Confession
1984 Confession of Faith - August 2024 Edition

of

Faith

FOR CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANSAUGUST 2024

CONFESSION OF FAITH
andGOVERNMENTof theCumberland Presbyterian Church
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

1984
Approved June 1984
by
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
August 2024 Printing
Published by
THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

©Copyright 1984
BY THE STATED CLERKOF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

August 2024 Edition
Fourteenth Edition, First Printing

This edition of the Confession of Faith includes all amendments to theConfession and the Constitution made to and including the year 2024.

Printed in the United States of America

Additional copies available from:
Cumberland Presbyterian Resource Center
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016
1-901-276-4572 ext 252ii

PREFACE TO THE 1883 CONFESSION_______The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Dickson
County, Tennessee, February 4, A.D. 1810. It was an outgrowthof the Great Revival of 1800--one of the most powerful revivals
that this country has ever witnessed. The founders of the church
were Finis Ewing, Samuel King, and Samuel McAdow. They were
ministers in the Presbyterian Church, who rejected the doctrine ofelection and reprobation as taught in the Westminster Confessionof Faith. The causes which led to the formation of the church areclearly and distinctly set forth in publications issued at the time, andin various tracts and books published subsequently. To these thereader is referred for full information on the subject.
The Cumberland Presbytery, which was constituted at the timeof the organization of the church, and which originally consistedof only three ministers, was in three years sufficiently large toform three Presbyteries. These Presbyteries, in October, A.D.
1813, met at the Beech Church, in Sumner County, Tennessee, andconstituted a Synod. This Synod at once formulated and publisheda "Brief Statement," setting forth the points wherein Cumberland
Presbyterians dissented from the Westminster Confession of Faith.
They are as follows:
1. That there are no eternal reprobates.
2. That Christ died not for a part only, but for all mankind.
3. That all infants dying in infancy are saved through Christ andthe sanctification of the Spirit.
4. That the Spirit of God operates on the world, or as coextensively as Christ has made atonement, in such a manner as toleave all men inexcusable.
At this same meeting of Synod, too, a committee was appointed
to prepare a Confession of Faith. The next year, A. D. 1814, at
Sugg's Creek Church, Wilson County, Tennessee, the reportof the committee was presented to Synod, and the revision of
the Westminster Confession of Faith which they presented wasunanimously adopted as the Confession of Faith of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. Subsequently the formation of the General
Assembly took place. This judicature, at its first meeting, A.D.
1829, at Princeton, Kentucky, made such changes in the Form ofGovernment as were demanded by the formation of this new court.
In compiling the Confession of Faith, the fathers of theiiiCumberland Presbyterian Church had one leading thought before
them, and that was to so modify the Westminster Confession as toeliminate therefrom the doctrine of universal fore-ordination and its
legitimate sequences, unconditional election and reprobation, limited
atonement, and divine influence correspondingly circumscribed.
All the boldly-defined statements of the doctrine objected towere expunged, and corrected statements were made. But it was
impossible to eliminate all the features of hyper-Calvinism fromthe Westminster Confession of Faith by simply expunging words,
phrases, sentences, or even sections, and then attempting to fill thevacancies thus made by corrected statements or other declarations,for the objectionable doctrine, with its logical sequences, pervaded
the whole system of theology formulated in that book.
The compilers knew this, and they also knew that a book thus
made must necessarily have some defects. Still they felt assured
that they had prepared one which could not be fairly and logicallyinterpreted without contradicting the most objectionable features ofhyper-Calvinism; and they felt, too, that they had formulated a systemof doctrines which any candid inquirer after truth might understand.
They did not, however, claim that the time would never come when
there might be a demand for a restatement of these doctrines, which
would set forth more clearly and logically the system of theology
believed and taught by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Thattime did come, and so general was the desire throughout the church
to have the Confession of Faith revised that at the General Assembly
which convened in the city of Austin, Texas, A. D. 1881, a paper was
introduced looking to that end, and it was adopted by a unanimousvote.
In view of the great importance of the work, two committees
were appointed, and it was made the duty of the first committee torevise the Confession of Faith and Government, and of the second
to review and revise the work of the first. The committees met at
Lebanon, Tennessee, the seat of Cumberland University, where
every facility could be enjoyed for such labors, having free accessto a fine theological library. After bestowing great labor upon
their work, giving every item earnest and prayerful attention, thecommittees completed the tasks assigned them, and the results of
their labors were published in pamphlet form and in weekly papersof the church for information, "that criticism might be made by
those desiring to do so." The committees, after receiving these
criticisms, again met and remained in session for a number of days,iv

giving careful and prayerful consideration to all the suggestions
made. They then completed their work without a single dissent, andsubmitted the result to the General Assembly which convened in thecity of Huntsville, Alabama, A.D. 1882. That General Assembly, in"Committee of the Whole," considered with great patience and careevery item in the entire book, taking a vote on each one separately,
and at the close of each chapter of subject taking a vote upon it asa whole. In this way the entire book, from beginning to end, wascarefully and prayerfully scrutinized, and necessary changes weremade--the most of them verbal; and there was not in the final vote asingle negative!
Having completed its work, the General Assemblytransmitted the book to the Presbyteries for their approval ordisapproval. The reports from the Presbyteries to the next General
Assembly, which convened in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, A.D.
1883, showed that this work had been almost unanimously adopted.
The General Assembly, having reviewed these returns from the
Presbyteries, formally declared said book to be the Confession of
Faith and Government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The book is now sent forth with the strongest convictions
that it is in accord with the word of God. Let it be tested, not bytradition, but by the Holy Scriptures, the only infallible rule of faithand practice.
_______The General Assembly, at Bentonville, Arkansas, A.D. 1885, ordered the insertionof the foregoing Preface without referring the same to the Presbyteries.

v

INTRODUCTION TO 1883 CONFESSION________

1. God alone is Lord of the conscience, and has left it unfetteredby the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing
contrary to his word. The right of private judgment, therefore,
in respect to religion, is universal and inalienable. No religiousorganization should be aided by the civil power further than may benecessary for protection, and this should be afforded to all alike.
2. Our Blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible
Church, has appointed officers not only to preach the gospel and toadminister the sacraments, but also to exercise discipline; and it isincumbent upon these officers, and upon the whole church in whosename they act, to censure or suspend for the privileges of the church
the disorderly, or to excommunicate the heretical and scandalous-observing in all cases the rules contained in the word of God.
3. No error can be more pernicious or more absurd than thatwhich represents it as a matter of but little consequence what a
man's opinions are; for there is an inseparable connection between
faith and practice, truth and holiness; otherwise it would be of noconsequence to discover truth or to embrace it. Our Saviour has
said, "A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit."
4. While it is necessary that all who are admitted as teachers
should be sound in the faith, nevertheless there are doctrines andforms with respect to which men of good character and principles
may differ; and in all these it is the duty of all private Christians andreligious bodies to exercise forbearance toward one another.
5. Though the character, qualifications, and authority of churchofficers are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the proper
method of their investiture, yet the right to select the persons who
shall exercise this authority, in any particular body, belongs to thatbody.
6. All church-power however exercised, is ministerial anddeclarative only; that is, the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible
rule of faith and practice. No church-judicatory ought to assume,by virtue of its own authority, to make laws to bind the conscience;
and all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed willof God. Ecclesiastical discipline is altogether distinct from thecivil magistracy, and church-judicatories do not possess any civil
jurisdiction--cannot inflict any civil penalties, nor have they any
jurisdiction in political or civil affairs. Their power is wholly moralviand ecclesiastical. They possess the right of requiring obedience tothe laws of Christ, may frame articles of faith, may bear testimony
against error in doctrine and immorality in practice, and may
exclude the disobedient and disorderly from the privileges of thechurch. They possess the power requisite for obtaining evidence andinflicting censure. They can call before them any offender against
the order and government of the church. They can require membersof their own body to appear and give testimony, and also introduce
other witnesses when necessary. But the highest punishment towhich their authority extends is to exclude the contumacious andimpenitent from the communion and fellowship of the church.
7. Every Christian church, or union, or association of particularchurches, has the right to declare the terms of admission into its
communion, and the qualifications of its ministers, officers, andmembers as well as the whole system of its internal government.
In the exercise of this right, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,adhering to the foregoing general principles, adopts the following
as its system of faith and internal government, consisting: 1. Of theConfession of Faith. 2. Of the Catechism. 3. Of the Constitution.
4. Of the Rules of Discipline. 5. Of the General Regulations. 6. Of
the Directory of Worship. 7. Of the Rules of Order.

vii

PREFACE TO THE 1984 CONFESSION_______In 1977 the One Hundred Forty-Seventh General Assembly of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church voted to initiate a revision of theConfession of Faith of 1883. The following year the One Hundred
Forty-Eighth General Assembly appointed a committee of sixteen
persons to implement the work of revision and the committee wasgiven guidelines for its work. In addition to the committee to revise
the Confession of Faith, the General Assembly appointed a panelof readers consisting of twenty persons to review the work of thecommittee and make suggestions before the proposed revision was
submitted to the churches for study.
Recognizing that the Confession of Faith was used by both the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Second Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church invited
the Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church to participate in
the revision. The One Hundred Fourth General Assembly of theSecond Cumberland Presbyterian Church appointed five persons
to the committee, and a panel of readers. From this point forward
the work of revision was a joint effort of the two denominations.
Each denomination appointed a co-chairperson from its committee
membership.
The One Hundred Forty-Ninth General Assembly of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the One hundred Fifth General
Assembly of the Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church adopted
the principle that the proposed revision would require adoption by
the general assemblies of both denominations before it would besent to presbyteries for a vote of approval or disapproval.
The committee began its work by all its members studying andrevising the doctrinal portion of the Confession of Faith. There were
three primary objective references to guide the committee: (1) the
Holy Scriptures, (2) the "Brief Statement" formulated in 1810 whichcontains the "four points" the founders of the church set forth as thedeparture from "hyper-Calvinism," (3) the articles of the Confessionof Faith themselves. The articles of the 1883 Confession were,
without exception, the beginning point in the formulation of therevision. In no case did the work of revision begin at some otherpoint--as would have been the procedure had the general assemblies
ordered the writing of an entirely new creed. Each article of theConfession of 1883 was tested by the Holy Scriptures, the historicalviii

context of the Church in 1883 and the present time, the developmentof the Church in general and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in particular from 1810 to the present, and the language usage which
was current in 1883 and is current in the present.
By July of 1980 the committee had made its initial revision of
the Confession of Faith, and submitted its work to the panel ofreaders for criticism and suggestions. Subsequently, changes whichreflected the critique of the panel of readers were made in the initial
draft of the doctrinal statements. The same procedure was followedwith the Constitution and the Rules of Discipline being referred tothe panel of readers in December 1980.
The committee submitted to the general assemblies of 1981 its
draft of the Confession, the Constitution, and the Rules of Discipline
for study and response by the churches at large. Responses werereceived from study groups, sessions, presbyteries, and individuals.
Subsequently, the committee again revised its work in the light ofthese responses as a mark of its intention that the Confession of Faith
be the work of the entire church rather than that of a committee. A
similar procedure was followed by the committee in its revision of
the Directory for Worship and Rules of Order; these were submitted
to the general assemblies in 1982 and, likewise, were accepted andreferred to the churches for study and response.
By the Fall of 1982 the committee completed its work on the
Confession, the Constitution, and the Rules of Discipline. In early
1983 it completed its work on the Directory for Worship and Rulesof Order and submitted all these documents to the two general
assemblies, which met concurrently in Birmingham, Alabama, in1983. The two general assemblies met in joint session and heard
the co-chairpersons of the Revision Committee make a presentation
regarding the proposed revision. The general assemblies thenreassembled, each in its own meeting place, and considered the workof the revision in a Committee of the Whole.
The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
approved the work of the revision, which included the revised
Preface, Introduction, the Confession, the Constitution, the Rulesof Discipline, the Directory for Worship, and the Rules of Order
and, by a vote of 112 for and 9 against, sent the documents to its
presbyteries for a vote of ratification.
The General Assembly of the Second Cumberland Presbyterian
Church approved the work of revision which included the revised
Preface, Introduction, the Confession, the Constitution, the Rules ofixDiscipline, the Directory for Worship, and the Rules of Orders and,by unanimous vote, sent the documents to its presbyteries for a votefor ratification.
The returns from the presbyteries of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church were reviewed by its General Assembly of 1984, meetingin Chattanooga, Tennessee, which declared the revised Confessionof Faith to be adopted by the necessary three-fourths of thepresbyteries voting affirmatively. The returns from the presbyteriesof the Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church were reviewed by
its General Assembly of 1984, meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee,
which declared the revised Confession of Faith to be adopted by thenecessary three-fourths of its presbyteries voting affirmatively.
Each General Assembly formally declared the revision to be theConfession of Faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and theSecond Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
_______The Preface was updated by the Stated Clerks upon adoption of the Confession of
Faith in 1984.
NOTE: In 1992 the name of the Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church waschanged to Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. This name change will bereflected in the pages that follow.

