1
THIRD EDITION
June2011
First IPC Presbytery of England
B O O K O F C H U R C H O R D E R
comprising
Procedural Code
Practice Statements
Doctrinal & Position Statements
Constitutional Documents
“As no city, town, house, or family can maintain their estate and prosper without policy and governance, so the church of God, which requires more purely to be governed than any city or family, cannot without spiritual policy and ecclesiastical discipline continue, increase and flourish.”
John Calvin & Guillaume Farel,
the Genevan Book of Church Order, 1556
(Print: Calvin at home in Geneva)
CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS & EXPLANATORY NOTE
T A B L E O F V O T I N G P R O C E D U R E S
PART 1 – THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
1.1The Overriding Objective: pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ
1.2Seeking to give effect to the Overriding Objective
1.3Duty of the Members of the Congregation
1.4Power to Amend Procedural Code
PRACTICE STATEMENT FOR THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
PART 2 – CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
2.1Communing Members of an IPC Congregation
2.2Non-communing Members of an IPC Congregation
2.3The Effect of Membership
2.4Membership Transfer and Termination
2.5Membership and Discipline Situations
2.6Resolution of conflict between a Member and an Elder (including the Session)
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
PART 3 – CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS & VOTING
3.1The Nature of Congregational Meetings
3.2The Frequency of Congregational Meetings
3.3Annual General Meeting
3.4Voting Procedures
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
PART 4 – ELDERS
4.1Nature of Office and Composition of Session.
4.2Session Meetings
4.3Appointment of Elders
4.4Sabbatical Leave
4.5Continuing Education and Seminary Involvement
4.6Accountability
4.7Retirement of an Elder
4.8Removal of an Elder
4.9Dissolution of Ordination upon Elder’s request
4.10Transfers of Elders out of and into IPC (outgoing & incoming Elders)
4.11Changes of Function by Elders from Ruling Elder to Pastor or vice versa
4.12Ordination Certificates, Installation Memoranda and Terms and Conditions
4.13Remuneration of Elders
4.14Church Register
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR ELDERS
PART 5 – DEACONS
5.1Composition of the Diaconate (Board of Deacons)
5.2Giving effect to the Overriding Objective
5.3 Scope of Responsibilities for Deacons
5.4Resolution of conflict between a Diaconate and a Session
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR DEACONS
PART 6 – TRUSTEES
6.1The Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees
6.2Giving Effect to the Overriding Objective
6.3Functions, Duties and Powers of Trustees (“IPC Model Trusts”)
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR TRUSTEES
PART 7 – THE PRESBYTERY
7.1Composition of the Presbytery and derivation of its Authority
7.2Administration of Presbytery Work and Conflicts of Interest
7.3Appointment and Function of Moderator
7.4Appointment and Function of Stated Clerk
7.5Appointment and Function of Treasurer
7.6Missiology of the Presbytery and Effectiveness of the Moderator and Clerk
7.7Presbytery Meetings & Special Meetings
7.8Admission Procedure for Elder from another church or denomination transferring into IPC
7.9Admission procedure for transfers between elder offices
7.10Admission Procedure for a Congregation becoming part of IPC
7.11Procedure for effecting a separation of a Congregation from IPC
7.13General Powers of the Presbytery
7.14 Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Presbytery Company 42
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR THE PRESBYTERY
A N N E X 1 - DOCTRINAL & POSITION STATEMENTS
A N N E X 2 – IPC CONSTITUTION 1978
GLOSSARY OF WORDS & PHRASES
ABBREVIATIONS
“BCO”Book of Church Order
“CPR”Civil Procedure Rules (Jordan Publishing 2002)
“DRP”Dispute Resolution Procedure
“EPCEW” Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England & Wales
“FG”Form of Government
“IPC Practice”The (Proposed) Collection of Papers dealing with Practices of the International Presbyterian Church
“IPC Constitution”The Declaration of the Constitution of the IPC dated 11 April 1978, incorporating in the Schedule older material.
“OPC”Orthodox Presbyterian Church
“PCA”Presbyterian Church in America
“PCI”Presbyterian Church of Ireland
“PC(USA)”Presbyterian Church of the USA
IMPORTANT EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is important to bear in mind the respective functions of the Procedural Code (or Rules), the Practice Statements, the Doctrinal & Position Statements and the IPC Constitution – which altogether constitute the Book of Church Order (“BCO”) of the IPC.
