년 이상 목사로 시무하고 현저한 공적이 있는 자가 연로하여 시무 할 수 없을 때에 노회는 그 공로를 기념하여 노회원 투표 3분의 2 이상의 가결로 공로목사가 된다. 단 원로목사와 공로목사는 노회와 총회의 정회원이 되나 지 교회에서는 직무와 치리 권이 없다. 다시 지 교회에서 시무 하게 되면 원로목사와 공로목사의 명부에서 시무목사의 명부로 옮겨진다. 6. 무임 목사 : 시무하는 교회가 없는 목사이니 노회에서 언권은 있으나 결의권은 없다. 7. 종군목사 : 노회에서 안수를 받고 배속된 군인교회에서 목회와 전도를 하며 성례를 행한다. 8. 교육목사 : 1) 총회나 노회와 관계되는 기독교 교육기관에서 청빙을 받아 시무 하는 목사이다. 2) 지 교회에서 교육에 관한 일에 시무 하는 임시목사이다. 9. 전도목사: 한인을 위하여 복음을 전도하기 위하여 파송을 받은 목사이다. 10. 선교사 : 국내외를 막론하고 복음을 전파하기 위하여 파송을 받은 목사이다. 11. 음악목사 : 지 교회에서 교회음악에 관한 일을 위하여 시무 하는 임시 목사로 음악학사 이상의 학위 소지자라야 한다. 제5장 치리장로 제1조 장로 직분의 기원 구약시대에 교회를 관리하는 장로가 있었음과 같이 신약시대에도 목사와 협력하여 교회를 치리하는 자를 세웠으니 곧 치리장로이다. 제2조 장로의 권한 설교와 교훈은 그의 전무 책임은 아니나 각 치리회에서는 목사와 같은 권한으로 각 항 사무를 처리한다(딤전5:17; 롬12:7-8). 제3조 장로의 자격 만 30세 이상 된 입교인으로서 흠 없이 5년을 경과하고 상당한 식견과 통솔력이 있으며 디모데전서 3:1-7 절에 해당하는 남자로 한다. 제4조 장로의 직무 1. 교회의 모든 영적 관계를 살핀다. 치리장로는 교인의 택함을 받은 교인의 대표자로 목사와 협동하여 행정과 권징을 행하며 지 교회 혹은 전국 교회의 신령적 관계를 살핀다. 2. 교리오해나 도덕상 부패를 방지한다. 주님께로부터 부탁 받은 양무리가 교리에 대한 오해나 도덕적 부패에 이르지 않기 위하여 당회로나 개인으로 선히 권면하되 회개하지 아니하는 자가 있을 때에는 당회에 보고한다. 3. 교우를 심방 하여 위로, 교훈, 간호한다. 교우를 심방 하되 특별히 상을 당한 자를 위로하고 무식한 자와 어린이를 가르치며 간호할 것이니 평신도보다 장로는 신분상 의무와 직무상 책임이 더욱 중하다. 4. 교인의 신앙을 살피고 위하여 기도한다. 장로는 교인 중에 설교의 효력을 살펴 교인과 함께 기도하며 위하여 기도한다. 5. 특별히 심방 할 자를 목사에게 보고한다. 병자와 슬픔을 당한 자와 구제를 받아야 할 자와 특별히 회개하는 자가 있을 때에는 목사에게 보고한다. 제6장 집 사 제1조 집사의 직분 집사의 직분은 목사와 장로의 직분과 구별되는 직분이니 흠 없는 남자교인으로 그 지 교회 교인들의 택함을 받고 목사에게 안수 임직을 받는 교회의 항존직이다. 제2조 집사의 자격 집 사는 선한 명예와 진실한 믿음과 지혜와 분별력이 있어 존경을 받고 행위가 복음에 합당하며 그 생활이 다른 사람에게 모범이 되는 자를 선택한다. 봉사의 의무는 일반신자의 마땅히 행할 본분인즉 집사가 된 자는 더욱이 그러하다(딤전3:8-13). 제3조 집사의 직무 집사의 직무는 목사와 장로와 협력하여 가난하고 어려운 자를 권고하며 병자와 갇힌 자와 과부와 고아와 환난 당한 자를 위문하되 당회의 감독 아래서 행하며 교회에서 수금한 구제비와 일반 재정을 수납 지출한다(행6:1-3). 제7장 교회 정치와 치리회 제1조 정치의 필요 교회를 치리함에는 명백한 정치와 조직이 있어야 한다(고전14:40). 정당한 사리와 성경의 교훈과 사도시대 교회의 행사에 따르며 교회의 치리권은 개인에게 있지 않고 당회, 노회, 총회와 같은 치리회에 있다(행15:6). 제2조 치리회의 성질과 관할 교회 각 치리회의 등급은 있으나 각 치리회 회원은 목사와 장로뿐이므로 각 치리회가 다 노회적 성질이 있으니 같은 자격으로 조직한 것이므로 같은 권리가 있으나 그 치리회의 범위는 교회 헌법에 규정하였다. 1. 교회의 교리와 정치에 대하여 쟁론 사건이 발생하면 성경 교훈대로 교회의 성결과 화평을 성취하기 위하여 순서에 따라서 상회에 상소함이 옳으며 각 치리회는 각 사건을 적법대로 처리하기 위하여 관할 범위를 정할 것이요, 각 치리회는 고유한 특권이 있으나 순서대로 상회의 검사와 관할을 받는다. 2. 각 치리회는 각기 독립한 개체가 아니고 서로 연합한 것이니 어떤 회에서 어떤 일을 처리하든지 그 결정은 법대로 대표된 치리회로 하여금 행사하게 하는 것인즉 전 교회의 결정이 된다. 제3조 치리회의 회집 당회와 노회는 매년 1회 이상, 총회는 매년 1회 회집 하되 기도로 개회와 폐회한다. 제4조 치리회의 권한 교회 각 치리회는 국법으로 시벌을 할 권한은 없고(눅12:2-14; 요18:36) 오직 영적인 사건과 도덕적인 사건에 대하여 교인으로 하여금 그리스도의 법을 순종하게 하는 것뿐이다(행15:1,32). 만일 불복하거나 불법한 자가 있으면 교인의 특권을 누리지 못하게 하며 성경의 권위를 보장하기 위하여 증거를 수집하여 시벌하며 관할 아래 있는 교인을 소환하여 심사하기도 하며 증거를 제출하게 할 수도 있으니 가장 중한 벌은 교리에 패역한 자와 회개하지 아니한 자를 교인 중에서 출교할 뿐이다(마18:15-17; 고전5:4-5). 제8장 당회 제1조 당회의 조직 당회는 지 교회를 담임한 목사와 치리장로로 조직하되 입교인 20명 이상을 요한다(행14:23; 딛1:5). 제2조 당회의 성수 당 회에 장로 2인이 있으면 장로 1인의 출석으로 성수가 되고 장로 3인 이상이 있으면 장로 과반수와 목사 1인이 출석하여야 성수가 된다. 장로 1인만 있는 경우에도 모든 당회 일을 행하되 그 장로의 치리 문제와 다른 사건에 있어서 장로가 반대하는 경우에는 노회에 보고하여 처리한다. 제3조 당회장 당회장은 그 지교회를 담임한 목사가 될 것이나 특별한 경우에는 당회의 결의로 본 교회 목사가 그 노회에 속한 목사 1인을 청하여 대리 회장이 되게 할 수 있으며 본 교회 목사가 신병이 있거나 출타한 때에도 그러하다. 제4조 당회 임시회장 당 회장은 목사가 되는 것이므로 어떤 교회에서든지 목사가 없으면 그 교회에서 목사를 청빙할 때까지 노회가 당회장 될 사람을 파송할 수 있으나 부득이한 경우에는 회장 될 목사가 없을지라도 재판 사건과 중대사건 외에는 당회가 사무를 처리할 수 있다. 제5조 당회의 직무 1. 교인의 신앙과 행위를 살핌 : 당회의 직무는 영적인 모든 사무를 처리하는 것이니(히13:17) 교인의 신앙적인 지식과 행위를 살핀다. 2. 교인의 입회와 퇴회 : 입교할 자를 고시하며 입교인 된 부모를 권하여 그 어린 자녀로 세례를 받게 하며 유아세례 받은 자를 고시하여 성찬에 참가하게 하며 주소가 변경된 교인에게는 이명증서(입교, 세례, 유아세례)를 접수 또는 교부하며 제명도 한다. 3. 예배와 성례 거행 : 목사가 없을 때에는 노회의 지도로 다른 목사를 청빙하여 설교하게 하며 성례를 행한다. 4. 장로와 집사 임직 : 장로나 집사를 선택하여 반년 이상 교양하고 장로는 노회의 승인과 고시 후에 임직하며 집사는 당회가 고시한 후에 임직 한다. 5. 각종 헌금하는 일을 주장함 : 각종 헌금할 날짜와 방법을 작정한다. 6. 권징 하는 일 : 본 교회 교인 중에서 범죄한 자와 증인을 소환하고 심사하며 필요한 경우에는 본 교회의 회원이 아닌 자라도 증인으로 소환하여 심문 할 수 있으며 범죄한 증거가 명백한 때에는 권계, 견책, 정직, 면직, 수찬 정지, 제명, 출교를 하며 회개한 자를 해벌 한다(살전5:12-13; 살후3:6, 14-15; 고전11:27-30). 7. 영적 유익을 도모하며 각 기관을 감독함 : 당회는 교회의 영적 유익을 도모하며 교인을 심방하며 성경을 가르치는 일과 교회학교와 찬양대를 주관하고 각 기관을 지도하며 감독한다. 8. 노회에 총대 파송 및 청원과 보고 : 노회에 파송할 총대 장로를 선정하며 청원서를 제출하며 교회의 상황을 노회에 보고한다. 제6조 당회의 권한 당 회는 예배 모범에 의지하여 예배의식을 주관하되 모든 회집 시간과 장소를 작정할 것이요, 교회에 속한 토지, 가옥에 관한 일도 장리( )한다. 단 노회 소속 지 교회에 노회소속 및 재산권의 분쟁이 발생할 경우 그 분쟁이 해결되고 해 지 교회가 원만이 수습될 때까지 그 지 교회의 재산 관리권을 해 노회가 갖는다. 제7조 당회 회집 당회는 1년 1회 이상을 정기로 회집하며 본 교회의 목사가 필요한 줄로 인정할 때와 장로 과반수이상이 청구할 때와 상회가 회집을 명령할 때에도 소집하되 만일 목사가 없는 경우에는 필요에 의하여 장로 과반수가 소집할 수 있다. 제8조 당회 회록 당회 회록에는 결의사항을 명백히 기록하고 회록과 재판 회록은 1년 1차씩 노회의 검사를 받는다. 제9조 각종 명부록 당회는 아래와 같은 명부를 비치한다. 1. 입교인 명부(입교 년 월 일 기입) 2. 유아세례 명부(유아세례 및 성찬 허락 년 월 일 기입) 3. 책벌인 및 해벌인 명부(책벌, 해벌 년 월 일) 4. 별세인 명부(별세 년 월 일) 5. 이명인 명부(이명서 접수 및 발송 년 월 일) 6. 혼인 명부(성혼 년 월 일) 성명은 호적대로 기록하되 여자와 아이는 호주의 성명을 기입할 것이며 성혼한 여자는 결혼 전의 성도 기입한다. 제9장 노회 제1조 노회의 필요 그리스도의 몸된 교회가 나뉘어 여러 지교회가 되었으니(행6:1-6, 9:31, 21:20) 서로 협의하여 도와서 교회의 도리와 순전을 보전하며 권징을 동일하게 시행하며 신앙적인 지식과 바른 도리를 합심하여 발휘하며 배도함과 부도덕함을 금지할 것이요, 이를 성취하려면 노회와 같은 상회가 있는 것이 필요하다. 사도시대에 노회와 같은 회가 있었으니 교회가 분산한 후에 다수의 지 교회가 있었던 것은 모든 성경에 분명하다(행6:1, 9:31, 21:20, 행2:41-47, 4:4). 이런 각 교회가 한 노회 아래 속하였고(행15:2-4, 6:11, 23-30, 21:17-18) 에베소교회 이외에도 많은 지 교회가 있었으니 노회가 있었던 증거가 있다(행19:20). 참조(고전16:8, 9, 19; 행18:19, 24-26, 20:17-18, 25-31, 36-37; 계2:1-6). 제2조 노회의 조직 노회는 일정한 지방 안의 모든 목사(3인 이상을 요함)와 각 당회에서 총대로 파송 한 장로로 조직한다. 제3조 회원의 자격 각 지 교회의 시무목사, 원로목사, 공로목사와 총회나 노회가 파송한 기관목사는 회원권을 구비하고 그 이외의 목사는 선거권 및 피선거권이 없고 위원회에서는 투표권과 상회에 총대 권도 있다. 제4조 총 대 총대 장로는 서기가 추천서를 접수하여 호명한 후부터 회원권이 있다. 제5조 노회의 성수 노회가 예정한 장소와 날짜에 본 노회에 속한 정회원 되는 목사와 총대 장로 각 2인 이상이 회집하면 개회 성수가 되며 노회의 일체 사무를 처리할 수 있다. 제6조 노회의 직무 1. 노회는 그 지역에 있는 당회와 지 교회의 목사와 전도사와 목사후보생과 미조직교회를 살핀다. 2. 노회는 각 당회에서 규칙대로 제출하는 헌의와 청원과 상소 및 소원과 고소와 문의와 위탁판결을 접수하여 처리하며 재판 건은 노회의 결의대로 권징조례에 의하여 재판국에 위임 처리할 수 있다(고전6:1; 딤전5:19). 또 상소장을 접수하여 상회에 보낸다. 3. 목사후보생을 고시하여 받고 교육, 이명, 권징 하는 것과 지 교회의 장로 선거를 승인하며 피택장로를 고시하여 임직을 허락하고 전도사를 고시하여 인가하며 목사의 고시, 임직, 위임, 해임, 전임, 이명, 권징을 관리하며(딤전4:14; 행13:2-3) 당회록과 재판회록을 검열하여 처리사건에 찬부를 표하며 도리와 권징에 관한 합당한 문의를 해석한다(행15:10; 갈2:2-5). 4. 교회의 신성과 화평을 방해하는 언행을 방지하며(행15:22-24), 교회 실정과 병폐를 감시하고 교정하기 위하여 각 지 교회를 시찰한다(행20:17, 30, 6:2, 15:30). 5. 지 교회를 설립, 분립, 합병, 폐지 및 당회를 조직하는 것과 지 교회와 미조직교회의 목사 청빙과 전도사와 재정 일체 사항의 처리방침을 지도하여 돕는다. 6. 본 노회의 청원과 헌의를 상회에 올려 보내며 상회에서 내려보내는 공문을 접수하여 그 지시를 실행하며 교회 일을 질서 있게 처리하며(고전14:33, 40), 전도사업을 직접 경영하고 상회에 총대를 선정하여 파송하며 각 교회의 모든 영적 유익을 도모한다. 7. 목사고시를 시행하되 그 과목은 신조, 권징조례, 예배모범, 목회학, 면접이다. 8. 노회는 교회를 감독하는 치리권을 행사하기 위하여 시찰위원을 두어 지 교회 및 미조직 교회를 시찰하고 모든 일을 협의하여 노회의 치리 하는 것을 보조할 것이니 시찰위원의 정원과 시찰할 구역은 노회에서 정한다. 시찰위원은 치리회가 아니니 목사 청빙 청원을 직접 허락하거나 목사에게 직접 전하지 못하고 노회가 모이지 아니하는 동안 임시목사라도 세울 권한이 없다. 그러나 공석당회에서 설교할 목사를 청하는 일을 함께 의논할 수 있고 또 그 지방의 목사가 일할 처소와 사례금을 작정하여 노회에 보고한다. 9. 1) 노회는 목사 없는 교회를 돌아보기 위하여 시찰위원 혹은 특별위원에게 위탁하여 노회 개회 때까 지 임시로 목사를 택하게 할 수 있고 혹 임시 당회장도 택하게 할 수 있다. 시찰위원을 두는 목적은 교회와 당회를 돌아보고 노회를 위하여 교회 형편을 시찰하는 것이니 시찰위원은 교회의 청함이 없을지라도 그 지방 안에 있는 당회와 제직회와 부속한 각 회에 언권 방청으로 출석할 수 있고 투표권은 없다. 각 당회는 장로 및 전도사를 선정할 일에 대하여 의논할 때에는 시찰위원과 협의함이 가하다. 시찰위원은 그 구역 안에 있는 교회 형편과 위탁받은 사건을 노회에 보고할 것이나 당회나 교인이 교회 헌법에 의하여 보장된 직접 청구권은 침해하지 못한다. 2) 노회 소속 지 교회에 노회 소속 및 재산권에 대한 분쟁이 발생할 경우 교회 재산권에 관한 문제는 그 분쟁이 완전히 해결되고 해 지 교회가 원만히 수습될 때까지 해 노회가 관리한다. 10. 시찰위원은 가끔 각 목사와 교회를 시찰하여 교회의 영적 형편과 재정 형편과 전도 형편과 교회학교 및 교회소속 각 회의 형편을 시찰하고 목사가 열매 있고 유익하게 역사 하는 여부와 그 교회 장로와 당회와 제직회와 교회 대표자들이 제출하는 문의 및 청원서를 노회에 제출한다. 제7조 노회록과 보고 노회는 전도사 인허와 목사의 임직과 이명과 별세와 후보생의 명부와 교회를 설립, 분립, 합병과 지방 안의 각 교회 형편과 처리하는 일반 사건을 일일이 기록하여 매년 상회에 보고한다. 제8조 노회가 보관하는 각종 명부 1) 시무목사 명부 2) 무임목사 명부 3) 원로목사 명부 4) 공로목사 명부 5) 전도사 명부 6) 목사후보생 명부 제9조 노회 회집 노회는 예정한 날짜와 장소에 회집하고 특별한 사건이 있는 경우에는 각 다른 지 교회 목사 2인과 각 다른 지 교회 장로 2인의 청원에 의하여 회장이 임시노회를 소집할 수 있다(회장이 유고한 때에는 부회장 또는 서기가 대리로 소집한다). 회장이 임시노회를 소집할 때에는 회의할 안건과 회집할 날짜를 개회 10일 전에 소속 회원에게 통지하고 통지서에 기재한 안건만 의결한다. 제10장 총 회 제1조 총회의 정의 총회는 세계한인예수교장로회의 모든 지교회 및 치리회의 최고회로 그 명칭은 세계한인예수교장로회 총회라 칭한다. 제2조 총회의 조직 총회는 각 노회에서 파송한 목사와 장로로서 조직하되 그 명단은 개회 2개월 전에 총회 서기에게 보내야 한다. 제3조 총회의 성수 총회가 예정한 날짜에 노회의 과반수와 총대목사 및 총대장로 과반수가 출석하면 개회 할 성수가 되어 일반 회무를 처리한다. 제4조 총회의 직무 총 회는 소속교회 및 치리회의 모든 사무와 그 연합관계를 살피며 하회에서 합법적으로 제출되는 헌의와 청원과 상고와 소원과 고소와 문의와 위탁판결을 접수하여 처리하고 각 회의록을 검열하여 찬, 부를 표하고 소속 교회간에 서로 연락하며 신뢰하게 한다. 제5조 총회의 권한 1. 총회는 교회헌법(신조, 요리문답, 정치, 권징조례, 예배모범)을 해석할 전권이 있고 교리와 권징에 관한 쟁론을 판단하고 지 교회와 노회의 부도덕한 행위를 견책하며 권계하며 변증한다. 2. 총회는 노회를 설립, 합병, 분립, 폐지하기도 하며 구역을 작정하며 목사 지원자를 고시하며, 총회 산하 교회를 통솔하며, 본 총회와 다른 교파 교회간에 정한 규례에 의하여 교통한다. 3. 교회를 분열하게 하는 분쟁을 수습하며 전체 교회를 위하여 품행을 단정하게 하며 인애와 성실과 성결한 덕을 권장하기 위하여 의안을 제출하여 실행하도록 한다. 4. 내 외지 전도사업이나 기타 중대사건을 주관할 위원을 둘 수 있으며 신학교와 대학교를 설립 할 수 있다. 5. 총회의 재산은 총회의 소유로 한다. 제6조 총회 회집 총회는 매년 정기로 회집하되 예정한 날짜에 회장이 출석하지 못할 때에는 부회장 혹은 전 회장이 개회하고 신 회장을 선거할 때까지 시무할 것이요, 각 총대는 서기가 추천서를 접수 호명한 후부터 회원권이 있다. 제7조 총회 개회 및 폐회 총회가 기도로 개회하고 폐회하되 폐회하기로 결정한 후에는 회장이 선언하기를 '교회가 나에게 위탁한 권세로 지금 총회는 폐회함이 가한 줄 알며 이 총회와 같이 조직된 총회가 다시 아무 날 아무 곳에서 회집을 요하노라' 한 후에 기도와 축도로 산회한다. 제8조 총회 총대 자격 1. 총회 총대는 각 노회에서 파송한 목사와 장로로 한다. 2. 새로 조직한 노회의 총대는 개회 후 임원선거 전에 그 노회 설립보고를 먼저 받고 총대로 허락한다. 3. 총대 자격 : 총회 총대는 노회 총대로 한다. 제9조 총대 여비 총대 여비는 지 교회에서 부담한다. 제11장 장로, 집사 선거 및 임직 제1조 선거 방법 치리장로와 집사는 각 지 교회가 공동의회 규칙에 의하여 선거하되 유효투표수의 3분의 2 이상의 찬성을 얻어야 한다. 제2조 취임 승낙 치리장로 혹은 집사를 선거하여 노회가 고시 승인하고(집사는 제외)선거된 본인도 승낙한 후에 당회가 임직 한다. 제3조 임직 순서 교회가 당회의 정한 날짜와 장소에 모여 개회하고 목사가 설교한 후에 그 직분(장로 혹은 집사)의 근원과 성질이 어떠한 것을 간단히 설명하고 교회 앞에서 피선자를 일어서게 하고 아래와 같이 서약한다. 1. 신구약 성경은 하나님의 말씀이요 또한 신앙과 행위에 대하여 정확무오한 유일의 법칙으로 믿습니까? 2. 본 장로회 신조와 웨스트민스터 신앙 고백서 및 대, 소요리문답은 신구약 성경이 교훈 하는 도리를 총괄한 것으로 알고 성실한 마음으로 받아 믿음으로 순종하겠습니까? 3. 본 장로회 정치와 권징조례와 예배모범을 정당한 것으로 승낙하십니까? 4. 이 지 교회 장로(혹 집사)의 직분을 받고 하나님의 은혜를 힘입어 진실한 마음으로 이 직분을 힘써 행하기로 서약하십니까? 5. 본 교회의 화평과 연합과 성결함을 위하여 힘쓰기로 서약하십니까? 이상 4와 5항은 위임서약이다. 목사가 직분을 받을 자로 하여금 서약하게 한 후에 또 그 지 교회의 회원들을 일어서게 하고 아래와 같이 서약하게 한다. 이 지 교회 회원들이여 000씨를 본 교회의 장로(혹 집사)로 받고 성경과 교회 정치에 가르친 바를 좇아서 주안에서 존경하며 위로하며 복종하기로 서약하십니까? 지 교회 회원들이 거수로써 서약의 뜻을 표한 후에 목사가 개인으로나 전 당회원으로 안수 기도와 악수례를 행한 후 치리장로(혹 집사)의 직분을 맡긴 다음 공포한다. 그리고 새로이 임직한 자와 교인에게 대하여 특별히 합당한 말로 권면한다. 제4조 임 기 치리장로와 안수집사의 직분은 종신직이다. 단 3년에 1차씩 시무투표 할 수 있고 그 표결 수는 과반수를 요한다. 제5조 자유 휴직과 사직 장로 혹은 집사가 연로하였거나 신병으로 시무할 수 없든지 이단이나 악행이 없을지라도 교회의 태반이 그 시무를 원치 아니할 때 본인의 청원에 의하여 휴직과 사직을 당회의 결의로 처리한다. 제6조 권고 휴직과 사직 장로나 집사가 범죄는 없을지라도 제5조의 사정과 비슷하여 교회에 덕을 세우지 못하게 된 경우에는 당회가 협의 결정하여 휴직 혹은 사직하게 하고 그 사실을 회의록에 기록한다. 본인이 이를 원치 아니할 때에는 상소할 수 있다. 제12장 목사후보생 제1조 양성의 필요 목사의 중임을 부적당한 자에게 위임함으로써 성역이 사람의 멸시를 받지 않기 위하여 또 교회를 지도 치리 할 자의 능력을 알기 위하여 성경에 명한 대로 목사 지원자를 먼저 시험하는 것이 가하다(딤전3:6; 딤후2:2). 이러므로 총회가 신학교 졸업생의 학력을 고시하고 이를 청빙하는 교회가 있을 때에 노회가 고시하여 이를 안수한다. 제2조 관할(管轄) 1. 본교단 목사후보생 지원자는 소속 노회에 청원하여 그 노회의 관할 아래에서 지도를 받아야 한다. 2. 총회 직영 신학교와 총회가 인정하는 신학교를 졸업한 목사후보생은 강도사 고시에 합격한 후 6개월 이상 소속노회에서 목회 실습을 받아야 한다. 3. 총회가 인준하지 아니하는 신학교를 졸업한 자는 일년 이상 총회의 직영 신학교에서 신학과 교회 헌법을 이수한 후에 강도사 고시 자격을 얻는다. 제3조 고시 종목 총회의 강도사 고시는 필기로 하며 그 과목은 조직신학, 교회 헌법, 교회사, 미국개혁교회사, 논문, 주해, 설교로 하고 총회 고시부장은 목사 지원자의 실지 능력을 알아보기 위하여 고시 5개월 전에 논문, 주해, 설교의 고시문제를 준다. 제13장 목사 청빙 및 임직 제1조 목사의 자격 목사는 신학 졸업 후에 총회에서 시행하는 강도사 고시에 합격한 후 노회고시에 합격하되 청빙하는 교회가 있어야 한다. 제2조 목사 청빙 투표 지 교회가 위임 목사를 청빙 하려고 할 때에는 당회의 결의로 공동의회를 소집하고 임시 당회장이 설교하고 목사 청빙 투표할 것을 공포한 후에 즉시 투표한다. 제3조 청빙 준비 투표하여 3분의 2 이상이 가라 할지라도 부라 하는 소수가 심히 반대하는 경우에는 회장은 교우에게 연기하라고 권고하는 것이 가하다. 투표 후 온 교우가 일치된 경우에 규칙대로 청빙서를 작성하여 각 투표자로 서명하게 하고 회장도 날인하여 공동의회 경과 상황을 기록하되 반대자의 수와 그 사람들의 형편도 자세히 기록하여 청빙서와 함께 노회에 드린다. 