xCONTENTS
PREFACE TO THE 1883 CONFESSION.....................................................iii
INTRODUCTION TO 1883 CONFESSION ................................................ vi
PREFACE TO THE 1984 CONFESSION...................................................viii
INTRODUCTION TO THE 1984 CONFESSION....................................... xv
CONFESSION OF FAITH
1.00 God Speaks to the Human Family........................................................ 1
The Living God ........................................................................... 1
The Holy Scriptures..................................................................... 1
God's Will.................................................................................... 2
Creation ....................................................................................... 3
Providence ................................................................................... 3
The Law of God .......................................................................... 4
2.00 The Human Family Breaks Relationship With God............................. 4
Human Freedom .......................................................................... 4
The Abuse of Freedom ................................................................ 5
3.00 God Acts Through Jesus Christ to Reconcile the World ...................... 5
God's Covenant ........................................................................... 5
Christ the Savior.......................................................................... 6
4.00 God Acts Through the Holy Spirit........................................................ 7
The Call and Work of the Holy Spirit ......................................... 7
Repentance and Confession......................................................... 7
Saving Faith................................................................................. 8
Justification.................................................................................. 8
Regeneration and Adoption ......................................................... 9Sanctification and Growth in Grace .......................................... 10
Preservation of Believers........................................................... 10
Christian Assurance................................................................... 11
5.00 God Creates the Church for Mission .................................................. 11
The Church ................................................................................ 11
Christian Communion ............................................................... 12
Christian Worship...................................................................... 13
Sacraments................................................................................. 13
Baptism...................................................................................... 14
The Lord's Supper ..................................................................... 14
The Church in Mission.............................................................. 15
Church Government .................................................................. 15
Church Judicatories ................................................................... 16
6.00 Christians Live and Witness in the World .......................................... 16
Christian Freedom ..................................................................... 16
Good Works............................................................................... 17
Christian Stewardship ............................................................... 17
Marriage and the Family ........................................................... 18
The Lord's Day .......................................................................... 19xi

Lawful Oaths and Vows............................................................. 19
Civil Government...................................................................... 19
7.00 God Consummates All Life and History ............................................ 20
Death and Resurrection ............................................................. 20
Judgment and Consummation ................................................... 21
Preamble to the Constitution......................................................................... 22
THE CONSTITUTION
1.0 The Church ......................................................................................... 24
2.00 Particular Church................................................................................ 24
Members of a Particular Church ............................................... 24
Jurisdiction Over Members of a Particular Church................... 25
Officers of a Particular Church.................................................. 25
Organization of a Particular Church.......................................... 26
Government of a Particular Church........................................... 27
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament ....................................... 28
Elders......................................................................................... 30
Deacons ..................................................................................... 31
Election, Ordination, and Installation of Elders and Deacons .. 31
3.00 Judicatories of the Church .................................................................. 34
Committees and Commissions of Judicatories.......................... 35
References ................................................................................. 36
Of Property ................................................................................ 36
4.0 Session................................................................................................ 37
5.0 Presbytery ........................................................................................... 39
6.00 The Authority of Presbytery Over Ministers,
Licentiates, and Candidates .................................................. 42
Receiving Candidates ................................................................ 42
Licensing Candidates ................................................................ 44
Ordination of Ministers ............................................................. 46
Recognition of Ordination......................................................... 49
Jurisdiction over Ministers ........................................................ 50
7.00 Relations Between Ministers, Licentiates,or Candidates and Churches ................................................... 52
Installation of Pastors and Associate/Assistant Pastors............. 53
8.0 Synod ................................................................................................ 53
9.0 General Assembly............................................................................... 55
10.0 Relations Between Churches.............................................................. 57
11.0 Amendments....................................................................................... 59
APPENDICES TO THE CONSTITUTION ................................................. 61
Letter of Dismission For Church Members........................................ 61
Certificate of Reception for Church Members ................................... 61
Admission of New Churches.............................................................. 62
Selecting Pastors and Associate/Assistant Pastors ............................. 63
Letter of Dismission for Ministers or Probationers............................ 63
Certificate of Reception for Ministers or Probationers....................... 64
xii

RULES OF DISCIPLINE
1.0 Purpose of Discipline ......................................................................... 65
2.0 Authority in Discipline ....................................................................... 65
3.00 Discipline of Persons.......................................................................... 67
Cases Without Disciplinary Hearings........................................ 67
Disciplinary Hearings Before Sessions ..................................... 68
Specific Procedures for Elders and Deacons............................. 73
Discipline of Ministers .............................................................. 73
Appeals Regarding the Discipline of Persons ........................... 79
4.00 Discipline of Judicatories ................................................................... 82
General Review and Control ..................................................... 82
Appeals...................................................................................... 83
Dissents and Protests................................................................. 86
DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP
Preface................................................................................................ 81
I.
THE CORPORATE WORSHIP OF GOD ......................................... 88
A. The Ordering of Corporate Worship ............................................. 88
B. Ordinary Acts of Corporate Worship ............................................ 90
C. Basic Resources for Corporate Worship ....................................... 91
D. Suggested Orders for Corporate Worship..................................... 93
1. Corporate Worship Including the Lord's Supper .................. 93
Prelude.................................................................................... 93
Opening Sentences ................................................................. 94
Hymn of Praise ....................................................................... 94
Prayer of Adoration ................................................................ 94
Confession of Sin and Declaration of Pardon or
Words of Assurance ........................................................... 94
Responses of Praise ................................................................ 95
The Hearing of God's Word.................................................... 95
Affirmation of Faith or Creed ................................................. 95
The Prayers of the People....................................................... 96
The Presenting of the Gifts or Offering .................................. 96
The Celebration of the Lord's Supper..................................... 96
Postlude .................................................................................. 98
Announcements ...................................................................... 98
2. An Order for Corporate Worship Without the
Lord's Supper..................................................................... 99
3. A Second Order for Corporate Worship Without the
Lord's Supper..................................................................... 99
4. A Third Order for Corporate Worship Without the
Lord's Supper................................................................... 100
E. Orders for Occasional Worship ................................................... 100
Order 1.................................................................................. 101
Order 2.................................................................................. 101
Order 3.................................................................................. 101
Order 4.................................................................................. 101
F.
Leadership of Corporate Worship .......................................... 102
General Guidelines .................................................................. 102
xiii

Symbols and Vestments........................................................... 102
G. The Choir, Musicians and Corporate Worship............................ 103
H. The Christian Year and Corporate Worship ................................ 103
II. THE SACRAMENTS ............................................................................ 104
A. The Sacrament of Baptism and Corporate Worship ................... 104
B. Celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism ....................................... 105
C. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
and Corporate Worship....................................................... 107
Celebrating the Lord's Supper ................................................. 108
III. LITURGICAL RITES AND OCCASIONAL WORSHIP ............... 109
A. Public Profession of Faith........................................................... 109
Transfer of Membership or Reaffirmation of Faith ................ 112
B. Christian Marriage ...................................................................... 112
C. The Christian Funeral ................................................................. 114
D. Individual and Family Worship .................................................. 116
RULES OF ORDER
1.0 Moderator ......................................................................................... 117
2.0 Vice Moderator ................................................................................. 118
3.0 Stated Clerk ...................................................................................... 119
4.0 Treasurer ........................................................................................... 120
5.0 Opening and Closing of Judicatory Meetings .................................. 120
6.0 Quorums ........................................................................................... 121
7.0 Adoption of Program: Orders of the Day ......................................... 121
8.00 Motions............................................................................................. 122
8.10 Bringing a Motion Before a Judicatory ............................................ 122
8.20 Considering a Motion ....................................................................... 122
8.30 Types of Motions .............................................................................. 122
Main Motion..................................................................................... 122
Subsidiary Motions ................................................................. 122
Privileged Motions .................................................................. 123
Incidental Motions................................................................... 124
Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the Judicatory .. 126
8.40 Miscellaneous Rules Concerning a Motion...................................... 127
9.00 Amendments..................................................................................... 127
Classification as to Form ......................................................... 127
To Amend by Substitution....................................................... 127
Primary and Secondary Amendments ..................................... 128
Improper Amendments ............................................................ 128
10.00 Assignment of the Floor and Debate ................................................ 128
11.0 Nominations and Elections............................................................... 129
12.0 Voting .............................................................................................. 129
13.00 Boards, Committees and Commissions............................................ 130
14.0 Cases not Provided for in These Rules............................................. 132

xiv

INTRODUCTION TO THE 1984 CONFESSION_______"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life"(John 3:16). This is "the gospel in miniature." It is true testimony
to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the world. It has been thetestimony of Cumberland Presbyterians from the outset of their
origin. It is the statement of the purpose of this confession of faithand its organizing principle.
The purpose of a confession of faith is two-fold: (1) to provide
a means whereby those who have been saved, redeemed, andreconciled by God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy
Spirit understand and affirm their faith; and (2) to bear witness toGod's saving activity in such a way that those who have not beensaved, redeemed, and reconciled might believe in Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior and experience salvation. To this end a confessionof faith is an affirmation of ancient truth in contemporary language.
Hence, it should begin with that which is ancient and proceed to
speak in language which is natural for those who seek to makewitness to God's mighty acts of judgment and redemption in theirown time.
The ancient truth which guides this confession of faith is of twosources: (1) the scriptures; and (2) the previous confessions of both
Cumberland Presbyterian churches and the previous confessionsof the church in its universal expression. All testimony to Jesus
Christ must be tested by the scriptures which are the only unfailingand authoritative word for Christian faith, growth, and practice. All
testimony to Jesus Christ is made within the context of the church
universal and therefore must not be made in a narrow, sectarianmanner or spirit.
A confession of faith which is evangelical in purpose and spirit
seeks to testify to what God has done and is doing in the world
to accomplish the redemption of his children. The scriptures
themselves are the best example of how to do this in an organized
way. Therefore, the organizing principle of this confession of faith
is to tell the story the Bible tells in the way the Bible tells it. We are
greatly indebted to the Confession of Faith of 1883, the Confessionof Faith of 1814, and the Westminster Confession of Faith out of
which the other two arose. We revere these confessions and havedrawn from them in writing this confession. The outline of thisxv

confession, however, is drawn from the scriptures and is roughlythat of the biblical outline found in John 3:16, the topics being asfollows: (1) God Speaks to the Human Family; (2) The Human
Family Breaks Relationship with God; (3) God Acts Through Jesus
Christ to Reconcile the World; (4) God Acts Through The Holy
Spirit; (5) God Creates the Church for Mission; (6) Christians Liveand Witness in the World, and (7) God Consummates All Life andHistory.
There is a direct relationship between the church's confession offaith and her life and witness as a people in covenant with God andwith each other. The faith of the church orders and shapes the life of
the people of God--their mission, their government, their worship,
and the orderly conduct of the church's affairs. Believing this, theCumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America adopt the following as their testimony to Jesus
Christ and as their system of internal government, consisting of: (1)the Confession of Faith; (2) the Constitution; (3) Rules of Discipline;(4) the Directory for Worship, and (5) the Rules of Order.
We send forth this book praying that God will bless with his Spirit
this our testimony.