The Constitution is of course the main governing document of the IPC as a denomination and this is what is registered with the Charity Commission. The late Francis Schaeffer (of L’Abri Fellowship) planted the IPC in November 1954, and it was him who drafted the bulk of this constitution in its theological form. In the 1970s it was incorporated into a legal document for the purpose of compliance with English Law. The Constitution and the Rules can only be amended with the approval of the Synod.
The Rules stand underneath the Constitutionand are subsidiary to it. The Constitution has a certain amount of procedural rules in it, but more detail was needed, hence the need for a comprehensive set of procedural rules. The Rules are legally binding on all IPC churches within the Presbytery.
The Practice Statements are, like their name suggests, statements about the practice to be followed as a guide in the IPC. They stand underneath the Rules. They have some authority as approved practices, but they are not legally binding on the churches and may be departed from where appropriate, except where they are contained in the Constitution (e.g. questions for ordained officers of the church).
The Doctrinal and Position Statements or Papers are an expression of the mind of the Synod or Presbytery on a particular issue at a point in time. For succinctness, they can be made by way of Presbytery order or declaration. Their purposes are (a) to inform and educate, and (b) to become part of the accumulated identity of the denomination and as such may be drawn upon in later decision-making. Copies of the documents referred to in the schedules to the Statements can be obtained by contacting the Presbytery Office at 96 Station Road, Liss, Hampshire GU33 7AQ. (tele; 01730-895000, e-m ).
T A B L E O F V O T I N G P R O C E D U R E S
SUBJECT / Code ref / TYPE OF VOTE / WHO MAY VOTE / QUORUM / MAJORITY REQUIRED1. Congregation’s Request for Appointment of Elder / § 4.3.3 / Secret Ballot / Adult Members of Congregation requesting appointment (including the elder candidate himself if he is a member) / Of the ballots put out, at least two-thirds of ballots must be returned, of which at least two thirds must be “yes” or “no” votes (not abstentions). / 75% of the sum of Yes and No votes.
2. Presbytery’s Appointment of Elder / § 4.3.4 / Secret Ballot / All Presbytery members / Same as for congregation above. / Same as for congregation as above.
3. Transfer of Ordination into IPC. See BCO / § 7.8 / Secret Ballot / Installed Presbytery Members only / Same as above / Same as above
4. Removal of an Elder / § 4.8.2 / Secret Ballot / All Presbytery Members (including the elder candidate himself if he is a member) / Same as above / Same as above
5. Transfer between Elder Functions (Ruling to Pastor or vice versa) / § 7.9 / Poll in Meeting / All Presbytery Members present at the meeting, including the transferring elder himself if he is a member. No proxies / 3 Installed Presbytery Members / 75% of all those present at the meeting
6. Appointment of Deacon / § 5.1.1 / Any type, but Secret Ballot would seem advisable / Adult members of the congregation / Recommended to be same quorum as for elder / Recommended to be same as for new elder
7. Removal of Deacon / § 5.1.4 and 4.8.1 / Secret Ballot / Elders in the Session of the congregation whom the Deacon serves, provided any of the circumstances in 4.8.1 exist / Of the ballots put out, at least two-thirds of ballots must be returned, of which at least two thirds must be “yes” or “no” votes (not abstentions). / 75% of the sum of Yes and No votes.
8. Session Business where unanimity not possible / § 4.2 / Moderator may decide / All Elders at the Session Meeting. Where secret ballot held, all elders / A majority of Session Members, with minimum of two, save for Secret Ballot. / 75% where there are 4 or more elders; or two thirds where there are three.
9. Congregational Business / § 3.4 / Chairman may decide / All adult members present at meeting (no proxies) – or all adult members where secret ballot is directed / One third of all Adult Members (including Elders and deacons) / Two-thirds of all those present at the meeting – same for secret ballot but applied to sum of Yes and No votes
10. Presbytery Business (save transfer of ordination) where unanimity not possible / § 7.7 / Same as for Session Business / All Presbytery Members present at the meeting. Where secret ballot held, all members / One third of all Presbytery Members, save for candidates for ordination where it is two-thirds. / 75% of all those present at the meeting
PART 1 – THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
1.1The Overriding Objective: pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ
1.1.1This is a new[1] procedural[2] code for the IPC with the overriding objective[3] of enabling the Session and others to deal with matters in ways that please the Lord Jesus Christ who is Head of the Church, King of kings and Lord of lords, Creator of all things and the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.