제4조 청빙 서식 00 곳 XX교회 교인들은 귀하께서 목사의 재덕과 능력이 구비하여 우리 영혼의 영적 유익을 선히 나누어 주실 줄로 확신하여 귀하를 본 교회 위임(담임)목사로 청빙하오며 겸하여 귀하께서 담임 시무 기간 중에는 본 교인들이 모든 일에 편의와 위로를 도모하며 주안에서 순복하고 매월 사례금으로 000불을 드리기로 서약하는 동시에 이를 확실히 증명하기 위하여 서명하여 청원하오니 허락하심을 바라나이다. 년 월 일 각 교인 연서 서명 증인, 공동의회장 서명 귀하 제5조 청빙 승낙 어느 목사에게든지 청빙서를 드리면 그 교회가 원하는 줄로 인정할 것이요, 목사가 청빙서를 접수하면 승낙하는 것으로 인정한다. 제6조 청빙서 제정(提呈) 청빙서는 청빙 받은 자를 관할하는 노회에 드릴 것이요, 그 노회가 합당한 줄로 인정할 때에는 청빙 받은 자에게 전함이 옳으니 목사는 노회를 경유하지 아니하고 직접 청빙서를 받지 못한다. 제7조 다른 노회 사역자 청빙 다 른 노회에 속한 목사를 청빙 할 때에는 그 지 교회가 청빙위원을 택할지니 그 위원은 청빙서를 먼저 소속 노회에 드릴 것이요 노회가 가한 줄로 알면 조회서와 청빙서를 합하여 그 노회에 전달한다. 그 노회는 그 청빙서가 합당한 줄로 인정하면 그 청빙 받은 자에게 주고 청빙 받은 자가 응낙할 마음이 있으면 해 노회에 이명서를 줄 것이다. 단 이명서를 제출하는 목사는 헌법대로 서약한 후 그 서약서에 서명하여 노회장에게 제출한다. 제8조 임직 준비 노회는 청빙 받은 자가 성직을 받을만한 자격자인줄 확인하면 편의를 따라 임직식을 교회나 노회 중에 행하고 위임식은 그 시무 할 교회에서 거행하되 그 교회 교인들은 이를 위하여 준비 기도 할 것이다(행13:2, 3). 제9조 임직 예식 1. 서약 : 노회는 예정한 회원으로 하여금 임직에 적합하도록 설교하게 한 후 회장이 정중히 취지를 설명하고 청빙 받은 자를 일어서게 하고 다음과 같이 서약한다. 1) 신구약 성경은 하나님의 말씀이요 신앙과 본분에 대하여 정확무오한 유일의 법칙으로 믿습니까? 2) 본 장로회 신조와 웨스트민스터 신앙고백서 및 대, 소요리 문답은 신구약 성경이 교훈 한 도리를 총괄한 것으로 승낙하십니까? 3) 본 장로회 정치와 권징조례와 예배모범을 정당한 것으로 승낙하십니까? 4) 주안에서 같이 직원이 된 형제들과 마음을 같이하여 협력하기로 서약하십니까? 5) 목사의 성직을 구한 것이 하나님을 사랑하는 마음과 그 독생자 예수의 복음을 전파하여 하나님의 영광을 나타내고자 하는 본심에서 나온 줄로 자인하십니까? 6) 어떠한 핍박이나 반대를 당할지라도 인내하고 충성된 마음으로 복음의 진리를 보호하며 교회의 성결과 화평을 힘써 도모하여 성실히 사역하기로 서약하십니까? 7) 신자요 겸하여 목사가 되었으니, 자기의 본분과 다른 사람에 대한 의무와 직무에 대한 책임을 성실히 행하여 복음을 영화롭게 하며 하나님께서 그대에게 명하사 관리하게 하신 교회 앞에 경건한 모범을 세우기로 승낙하십니까? 2. 안수 : 회장이 전항에 의하여 서약을 마친 후에 서약서에 서명하여 노회장에게 제출하게 하고, 청빙 받은 자를 적당한 곳에 꿇어앉게 하고 사도의 규례에 의하여 노회의 대표자의 안수와 함께 회장이 기도하고 목사를 임직 한 후 악수례를 행하며 말하기를 '성역의 동역자가 되었으니 악수로 축하합니다' 라고 한다(갈2:9; 행1:25). 3. 공포 : '00씨는 세계한인예수교장로회 00노회의 목사임을 공포합니다'. 4. 권면 : 회장 혹은 다른 목사가 신임 목사에게 권면할 것이요(딤후4:1-2) 노회는 그 사건을 회의록에 자세히 기록한다. 제10조 위임 예식 노회는 예정한 날짜와 장소에서 노회 전체로나 혹은 위원으로 예식을 다음과 같이 행한다. 1. 목사의 서약 1) 귀하가 청빙서를 받을 때에 원하든 대로 이 지 교회의 목사 직무를 담임하기로 작정하십니까? 2) 이 직무를 받는 것은 진실로 하나님께 영광을 돌리며 교회에 유익하게 하고자 함이니 본심으로 작정하십니까? 3) 하나님의 도와주시는 은혜를 받는 대로 이 교회에 대하여 충성된 마음으로 목사의 직분을 다하고 모든 일에 근신 단정하여 그리스도의 복음의 사역에 부합하도록 행하며 목사로 임직 하던 때의 승낙한대로 행하기로 서약하십니까? 4) 위의 서약을 마친 후, 서약서에 서명하게 한다. 2. 교인의 서약 본 교회 교인들을 일어서게 한 후에 다음과 같이 서약한다. 1) 00교회 교우 여러분은 목사로 청빙한 000씨를 본 교회의 위임(담임) 목사로 받으십니까? 2) 여러분은 겸손하고 사랑하는 마음으로 그의 교훈 하는 진리를 받으며 치리를 복종하기로 서약하십니까? 3) 목사가 수고할 때에 위로하며 여러분을 가르치고 인도하며 영적인 덕을 세우기 위하여 진력할 때에 도와주기로 작정하십니까? 4) 여러분은 000목사가 본 교회 목사로 재직 중에 한결같이 그 작정한 생활비를 지불하며 주의 도에 영광이 되며 목사에게 안위가 되도록 모든 요긴한 일에 도와 드리기로 서약하십니까? 3. 공포 '내가 교회의 머리되시는 주 예수 그리스도의 이름과 노회의 권위로 목사 000씨를 본 교회 목사로 위임(담임)됨을 공포합니다.' 이같이 서약을 마친 후에 회장이나 다른 목사가 신임 목사와 교회에게 정중히 권면한 후에 축도로 폐회한다. 제11조 다른 교파 교역자 다른 교파의 목사가 본 장로회의 노회에 가입코자 하면 본 총회에서 인준하지 아니한 신학교를 졸업한 자는 본 장로회 신학교에서 1 년 이상 수업해야 하고 노회 공석에서 개혁주의 신학을 확인한 후에 가입할 수 있다. 제14장 목사 전임 제1조 전임 승인 목사는 노회의 승낙을 얻지 못하면 다른 지 교회에 이전하지 못하고 또 전임 청빙서를 직접 받지도 못한다. 제2조 본 노회 안에서의 전임 어 떤 교회든지 본 노회에 속한 다른 지 교회의 위임목사를 청빙 하고자 할 때에는 본교회의 결의로 청빙서와 청원서를 노회 개회 1개월 전에 노회 서기에게 보내고 노회 서기는 그 청빙 사유를 청빙 받은 목사와 그 교회에 즉시 통지할 것이요 본 교회는 청빙위원을 노회에 파송 한다. 1. 그 위원은 청빙 이유를 노회에 진술한 후 노회가 합당치 않은 줄로 알면 청빙서를 되돌려주고 합당한 줄로 알면 승낙하고 청빙서를 청빙 받은 자에게 준다. 2. 노회는 양편 교회의 대표자의 설명을 듣고 교회의 화평과 덕을 세우도록 자세히 살펴 결정한 후에 유임 혹은 전임하도록 하되 결정하기 어려우면 상회의 지도를 받는다. 제3조 다른 노회에서의 전임 어느 교회든지 다른 노회에 속한 위임목사를 청빙 하려면 먼저 노회에 제의할 것이니 본 노회가 승인할 때에는 청빙서를 그 노회에 보낸다. 그 노회는 청빙 받은 목사와 그 교회에 조회하여 회답을 받아 협의하여 가결하면 전임을 허락하고 본 교회의 직무를 해제한 후 이명증서를 청빙 받은 자에게 주어 청빙 한 노회에 전달할지니 노회는 이명증서를 접수한 후에 편의대로 위임한다. 그러나 목사가 원치 아니할 때에는 전임을 명하지 못한다. 제15장 목사 사면 및 사직 제1조 자유 사면 목사가 본 교회에 대하여 어려운 사정이 있어 사면원을 노회에 제출하면 노회는 교회 대표를 청하여 그 목사의 사면 이유를 물을 것이요, 그 교회 대표가 오지 아니하든지 혹 그 설명하는 이유가 충분하지 못하면 사면을 승낙하고 회의록에 자세히 기록할 것이요 그 교회는 목사 없는 교회가 된다. 제2조 권고 사면 지교회가 목사를 환영하지 아니하여 해약하고자 할 때에는 노회가 목사와 교회 대표자의 설명을 들은 후 처리한다. 제3조 자유 사직 목사가 그 시무교회에 유익을 주지 못할 줄로 판단될 때에는 사직원을 노회에 제출할 것이요 노회는 이를 협의하여 결정한다. 제4조 권고 사직 목사가 성직에 상당한 자격과 성적이 없든지 혹 심신이 건강하고 또 사역할 만 하여도 5년간 무임으로 있으면 노회는 사직을 권고한다. 제5조 목사의 휴양 시무목사가 병약하거나 기타 사정으로 1년 이상 쉬게 될 때에는 노회의 허락을 받아야 하며 허락없이 1년 이상 휴무할 때에는 자동적으로 그 교회의 위임이 해제된다. 제16장 선교사 제1조 선교사 총 회는 교회를 설립하기 위하여 내 외지를 막론하고 다른 민족 혹은 교포에게 선교사를 파송할 수 있으니 이런 일을 위하여 지 교회의 청빙이 없는 자라도 선교사로 임직 할 수 있으나 원하지 아니하는 자를 강권하지 못하며 자원하는 자라야 파송함이 옳고 선교사의 생활비와 기타 비용은 파송 하는 치리회 혹은 기관에서 담당한다. 제17장 회장과 서기 제1조 회장 교회의 각 치리회는 모든 사무를 질서 있고 신속하게 처리하기 위하여 회장을 선택할 것이요 그 임기는 그 회의 규칙대로 한다. 제2조 회장의 직권 회 장은 그 회가 허락하여 준 권한 안에서 회원으로 회칙을 지키게 하고 회의 장소의 질서를 정돈하며 개회 폐회를 주관하고 순서대로 회무를 인도하되 잘 의논한 후에 신속하게 처리하고 각 회원이 다른 회원의 언권을 침해하지 못하게 하며 회장의 승낙으로 언권을 얻어 발언하게 하며 의안 범위밖에 탈선하지 못하게 하며 회원간에 모욕적이거나 무례한 말을 금하며 회무 진행 중에 퇴장을 금하며 가부를 물을 의제는 회중에게 밝히 설명한 후에 가부를 표결할 것이요 가부가 동수인 때에는 회장이 결정하고 회장이 이를 원하지 아니하면 그 안건은 자연히 부결된다. 회장은 매 사건에 대한 결의를 공포할 것이요 특별한 일로 회의 질서를 유지할 수 없을 경우에는 회장이 비상정회를 선언할 수 있다. 제3조 서 기 각 치리회는 그 회의록과 일체 문서를 보관하기 위하여 서기를 선택하되 그 임기는 그 회의 규칙대로 한다. 제4조 서기의 임무 서기는 회의 중 의사 진행을 자세히 기록하고 서류일체를 보관하고 상당한 자가 회의록의 어떤 부분에 대하여 사본을 청구하면 회의 허락으로 사본을 줄 수 있다. 서기가 날인한 사본은 각 치리회에서는 원본과 같이 취급한다. 제18장 교회소속 각 회의 권리 및 책임 제1조 속회 조직 지교회나 혹 여러 지교회가 전도사업과 자선사업이나 도리를 가르치는 것과 은혜 중에서 자라기 위하여 여러 가지 회를 조직할 수 있다. 제2조 속회 관리 어느 지교회든지 위에 기록한대로 여러 회가 있으면 그 교회의 당회의 치리와 관할과 지도를 받을 것이오, 노회나 총회 지경 안으로 확장하게 되면 그 치리회 관할 아래 있다. 당회원이나 다른 직원으로 각 기관에 고문을 정하여 연락 지도할 수도 있다. 제3조 속회 권한 이런 각 회가 그 명칭과 규칙을 제정하는 것과 임원 택하는 것과 재정 출납하는 것을 교회 헌법에 의하여 그 치리회의 검사와 감독과 지도를 받는다. 제19장 회의 제1조 공동의회 1. 회원 본 교회 무흠 입교인은 다 회원 자격이 있다. 2. 소집 공동의회는 당회가 필요를 인정할 때와 제직회의 청원이나 무흠 입교인 3분의 1이상의 청원이나 상회의 명령이 있는 때에는 당회의 결의로 소집한다. 3. 임원 지 교회의 당회장과 당회 서기는 공동의회의 회장과 서기를 겸한다. 당회장이 없는 경우에는 그 당회가 임시회장(본 노회 목사중)을 청할 것이요 회록은 따로 작성하여 당회 서기가 보관한다. 4. 회집 당회는 개회할 날짜와 장소와 의안을 1주일 전에 교회에 광고 혹은 통지하고 그 작정한 시간에 출석하는 대로 개회하되 회집수가 너무 적으면 회장은 권하여 다른 날에 다시 회집 한다. 5. 회의 연 말 정기 공동의회에서는 당회의 경과사항을 들으며 제직회와 부속 각 회의 보고와 교회 경비 결산과 예산서를 채용하며 그밖에 법대로 제출하는 사건을 의결하며, 일반 의결은 유효투표수의 과반수로 하되 목사 청빙 투표에는 유효투표수의 3분의 2이상의 찬성과 입교인의 과반수의 서명을 요하며, 장로 집사 및 권사 선거에는 유효투표수의 3분의 2이상의 찬성으로 선정한다. 제2조 제직회 1. 조직 지 교회의 당회원과 집사를 합하여 제직회를 조직한다. 회장은 담임 목사가 겸무하고 서기와 회계를 선정한다. 당회는 각각 그 형편에 의하여 제직회 사무를 처리하기 위하여 부목사와 전도사, 권사, 서리집사에게 제직회원 권리를 줄 수 있다. 2. 미조직교회 제직회 미조직교회에서는 목사 전도사 서리집사가 제직회 사무를 임시로 집행한다. 3. 재정 관리 1) 제직회는 교회에서 위임하는 금전을 처리한다. 2) 구제와 경상비에 관한 것과 금전 출납은 모두 회에서 처리하며 회계는 회의 결의에 의하여 금전을 출납한다. 3) 제직회는 매 연말 공동의회에 1년간 경과 상황과 일반 수지 결산을 보고하며 다음 해의 교회 경상비 예산을 편성 보고하며 회계는 장부의 검사를 받는다. 4. 제직회의 성수 회원의 과반수의 출석으로 개회 성수가 되며 사건이 경미하고 긴급한 일은 성수가 못되어도 임시 결정하고 그 후에 본회에 보고하고 승인을 받는다. 제3조 연합제직회 1. 조직 각 지방 내에 편리한대로 연합 제직회를 조직할 수 있다. 회원은 그 지방 내의 목사와 전도사와 각 제직회에서 파송한 총대 1인 이상으로 조직하되 임원은 투표로 선정한다. 2. 직무 본 회에서 치리권은 없으나 그 지방의 합동 재정과 전도, 기타 부흥사업과 교회학교와 기독교 교육에 관한 일을 결의할 수 있고 그 지방내의 교회 및 전도상황을 보고하고 접수한다. 제20장 헌법 개정 제1조 정치, 권징조례, 예배모범을 변경하고자 할 때에는 총회는 각 노회에 수의하여 노회의 과반수와 모든 노회의 투표수 3분의 2 이상의 가표를 받은 후에 변경할 것이요 각 노회의 서기는 투표의 가부를 총회의 서기에게 보고하고 총회는 그 결과를 공포하여 실행한다. 제2조 신조, 신앙고백서, 대 소요리문답을 개정하고자 할 때는 총회는 그 의견을 제출하고 각 노회에 수의 하여 전 노회의 3분의 2와 투표수 3분의 2의 가표를 받고 그 다음 회에서 채용하여야 한다. 각 노회 서기는 투표의 가부 수를 서면으로 총회 서기에게 보고한다. 제3조 총회는 신조, 신앙고백서, 대 소요리문답을 개정하는 의안을 각 노회에 보내기 전에 특별 위원 11인 이상(목사와 장로)을 택하여 1년간 그 문제를 연구하게 한 후 총회 때에 보고하도록 할 것이요 그 위원은 한 노회 안에 3인 이상 됨을 금한다. 제4조 소속노회 3분의 1이상이 헌법을 개정하자는 헌의를 총회에 제출하면 총회는 그 의안을 각 노회에 보내고 그 결정은 제1, 2조를 따른다.

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7. THE RULES OF DISCIPLINE CHAPTER 1 General Rules Article 1 The Meaning of Discipline Ecclesiastical discipline is the exercise of that authority that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed to the visible church for the execution of laws established by him, and shall include all the cases that govern and admonish the members, the officers, and all governing bodies in the church. Article 2 The Purposes of Discipline The purposes of discipline are to protect the truth, to strengthen the authority and honor of Christ, to eliminate offenses, to purify his church, to edify the church, and to promote the spiritual welfare of the offender. 1. To fulfill the above purposes, discipline must be conducted wisely and carefully. 2. All governing bodies, at the time of discipline, must consider the relations and circumstances of offenses in view of cases of similar character and decide based on the precedents. But a different decision may be rendered for those cases with different circumstances. Article 3 Offenses Regardless of the members, officers, or governing bodies involved, an offense is any act that is contrary to the Scriptures, and even if it is not wicked, it may constitute an offense if it causes others to commit sin or hinders the building of virtue. Article 4 Judicial Cases If the charged offense is not a violation of the Scriptures or of church rules and customs regulated by the Scriptures, or if the case is prohibited by other articles of discipline, the matter shall not constitute a judicial case. Article 5 Judicial Cases and Administrative Cases If formal charges of offense are filed against members or officers, irrespective of whether a lower body or a higher body is involved, such cases shall constitute judicial cases; all other cases shall be administrative cases. Article 6 The Children of Communicant Members All children of all communicant members are members of the church, and they shall be baptized and placed under the care of the church, subject to its government and discipline, and when they have reached the age of reason (discretion), they shall discharge the obligations of members faithfully. CHAPTER 2 The Complainant and the Accused Article 7 Process against an offender shall not be commenced unless some person or persons undertake to make out the charge. Where discipline is deemed necessary, the court may itself become the complainant to file a formal charge. Article 8 If the case is very difficult to decide as a result of strange circumstances, even when the charged offense is grave, it would be better to stay the judgment till God provides positive evidence by his means of justice, rather than to dismiss the case halfway through as a result of insufficient evidence and lose the effect of discipline. Article 9 No charge of a private offense shall be admitted unless the court has first ascertained from the complainant that the course set forth by our Lord in Matthew 18:15-17 has been faithfully followed, which says: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.” Article 10 When the governing bodies decide to file the charge directly, the provisions of the previous article shall not apply. However, when a third patty other than the governing bodies or the injured party files the charges, it would be better for the governing body to try to get both patties reconciled quietly and not to institute judicial process, if possible. Article 11 When the governing body files the charges, the World Korean Presbyterian Church becomes the complainant and prosecutor. In other cases, the party who filed the charges becomes the complainant. Article 12 When the governing body files the charges for judicial process, one, two, or three of its members shall be elected as prosecutors, and they will act as complainants until the judgment of the highest court is rendered. If judicial cases are