xviCONFESSION OF FAITH"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternallife." (John 3:16).
1.00 GOD SPEAKS TO THE HUMAN FAMILY
The Living God
1.01 We believe in the only true and living God, Father, Son,and Holy Spirit; who is holy love, eternal, unchangeable in being,
wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.1
1.02 The one living God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
the Holy Trinity, speaks through the holy scriptures, the events ofnature and history, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers,
but uniquely in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.2
1.03 By word and action God invites persons into a covenant
relationship. God promises to be faithful to the covenant and to
make all who believe his people. All who respond with trust andcommitment to God's invitation find the promise sure and rejoice inbeing members of God's people, the covenant community.3

The Holy Scriptures
1.04 God's words and actions in creation, providence, judgment,
and redemption are witnessed to by the covenant community in thescriptures of the Old and New Testaments.4
1.05 God inspired persons of the covenant community to write thescriptures. In and through the scriptures God speaks about creation,sin, judgment, salvation, the church and the growth of believers. The
scriptures are the infallible rule of faith and practice, the authoritative
guide for Christian living.5
11.01 Dt. 6:4-5, 32:3-4; 1 Ch. 29:10-12; Ps. 33:4-5, 89:5-18, 99, 102:25-27, 103, 111, 145:821; Is. 6:1-3; Mal. 3:6; Jn. 3:16; 1 Co. 8:4-6; 1 Ti. 2:5-6; 1 Jn. 4:7-10; Rev. 1:8, 15:3-4
2
1.02 Ex. 3:1-6; Ps. 19:1-6; Mt. 28:18-20; Jn. 1:1-18, 3:16-17; Ac. 7; Ro. 1:18-20; 1 Co. 1:3031; 2 Co. 13:14; Eph. 4:11-13; Ph. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-20, 2:8-10; 2 Ti. 3:14-17; He. 1, 2, 5:5-10;
2 P. 1:19-21
3
1:03 Gn. 9:8-17; Dt. 7:9; Ps. 36:5, 89:1-5; Jer. 31:31-34; 1 Co. 1:4-9; 2 Co. 3:4-18; He. 8,
9:11-28, 10:19-25
4
1.04 Gn. 1-3, 6-8, 11:1-9, 19:1-29, 37, 39-50; Ex. 1:19; 1 K. 17:1-6, 19:4-8; 2 K. 22; Is. 53,
55; Am. 2; Ac. 7; Ro. 4; Gal. 3:6-14; Eph. 1:3-14
5
1.05 Gn. 1-3; Ex. 24:3-4; Dt. 31:9-13; Jos. 8:30-35; Jn. 3:16-17, 20:30-31; Ac. 1:16; 1 Co.
2:11-13; Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Ti. 3:14-17; 2 P. 1:19-21, 3:18

2

Confession of Faith

1.06 God's word spoken in and through the scriptures should beunderstood in the light of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
of Nazareth. The authority of the scriptures is founded on the truth
contained in them and the voice of God speaking through them.6
1.07 In order to understand God's word spoken in and throughthe scriptures, persons must have the illumination of God's own Spirit.
Moreover, they should study the writings of the Bible in their historicalsettings, compare scripture with scripture, listen to the witness of thechurch throughout the centuries, and share insights with others in thecovenant community.7
GenesisExodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
JoshuaJudgesRuth
I Samuel
II Samuel*Old Testament
I Kings
Ecclesiastes
II Kings
Song of Solomon
I Chronicles
IsaiahII Chronicles
Jeremiah
Ezra
Lamentations
Nehemiah
EzekielEstherDanielJob
Hosea
Psalms
Joel
Proverbs
Amos

Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
MalachiMatthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts of the Apostles
Romans
I Corinthians*New Testament
II Corinthians
I Timothy
Galatians
II Timothy
Ephesians
Titus
Philippians
PhilemonColossians
Hebrews
I Thessalonians James
II Thessalonians I PeterII Peter
I JohnII John
III John
Jude
Revelation

God's Will
1.08 God's will for people and all creation is altogether wise andgood. Although revealed in the scriptures and in the events of natureand history, God's will is made known supremely in the person of Jesus
Christ, who did God's will even to death.8
1.09 God's will is sufficiently disclosed for persons to respond to it
in worship, love, and service, yet they should hold in reverence andwonder the mystery of divine ways.9
6

1.06 Ps. 119:142, 151-152; Mt. 5:21-48, 17:4-8; Jn. 16:12-15, 17:7-8; He. 1; 1 Jn. 5:9
1.07 Jn. 14:25-27, 16:12-15; Ac. 15:15-18; I Co. 2:9-13
8
1.08 Dt. 18:15-19; Ps. 33:4-5, 34:8; Mt. 26:36-46; Jn. 5:30-47, 10:11-18; Ro. 1:18-23, 2:4;
Eph. 1:3-14, 3:1-12; He. 5:7-10
9
1.09 Is. 40:12-18, 45:9-11; Ro. 1:18-23, 2:12-16, 11:33-36
7

Confession of Faith

3

Creation
1.10 God is the creator of all that is known and unknown. All
creation discloses God's glory, power, wisdom, beauty, goodness,and love.10
1.11 Among all forms of life, only human beings are created inGod's own image. In the sight of God, male and female are createdequal and complementary. To reflect the divine image is to worship,
love, and serve God.11
1.12 The natural world is God's. Its resources, beauty, and order
are given in trust to all peoples, to care for, to conserve, to enjoy, touse for the welfare of all, and thereby to glorify God.12

Providence
1.13 God exercises providential care over all creatures, peoples,
nations, and things. The manner in which this care is provided isrevealed in the scriptures.13
1.14 God ordinarily exercises providence through the events ofnature and history, using such instruments as persons, laws, and thescriptures, yet remains free to work with them or above them. The
whole creation remains open to God's direct activity.14
1.15 The purpose of God's providence is that the whole creation
be set free from its bondage to sin and death, and be renewed in Jesus
Christ.15
1.16 God never leaves or forsakes his people. All who trust
God find this truth confirmed in awareness of his love, which
includes judgment upon sin, and which leads to repentance and to
greater dependence upon divine grace. All who do not trust God are,nevertheless, under that same providence, even when they ignore or
reject it. It is designed to lead them also to repentance and to trust in
divine grace.16
1.17 God's providence embraces the whole world, but is especiallyevident in the creation of the church, the covenant community. Through10

1.10 Gn. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 19:1-6, 24:1-2, 95:3-7, 104; Jn. 1:1-3; Ac. 14:14-17
1.11 Gn. 1:26-27, 2:7, 5:1-2; Job 33:4; Ps. 8:3-8, 100:3; Gal. 3:27-28.
12
1.12 Gn. 1:26; Ps. 24:1, 50:10-11; Hag. 2:8; 1 Co. 4:713
1.13 Gn. 4, 6-9, 12-22, 27-33, 35, 37, 39-50; Ex. 1-20, 33; Job 38-41; Ps. 23, 27, 34, 37,
90-91, 105, 107, 121; Is. 25:1-5, 40-45; Mt. 5:45, 6:25-34, 7:7-12, 10:29-31; Ro. 8:28-39; 2 Ti.
1:11-12, 4:14-18; 1 P. 5:6-11
14
1.14 Ex. 9:13-16; Jos. 1:5-9; Ps. 135:5-7; Jer. 1:4-10; Mt. 19:26; Lk. 3:8; Ac. 22:12-15,
27:22-25; Ro. 4:18-21
15
1.15 Ro. 8:18-23; Eph. 1:9-10; Col. 1:17-20
16
1.16 Ps. 94:14-19, 139:7-12; Pr. 15:3; Jer. 23:23-24; Ro. 2:1-16; 2 Co. 12:7-10
11

4

Confession of Faithpatient discipline, God guides this chosen community in her mission of
witness and service in the world.17
1.18 God's providence is sufficiently displayed to be known andexperienced, but, at the same time, it partakes of divine mystery, and is
the occasion for wonder, praise, and thanksgiving. Thus even in illness,pain, sorrow, tragedy, social upheaval, or natural disaster, persons may
be sure of God's presence and discover his grace to be sufficient.18
The Law of God
1.19 God gives the moral law to govern human actions and relations.
It is the principle of justice woven into the fabric of the universe and isbinding upon all persons.19
1.20 The moral law is a gift of God's grace. While it consists of thebasic principles of justice revealed in the scriptures and upheld by God,
it does not wholly describe the pattern of his actions toward persons.
The judgment of God, in which the moral law is upheld, is, at the sametime, an expression of redemptive love.20
1.21 The moral law is fulfilled in the gospel. Therefore, the behaviorof Christians in human relations should reflect the pattern of God's
behavior toward them, in which love and justice are intertwined.21
1.22 The purpose of the moral law is to create wholeness or healthin human life--spiritually, mentally, physically, socially. Therefore, itis the intention of the moral law that the forces of human personality
which create integrity of life in all its aspects be used to achieve thatwholeness.22
2.00 THE HUMAN FAMILY BREAKS RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD
Human Freedom
2.01 God, in creating persons, gives them the capacity and freedom
to respond to divine grace in loving obedience. Therefore, whoever
will may be saved.23
2.02 Because of their God-given nature, persons are responsible for17

1.17 Mal. 3:16-18; Mt. 16:18; Ac. 20:28; Ro. 8:28-39; Eph. 5:26-27
1.18 Job 11:7-10; Is. 40:28-31, 55:8-9; Ro. 11:33-36; 2 Co. 12:7-10
19
1.19 Ex. 20-23; Lv. 19:18; Dt. 6:4-9; Ps. 19:7-11; Mic. 6:6-8; Mt. 22:34-40; Ro. 2:12-16,
12:9-10; Gal. 6:7-10; 1 Ti. 1:8-1120
1.20 Ex. 31:18; Ps. 40:8, 103:8-14; Jer. 31:33; Ro. 2:14-16
21
1.21 Mt. 5:17-19, 12:1-8; Ro. 3:21-31, 12:9-13, 13:8-10; Gal. 3:21-26; He. 8:8-13
22
1.22 Lk. 10:25-28
23
2.01 Gn. 1:26-31; Dt. 30:19-20; Is. 55:1-3; Ro. 10:8-13; Rev. 22:17
18

Confession of Faith5

their choices and actions toward God, each other, and the world.24
The Abuse of Freedom
2.03 In rejecting their dependence on God and in willful
disobedience, the first human parents disrupted community with God,for which they had been created. They became inclined toward sin in
all aspects of their being.25
2.04 As did Adam and Eve, all persons rebel against God, lose theright relationship to God, and become slaves to sin and death. Thiscondition becomes the source of all sinful attitudes and actions.26
2.05 In willfully sinning all people become guilty before God andare under divine wrath and judgment, unless saved by God's grace
through Jesus Christ.27
2.06 The alienation of persons from God affects the rest of creation,
so that the whole creation stands in need of God's redemption.28
3.00 GOD ACTS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST TO RECONCILE
THE WORLD
God's Covenant
3.01 God acts to heal the brokenness and alienation caused by sin
and to restore the human family to community through the reconciliation
effected in Jesus Christ.29
3.02 God acts to restore sinful persons to a covenant relationship,
the nature of which is that of a family. It is established through God's
initiative and the human response of faith.30
3.03 God's covenant is a relationship of grace. It appears invarious forms and manifestations in the scriptures but always as oneof grace. The new covenant in Jesus Christ is its ultimate and supreme
expression.31
3.04 Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh, is always theessence of the one covenant of grace. Before Christ's coming, it was
24