1.1.2Dealing with matters in ways that please the Lord Jesus Christ includes:
(a)being obedient to the teachings of God’s word, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and being submissive to the sense of Holy Scripture as promulgated in the IPC Constitution and its Schedule (in particular to that system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith);
(b)making prayer a central component of any decision-making process and trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance;
(c) having regard to the principle[4] of dealing with the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way;
(d)being thankful in everything to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.[5]
1.2Seeking to give effect to the Overriding Objective
The Synod, the Presbytery, the Session, the Diaconate and any trustees must seek to give effect to the Overriding Objective when they exercise any of their powers or otherwise carry out any of their business.
1.3Duty of the Members of the Congregation
The Members of the Congregation are required to help the Session to further the Overriding Objective.
1.4Power to Amend Procedural Code
Except for the Overriding Objective in §1.1.1, this code may be amended by the Presbytery (by three quarters majority at the meeting) with the approval of the Synod (by three quarters majority at the meeting) but any amendments concerning church membership shall require the approval of the members.
1.5Relation between Procedural Code and IPC Constitution of 1978
This Code is intended to be consistent with the IPC Constitution but where any inconsistency does arise the IPC Constitution shall be preferred except where such inconsistency islimited to the area of procedure in which case the Code shall be preferred. (See annexe IIfor IPC Constitution.)
PRACTICE STATEMENT FOR THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
Calvin highlighted the necessity of recognising the supernatural element in all church work (in contrast to other spheres of rule) by his statement that “Christ preserves the Church by unknown methods and without the assistance of men….Though all conclude she is ruined, the Church will always rise again, and be restored.”
The pleasing of Christ as the head of the church is a paramount principle under-girding all others. It necessarily involves the supernatural working of Christ’s rule over his church often in ways that we do not understand. Hence the emphasis on prayer, and seeking to search the Scriptures on any issue.
Accordingly, the overriding objective is not a theoretical ideal, but a crucial practical necessity, without which no blessing can be expected. It charges the Procedural Code with “the law above the law” in the spirit of which it should be interpreted and the powers it confers should be exercised.
PART 2 – CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
2.1Communing Members of an IPC Congregation
2.1.1In order to become a communing member (referred to as “a member”) of an IPC congregation a person must:
(a)have been baptised, whether as a child[6] or an adult[7];
(b)demonstrate a credible profession of faith[8] in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord;
(c)have publicly declared and affirmed to the congregation their profession of faith and acceptance of membership in accordance with IPC Practice; and
(d)unless the Session otherwise allows, not be a member of any other church.
2.1.2The Session has the discretion whether or not to admit a person to membership as it sees fit in accordance with the above criteria, but always giving paramount effect to the Overriding Objective.
2.1.3Any candidate for membership who considers the Session has acted wrongly in the exercise of its discretion may appeal to the Presbytery.
2.2Non-communing Members of an IPC Congregation
2.2.1Any child of one or both communing members of an IPC Congregation is through the covenant and by right of birth[9] a non-communing member[10] of the same congregation to which his or her parent belongs.
2.2.2A non-communing member is entitled to be baptised if his or her parent or parents so require in accordance with IPC Practice.
2.3The Effect of Membership
2.3.1Only persons who are communing members of the congregation and who have reached the age of 18 may vote in relation to that congregation’s business (see Part 3) or may raise an appeal to the Presbytery on any issue, doctrinal or otherwise, affecting the congregation of which the person is a member. See Part 2.6 below (resolution of conflict) and Part 7.
2.3.2Unless the Session has permitted otherwise for a particular person, only communing members of the congregation may become a Sunday School Teacher or fulfil any other teaching or mentoring function in relation to children or young people in that congregation.
2.3.3Unless the Presbytery has permitted otherwise for a particular person, only persons who are communing members of the congregation are eligible to be called to the office of elder or deacon in that congregation or serve as a trustee.