transmitted to a higher body, the prosecutor may request assistants from among the members of the higher body, and the higher body shall elect one or two of its members as requested to assist him. Article 13 When a communicant member is slandered by another member and requests an investigation of the case by the governing body, and when the governing body deems it proper, it shall elect one or more members to investigate and report. The governing body shall accept the report and record it in the minutes to close the case. Article 14 Great caution ought to be exercised in receiving accusations from any person: (1) who is known to indulge a malignant spirit towards the accused, (2) who is not of good character, (3) who is himself under censure or process, (4) who is deeply interested in any respect in the conviction of the accused, (5) who is known to be litigious, or (6) who is rash or highly imprudent. Article 15 When the complainant who files the charges is not a member selected by the governing body, but rather a private person, the governing body, before it institutes the judicial procedure, shall warn him and declare: “If the charge is false, and your intention is discovered to have been wicked and imprudent, you shall be censured as a slanderer of brothers.” CHAPTER 3 The Writ of Complaint and Specifications Article 16 In the writ of complaint, every charge must set forth the alleged offenses, and, in the specifications, the evidences of the offenses must be recorded in detail: the time, place, and circumstances, along with the explanation of the witnesses for each item. Article 17 In the writ of complaint, each article shall record one offense only, but many offenses may be charged against one accused at the same time, in which case the evidence shall be specified separately for each offense. The court, as it sees fit, may conduct a trial on all charges at the same time, but the judgment shall be rendered seriatim (charge by charge). Article 18 When one or more injured parties intend to file charges directly, they must present, with the writ of complaint, a statement that they have followed the course set forth by the teaching of our Lord recorded in Matthew 18:15-17. CHAPTER 4 Ordinary Rules Governing the Trial of Judicial Cases Article 19 Original jurisdiction over a minister belongs to the presbytery of which he is a member. Original jurisdiction over church members belongs to the session of which the individual is a member. However, when the lower body fails to obey the higher body’s instruction to rule on a matter, either willfully or carelessly, then the higher body shall have authority to rule on it directly. Article 20 When the governing body is constituted as a court, the moderator shall first announce the reasons for being so constituted and shall declare that the case must be handled carefully. The writ of complaint and specifications shall be read once. If the complainant or the accused does not want to be tried immediately, but requests that the trial be delayed, only the following things shall be done: 1. A copy of the writ of complaint and specifications shall be handed to the accused. (The specifications of witnesses for each charge shall be recorded in detail.) 2. The court shall issue citations directing the complainant, the accused, and all persons concerned to appear at the next session of the trial (which shall not be less than ten days later). 3. In the writ of prosecution, the name of the governing body shall be written, and the moderator and the clerk shall sign it. 4. Upon request by the complainant or the accused, witnesses shall be cited to appear. However, the accused need not inform the complainant of the names of his witnesses. Article 21 All citations should be served personally, but in case this is not possible, citations shall be sent to the last known address of the person cited. Before the court opens, evidences of service must be presented. Article 22 If the defendant does not appear after receiving the subpoena, the governing body shall issue another subpoena with the warning that if he does not respond to the subpoena (unless there are natural hindrances), punishment shall be imposed according to the Book of Discipline (Arts. 34, 39, and 47). If the defendant does not appear after receiving the subpoena twice, the trial court shall proceed with the trial in his absence. In this case, the governing body shall appoint a defense counsel for the defendant. For the first subpoena, the trial date shall be set after ten days or longer, but for the second subpoena, the governing body may set the date for trial as well as for the subpoena of witnesses as it sees fit according to the situation. Article 23 The defendant shall appear at the governing body on the date appointed in the subpoena. If he is unable to attend, he may send his proxy. 1. In the following cases, the defendant may interpose objections: a. When he deems that the governing body convened unlawfully against the rules and regulations, b. When he deems that the trial amounts to illegal interference, c. When he deems that the writ of complaint and/or the writ of evidences does not follow the guidelines set forth in the Constitution or that applying the Constitution to the case at bar is improper, or d. When there are other important considerations. 2. The governing body, before the trial, may hear the pleading from both the plaintiff and defendant regarding the complaint, and may, in virtue of its office, decide as follows: a. It may dismiss the case forthwith, or b. To be fair and honest, it may permit the complaint to be amended or any errors in the specifications to be corrected, provided that such amendm ents or corrections do not materially alter the documents. 3. If the governing body decides that the complaint meets the standard for legal adjudication, and that the writ of complaint and the specifications of the facts merit a trial, the accused shall be called upon to plead ‘guilty,’ ‘not guilty,’ or ‘silent.’ His plea shall be entered upon the record, and the court shall proceed to try the case. Article 24 The court shall decide the date for trial and issue formal subpoenas to both the plaintiff and the defendant, and proceed as follows; 1. When the witnesses are examined, the plaintiff may cross-examine the Defendant’s witnesses, and the defendant may cross-examine the plaintiff’s witnesses, and they may present other legal evidence. 2. After that, only to impeach the credibility of the proffered evidence, the plaintiff or defendant may present new witnesses or new evidence. 3. During the trial, if new evidence is found by either party, the court may receive such evidence, but, before it does, the court shall inform the defendant of the names of witnesses and the specifications of the testimony; the court shall allow defendants sufficient time to examine it for fairness’ sake. 4. After hearing the testimony of witnesses, the plaintiff and the defendant shall make their pleading. 5. The court shall immediately have the plaintiff, the defendant, their counsels, and the audience retire, and shall hold a closed deliberation. 6. Only the members of the court shall be allowed to participate in the conference and to vote therein. 7. Decisions shall be made on each charge of the writ of complaint and on each specification of the facts. 8. Then the judgment shall be made for the whole case, and the final judgment shall be recorded in the minutes of the governing body. Article 25 The court shall preserve a complete record of the trial, including the following: charges and specifications, objections made by the accused, the final judgment, all rulings and findings of the court (including the reasons for them), and minutes of the deliberations. In case of an appeal, the statement of appeal and the reasons for it shall be recorded in detail. This record, together with the statements made by both parties and all relevant papers, shall be certified by the clerk; they constitute the complete trial record. Article 26 The accused may object to any and all rulings or findings made by the court, unless it is the highest court. All such objections must be entered on the record. Article 27 Both the plaintiff and the defendant shall be entitled to the assistance of counsel, and may present pleading orally or in writing. 1. No person shall be eligible to act as counsel who is not a minister or an elder of the World Korean Presbyterian Church. No person who is counsel in a judicial case may sit in judgment on the same case. 2. When the governing body is the complainant in the case, the prosecutors (as mentioned in Chap. 2, Art. 12) and assistants appointed by the higher body shall be the counsel for the governing body, provided that no such person shall receive any compensation for serving as counsel. Article 28 In the course of trial, if there are any disputes regarding the regulations or the evidence, the moderator shall hear the pleading of both parties and decide between them. Any party who does not agree to the decision may raise an objection, and the moderator shall decide on the validity of such objections. Such rulings shall be recorded in the minutes at the request of the complainant or the accused. Article 29 Only members of the court who have been present and have heard all the proceedings shall be allowed to vote thereon, irrespective of the consent of the complainant, the accused, or any members of the court. The clerk shall call the roll at the opening of each session, whether after an adjournment or a recess, except at the highest court, and keep a record of absent members. Article 30 The complainant or the accused may request a copy of the records related to the trial, and shall bear the cost of copying them. Upon the higher court’s ruling on an appeal, its decision and the records thereof shall be forwarded to the lower court. Article 31 In case of the imposition or removal of church censures, the governing body shall follow the rules set forth in Chapters 16 and 17 of the Directory for the Worship of God of the World Korean Presbyterian Church. Article 32 The governing body may hold a closed session by one-third vote of the court. Article 33 The governing body, if it is deemed proper for the well-being of the church, may suspend the accused from church office or from communion with the church until the trial is adjudicated, but, in such cases, the case must be expedited. CHAPTER 5 Special Rules Governing the Session Trial Article 34 When the accused fails to appear (or send his counsel to represent him) after the second citation, or, having appeared, refuses to testify, the session shall discipline him until he repents of his perversity and obeys the session. Article 35 The session may impose these degrees of discipline: admonition, rebuke, suspension, deposition, suspension