2.02 Gn. 3:1-7; Jos. 24:14-15; Jer. 31:29-30; Ezk. 18:1-4, 26-28; Ro. 1:18-32
2.03 Gn. 3:1-13, 6:5
2.04 Gn. 6:5; Ps. 58:3-5, 106:6; Pr. 5:22-23; Is. 59:1-15; Jer. 17:9; Mic. 7:2-4; Jn. 8:34; Ro.
3:9-19, 5:12-14, 6:16, 7:14-20; 2 Ti. 2:24-26; 2 P. 2:17-19
27
2.05 Jn. 3:18-19, 36; Ro. 1:18-32, 2:1-9, 3:9-19; Gal. 6:7-8; Eph. 5:5-6
28
2.06 Gn. 3:17-18; Ro. 8:18-23; Eph. 1:9-10; Col. 1:19-20
29
3.01 Jn. 3:16, 10:7-18, 17:20-23; 2 Co. 5:17-21; Eph. 1:3-10, 2:11-22; Col. 1:15-2230
3.02 Gn. 17:1-7; Ex. 19:3-6, 24:3-8, 34:6-10; Is. 64:8-9; Jer. 31:31-34; Ro. 4:13-25, 8:14-17;
Gal. 3:6-9, 26, 4:4-7; He. 11:8-12
31
3.03 Gn. 3:15; Ps. 105:7-10, 111:2-9; Mt. 26:26-29; 2 Co. 3:12-18; Gal. 3:13-18, 21-22; He.
8:6-13, 9:11-15, 23-28, 10:1-18
25
26

6

Confession of Faithmade effective by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, thepassover lamb, and other signs and ordinances delivered to the peopleof Israel. These were sufficient through the ministry of the Holy Spirit
to instruct persons savingly in the knowledge of God and to lead them
to believe God.32
3.05 Since Christ's coming, the covenant of grace is made effective
chiefly by the preaching of the word and the administration of thesacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. In these, together withother acts of worship and acts of love toward the neighbor, the gospelof the covenant of grace is set forth simply and yet in fullness and withspiritual power.33
3.06 Children have always been included with their parents in thecovenant of grace. Before Christ came, the appropriate sign and seal
thereof was circumcision. Since the advent of Christ the sign and seal
is baptism.34
Christ the Savior
3.07 God's mighty act of reconciling love was accomplished inJesus Christ, the divine Son who became flesh to be the means by which
the sins of the world are forgiven.35
3.08 Jesus Christ, being truly human and truly divine, was temptedin every respect as every person is, yet he did not sin. While fully
sharing human life, Christ continued to be holy, blameless, undefiled,
and thoroughly fitted to be the savior of the world, the only hope ofreconciliation between God and sinful persons.36
3.09 Jesus Christ willingly suffered sin and death for every person.
On the third day after being crucified, Christ was raised from the dead,appeared to many disciples, afterward ascended to God, and makes
intercession for all persons.37
3.10 Through the Holy Spirit, people are able to acknowledge andrepent of their sin, believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, and follow Christ
as Lord. Believers experience Christ's presence and guidance, which32

3.04 Gn. 3:15; Mic. 5:2; Jn. 8:56-58, 17:24; 1 Co. 10:1-4; Eph. 1:3-10
3.05 Mt. 28:18-20; 1 Co. 1:17-25, 11:23-26; Col. 2:9-15; 2 Ti. 4:1-2
34
3.06 Gn. 17:7-14; Ac. 2:39, 16:15, 33; 1 Co. 1:16; Col. 2:11-12
35
3.07 Mt. 1:18-23; Lk. 1:26-38, 67-75, 2:8-13; Jn. 1:14-18, 3:16; Ro. 5:6-11, 8:1-4; 2 Co.
5:17-21; Eph. 1:3-10, 2:4-10; Ph. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20; 1 P. 1:3-9, 18-21, 2:21-25; 1 Jn. 4:9-10
36
3.08 Mt. 4:1-11; Jn. 1:1-4, 14, 3:13-19, 36, 17:1-5; Ac. 4:12; Ro. 1:1-6; Col. 2:9-10; 1 Ti.
3:16; He. 2:17-18, 4:15, 7:26-28; 1 P. 2:22-25; 1 Jn. 3:5
37
3.09 Is. 53, 61:1-3; Mt. 26:36-46; Jn. 10:11-18; Ac. 1:3; Ro. 4:23-25, 8:31-34; 1 Co. 15:3-8;
He. 2:9, 9:24
33

Confession of Faith7

helps them to overcome the powers of evil in ways consistent with
God's nature and will.38
3.11 God's work of reconciliation in Jesus Christ occurred at aparticular time and place. Yet its powers and benefits extend to thebeliever in all ages from the beginning of the world. It is communicatedby the Holy Spirit and through such instruments as God is pleased to
employ.39
4.00 GOD ACTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRITThe Call and Work of the Holy Spirit
4.01 God acted redemptively in Jesus Christ because of the sins of
the world and continues with the same intent in the Holy Spirit to callevery person to repentance and faith.40
4.02 The Holy Spirit works through the scriptures, the sacraments,
the corporate worship of the covenant community, the witness ofbelievers in word and deed, and in ways beyond human understanding.
The Spirit moves on the hearts of sinners, convincing them of their sins
and their need for salvation, and inclining them to repentance and faith
toward God.41
4.03 The call and work of the Holy Spirit is solely of God's grace andis not a response to human merit. The call precedes all desire, purpose,and intention of the sinner to come to Christ. While it is possible forall to be saved with it, none can be saved without it. Whoever will,
therefore, may be saved, but not apart from the illuminating influenceof the Holy Spirit.42
4.04 Persons may resist and reject this call of the Holy Spirit, but
for all who respond with repentance and trustful acceptance of God's
love in Christ, there is salvation and life.43
Repentance and Confession
4.05 Repentance is that attitude toward God wherein sinners firmly
resolve to forsake sin, trust in Christ, and live in grateful obedience toGod.4438

3.10 Jn. 16:8-15; Ac. 13:1-3; Ro. 8:26-27; 1 P. 1:3-9
3.11 Mk. 15:24-37; Jn. 3:5-8, 6:63; Ro. 8:11; 1 Co. 10:1-4, 12:4-11; 2 Co. 3:4-6; Gal. 3:8;
Tit. 3:4-7
40
4.01 Jn. 16:7-11; Ac. 7:51; Ro. 3:23-26; 1 Co. 15:3-4; 1 Jn. 2:1-2, 4:9-10; Rev. 22:17
41
4.02 Jn. 16:7-11; Ac. 8:29-39, 13:1-3
42
4.03 1 Co. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-10; Tit. 3:4-5; Rev. 22:17
43
4.04 Is. 63:10; Jn. 3:14-15, 36, 5:24; Ac. 5:3-4, 7:51; Ro. 10:8-13
44
4.05 Mk. 14:72; Lk. 15:18-20, 19:8-10
39

8Confession of Faith

4.06 Persons do not merit salvation because of repentance or any
other human exercise. Yet repentance is necessary to partake of thesaving grace and forgiveness of God in Christ.45
4.07 In response to God's initiative to restore relationships, persons
make honest confession of sin against God, their brothers and sisters,
and all of creation, and amend the past so far as is in their power.46
Saving Faith
4.08 Saving faith is response to God, prompted by the Holy Spirit,wherein persons rely solely upon God's grace in Jesus Christ forsalvation. Such faith includes trust in the truthfulness of God's
promises in the scriptures, sorrow for sin, and determination to serve
God and neighbor.47
4.09 Persons do not merit salvation because of faith, nor is faitha good work. Faith is a gift made possible through God's love andinitiative. Yet God requires the response of faith by all who receive
salvation and reconciliation.48
4.10 When persons repent of sin and in faith embrace God'ssalvation, they receive forgiveness for their sin and experience
acceptance as God's children.49
4.11 In the life of faith, believers are tested and suffer many
struggles, but the promise of ultimate victory through Christ is assured
by God's faithfulness. Both the scriptures and the experiences of thecovenant people throughout the centuries witness to this promise.50
Justification
4.12 Justification is God's act of loving acceptance of believers
whereby persons are reconciled to him by the life, death, andresurrection of Jesus Christ. When they in repentance and faith trust
Christ, who is their righteousness, God gives them peace and restores
their relationship with him.51
4.13 In this relationship God continues to forgive sin. Although45
4.06 Ps. 34:18, 51:17; Ezk. 18:21, 30-32; Jl. 2:12-13; Mt. 3:2; Lk. 13:2-5, 17:10; Ac. 3:19,
17:30-31; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:3-7
46
4.07 Ps. 32:5, 51:3-17; Lk. 15:18-20, 19:8-10; Eph. 4:25-31
47
4.08 Jn. 6:28-29; Ro. 10:17
48
4.09 Jn. 3:14-28, 36; Ac. 16:29-31; Ro. 4:16; Gal. 3:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; Ph. 3:8-9
49
4.10 Jn. 1:11-13, 5:24, 6:28-29, 40; Ro. 1:16-17, 10:8-13; 1 Jn. 5:12
50
4.11 Lk. 22:31-32; Jn. 16:33; Ro. 3:3-4, 4:19-21, 8:28-39; 1 Co. 1:4-9, 10:13; 1 Th. 5:23-24;
2 Th. 3:3-5; 2 Ti. 2:11-13; He. 11, 12; 1 Jn. 5:4-5
51
4.12 Gn. 15:6; Ps. 32:1-2, 103:8-13, 130:3-8; Lk. 18:9-14; Ac. 13:38-39; Ro. 3:19-31, 4, 5:12; 1 Co. 1:30-31; Ph. 3:7-11; 1 P. 1:8-9

Confession of Faith9believers sometimes disrupt their peace with God through sin andexperience separation from God, yet they are assured that it is by God's
grace that they are accepted and the relationship is sustained. Only by
growth in grace can the believer experience the fullness of relationshipwith God.52
4.14 Those who are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ continue
to know a sinful nature. They continue to experience within themselves
the conflict between their old selves and their new selves, between goodand evil, between their wills and God's will, between life and death.53
Regeneration and Adoption
4.15 Regeneration is God's renewal of believers and is solely ofGod's grace. Those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are recreated, orborn again, renewed in spirit, and made new persons in Christ.54
4.16 Regeneration is necessary because all persons who areseparated from Christ are spiritually dead and unable of themselves tolove and glorify God.55
4.17 Regeneration is accomplished by the Holy Spirit showing
sinners the truth of Christ, enabling them to repent and believe God in
the light of that truth and to receive the saving grace and forgivenessgiven in Jesus Christ.56
4.18 When empowered by the illuminating influence of the Holy
Spirit, believers are able to love and glorify God and to love and serve
their neighbors.57
4.19 All persons dying in infancy and all who have never had theability to respond to Christ are regenerated and saved by God's grace.58
4.20 Adoption is the action of God to include in the covenant family
all who are regenerated and made new persons in Christ. This action
assures community with God and one's brothers and sisters in Christ,
both now and in the full redemption of the family of God.59

52

4.13 Ps. 32:1-2, 103:8-14, 17-18; Jer. 31:34; Jn. 10:27-30; Ro. 8:1-4; He. 13:5-6; 2 P. 1:3-11
4.14 Ro. 7:7-25, 8:5-8, 12-13; Gal. 5:16-17; 1 Jn. 1:5-10, 2:15-17
54
4.15 Ezk. 36:25-27; Jn. 1:11-13; 2 Co. 5:16-21; Eph. 2:4-10; Tit. 3:3-7; 1 P. 1:23-25
55
4.16 Ps. 14:1-3; Mt. 15:18-20; Jn. 3:3-8; Ro. 8:6-7; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:1-3
56
4.17 Jn. 1:12-13, 3:3-8, 14:25-26, 16:13-15; Tit. 3:4-6
57
4.18 1 Co. 12:3; Gal. 5:22-24; 1 P. 1:22-25, 4:8-11
58
4.19 Lk. 18:15-16; Jn. 3:3; Ac. 2:38-39
59
4.20 Ro. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:3-7; Eph. 1:5-6
53

10

Confession of Faith

Sanctification and Growth in Grace
4.21 Sanctification is God's setting apart of believers as servants inthe world.60
4.22 As believers continue to partake of God's covenant of grace,
to live in the covenant community, and to serve God in the world, they
are able to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Believers never achieve sinless perfection in this life, but through theministry of the Holy Spirit they can be progressively conformed to theimage of Jesus Christ, thereby growing in faith, hope, love, and othergifts of the Spirit.61
4.23 The struggle with sin continues, for believers are still imperfectin knowledge and the power to do God's will. Their freedom to trust,
love, and serve God and neighbors is compromised sometimes by
distrust, hate and selfishness. This inner struggle drives them again andagain to rely on God's power to conform them to the image of the new
person in Jesus Christ.62
Preservation of Believers
4.24 The transformation of believers begun in regeneration andjustification will be brought to completion. Although believers sin andthereby displease God, the covenant relationship is maintained by God,
who will preserve them in eternal life.63
4.25 The preservation of believers depends upon the nature of
the covenant of grace, the unchangeable love and power of God, themerits, advocacy, and intercession of Jesus Christ, and the presence andministry of the Holy Spirit who renews God's image in believers.64
4.26 As a consequence of temptation and the neglect of the meansof grace, believers sin, incur God's displeasure, and deprive themselvesof some of the graces and comforts promised to them. But believers
will never rest satisfied until they confess their sin and are renewed intheir consecration to God.65