2.3.4Unless the chairman of a Congregational Meeting has permitted otherwise for a particular person, only members of the congregation (whether communing or non-communing) may speak in public and call for proposals at such meetings (see Part 3).
2.3.5Attention is drawn to §1.3 requiring members to help the Session further the Overriding Objective which is in addition to other responsibilities of membership in accordance with IPC Practice.
2.4Membership Transfer and Termination
2.4.1A member of one IPC congregation may for good reason transfer their membership to another IPC congregation in which case the Session of his new congregation shall admit that person’s name to the Membership Record provided there is no objection by the Session of his old congregation raised under §2.5.2 below;
2.4.2Membership of an IPC congregation shall be permanent and shall cease only in the following circumstances:
(a)upon a member’s death;
(b)upon a member’s transfer of membership to another congregation or church (in cases where the member’s new church does not have a formal membership system, this shall be considered a transfer of commitment, and IPC membership shall not cease until the Session is satisfied after contact with the member that cessation would be appropriate);
(c)in a situation where the Session considers a member to have left the congregation;
(d)upon the termination of membership by the Session.
2.5Membership and Discipline Situations
2.5.1Attention is drawn to it being part of the function of the Session to protect the purity of the church and the honour of the Lord Jesus Christ in ways which are primarily ministerial[11] not magisterial (in other words appealing to the heart of an offending member without resort to legal force); but this does not mean the Session will refrain from reporting suspected criminal activity to the police or, in the case of a child at risk of harm from the suspected behaviour of a member, to the appropriate state authorities – on the contrary, the Session will do so without delay in appropriate cases.
2.5.2The Session may, in the course of their pastoral care and oversight of members of the congregation, exercise careful and loving discipline from time to time with the overall object of the restoration and reconciliation of a member who is being persistently and seriously disobedient to the Lord Jesus Christ without any sign of repentance, and the Session may end the membership of such person by excommunicating them.
2.5.3In such a case, the Session will generally follow the pattern of Matthew 18 in balance with all other Scripture and in such a situation the Session must have regard to IPC Practice[12] and (so far as they are not inconsistent with IPC Practice) the Rules of Discipline as set out in Part II of the Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America.
2.6Resolution of conflict between a Member and an Elder (including the Session)
2.6.1Any apparently intractable problem arising between a member and an elder (including the Session) may be referred by the member involved or elder for resolution by the Presbytery in such manner and adopting such procedures as the Presbytery thinks appropriate but acting without avoidable delay.
2.6.2Any member involved or elder (including the Session) who considers the decision of the Presbytery is erroneous having regard to the Overriding Objective may appeal to the Synod provided that either the Presbytery or the Synod has given permission to appeal.
2.7Safeguarding Children and the Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Attention is drawn to the need for all churches to put in place an adequate and lawful system for safeguarding children. (SeePractice Statement at paragraph D for a precedent fora safeguarding children/child protectionpolicy for church workers in the church.)
PRACTICE STATEMENTS FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
(A) PRACTICE ON ADULT BAPTISM: BAPTISMAL VOWS
1. The practice to be followed for an adult baptism in the IPC is that the candidate should have been prayerfully examined by an elder beforehand with regard to his or her understanding of baptism and true ability to affirm the following five questions which are to be put to the candidate in public at the baptismal service:
Q 1. Do you believe that God exists, that He is not an idea or concept in the mind, and that He exists as a personal God, in fact, the three persons of the Father, Son and the Spirit, who have existed forever?
Q 2. Do you know that you have many times done things you know to be wrong and that if God were to judge you as you deserve, He would have to condemn you?
Q 3. Do you believe that Jesus Christ who has existed forever as the Second Person of the Trinity became a man and lived a perfect life
and that when He died on the cross and rose again in history He did everything that was necessary to atone for your sin and restore you to a relationship with God?
Q 4. Have you personally accepted this work of Christ and have you believed the promises of God, such a promise as ‘he who believes on the Son has everlasting life’, so that you can say without any pride or presumption that you are a child of God and born into His family?
Q 5. Do you now intend to serve Christ and acknowledge His Lordship over your whole life, knowing that you will need to depend on the strength of the Holy Spirit, and knowing that this obedience may by costly to you but it will not bring any loss to yourself, but rather fulfilment to yourself as a creature made in God’s image?