from communion, expulsion, and excommunication. Excommunication shall be imposed only on those who do not finally repent. Such discipline may be lifted upon repentance. Otherwise, the governing body shall decide. Article 36 A decision regarding an offense mayor may not be publicly announced. A public announcement shall be made only in the church involved or in the churches concerned with it. CHAPTER 6 Regulations Governing the Trial of Officers Article 37 In as much as the honor and progress of the gospel are much related to the reputation of ministers, the presbytery must carefully take notice of individual behavior and the official behavior of the ministers in the presbytery, and may not favor a minister or lighten his censure as a result of his position. On the other hand, it should not rashly accept a complaint against a minister on a minor matter. Article 38 When a minister is charged far away from his home, and if his home presbytery has no way to ascertain the facts, but the presbytery that has jurisdiction over the place where the complaint is filed determines that the accused is guilty, then that presbytery shall inform the minister’s home presbytery of the nature of the case, and the home presbytery shall immediately take action if the matter is concerned with religious honor. Article 39 If the accused minister does not appear after receiving the second citation, nor send his counsel, the presbytery may suspend him for his rejection of its oversight. If he does not appear after the third citation, nor send his counsel, the presbytery shall impose suspension from communion. Article 40 When a minister is on trial, the governing body hearing his case may decide to suspend his right to speak and vote on the general deliberations of that body during the course of his trial. Article 41 If the accused is judged to be guilty, then admonition, rebuke, suspension from office, deposition (in the case of suspension or deposition, suspension from communion may also be imposed at the same time), or excommunication shall be imposed. When, after a year has passed, a suspended person has failed to repent, the court may impose deposition without further trial. Article 42 When a minister advocates heresy or breaks up the church illegally, if the case is serious, deposition shall be imposed. (However, it should be ascertained beforehand whether he deliberately encouraged others to oppose sound doctrine, or whether he did so as a result of a lack of knowledge and as such did not harm the doctrine of the church.) Article 43 If the presbytery determines that the infraction is minor, and the congregation considers his repentance to be sufficient, and if there is no serious hindrance to ministry, proper measures shall be taken to prevent future incidents and the complaint shall be withdrawn. Article 44 When a minister who has been deposed from his office on account of a misdemeanor repents deeply and manifests exemplary modesty and virtue for a long time, and when the presbytery with jurisdiction sees and ascertains that there would be no hindrance to his continued ministry, it shall reappoint him to his ministry, whether it be the presbytery that originally imposed deposition or another presbytery that is entrusted with his oversight. Article 45 When the pastor of a local church is deposed but not excommunicated, the presbytery shall announce that he is released from his office. In this case, it shall give him a letter of transfer as an ordinary member and send it to the church where he wishes to go. In the letter the details of his circumstances shall be recorded. When a pastor is suspended, he may be subsequently released from office. However, if he appeals his suspension, he may not be released from office. Article 46 The presbytery, for the well-being of the church, may suspend a pastor temporarily from office when a charge is filed against him, but in such a case the trial should be adjudicated speedily. Article 47 If a charge is filed against an elder or a deacon, the provisions of this chapter shall apply correspondingly. CHAPTER 7 Provisions for Summary Judgment Article 48 When a person commits an offense at the court or confesses an offense committed at another place, the court may hear the case and proceed to judgment without full process. 1. When a person commits an offense at the trial, he is entitled to request an extension of the trial for two days or longer. 2. In such a case, the specifications of the offense and the reasons for the decision shall be recorded in detail in the minutes of the court, and the case may be appealed as in other cases. Article 49 When an active member, without any offense to be tried, comes before the session as his own accuser and declares that he is not qualified for communion, the session shall carefully consider the case, and, if it confirms that his declaration is not a misunderstanding, it shall temporarily suspend him from communion and shall record the facts in detail in the session minutes. Article 50 When an active member moves to another place, the pastor or the secretary of the session shall give his address to the pastor or secretary of the session in that district. 1. When an active member moves to another place, but does not request a letter of transfer (without a proper reason) for more than two years, the home session shall reinvestigate the matter, and until the matter is resolved his name shall be moved to a separate roll (with the date noted). 2. When an active member moves to another place and is missing for three years, the session shall apply the provisions in the preceding paragraph correspondingly, and the reasons shall be recorded in detail in the minutes of the session. 3. In the roll of disciplined members, the name of censure shall be recorded, and the members mentioned in the two preceding paragraphs shall be recorded in a separate roll book. In the statistics presented to the presbytery, they shall not be counted as active members. 4. Before the session presents membership statistics to the presbytery, it shall examine the roll of the members carefully and adjust it according to the rules of discipline. Notification shall be sent to the members whose addresses are known, and efforts should be made to restore disciplined members. Article 51 When a member of the church residing in the district does not attend the various services of the church, yet does not commit a chargeable offense, the session shall admonish him to attend. If he does not comply within one year, the session shall notify the member first and then take disciplinary action; if there is no charge against him and if he attends church services, he shall be restored. Article 52 When a minister without blame presents a request to the presbytery according to the provisions of the Form of Government, Chapter 15, Articles 1 and 3, the presbytery shall inquire about the purposes and reasons for it and make a decision. In the case of Article 3, no action shall be taken for one year, after which the presbytery may conclude that the minister cannot carry out his responsibilities willingly and beneficially, and then may permit his resignation. Then his name shall be erased from the roll of the presbytery, and a certificate of transfer for a baptized member shall be given to him, and he will be sent to the church desired. Article 53 When a church member joins another denomination without a certificate of transfer from his home church, it is an illegal act, and the session shall expel him from membership and record it in the minutes of the session. If there is any case pending against him, the trial may be carried out. Article 54 When a minister who has not committed a definite offense rejects the jurisdiction of this church and gives up his office, or establishes a church of his own, or joins another denomination without a writ of transfer, the presbytery shall erase his name from the roll of the presbytery and record the reasons in the minutes. If there is any case pending against him, the trial may be carried out. If he joins a denomination regarded as heretical, then suspension, deposition, or excommunication may be imposed. CHAPTER 8 Regulations Governing Evidence Article 55 The governing body, when it receives evidence, must be attentive and fair. Not all witnesses are qualified, and not all qualified witnesses are trustworthy. Article 56 Witnesses are permitted to testify, except those who do not believe in the existence of God or who do not believe in rewards and punishments in the future, or who do not understand the responsibility of an oath. Both the plaintiff and the defendant may object to any witnesses presented by the other party, and the governing body shall decide whether such witnesses shall be permitted to testify or not. Article 57 In deciding to what extent a witness is believable or credible, the following circumstances may be considered: 1. The relationship of the witness to the complainant or the accused. 2. Any direct interest that the witness may have in the outcome of the trial. 3. The age of the witness. 4. The intelligence of the witness. 5. The behavior and temper of the witness. 6. Whether the witness is under the censure of the church. 7. The impetuosity and lack of discernment of the witness. 8. Whether the witness, irrespective of circumstances, may have an indirect interest in the case, and so be too biased to testify honestly or knowledgeably. Article 58 A husband may bear testimony concerning his wife, or a wife concerning her husband, but the governing body may not compel either to bear testimony against the other. Article 59 Testimony may be oral or written, direct or indirect as the case may be. In case of an offense, if there is only one witness and no other evidence, it is hard to adjudicate the case. However, when several offenses of similar nature are enumerated in one writ of complaint, and there is at least one credible witness for each of the offenses, then the writ of complaint may be adjudicated as a whole. Article 60 Except for members of the governing body, the witnesses who will be testifying before and after shall not sit together. Article 61 As to the order of examination of witnesses, witnesses shall be examined first by the governing body, and, with the permission of the body, by the party introducing them. They may then be cross-examined by the opposing party, after which any member of the court may question them. The court shall not permit irrelevant and frivolous questions. Unless permitted by the court to clarify important facts, the party that introduced a witness shall not ask him leading questions. Article 62 The moderator shall require each witness to take the following oath before he testifies: “Do you solemnly swear in the presence of the omniscient and heart-searching God that you will speak the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, concerning the matters on which you are called to testify, as you shall answer to almighty God, who will judge the living and the dead?” The witness shall reply, “I do.” Article 63 The testimony of the witnesses shall be recorded only when the party introducing them is present. When the complainant, the accused, and the court deem it necessary, every question put to a witness and the answer thereto shall be reduced to writing, and the testimony of the witness shall be read to him at the court for his approbation and subscription. Article 64 The records of a court, whether original or transcribed, if authenticated with a signature by the clerk of the court (or by the moderator, if the clerk is deceased, out of town, or unable to perform his duties), shall be deemed good and sufficient evidence in the higher court or in any other court. Article 65 In like manner, testimony taken by one court and regularly certified, as in the preceding article, shall be received by every other court as no less valid than if it had been taken by itself. Article 66 In the course of the trial, if it is unavoidable, as a result of the circumstances of the complainant, the accused, or the witnesses, the governing body may, upon the request of both parties, appoint a commission consisting of ministers and elders to examine the evidence. 