60
4.21 Ps. 4:3; Ro. 6:6-14, 20-22; 1 Co. 6:9-11; 2 Co. 6:14-18; 7:1; Eph. 4:17-24, 5:25-27; 1
Th. 5:23-24; 2 Th. 2:13-14; He. 9:13-14; 1 P. 1:1-2
61
4.22 Ps. 14:1-3; Ecc. 7:20; Ro. 3:23-24; 2 Co. 3:18, 9:10-11; Eph. 3:14-21; Ph. 2:12-16; Col.
3:5-17; 1 Th. 3:12-13; 2 Ti. 2:20-21; 1 P. 2:2-3; 2 P. 1:3-11
62
4.23 Ro. 7:7-25; Gal. 5:16-17; 1 Jn. 2:9-11
63
4.24 Ps. 37:27-28; Lam. 3:22-24, 31-33; Jn. 5:24, 10:27-29; Ro. 8:38-39; 2 Co. 4:13-18; Ph.
1:6; 2 Ti. 1:11-12
64
4.25 Ps. 23, 34, 91, 121; Jer. 32:40; Jn. 14:16-17; Ro. 5:10; 2 Co. 5:5; 2 Ti. 2:19; He. 7:2325; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; Jd. 24-25
65
4.26 Ps. 32:3-5, 51:1-12; Is. 59:1-2

Confession of Faith

11

Christian Assurance
4.27 Believers who seek to know and to do the will of God, andwho live in him as he lives in them, may in this life be assuredof salvation and thus rejoice in the hope of fully sharing the glory of
God.66
4.28 This comforting assurance is founded upon the divine promises,
the consciousness of peace with God through Christ, and the witnessof the Holy Spirit with the believers' spirits that they truly are God'schildren. Assurance is the promise of the believers' full inheritance.67
4.29 This assurance may not immediately accompany initial trust in
Christ. It will increase, however, as the believer faithfully participatesin the worship, sacraments, ministry, witness, and life of the covenantcommunity, through which God confirms to believers the promise
never to leave or forsake them.68
5.00 GOD CREATES THE CHURCH FOR MISSION
The Church
5.01 There is one, holy, universal, apostolic church. She is the bodyof Christ, who is her Head and Lord.69
5.02 The church is one because her Head and Lord is one, Jesus
Christ. Her oneness under her Lord is manifested in the one ministryof word and sacrament, not in any uniformity of covenantal expression,organization, or system of doctrine.70
5.03 The church is holy because she is founded on the finishedand continuing work of Christ in setting her apart for God's glory andwitness in the world. Her holiness thus rests on God's sanctifying her
for her redemptive mission, not upon any personal holiness of her
members.71
5.04 The church is universal because God's act of salvation in
Jesus Christ is universal and cannot be limited to any place or time.
Her universal nature rests upon the universal activity of God's Holy
Spirit to make Christ's atonement effective for all peoples. It is
expressed in the church's commission to make disciples of all nations.72
66

4.27 Ro. 5:1-5; 2 Ti. 1:11-12; 1 Jn. 2:3-6, 5:13
4.28 Mt. 28:19-20; Ro. 5:1-2, 8:15-17; Eph. 1:13-14; He. 6:17-20, 13:5; 2 P. 1:3-4, 10-11; 1
Jn. 3:2-3, 14-15, 19-24, 4:13
68
4.29 Ro. 15:13; He. 6:11-12; 2 P. 1:10-11
69
5.01 Mt. 16:18; Jn. 10:16, 17:20-23; Ro. 12:4-5; 1 Co. 10:17, 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22-23, 2:1422, 3:4-6
70
5.02 Mt. 28:18-20; 1 Co. 3:11; Eph. 4:15-16, 5:23; Col. 1:18-20
71
5.03 Jn. 17:17-23
72
5.04 Gn. 12:1-3; Mt. 8:11, 28:18-20; Jn. 3:16; Gal. 3:28; He. 2:9; Rev. 7:9-10
67

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Confession of Faith

5.05 The church is apostolic because God calls her into being
through the proclamation of the gospel first entrusted to the apostles.
The church thus is built on the apostolic message which is faithfully
proclaimed by messengers who follow in the footsteps of the apostles.73
5.06 The church, as the covenant community of believers who are
redeemed, includes all people in all ages, past, present, and future, who
respond in faith to God's covenant of grace, and all who are unable torespond, for reasons known to God, but who are saved by his grace.74
5.07 The church in the world consists of all who respond in faith
to God's saving grace and who enter into formal covenant with God
and each other. The children of believers are included in this covenantcommunity and are under the special care and instruction of the church
and their parents or guardians.75
5.08 Because the church in the world consists of persons who areimperfect in knowledge and in the power to do God's will, she waits
with eager longing for the full redemption of the family of God. Until
that time God wills that all believers worship and witness through thechurch in the world and promises to guide her life and growth throughthe Holy Spirit.76
5.09 The church in the world never exists for herself alone, but toglorify God and work for reconciliation through Christ. Christ claims
the church and gives her the word and sacraments in order to bring
God's grace and judgment to persons.77
Christian Communion
5.10 All who are united to Christ by faith are also united to one
another in love. In this communion they are to share the grace ofChrist with one another, to bear one another's burdens, and to reach out
to all other persons.78
5.11 The communion of believers has special meaning for membersof the same organized body. Beyond this particular community
believers have special relationship with other organized bodies who
73
5.05 Mt. 28:18-20; Jn. 20:21-23; Ac. 10:42-43; Ro. 10:14-18; 1 Co. 1:21-25, 15:1-11; 2 Co.
5:18-21; 1 P. 1:10-12
74
5.06 Gn. 12:1-3, 17:1-7; Mt. 8:11; Gal. 3:26-29; He. 12:18-24; Rev. 7:9-10
75
5.07 Gn. 17:7; Dt. 6:4-9; Is. 40:11; Mt. 19:13-15; Ac. 2:39; 1 Co. 7:13-14; Eph. 6:1-4
76
5.08 Mt. 5:14-16, 13:24-30, 47-50, 28:18-20; Ac. 1:6-8; 1 Co. 12:4-11
77
5.09 Is. 49:6; Mt. 5:14-16, 28:19-20; Jn. 15:1-11; 2 Co. 5:14-21
78
5.10 Ro. 12:9-21; Gal. 5:13-14, 6:1-2; Ph. 2:1-7; 1 Th. 3:12-13, 5:11-15; He. 13:1-3; 1 P.
4:8-11

Confession of Faith13

embrace similar creeds, historical heritage, and forms of the covenantcommunity.79
Christian Worship5.12 Christian worship is the affirmation of God's living presence
and the celebration of God's mighty acts. It is central to the life of thechurch and is the appropriate response of all believers to the lordshipand sovereignty of God.80
5.13 In worship God claims persons in Christ and offers assuranceof love, forgiveness, guidance, and redemption. Believers respond to
God with praise, confession, thanksgiving, love, and commitment toservice.81
5.14 Christian worship includes proclaiming the gospel of Jesus
Christ, celebrating the sacraments, reading and hearing the scriptures,
praying, singing, and committing life and resources to God. This
common worship of the church validates and sustains such otherworship as the church finds meaningful for celebrating the living
presence of God.82
5.15 God is to be worshiped both corporately and privately.
Corporate worship is practiced in the gathered congregation, in small
groups within the church, and in larger gatherings of believers. Private
worship, through meditation, prayer, and study of the scriptures, ispracticed in various settings, especially in the home by individuals andby the family.83
Sacraments
5.16 Sacraments are signs and testimonies of God's covenantof grace. Circumcision and passover are the sacraments of the Old
Testament; baptism and the Lord's Supper are the sacraments of the
New Testament. They are given by God and through his presence,
word, and will are made effective.84
5.17 Jesus Christ ordained the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's
Supper for the church. They are administered by and through the church
as part of her common worship, being entrusted to properly ordained
ministers under the authority of a judicatory of the church.85
79

5.11 Ps. 133; Ac. 2:42-47
5.12 Ps. 29:1-2, 95:1-7, 96:1-9, 145:4-7; Mt. 4:10; Jn. 4:22-24
81
5.13 Ps. 89:1-2, 100, 150; Eph. 5:18-20; He. 13:15; 1 P. 2:9-10
82
5.14 Ac. 2:44-47, 10:34-48, 20:7-11; 1 Ti. 2:1-10; He. 10:19-25
83
5.15 Jos. 24:15; Mt. 6:6-13; 1 Co. 14:26-33; Eph. 5:18-20
84
5.16 Gn. 17:9-14; Ex. 12:21-27; Mt. 26:26-29, 28:19-20; Ro. 4:11
85
5.17 Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 14:22-25; 1 Co. 10:16-17, 11:23-26
80

14

Confession of Faith

Baptism
5.18 Baptism symbolizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit and is
the external sign of the covenant which marks membership in thecommunity of faith. In this sacrament the church witnesses to God's
initiative to claim persons in Christ, forgive their sins, grant them grace,
shape and order their lives through the work of the Holy Spirit, and set
them apart for service.86
5.19 The sacrament of baptism is administered to infants, one orboth of whose parents or guardians affirm faith in Jesus Christ andassume the responsibilities of the covenant, and to all persons who affirm
personal faith in Jesus Christ and have not received the sacrament.87
5.20 Water is the element to be used in this sacrament. The person
receiving the sacrament is to be baptized in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit.88
5.21 In administering the sacrament the pouring or sprinkling ofwater on the person by the minister fittingly symbolizes the baptism of
the Holy Spirit; however, the validity of the sacrament is not dependent
upon its mode of administration.89
5.22 It is the privilege and duty of all believers to seek baptism forthemselves and their children, and to accept its benefits. However,baptism is neither an indispensable condition of salvation nor effective
apart from life in Christ and the church.90
The Lord's Supper5.23 The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus Christ on the nightof his betrayal. It is a means by which the church remembers and shows
forth Christ's passion and death on the cross. The sacrament is also aperpetual means given to the church to celebrate and experience thecontinuing presence of the risen Lord and her expectation of the Lord's
return.91
5.24 The elements used in this sacrament are bread and the fruit of
the vine, which represent the body and blood of Christ. The elements
themselves are never to be worshiped, for they are never anything otherthan bread and the fruit of the vine. However, because the sacrament
represents the Savior's passion and death, it should not be received
86

5.18 Mt. 3:11-12; Ac. 2:38-41, 10:44-48
5.19 Ac. 16:14-15, 32-33; 1 Co. 1:16
88
5.20 Mt. 28:19; Ac. 8:36-39, 10:47-48
89
5.21 Ac. 2:33, 10:45; Tit. 3:4-7
90
5.22 Ac. 8:36-38, 16:15, 33; 1 Co. 1:16
91
5.23 Mt. 26:26-29; 1 Co. 10:16-17, 11:23-26
87