1. The members of such a commission need not be members of the governing body. 2. The commission shall receive the evidence presented by both parties. Before it starts the examination, it shall notify both parties of the time and place of the examination. It shall, according to the rules of the court, either question the witnesses orally or receive their written statements. The complainant and the accused may examine the witnesses directly or cross-examine them. 3. The court shall decide whether evidence presented through such a commission is relevant and credible. 4. The commission shall authenticate with a signature the evidence collected, and deliver it to the clerk of court. Article 67 When the governing body opens the court, it may allow any member of the body to testify, and such member shall testify under oath like any other witnesses. After testifying, he may carry out his duties in the body as usual. Article 68 Any member of the church who fails to appear after receiving a subpoena or who refuses to testify, though present, may be censured for contumacy. Article 69 If, after the trial is closed by the governing body and the time limit for an appeal has passed, new evidence by which the accused may be acquitted is discovered, the accused may apply for a new trial, and the court may grant his request if it deems that justice may be served by a retrial. Article 70 If, in the prosecution of an appeal, new testimony is offered which, in the judgment of the appellate court, has an important bearing on the case, that court may refer the case to the lower court for a new trial. Or, if both parties desire, the higher court may consider the evidence and retry the case, provided that the provisions of Article 100 be applied. CHAPTER 9 Provisions for Appeals Article 71 An appeal against a decision made by the session or the presbytery may be made, in order, to the higher Court by the following methods: 1. Examination and correction, 2. Entrusted judgment, 3. Petition, or 4. Appeal. (1) Examination and Correction Article 72 The cases adjudicated by the church or by its agencies shall be reported to its session, which shall examine the case, approve the record, and add it to the record of the session. Higher bodies shall examine the minutes of lower bodies once a year. If the lower body fails to present its minutes to the higher body, the higher body shall have it presented as is convenient or shall order it to be presented by a certain date. Article 73 The higher body shall examine the minutes of the lower body and consider: 1. Whether the facts are recorded properly, 2. Whether the case was decided in accordance with the Constitution, and 3. Whether the case was decided wisely, fairly, and for edification. Article 74 When the higher body evaluates the minutes of the lower body, the delegates from that lower body shall not have the right to vote. Article 75 When the higher body examines the minutes of the lower body and finds mistakes, it is customary to record them in the minutes of the higher body and in those of the lower body. If the mistake is grave, the higher body may order the lower body to correct or change the matter and have it report whether it has been done, setting a time within which to do it. However, in a judicial case, the higher body may not change the judgment of the lower body unless the case has been appealed. Article 76 Whenever a higher body confirms that a lower body under its jurisdiction has adjudicated a case in violation of the Constitution, it shall instruct the lower body to bring the record to a designated place and report the circumstances. If it is clearly found that a mistake was made, the higher court may correct it directly or send it back to the lower body to be corrected. When a petition or an appeal is being considered by a governing body or its court, before the judgment is announced, if the petitioner or the appellant distributes to the members of the higher body or to the public copies of the pleading or specifications or publishes them to influence the result directly or indirectly, such action shall constitute contempt of the governing body and shall be censured, and the petition or appeal may be dismissed. Article 77 When the lower body neglects to fulfill its responsibility, so that heresy or immorality prevails and clearly wicked persons escape discipline, and the adjudicated cases are omitted from the minutes or miswritten, the higher body, if it confirms such a fact, shall examine the minutes of the lower body and have them corrected so as to adjudicate the case properly, applying Article 76 of this chapter. (2) Entrusted Judgment Article 78 The lower body may present a judicial case that is hard to decide to the higher body in writing, seeking guidance on how to handle it. However, it is usually better for the church if the lower body decides the case using its own discernment. Article 79 The lower body shall request an entrusted judgment in unprecedented cases, vital cases, cases that are difficult to adjudicate, cases that present difficult circumstances, cases in which the decision of the lower court may set a precedent, cases in which the opinions of the members of lower body are divided, and cases that should be decided by the higher body due to the gravity of the matter. Article 80 When an entrusted judgment is requested of the higher body by the lower body, the lower body (1) may request the guidance of the higher body in preparing material for its decision, or (2) may request the higher body to examine the case directly and reach a judgment. When only guidance is requested, the lower body shall suspend the decision temporarily, but when examination and judgment are requested, the whole case shall be entrusted to the higher body. Article 81 When the higher body deliberates on the case, delegates from the lower body may participate and vote. Article 82 The higher body may decide not to examine and decide the entrusted case, but only provide guidance. Or it may send the case back to the lower body with or without any direction. Article 83 When the higher body accepts the case entrusted by the lower body, the lower body shall immediately send the records of the case to the higher body, and, when the higher body has received them, it shall also hear statements from both the complainant and the accused. (3) Petition Article 84 One or more members who are under the jurisdiction of a higher body may petition in writing for redress if the lower body does not fulfill its duty in an administrative case, or if it takes an action or makes a decision in violation of law. When the court that acts for the lower body makes a decision on an administrative case after the closing of the body, the petition may be presented to the higher body as if the decision was made at a regular meeting. If one-third of the members of the court who participated in its decision were consulted for the action, the decision of the lower court shall be suspended until the higher body rules on the petition. Article 85 Notice of the petition and any supporting statement shall be presented to the clerk of the lower body within ten days after the decision of that body (or to the moderator, if the clerk is deceased, out of town, or unable to act), and the clerk, by the second day of the stated meeting of the higher body, shall lodge the notice of petition, the statement of reasons for it, and all the records and documents of the case with the clerk of the higher body. Article 86 In an administrative case (other than a judicial case), if one-third of the members who participate in the decision of the lower body jointly present a petition, the decision of the lower body shall be suspended until the case is decided by the higher body. Article 87 Those who have given notice of a petition shall present it and the reasons for it to the clerk of the higher body by the second day of the next stated meeting of the higher body. Article 88 When the higher body deems that the petition is in order and that there are good reasons for it, the decision and all pertinent records of the lower body shall be recited and the pleading of both parties shall be heard, after which the case shall be adjudicated . Article 89 When the higher body deems that a petition is lawful, it may change either the entire decision made by the lower body or part of it. In such a case, the higher body shall tell the lower body how to dispose of the case. Article 90 Those who present the petition are the petitioners, and those against whom the petition is presented are the respondents. The respondent is usually the lower body, and it shall appoint one or more of its members to represent it, and they should seek the assistance of counsel. Article 91 The petitioners and/or the respondents who are members of the lower body shall have their rights as members of the higher body suspended during the consideration of the case. Article 92 The petitioner or the respondent may appeal to the highest body. Article 93 The lower body against which the petition is filed shall lodge the entirety of the records and documents pertaining to the case with the higher body. The lower body's failure to comply shall be admonished. The rights of both parties shall be preserved until the records and documents are forwarded, and until the case is examined and adjudicated. (4) Appeal Article 94 An appeal is a written request to a higher court to consider a judicial case on which judgment has been rendered in a lower court. The party who files the appeal is the appellant, and the party against whom the appeal is filed is the appellee, regardless of which one was the complainant or the accused. The only way to reverse or modify the judgment in a judicial case is by an appeal. If an appeal is filed, members of the lower body may only present complaints, protests, or a written opinion, but shall have no right to speak. 