Confession of Faith15

without due self-examination, reverence, humility, and gratefulawareness of Christ's presence.92
5.25 This sacrament is a means of spiritual nourishment and growth,an act of grateful obedience to Christ, and a commitment to the workand service of Christ's church for all who celebrate it.93
5.26 All persons who are part of the covenant community and arecommitted to the Christian life are invited and encouraged to receive
this sacrament.94
5.27 Each congregation should celebrate this sacrament regularly.
Every Christian should receive it frequently.95
The Church in Mission
5.28 The church, being nurtured and sustained by worship, by
proclamation and study of the word, and by the celebration of thesacraments, is commissioned to witness to all persons who have notreceived Christ as Lord and Savior.96
5.29 Growth is natural to the church's life. The church is called into
being and exists to reach out to those who have not experienced God's
grace in Christ, and to nourish them with all the means of grace.97
5.30 In carrying out the apostolic commission, the covenantcommunity has encountered and continues to encounter people who
belong to religions which do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.
While respecting persons who adhere to other religions, Christians
are responsible to share with them the good news of salvation throughJesus Christ.98
5.31 The covenant community is responsible to give witness to themighty acts of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Where and when this witness is lacking, God is not without a witness.
Therefore, it does not belong to the covenant community to judge where
and in what manner God acts savingly through Jesus Christ.99
Church Government
5.32 Jesus Christ as Lord and Head of the church has entrusted
92

5.24 Mt. 26:26-29; 1 Co. 5:7-8, 11:27-34
5.25 Ac. 2:42, 46-47; 1 Co. 11:23-26
94
5.26 Mt. 26:26-28; 1 Co. 11:28-32
95
5.27 1 Co. 14:40
96
5.28 Is. 43:10, 49:6; Mt. 28:19-20; Lk. 24:45-49; Ac. 1:6-8, 5:30-32, 10:39-42, 22:14-15; 1
P. 2:997
5.29 Mt. 13:33, 28:19-20; Jn. 21:15-17; Ac. 2:41, 4:4, 6:7, 9:31; Eph. 4:10-16
98
5.30 Ac. 8:26-40, 10:34-48, 13:16-48, 14:1-3, 14-17, 17:22-31
99
5.31 Mt. 28:19-20; Ac. 10:34-35; 14:16-17, 17:22-31; Ro. 2:12-16
93

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Confession of Faith

the government of the church to officers who make those decisions thatwill guide the life and ministry of the covenant community.100
5.33 These officers have the responsibility to serve the church, toexamine and receive members into the communion of the church, tocare for and nurture them in the faith, and to discipline with love andjustice those who offend the gospel and the laws of the church.101
Church Judicatories
5.34 The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America are governed by certain representative
bodies: session, presbytery, synod, and General Assembly. Each ofthese church bodies in its special areas of responsibility has legislative,
judicial, and executive authority, yet all are to be conducted inrecognition of their interdependence and Christian mission.102
5.35 It is the responsibility of these representative bodies, consistent
with the church's constitution, to determine matters of faith, practice,and government, propose forms of worship and witness, exercise
discipline, and resolve appeals properly brought before them.103
6.00 CHRISTIANS LIVE AND WITNESS IN THE WORLD
Christian Freedom
6.01 Through Jesus Christ, God frees persons from the shackles,
oppression, and shame of sin and sinful forces, from the guilt and penal
consequences of sin, and enables them to have free access to God. This
freedom, rooted in love, not fear, enables persons to become who God
intends them to be, to bear witness to their Lord, and to serve God andneighbors in the vocations of their common life.104
6.02 While God alone is Lord of the conscience and in mattersof faith and worship God frees believers from the opinions andcommandments of others that are contrary to his word, this does notpreclude their need for the instruction and discipline of the church.105
6.03 Believers who, under the pretext of Christian freedom practicesin, thereby violate the nature and purpose of Christian freedom.
100

5.32 Ac. 1:21-26, 6:1-6, 14:23, 15:6-22; Ph. 1:1; 2 Ti. 3:1-13, 5:17-22
5.33 Mt. 18:15-20; Ac. 20:28-31; 1 Co. 5:1-5; 1 Th. 5:12-14; 1 Ti. 5:17-22; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 P.
5:1-5
102
5.34 Ac. 14:23, 15:6-29, 16:4; 1 Ti. 4:13-16, 5:17-22; Tit. 1:5-9
103
5.35 Mt. 18:15-17; Ac. 15:6-29
104
6.01 Jn. 8:31-36; Ac. 5:29-32, 40-42; Ro. 6:12-23, 7:24-25, 8:1-17, 14:4; 1 Co. 8-9, 10:2333; Gal. 3:1-14, 5; Eph. 2:18, 3:11-12; 1 Jn. 4:18
105
6.02 1 Co. 8, 12:12-27
101

Confession of Faith

17

Believers are free to love and serve the Lord rather than evil.106
6.04 Believers who, under the pretext of Christian freedom, defy theproper exercise of just and lawful authority, either civil or ecclesiastical,
are subject to the discipline of the church.107
6.05 Christians owe ultimate allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord, andmust never yield that ultimate allegiance to any government or nation,and should in Christian conscience oppose any form of injustice.108
Good Works
6.06 Believers are saved by grace through faith which produces thedesire to do the good works for which God creates persons in ChristJesus.109
6.07 Good works are done in thankful response to the gift of God's
grace. God graciously accepts the works of believers despite their
many weaknesses and imperfect motives.110
6.08 Good works are the result of and not the means of salvation.111
6.09 Good works encompass not only those deeds of service andmercy exemplified by Christ, but also those ethical and moral choicesthat reflect Christian values and principles in all of life's relationships.112
Christian Stewardship6.10 Christian stewardship acknowledges that all of life and creation
is a trust from God, to be used for God's glory and service. It includes
the conservation and responsible use of natural resources as well as thecreative use of human skills and energies. These gifts of God are to beshared with all, especially with the poor.113
6.11 The motive for Christian stewardship is gratitude for God'sabundant love and mercy, accompanied by the desire to share all ofGod's good gifts with others.114
6.12 God gives to the human family a variety of gifts, including
gifts to each person for which each person has responsibility. God
106

6.03 1 Co. 8; 1 P. 2:16
6.04 Mt. 18:17; Ro. 13:1-2; 1 Co. 5; Tit. 3:1; He. 13:17; 1 P. 2:13-16
108
6.05 Mt. 6:24; Ac. 4:5-31, 5:27-32; Rev. 19:10
109
6.06 Ps. 116:12-14; Ro. 11:5-6; Eph. 2:4-10; Tit. 3:4-7
1106.07 Mk. 5:18-20; Lk. 7:47-50, 19:8-9
111
6.08 Lk. 6:43-45; Gal. 5:22-25
112
6.09 Is. 58:6-7; Mt. 25:31-46; Lk. 10:29-37; He. 6:9-12, 13:1-5; Ja. 1:19-27, 2:8-26; 1 P.
2:11-25113
6.10 Gn. 1:26-31; Ps. 8:3-8, 24:1, 50:10-12; Ac. 4:32-37, 20:33-35; 1 Co. 4:7; Gal. 2:9-10;
Ja. 1:17, 2:1-7
114
6.11 Lk. 21:1-4; Ac. 4:34-37, 9:36-41; 2 Co. 8:1-15
107

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Confession of Faith

desires that each person engage in the mutual sharing of these gifts sothat all may be enriched.115
6.13 Proportionate and regular giving of all that God entrusts tothe human family is an act of devotion and a means of grace. Giving
to and through the church is the privilege of every believer. Tithing
as a scriptural guide for giving, is an adventure of faith and a rich andrewarding practice. The tither not only experiences the grace of God but
even the grace of sharing.116
6.14 All believers are responsible to God and to the covenantcommunity for their stewardship.117
Marriage and the Family
6.15 God created the family as the primary community in which
persons experience love, companionship, support, protection, discipline,
encouragement, and other blessings. It is the normal relationship into
which children are born.118
6.16 The church recognizes and ministers to people living in avariety of family patterns, including those persons who by choice or
circumstances are single. It seeks to embrace each person and all groupsof persons within the family life of the covenant community.119
6.17 Marriage is between a man and a woman for the mutual benefitof each, their children, and society. While marriage is subject to theappropriate civil law, it is primarily a covenant relationship under God.
As such, it symbolizes the relationship of Jesus Christ and the church,
and is that human relationship in which love and trust are best known.120
6.18 As a covenant relationship under God, marriage is a lifetime
commitment, and should not be taken lightly.121
6.19 Because marriage is primarily a covenant relationship underGod, between a man and a woman, it is morally wrong and unlawful forany person to have more than one living marriage partner.122
6.20 When human weakness and sin threaten a marriage relationship,
the covenant community has responsibility to uphold the sanctity of

115

6.12 Mt. 25:14-30; 1 Co. 12:4-26, 13, 16:1-2; Eph. 4:1-16; 1 P. 4:10-11
6.13 Gn. 28:22; Dt. 14-22; Mal. 3:8-11; Mt. 23:23; 1 Co. 16:1-2
117
6.14 Mt. 12:36-37; Lk. 12:16-21, 47-48; Ro. 14:10-12; 1 Co. 4:1-2; 2 Co. 5:9-10
118
6.15 Gn. 1:26-31, 2:8-24; Pr. 31:10-31; S. Sol. 8:7; Mt. 19:3-12; 1 Co. 13; Eph. 6:1-4; Col.
3:18-21119
6.16 Ac. 4:34-35; 1 Co. 7, 12:14-26; 1 Jn. 2:12-14
120
6.17 Gn. 2:18-24; Is. 54:5-6; Eph. 5:21-33; Rev. 19:7-8, 21:2-3,9121
6.18 Gn. 2:21-24; Ro. 7:2
122
6.19 Gn. 2:24; 1 Co. 7:2
116

Confession of Faith19

marriage and to help partners strengthen their relationship. If a marriage
is dissolved by divorce, the covenant community is responsible tominister to the victims, including any children of the marriage, and tocounsel divorced persons who are considering remarriage.123
6.21 The church has responsibility to help persons prepare formarriage, for parental responsibilities, and for family life under thelordship of Jesus Christ.124
6.22 The church has responsibility to minister to the needs of
persons in every crisis, including physical and emotional illness,
economic distress, natural disasters, accidents due to carelessness, anddeath.125
The Lord's Day
6.23 The Creator has given one day in seven for special reflection
on God's nature and deeds. From the beginning of the world to theresurrection of Christ the seventh day of the week, known as thesabbath, was the Lord's Day. Subsequent to Christ's resurrection,
Christians celebrate the first day of the week as the Lords' Day.126
6.24 Appropriate activities on the Lord's Day include worship,
study, doing good works, and other activities leading to renewal. The
proper observance of the Lord's Day enriches the quality of life for allother days.127
Lawful Oaths and Vows
6.25 Christians should bind themselves by oath or pledge only tothose good and just promises they are reasonably able to perform.128
6.26 A vow is similar to an oath and should be made with care,
performed with faithfulness, and honored with integrity. Persons
should vow to do only that which is consistent with the scriptures.129
Civil Government
6.27 The purpose of civil government is to enable God's creation tolive under the principles of justice and order. As it faithfully upholds
the welfare of God's creation, civil government lies within the purpose
123

6.20 Mt. 5:31-32; 1 Co. 12:12-27
6.21 Eph. 5:21-33, 6:1-4
125
6.22 Ac. 2:44-45, 4:32-37, 6:1-3; Ro. 12:4-21; 1 Co. 12:14-27; Gal. 6:1-2; Col. 3:12-14; 1
Th. 5:14-15
126
6.23 Gn. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:8-11, 23:12; Jn. 20:19; Ac. 20:7
127
6.24 Is. 58:13-14; Mt. 12:1-14; Jn. 7:23-24; 1 Co. 16:1-2
128
6.25 Lv. 19:12; Ps. 116:12-14; Ecc. 5:2
129
6.26 Nu. 30:2; Dt. 23:21-23; Ecc. 5:4-5; Mt. 5:33-37
124