1. After the meeting is adjourned, both the complainant and the accused may appeal to the higher body against the judgment rendered by the court that acted for the body, as if the decisions were made at the regular meeting. 2. In the appellate court, evidence may be examined when it is unavoidable, but evidence shall not be examined at the highest court. Article 95 The grounds for an appeal are as follows: 1. When the lower court conducts the trial in violation of the law, 2. When the lower court does not permit an appeal; 3. When the lower court examines one party one-sidedly and severely, 4. When improper evidence is admitted; 5. When proper and vital evidence is refused, 6. When the lower court hurries to a decision before sufficient evidence is taken, 7. When the lower court manifests prejudice in the case, and 8. When there is a mistake or injustice in the judgment. Article 96 The appellant, within ten days after the judgment of the lower court, shall file the notice of appeal, with supporting reasons, with the clerk of the lower court (or with the moderator, if the clerk is deceased, out of town, or unable to act). The clerk shall deliver the notice of appeal, together with all the records and documents pertaining to the case, to the clerk of the higher court by the second day of the next stated meeting of the higher body. Article 97 The appellant (or his counsel) shall be present before the higher body by the second day of its stated meeting, and deliver the notice of appeal with written reasons for it to the clerk of the higher court. If the appellant does not appear on the said date, unless reliable evidence is produced to prove that his absence was due to unavoidable circumstances, the appeal shall be considered to have been withdrawn and the judgment of the original body shall be finalized. Article 98 If the appellant or the appellee is a member of the higher body, his membership rights at the higher court shall be suspended while the appeal is being deliberated. Article 99 When the appellant has presented the notice of appeal, the writ of appeal, and the written reasons for it, within the time limits, the higher court shall consider the appeal in accordance with the applicable rules. 1. The higher court shall read the judgment of the lower court, the notice of appeal, the writ of appeal, and the written reasons for it, and hear an explanation from both parties; then it shall decide whether to accept the appeal. 2. After a higher court has decided to hear an appeal, the following procedures shall be followed: (a) The entire record of the lower court shall be read from beginning to end (if both parties agree, unnecessary parts may be omitted). (b) Both parties shall make oral statements, but the beginning and closing statements shall be made by the appellant. (c) Both parties shall retire, and the members of the higher court shall deliberate the case. (d) The moderator shall take the vote on the matters seriatim (item by item), considering the written reasons of appeal without debate. If the higher court deems for each item that there are no proper reasons for appeal, and does not sustain any of the specifications of error in the judgment of the lower court, then the higher court shall confirm the judgment of the lower court. However, if one or more material specifications of error are sustained, then the appellate court shall reverse or modify the judgment of the lower court, and may return the case to the lower court for a new trial as it deems appropriate. When the higher court modifies the judgment of the lower court, its decision and the reasons for it shall be recorded in the minutes of the court, and, when it deems necessary, the summary of the interpretation of the judgment shall be recorded in the minutes . Article 100 If the lower court issues an admonition or a rebuke, that censure shall be suspended temporarily when the appeal is filed, but other censures shall be put into effect until the appeal is heard by the higher court. Article 101 If an appeal is filed, the lower court shall send all of the records and documents of the case to the higher court. If the lower court shall neglect to send this up, it shall receive a proper revuke from the higher court, and the judgment from which the appeal has been taken shall be suspended until the record is produced. CHAPTER 10 Dissents and Protests (by Members of the Governing Body) Article 102 A dissent is a declaration on the part of one or more members of a minority, expressing a different opinion from the majority in its action on any issue before the court. Article 103 A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration by members of a minority, bearing their testimony against what they deem an improper or erroneous action, decision, or judgment, and is accompanied by the reasons on which it is founded. Article 104 If a dissent or protest is in proper order, is expressed in temperate language, and makes no unreasonable accusations against the majority, it shall be recorded. Article 105 If the protest contains a misunderstanding of the precedents cited and the opinion of the court, the court may answer the protest in the record along with it. After the answer, the protester may modify his protest, and, if the court modifies the answer, the case shall be closed. Article 106 No one can join in dissent or protest against an action of the court except those who had a right to vote in the case. Likewise, no one can join in dissent or protest against the issues in the trial except those who dissented when the vote was taken. However, members of the governing body may present a dissent, a protest, and answers against the judgment rendered by the court. In cases adjudicated by a court when the governing body is not in session, any member of the body or any member of the court may present a letter of dissent or protest to the clerk of the court within ten days from the announcement of the judgment, and then the court or the members of the court may present a letter of answer to the clerk of the court within twenty days from the judgment. The clerk of the court shall make copies of each dissent, protest, and answer and deliver them to the clerk of the governing body, who will record them in the minutes of the body. CHAPTER 11 Jurisdiction over Transferred Members Article 107 A minister or a church member shall be subject to the court of the governing body to which he belongs, whenever or wherever he may have committed offenses. Article 108 Members of one church dismissed to join another and given a certificate of dismissal shall be held to be under the jurisdiction of the session dismissing them until they officially join as members of the church to which they have been dismissed. (After the member has received the certificate of dismissal, his office shall immediately end, and he shall have no right to speak or to vote at congregational meetings.) If he returns the certificate of dismissal to his original church within one year, the session shall receive and record it in its minutes, but his former office shall not be resumed. Article 109 When a minister receives a certificate of dismissal, as in the preceding article, he shall remain under the jurisdiction of the presbytery dismissing him until he is received by the other presbytery. (From the day he receives the certificate of dismissal he shall have no right to speak or to vote at his original presbytery.) If he returns the certificate of dismissal to the original presbytery, it shall record it in the minutes, and his membership rights shall be resumed as before. Article 110 When a presbytery dismisses a minister or a candidate for the ministry, the name of the presbytery to which he is dismissed shall be stated in the certificate, and, while that presbytery exists, no other presbytery shall accept him. Article 111 When a local church is dissolved, the presbytery concerned shall have direct jurisdiction over its members and deliver certificates of dismissal to another church. If there is any judicial case which was started by the dissolved session, the presbytery shall deal with it. Article 112 When a presbytery is dissolved, the General Assembly shall have direct jurisdiction over its members, and deliver certificates of dismissal to another presbytery. If there is any judicial case which was started by the dissolved presbytery, the General Assembly shall deal with it. CHAPTER 12 Transferring between Churches or Presbyteries Article 114 A minister or candidate for the ministry, in the case of his dismissal as in the preceding article, shall join the presbytery that is recorded in the certificate of dismissal. Unless there is some special reason, he shall deliver the certificate within one year to the presbytery to which he intends to move. The presbytery that receives him shall immediately notify the presbytery that sent the certificate of dismissal. Article 115 If a member requests a certificate of dismissal after two years or more have passed since moving from his hometown and church, the session shall record the facts in the certificate of dismissal. Article 116 Judicial process on a case of offense shall be initiated within one year from the day when the facts are found. Unless the offense is so grave as to inflict important injury upon the church, the offense shall not be tried after a lapse of three years. Chapter 13 The Higher Courts of the Church Article 113 When a church member moves to another church, he shall present his membership certificate and his certificate of dismissal within one year to the church to which he intends to move, unless some special circumstance prevents him from doing so. 1. When parents move, the names of their baptized children (under the age for adult baptism) shall be included in the certificate of dismissal. 