20

Confession of Faithof God and functions as a useful instrument to enable people to live inharmony and peace.130
6.28 It is the duty of people to participate in civil government insuch ways as are open to them, especially in exercising the right tovote. It is the duty of Christians to enter civil offices for which they
are qualified and for the purpose of working for justice, peace, and thecommon welfare.131
6.29 Civil government and persons elected to civil office may notassume control over or administration of the church in matters of faithor practice. Yet their duty is to protect the religious freedom of all
persons and to guard the right of religious bodies to assemble without
interference.132
6.30 The covenant community, governed by the Lord Christ,
opposes, resists, and seeks to change all circumstances of oppression-political, economic, cultural, racial--by which persons are denied theessential dignity God intends for them in the work of creation.133
6.31 The covenant community affirms the lordship of Christ whosought out the poor, the oppressed, the sick, and the helpless. In her
corporate life and through her individual members, the church is an
advocate for all victims of violence and all those whom the law orsociety treats as less than persons for whom Christ died. Such advocacy
involves not only opposition to all unjust laws and forms of injusticebut even more support for those attitudes and actions which embody theway of Christ, which is to overcome evil with good.134
6.32 God gives the message and ministry of reconciliation to thechurch. The church, corporately and through her individual members,seeks to promote reconciliation, love, and justice among all persons,classes, races, and nations.135
7.00 GOD CONSUMMATES ALL LIFE AND HISTORY
Death and Resurrection
7.01 Death is both a spiritual and physical reality. Therefore
the church has the privilege and duty to proclaim that in Jesus Christ,

130

6.27 2 S. 23:3-4; 2 Ch. 19:5-7; Ps. 72:1-4, 82:1-4; Ro. 13:1-7; 1 Ti. 2:1-2; 1 P. 2:13-17
6.28 Mt. 17:27, 22:15-21; Ro. 13:1-7; 1 Ti. 2:1-3; Tit. 3:1; 1 P. 2:13-17
132
6.29 2 Ch. 26:16-18
133
6.30 Dt. 15:7-11; Ps. 41:1-3, 82:3-4; Pr. 21:13, 29:4, 14
134
6.31 Mt. 9:35-38, 14:14, 15:32-39; Ro. 12:19-21
135
6.32 Mt. 28:18-20; 2 Co. 5:18-20
131Confession of Faith

21

God acts to redeem persons from bondage to death both in spirit andbody.136
7.02 Those who have been regenerated in Christ live with joyful
and confident expectation that after death their redemption will becomplete in the resurrection of the body.137
7.03 As in regeneration the whole person is resurrected to new life
in Christ, so in the resurrection of the dead the whole person is raised tolive in and enjoy the presence of God forever.138
7.04 Believers are assured of having passed from the death of sin
into life with God. They confidently await full redemption without fearof judgment. Thanks be to God who gives this victory through the Lord
Jesus Christ!139
Judgment and Consummation
7.05 The judgment of God is both present and future. Persons
experience God's judgment in many forms, including broken
relationships with God and others, the guilt and consequences of
their own actions, and the sense of anxiety that comes from lack ofconfidence in God's faithfulness and the purpose of life.140
7.06 God's judgment is experienced in history in the freedom of
persons and nations to choose to engage in such evils as war, civil strife,
slavery, oppression, destruction of natural resources, and political andeconomic exploitation. God abhors all such acts which cause needlesssuffering and death.141
7.07 God's judgment transcends this life, ever standing against
all human attempts to deny dependence on God and to live without
repentance, faith, and love. Those who reject God's salvation in Jesus
Christ remain alienated from God and in hopeless bondage to sin anddeath, which is hell.142
7.08 In the consummation of history, at the coming of Jesus Christ,
the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of the Lord andof the Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.143
136
7.01 Gn. 2:17, 3:19; Job 14:1-2, 10-12, 30:23; Ps. 103:15-16; Jn. 5:24, 11:25-26; Ac. 4:1-2,
17:17-18, 30-31, 24:14-15; Ro. 5:12; 1 Co. 15:12-57; Eph. 2:1-8; 2 Ti. 1:8-10; He. 2:14-15; Ja.
1:15; 1 P. 1:3-5; 1 Jn. 3:14; Rev. 1:17-18
137
7.02 Ro. 8:11; 1 Co. 15:12-57; 2 Co. 5:1-10; Ph. 3:20-21; 1 Th. 4:13-18; 1 P. 1:3-9; 1 Jn.
3:1-2
138
7.03 1 Th. 4:13-19, 5:9-10
139
7.04 Jn. 3:14-18, 36; 1 Co. 15:51-57; 2 Co. 5:1-5; 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 5:12
140
7.05 Ecc. 12:13-14; Mt. 25:31-46; Jn. 3:16-21, 5:25-29; Ac. 17:29-31; Ro. 14:7-12; 2 Co.
5:9-10; He. 9:27-28; 2 P. 2:4-10, 3:5-10; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8
141
7.06 Mal. 3:5; Ro. 2:1-3; Gal. 6:7-8
142
7.07 Lk. 16:19-31; Jn. 3:18-21, 36; He. 9:27-28; Rev. 20:11-15
143
7.08 1 Co. 15:22-28; Rev. 11:15-18, 12:10-1222

Preamble to the Constitution

Preamble to the Constitution
The form of church government is the structure through which theactivities of government are carried out. The purpose of church governmentis to aid the church in performing its mission. This Constitution in drawn
according to the Presbyterian form, and its purpose is that the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America may be
governed in such a manner that the church will perform its mission.
Cumberland Presbyterian congregations are found around the world.
While the mission of the church is the same everywhere, the forms andstructures of the Constitution and Rules of Discipline do not always
fit seamlessly with the cultures, traditions, and legal systems of somecountries. In countries other than the United States the provisions of theConstitution and Rules of Discipline should be applied so far as possible,
but the Constitution and Rules of Discipline are, at heart, documents
which exist to promote spiritual objectives. If there are instances inwhich the letter of the Constitution and/or Rules of Discipline cannot beapplied without compromising the mission of the church and the spiritual
objectives identified in the Confession of Faith, it is the spirit of the law,rather than the letter, which must prevail.
Although no detailed form of church government is laid down in
scripture, the connectional nature of the church is clearly affirmed. The
Presbyterian form embodies the connectional nature of the church ina manner compatible with scripture. In the Old Testament, during theperiod of the monarchy in Israel, church government was mixed with andsometimes controlled by civil government. After the destruction of thenational state of Israel and during the Babylonian captivity, the synagogue
emerged as the organizational form of the covenant community. Its
government was a prototype of the Presbyterian form.
Jesus and his apostles worshiped and taught in the synagogue. Paul's
missionary activity in a city usually was begun in the synagogue. As thefollowers of Jesus came to be known as Christians, and the movement
gradually separated from Judaism, its government developed along thelines of the synagogue.
The form of government inherited from the synagogue was a
representative system in which a group of persons, called elders, acted forthe people in matters relating to the life of the synagogue. The Greek wordthat is translated elder is presbuteros (presbyter). An assembly of elders ispresbuterian (presbytery). Hence the name Presbyterian.
Although the first leaders among the followers of Jesus were calledapostles, this term seems to have been restricted to those who had seen thePreamble to the Constitution

23

risen Christ and who had been commissioned personally by him. With thedeath of the apostles, the term elder, already in use, became the accepted
title that designated the highest church leaders.
The New Testament recognized two kinds of elders, those whoare ministers of word and sacrament, and those lay persons who assist
them. All elders share in the government of the church. The term bishop(episkopos), used less frequently in the New Testament seems to have beena synonym for elder.
In addition to the office of elder, the New Testament refers to a group of
lay leaders called deacons. Derived from the Greek word diakonos, whichmeans servant, this title designated those who had a special responsibility
in the care of the poor and others in need.
In the government of the church elders function as a representativebody. The levels of government recognized in the New Testament are thatof the particular church (session), the region (presbytery), and the wholechurch (synod or assembly).

24Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION
1.0 THE CHURCH
1.1 By the covenant with Abraham and his descendants according
to faith, God has established the church in the world through his Son
Jesus Christ. This household of faith, the universal church, consistsof all those persons in every nation and every age who confess Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior and who respond to his call to discipleship.
1.2 As the universal church cannot assemble at one time andplace, it exists in the world as particular churches gathered together for
worship, study, witness, and service.

2.00 PARTICULAR CHURCH
2.01 A particular church is a congregation of professing Christians,
together with their baptized children, who have entered into a covenantwith each other to meet together regularly to worship God and study theword of God, to join together in a common witness to the gospel, and toengage in the good works to which Christians are called; and who haveadopted a certain form of government.
2.10 Members of a Particular Church
2.11 The members of a particular church who are entitled to allrights and responsibilities of the church, consist of those persons who
have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, entered into the church
covenant, and received the sacrament of baptism.
2.12 The session has responsibility to examine and instruct inchurch membership those who unite with a particular church.
2.13 Children of believers are, through the covenant, entitledto the sacrament of baptism and thereby become members of thehousehold of faith. Such children are to receive pastoral oversight,
instruction, and the care of the church, with a view that they repent ofsin, personally confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and assume thefull responsibilities of church membership.
2.14 Baptized persons who have not confessed Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior, even though they are adults, should continue to receive
the watchful care and instruction of the church in the hope that they
personally will own their faith.
2.15 Unbaptized persons who have not confessed Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior are within the pastoral concern of the church in theConstitution

25

hope that they may be led to repentance and to faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior.
2.20 Jurisdiction Over Members of a Particular Church
2.21 A church member is under the jurisdiction of the session of theparticular church to which he or she belongs.
2.22 A letter of dismission from a particular church shall not begiven to the church member but directed to another particular church of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America or that of another ecclesiastical body.
2.23 The session of a particular church may receive a person who
has confessed faith in Jesus Christ and been a member of anotherchurch by transfer of letter. If reasonable attempts to obtain a letter
fail, the particular church may receive the person on reaffirmation offaith and notify the person's former church of its action. The sameprocedure may be used for churches whose policy is not to grant lettersof dismission.
2.24 A member dismissed by letter from a church of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
shall be under the jurisdiction of the session granting the letter until
notification of reception by the session of the church to which the letteris granted or until creditable knowledge is had by the session granting
the letter of reception into some church.
(Forms for Letters of Dismission and Certificates of Reception, seeConstitution, Appendices 1 and 2, respectively.)
2.25 When a church member moves beyond the bounds of theparticular church to which he or she belongs and neglects to request aletter of dismission or fails to retain the status of an active member, hisor her name shall be entered on the church's roll of inactive members.
Record of the transaction shall be made in the minutes of the session
and the member shall be informed of the action by the session.
2.26 When a person, for any reason, desires to cease to be amember of the church, the name of the person shall be removed fromthe membership roll providing no charges are pending against him or
her or he or she is under no disciplinary action. The name shall not be
removed from the membership roll, however, until an effort is made tocounsel with the person.
2.30 Officers of a Particular Church
2.31 The officers of a particular church are the minister in charge,
who is ordained to proclaim the gospel and administer the sacraments;

26

Constitution

the elders who are members of the session, who are elected and ordained
as the representatives and leaders of the people; and the deacons who
are members of the diaconate, who are elected and ordained to care forthe poor and others in need.
2.40 Organization of a Particular Church
2.41 A particular church can be organized only by the authorityof the presbytery. In considering the formation of a new church,
the presbytery shall be involved in the planning. Upon approval ofpresbytery for the organization of the church any minister who is amember of presbytery may preside at the organization and perform
all the duties required, except where a commission for that purpose
shall have been appointed by presbytery. The new church shall not
be located within three miles of an existing church of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
without the approval of presbytery.
2.42 The steps in organizing a particular church are as follows:a. Letters of transfer, or testimonials of current church membership,
shall be presented by those who are members of a church. Others
may be admitted to membership on reaffirmation of faith or on
confession of faith in Christ, the church covenant, baptism (orconfirmation of baptism) and examination as necessary.
b. These persons shall then be required to enter into covenant, by
answering affirmatively the following question: Do you, in reliance
upon God for strength, solemnly promise and covenant with God
and each other that you will walk together as an organized church
according to the government of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America; that you
will support the gospel as God has prospered you; that you will
maintain this church, not only with your gifts, but also with yoursupport of its work by your efforts and prayers; that you will seek
in its fellowship to glorify the name and further the cause of ourLord Jesus Christ; and that you will work to maintain the purity
and harmony of the whole body?
c. After this, the presiding minister shall say: I now declare thatyou are constituted a church according to the word of God
and the government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
d. The members of the church shall proceed, with the presiding
minister in charge, to determine the number of elders to be electedConstitution27