2. In the certificate of dismissal, the name of the church to which they are dismissed shall be stated. As soon as they are received and their certificate of dismissal has been accepted, their new church shall notify the church that sent the certificate of dismissal. (1) The Court of a Presbytery Article 117 The presbytery shall elect members of the court from among the ministers and elders under its jurisdiction. The number of judges on the court shall be seven or more, of which the majority shall be ministers. The presbytery may directly adjudicate judicial cases or may entrust them to the court, which may adjudicate only those cases entrusted to it by the presbytery . Article 118 The court shall elect, from its members, a chairman and a secretary. It shall have the same rights as the governing body as far as the cases entrusted to it are concerned. It shall apply the Constitution of the Church and the bylaws of the presbytery, and shall report to the presbytery after its adjudication. Article 119 The quorum of the court shall consist of two-thirds of its members, of which the majority shall be ministers. Article 120 The date and place of the court shall be decided by the presbytery or, if there is no decision by the presbytery, by the court itself. Article 121 If the court has adjudicated a case entrusted to it while the presbytery is in session, it shall immediately report to the presbytery, and after presenting the report the decision shall be regarded as the decision of the presbytery. 1. The presbytery may adopt or reverse the entire report of the court. When it reverses the case, it may retry the whole case in the usual manner. 2. A case adjudicated by the court after the session of the presbytery has concluded shall be regarded as the judgment of the presbytery from the time of its announcement. Article 122 The clerk of the court shall make a detailed record of the proceedings of the trial and the judgment. The chairman and the clerk shall authenticate the copies to certify the authenticity of the records, and shall deliver one copy to the complainant, one to the accused, and one to the clerk of the presbytery. Article 123 The court may entrust the report to the clerk of the presbytery or may report directly to the presbytery. The clerk of the presbytery shall present the record along with the minutes of the presbytery to the higher body for examination. (2) The Court of the General Assembly Article 124 The General Assembly shall establish a permanent court, to which eight ministers and seven elders shall be elected, of which no presbytery shall be represented by more than two members. The members of the court shall be divided into three classes of five members each. Each year, one class shall come up for election to a three-year term starting with the first convening date. The members whose terms have expired shall not be reelected for at least one year after that. Those who are members of permanent agencies of the General Assembly shall not be elected as members of the court. 1. If there are vacancies on the court while the General Assembly is in session, the General Assembly shall fill the vacancies. If there are vacancies after the closing of the General Assembly, the moderator shall fill them, and they shall serve until the opening of the next General Assembly. 2. The General Assembly may directly adjudicate judicial cases or may entrust them to the court, which shall adjudicate only the cases entrusted to it. Article 125 The court shall elect its chairman and clerk from its members every year. Its authority to adjudicate the cases entrusted to it is the same as that of the governing body. It shall apply the Constitution of the Church and the Bylaws of the General Assembly, and report its decisions to the General Assembly. Article 126 The quorum for the court of the General Assembly shall be eleven members, among whom six shall be ministers. Article 127 The convening date and place of the court shall be decided by the General Assembly or the court itself. Article 128 The judgment of the court of the General Assembly shall bind only the parties until the General Assembly accepts it. Article 129 The clerk of the court shall record the entire proceeding and the decisions in detail in the minutes, copies of which the chairman and the clerk shall authenticate, and one copy of which shall be delivered to the complainant, the accused, and the clerk of the General Assembly. Article 130 The court may entrust the report of the case to the clerk of the General Assembly or may directly report to the General Assembly. The clerk of the General Assembly shall take charge of the received reports and include them with the minutes of General Assembly. Article 131 The General Assembly may examine the judgments of the court and may either accept or return them, or establish a special court to consider a particular case and report on it. When the General Assembly does not examine the judgment of the court, or does not make any change after examination, the judgment shall be finalized from the time of the closing of the General Assembly. Article 132 The expenses of the court shall be defrayed by the General Assembly. Article 133 When the General Assembly deems it necessary, it may establish a special court, which shall follow the rules of the permanent court. CHAPTER 14 Disputes among Governing Bodies Article 134 If any governing body intends to petition against a decision of another governing body of the same level (cf. Art. 84 and Art. 93), it shall present the petition to the higher governing body. It shall notify the clerk of the body against which the petition is filed and the clerk of the higher body within one year after the occurrence of the incident. Article 135 When a governing body intends to file a complaint as stated in the preceding article, it may select a representative counsel to handle the case from the initial court to the final judgment of the highest court. Article 136 The higher body that has received a petition shall examine the case. If it finds that the petitioner's arguments are valid, it may reverse or modify all or part of the decision made by the respondent body, and instruct that body accordingly, in which case the petitioner and/or the respondent may appeal to the higher body.

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THE BYLAWS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CHAPTER 1 ORGANIZATION Article 1 Membership The General Assembly shall consist of the ministers and the elders who have been commissioned by their respective presbyteries. Article 2 Officers The officers of the General Assembly shall be as follows: Moderator ---1 Vice-Moderator ---2 (Elder 1) Clerk ---l Assistant Clerk ---l Recording Secretary ---l Assistant Recording Secretary ---l Treasurer ---l Assistant Treasurer ---l Article 3 Election of the Officers The Nominations Committee shall recommend the candidates for the offices, and the General Assembly shall act on the nominations. The nominees must be approved by the General Assembly to be elected. The officers may serve up to four years. Article 4 Duties 1. Moderator: The moderator shall oversee the entire business of the General Assembly, and he shall also represent the denomination. 2. Vice-Moderator: The vice-moderator shall assist the moderator, and he shall substitute for the moderator in the moderator's absence. 3. Clerk. The duties of the clerk are: (a) He shall prepare and arrange for the opening of the General Assembly. (b) He shall receive and handle all documents and correspondence for submission to the General Assembly. (c) He shall edit and publish the minutes of the General Assembly, and distribute them to all members within one month after the General Assembly concludes. (d) He shall keep and preserve all documents necessary for the General Assembly. (e) At least one month before the opening of the General Assembly, he shall prepare, print, and distribute the agenda and the names of the delegates. He shall examine the legality of the certificates of the delegates. He shall check the attendance of the delegates. He shall control the matters pertaining to publicity. (f) He shall assist the moderator and the delegates in order that the meeting shall move with order and celerity. (g) The members of the docket Committee, the inspectors of overtures, and the statisticians shall not be members of any standing committee. 4. Assistant Clerk: The assistant clerk shall assist the clerk. He shall examine the overtures, collect the reports on the state of the churches under the respective presbyteries, and present the results to the General Assembly. He shall substitute for the clerk in the clerk's absence. 5. Recording Secretary: The recording secretary shall record the minutes. He shall deliver the minutes to the clerk. He shall obtain and file the overtures and reports that have been distributed by the committees and/or the General Assembly. 6. Assistant Recording Secretary: The assistant recording secretary shall assist the recording secretary. He shall draft the minutes before the assembly adjourns. He shall distribute the minutes that have been approved. He shall substitute for the recording secretary in the recording secretary's absence. 7. Treasurer: The duties of the treasurer are: (a) He shall oversee all the income and expenses of the denomination. He shall distribute funds according to the decisions of the General Assembly. In any difficult financial matters, he shall follow the recommendations of the Finance Committee. (b) He shall submit the annual financial report (income and expenses), and he shall be responsible for the annual auditing of the books. (c) He shall deposit all of the income in the bank, and the records of the deposits shall be properly audited. (d) He shall be a member of the Finance Committee. CHAPTER 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GENERAL SECRETARY, DUAL DENOMINATION, WORLD MISSION SOCIETY Article 5 The Standing Committees 1. The Standing Committees (a) Steering, (b) Examinations and Credentials, (c) Rules; (d) Finance; (e) Christian Education; (f) Chaplain, (g) Pension, (h) Home Missions, (i) Foreign Missions, (j) Publications, (k) Presbytery Records Examination, (l) Bills and Overtures, (m) Youth Ministry, (n) Interchurch Relations, (o) Theology, (p) English Ministry. The committee members shall consist of representatives to the General Assembly. 2. Method of Election, Term of Office (a) The members of the standing committees shall be recommended by the Nominations Committee before the opening of the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall act on the recommendations as soon as it convenes. The nominees must be approved by the General Assembly. Their term of office shall be three years. One-third shall be elected each year. (b) The committee members shall not be reappointed after their term has expired. The members of the court of the General Assembly shall not have more than two members from the same presbytery (c) Each standing committee shall be convened by the oldest person who has only one more year to serve. In the absence of that person, the second oldest person shall convene the meeting. In the absence of that person, the third oldest person, and then the fourth oldest person, will assume the responsibility to convene the meeting. 3. The Duties of the Committees (a) The Steering Committee shall deal with matters pertaining to the Constitution. They shall submit suggestions to the General Assembly as to how to solve any problems concerning the Constitution. They shall report to the General Assembly what they have decided on matters that have been entrusted to them by the General Assembly. (b) The Examinations and Credentials Committee shall examine the graduates of our denomination's seminary to see if they are qualified to be candidates for ordination. This examination will be held at the time and at the place determined by the committee. The results of the examinations will be reported to the General Assembly for confirmation. (c) The Rules Committee shall study the matters pertaining to the rules of the General Assembly. They shall decide any matters that are entrusted to them by the General Assembly. They shall submit their decisions to the General Assembly. (d) The Finance Committee shall study and present the matters pertaining to the finances of the General Assembly. They shall examine the financial records of the General Assembly. They shall draft the annual budget and submit it to the General Assembly. (e) The Christian Education Committee shall study and present the matters pertaining to Church Schools, Bible Schools, pastors' conferences, and publications. They shall be responsible for the improvement of Christian education and the training of church leaders. (f) The Chaplain Committee shall take charge of the matters pertaining to the chaplaincy. (g) The Pension Committee shall study and direct the matters pertaining to the welfare of the pastors who have either retired or become invalid due to illness or other valid reasons. (h) The Home Missions Committee shall study and handle the matters pertaining to the missionary enterprise in North America. They shall promote the programs for expansion that can be used by the churches of the denomination. (i) The Publications Committee shall handle the matters pertaining to the publications of the denomination. (j) The Presbytery Records Examination Committee shall examine the minutes of the presbyteries. They shall give special attention to the decisions made by the judicial committees of the presbyteries to find out if their actions were carried out legally, prudently, and fairly. They shall report their findings to the General Assembly. (k) The Bills and Overtures Committee shall be represented by the delegates who have been recognized as experts in each field. They shall study the particular matters entrusted to them by the General Assembly. They shall also study the matters pertaining to church growth. They shall present their suggestions in writing to the General Assembly at least two months before the opening of the assembly. (l) The Youth Ministry Committee shall take charge of the matters pertaining to the spiritual needs of the young people of the churches within the denomination. (m) The Interchurch Relations Committee maintains fraternal relations with other like-minded denominations of Reformed faith, and oversees the matters of interchurch relations. (n) The Theology Committee shall take charge of the matters pertaining to theology. Article 6 Appointed Officials and Committees 1. These officials and committees are appointed at each General Assembly: (a) Statisticians (two: the clerk and the assistant clerk) (b) Nominations Committee (the moderators of the presbyteries; convened by the oldest person) (c) Docket Committee (two members: the moderator and the clerk) (d) Announcer (appointed by the moderator) (e) Inspector of the absentees (appointed by the moderator) (f) Inspectors of overtures (two: the clerk and the assistant clerk) 2. Duties (a) The statisticians shall publish the annual report on the conditions of the presbyteries within two months after the close of the General Assembly. They shall receive or collect the reports of the presbyteries at least two months before the opening of the General Assembly. (b) The members of the Nominations Committee shall choose the members of the Standing Committees before the opening of the General Assembly. They shall report the results to the General Assembly. (e) The members of the Docket Committee shall prepare the agenda for the General Assembly before its opening. They shall distribute the agenda to the delegates before the assembly convenes. (d) The announcer shall be responsible for making announcements to the delegates during the General Assembly. (e) The inspector of the absentees shall check the attendance of the delegates. He shall submit the names of those who are absent or who leave the assembly before it adjourns. (f) The inspectors of overtures shall check the overtures and petitions submitted by the delegates to see if any inappropriate element has been overlooked. If any such items are found, they shall bring them to the attention of the General Assembly immediately. They shall follow the advice of the General Assembly on how to handle them. Article 7 The Members of the Special Committees The members of the special committees are those who have been chosen to handle the matters entrusted to them by the General Assembly. The number and the duties of the special committees shall be determined by the General Assembly. They shall be responsible for the matters entrusted to them by the General Assembly, and they shall submit the results of their work no later than the second day after the General Assembly convenes. Article 8 Seminary Trustees The seminary trustees are those who have been commissioned by the General Assembly to the seminary that is either owned by or committed to the General Assembly. The trustees shall be responsible for operating the seminary according to its bylaws. They shall also recommend other persons to the General Assembly to be approved as new trustees. Article 9 The General Secretary 1. Duties and Power (a) The general secretary shall dispose of both internal and external matters pertaining to the General Assembly under the direction of the moderator, within the bounds of the Constitution. He does not represent the denomination. (b) The general secretary shall have the right to speak at the Officers' meetings as a member. He shall report to the General Assembly on the business conducted during his term. (c) The general secretary shall distribute the minutes of the meeting as well as members' contact information to all members, no later than four months after the General Assembly concludes. 2. Election The general secretary shall be nominated by the officers of the General Assembly. The nominee shall be presented to the General Assembly for approval. If the general secretary becomes invalid after the assembly has adjourned, the officers may choose an acting general secretary. 3. Term The term of the general secretary shall be three years, and he may be reelected for no more than one additional term. The annual salary shall be $30,000.00. Article 10 Dual Denomination Membership The General Assembly allows dual membership in World Korean Presbyterian Church(WKPC) and The Presbyterian Church of Korea(PKC). Article 11 World Mission Society As stated in the nonprofit organization's articles and rules, World Mission Society will form and manage a board of trustees(council) and annually report the conditions to the General Assembly. CHAPTER 3 FINANCES Article 12 The Finances of the General Assembly: The Finances of the General Assembly shall consist of the dues paid by the presbyteries and the freewill offerings of individuals. Article 13 The Traveling Expenses of the Delegates: The expenses incurred by the delegates to attend the General Assembly shall be paid by the delegates' local churches. CHAPTER 4 MEETINGS Article 14 The General Assembly: The General Assembly shall meet annually on the Tuesday after the third Sunday in May. The opening time will be 8 pm The meeting place shall be decided at the previous assembly. If the meeting place has to be changed, the officers shall choose the new location. Article 15 The Standing Committees: The standing committees shall meet one day before the assembly convenes in order to prepare the matters that should be reported to the General Assembly. The times and places of these meetings shall be arranged by the Docket Committee. CHAPTER 5 FORMS AND DOCUMENTS Article 16 The Forms to Be Used by the Presbyteries to Report on the Conditions of Their Respective Presbyteries 1. The presbyteries should report on the following matters, including matters for thanksgiving: 2. The conditions of the local churches under the presbytery: (a) Increases in membership (b) Things pertaining to evangelism (c) Movements of the pastors (d) Building projects 3. Matters pertaining to the Sunday School or Bible School 4. Special Events 5. Future Plans 6. Statistics: (a) The number of officers: pastors, elders, evangelists, ordained deacons, kwonsas, and acting deacons (b) The number of households: the families of the adults (14 years old and older) (c) The number of members: those who have been admitted through transfer; those who have been admitted through confession; newly admitted members; baptized infants; baptized adults (d) The number of children in Sunday schools (e) Finances: income, expenditures, total The clerk of the General Assembly shall receive these reports and put the summaries into the minutes of the General Assembly as appendices. Article 17 The Clerk of the General Assembly shall publish the names of the delegates and the agenda of the General Assembly, and distribute these published materials to the delegates at least one month before the General Assembly opens. Article 18 All the reports, overtures, and inquiries shall be submitted to the clerk in duplicate by using the forms approved by the General Assembly. Article 19 All the reports and documents that are to be examined by the Bills and Overtures Committee ought to be submitted to the clerk at least three days before the General Assembly opens. Any business that is to be presented to the assembly, but has not been submitted through the normal process, must have the signature of at least ten delegates to be accepted, and it must be submitted immediately. APPENDIX 1. Amending the Bylaws Any proposed amendment should be sent to the Rules Committee first. The Rules Committee shall study the matter and present its recommendation to the General Assembly. Then the General Assembly shall vote on the proposal. It must receive a two-thirds vote of approval from the delegates present at the assembly to be adopted. 2. An amendment to the Bylaws shall become effective the moment it is adopted. 3. The following titles are not recognized by the denomination and must not be used: (a) “Founding Pastor” (b) “Founding Elder” (c) “Ex-moderator of the Presbytery” (d) “Ex-moderator of the General Assembly”