to constitute the session and the type of tenure to which they shallbe elected and to elect elders. The ordination and installation of
the elders may follow immediately or at a later date. At the optionof the members, deacons may be elected, ordained, and installedat this time, at a subsequent congregational meeting, or not at all.
e. The presiding minister, or the commission appointed by thepresbytery, shall be responsible for reporting on the organizational
service, including a recommendation that the newly organizedchurch be enrolled as a constituent member, at the next regularmeeting of the presbytery. The report should include the dateof organization, location, names of those acting on behalf ofpresbytery to organize the congregation, number of charter
members and the list of officers elected.
(Forms for Admission of New Churches, see Constitution,
Appendix 3).
2.50 Government of a Particular Church
2.51 Responsibility for the government of a particular church
belongs to the session, which is composed of the minister in charge
and the elders elected by the congregation and installed as membersof the session. The session thus constituted is responsible to lead themembers in all those ministries which belong to the church:a. Public worship, including praying, singing of praises, reading
the scriptures, presenting tithes and offerings, preaching the word,
and celebrating the sacraments:
b. Christian education, including study of the scriptures for Christian
growth;c. Activities of fellowship appropriate to the family of God;
d. Personal witness to unbelievers and to those out of fellowshipwith the church;e. Visitation of the sick;f. Pastoral care of families, especially disturbed and broken
families;g. Stewardship of time, talents, and money, and the care and use of
the properties of the church;
h. Exercise of discipline.
i. Participation in the ministry of the church beyond the bounds ofthe local congregation; and in such other ministries as appear
needful. Leading the people in these ministries may be done byappointing them to serve with elders on various committees
representing different areas of ministry; and by directing them as28Constitutionindividuals in the life of the church.
2.52 In a particular church which is without a pastor, the elders whoconstitute the session are themselves responsible, within the limits of
their offices, to lead the people in all the ministries that belong to thechurch.
2.53 A congregational meeting of the members of a particularchurch shall be convened for the following purposes:a. To determine the type of tenure of office for elders and deacons;b. To nominate, elect, or accept the resignation of elders anddeacons;c. To establish a quorum of the session or diaconate as less than amajority of the members;
d. To recall an elder or deacon whose service is no longer acceptable
to the church;e. Where state law or presbytery requires it, to authorize the sale andpurchase of church property.
2.54 A congregational meeting may be convened also to provide
an opportunity for communication between the session and thecongregation on other matters, but without the procedure of voting.
2.55 A congregational meeting of the members of a church shallbe held when authorized by the session, or at the request of 15% of thetotal membership of the church, or when directed by the presbytery.
Notice of the meeting shall be given either by written notice to the entire
membership at least one week before the meeting or by announcementon the three Sundays before the meeting, or by some other method which
the session judges to be adequate notice. The minister in charge, or in achurch without a pastor, a minister designated by presbytery, shall serve
as moderator of the congregational meeting. The clerk of the session
shall record the minutes of the meeting, which shall be approved at thenext meeting of the session and made a part of its records. A quorum
for a congregational meeting shall consist of those members present at
the appointed time and place.
2.60 Ministers of the Word and Sacrament
2.61 The office of minister of word and sacrament is unique in thelife of the church as to responsibility and usefulness. God calls persons
and sets them apart for this ministry. The persons who fill this officeshould be sound in the faith, exemplary in conduct, and competentto perform the duties of the ministry. Persons who become ministersof the word and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to theiroffice, but are not by virtue of their office more holy or righteous thanConstitution

29

other Christians. They share in the same vocation that belongs to all
Christians to be witnesses to the gospel in word and deed. They differ
from other Christians only with regard to the office to which they arecalled, which is their station in life.
2.62 The person who fills the office of the ministry has in thescriptures different titles, expressive of various duties:
pastor--who has oversight of the people and feeds them with spiritual
food and administers the sacraments as signs of God's grace;
minister--who serves Christ in all those ministries to people which
belong to the church;elder or presbyter--who shares in the leadership and government of
the church;evangelist--who bears the glad tidings of salvation through Jesus
Christ, appealing to sinners to be reconciled to God;
prophet--who urges people and nations to heed the word of God,
warning of the consequences of disobedience;
priest--who intercedes with God through prayer on behalf of others;preacher--who publicly proclaims the gospel of Christ;
teacher--who explains the scriptures emphasizing the lessons
essential to Christian growth.
These titles do not confer privilege in the church nor designate
different grades of office but indicate the scope of responsibilities thatbelong to the office of ministry.
2.63 A minister who is called to be the pastor of a particular church
is responsible to:a. lead the people in public worship;b. pray for and with them as their mouth to God;c. read the scriptures to the people and proclaim to them the word ofGod;d. administer the sacraments;
e. bless the people from God;f. teach the scriptures to the children, youth, and adults;
g. visit the people, especially the poor, the sick, the dying, and thosewith other critical needs;
h. counsel with persons in their preparation for marriage;i. share in the personal witness of the church to unbelievers andthose out of fellowship with the church;
j. counsel with people, in light of the scriptures, about their personalneeds and problems;k. counsel with disturbed and broken families;
l. and with the elders who comprise the session, lead and govern the30Constitution

church in all its ministries.
2.64 While the type of ministry most basic to the life of the church
is that of a pastor, God has given different gifts to ministers of the wordand sacrament and the church recognizes various types of ministry.
Presbytery may authorize ministers to exercise their gifts not only as
pastors of particular churches but as teachers of religion in various kindsof schools, editors of religious publications, chaplains to the militaryforces and to various types of institutions, missionaries, evangelists,
counselors, administrators of church programs and institutions,directors of Christian education in particular churches, and as leadersin other fields of service directly related to the church. Presbytery shallauthorize persons to perform such types of ministry through a serviceof worship in which the minister is commissioned to practice his or her
ministry in one of these ways. In every type of ministry, the ministershould seek appropriate ways to perform the duties as pastor, minister,presbyter, evangelist, prophet, priest, preacher, and teacher.
2.70 Elders
2.71 Elders are the immediate representatives of the people, electedby them to share with ministers in the government and leadership of thechurch. The elders who comprise the session share with the minister incharge in the pastoral oversight of the particular church.
2.72 In caring for and leading the congregation which they serve,
elders shall be particularly attentive to persons who have not confessed
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, those who are spiritually weak, andthose who need to be instructed in the faith. They shall visit the people
in their homes, praying with and for them, especially for the sick, those
who mourn, and others in need. They should encourage the people byword and example to share in the worship, study, witness and serviceof the church through a faithful stewardship of their time, talents, andmoney. They should inform the pastor of any concerns that need his or
her attention.
2.73 Persons who fill the office of elder may be male or female,young or old. Elders share in the same vocation that belongs to all
Christians to be witnesses to the gospel, but the vocation of this officeplaces an additional responsibility of leadership upon them. They
should exemplify the gospel by their good character, sound faith,
wisdom, maturity of judgment, discretion, conversation, knowledge ofthe doctrine and government of the church, and competency to performthe duties of the office.
2.74 Persons who accept the responsibilities of the office of elder
should engage in such study and preparation as are appropriate to theConstitution

31

office, and during their tenure on the session shall continue to study inorder better to perform their duties.
2.80 Deacons
2.81 Deacons are elected by the people and ordained to lead thechurch in its care of the poor and others in need, administering thefunds provided by the church for these purposes. This ministry isgiven to the church by Jesus Christ, who came to serve rather thanto be served. Through the care of the poor and others in need, thechurch gives witness to the compassionate love of God shown in Jesus
Christ. The deacons shall lead and coordinate activities of persons,committees, and groups in ministering to the poor, the elderly, the sick,orphans, refugees, prisoners, and others in distress. Because the workof the deacons pertains to the whole church, the deacons shall makeperiodic reports to the session.
2.82 In churches desiring to do so, the session may grant to the
diaconate power to formulate budgets and assume other financial
responsibilities.
2.83 Persons who fill the office of deacon may be male or female,young or old. Deacons shall have sound judgment, good character,compassion for those in need, availability to people, and a deep abiding
faith in Jesus Christ, whose example in ministry they follow. Persons
who accept the responsibility of the office of deacon shall engage insuch study and preparation as are appropriate to the office, and during
their tenure on the diaconate shall continue to study in order better toperform their duties.
2.84 The desirability for a diaconate is to be determined by eachparticular church. In churches where it is impractical to create adiaconate, the duties of the office of deacon shall be assumed by theelders. If a diaconate is created, no person shall serve simultaneouslyon the session and the diaconate.
2.90 Election, Ordination, and Installation of Elders and Deacons
2.91 In the organization of a particular church, the elders anddeacons shall be nominated and elected by the members participatingin the organization. In all other cases, it is proper and advisable forthe session to nominate, or to cause to be chosen a committee of thecongregation at large to nominate, to the congregation at a meeting
called to elect elders and deacons, persons to fill these offices. Other
nominations may be made by other members of the church, with theapproval of the persons being nominated. The vote may be taken on the32Constitution

nominees at the meeting in which they are presented or at a subsequentcongregational meeting. Unless by acclamation, the vote shall be bysecret ballot, with a majority of votes cast necessary for election. When
there are more nominees than positions to be filled, those receiving thehighest number of votes are elected.
2.92 When persons have been elected to the office of elder or deacon,
the session shall appoint a day for their ordination and/or installation.
Persons previously ordained shall be installed only. On the appointed
day, with the congregation assembled for worship, the session shallconvene for the service of ordination. The minister in charge shall state
in a concise manner the nature and responsibilities of the office of elder/deacon and describe the Christian conduct to be maintained. Having
done this, the minister in charge shall propose to the candidate(s) the
following questions to be answered in the affirmative:
I. Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments tobe the inspired word of God, the authority for faith andpractice?
II. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as containing the essential doctrines taught in
the holy scriptures?
III. Do you approve of and promise to uphold the government of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America?
IV. Do you promise to promote the peace, unity, and purity of thechurch?
V. (To elders) In participating as an elder in the judicatories of thechurch, do you promise to share in a responsible way in thedecisions that are made, to abide by those decisions, and topromote the welfare of the church?
VI. Do you accept the office of elder/deacon in this church, andpromise faithfully to discharge all the duties thereof as God may
enable you?
The installation of previously ordained elders/deacons shall consist
in asking Question VI.
These questions being answered in the affirmative, the minister shall
put the following question to the congregation:
Do you, the members of the church, acknowledge and receive theseelders/deacons, and do you promise to give them such encouragement,
support, and respect as belongs to the office?
This question having been answered in the affirmative, the candidates
shall kneel. The members of the session shall gather around them. As

Constitution

33

the minister offers an appropriate prayer, the elders shall, by the laying
on of hands, set the candidates apart to the office of elder/deacon.
Then, with all standing, the minister shall say:
I now declare that you have been regularly elected, ordained, andinstalled elders/deacons in this church, agreeable to the word of God
and according to the government of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. In the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Members of the session shall take the newly installed officers by thehand and say:
We give you the hand of Christian fellowship to take part in thisoffice with us.
The minister shall then deliver to the newly installed officers and thecongregation an appropriate charge.
2.93 Persons may be elected to the session/diaconate for an indefinite
period or for definite terms on a rotation basis. In the organization of achurch, one type of tenure shall be adopted for the session/diaconate. In
an existing church, a change in the type of tenure shall be by actions todissolve the session/diaconate, install the new type of tenure, and electmembers to the session/diaconate according to the new type of tenure.
Such actions shall be taken by the congregation in a congregational
meeting. If a particular church chooses to elect elders/deacons for adefinite term on a rotation basis, the term of office shall be for not lessthan three years, except when classes are established in the institutionof the rotation plan or in cases of unexpired terms.
2.94 If members of the session/diaconate fail to attend half of thestated meetings in a given year without excuse, or if for other nondisciplinary reasons they become unacceptable to the church in theperformance of their duties, the session may convene a congregational
meeting to consider their removal from office by recall. Before suchaction is taken, however, opportunity shall be given to the persons
involved to address the congregation.
2.95 When elders/deacons move to such a distance that they areunable to fulfill the duties of the office or to participate regularly in theworship, study, witness, and service of the congregation, the session
may recommend to the congregation that their tenure of office beterminated. If an elder/deacon is dismissed from the church by letter,
the tenure of office is terminated automatically, and this fact shall berecorded by the session in its minutes.
2.96 When elders/deacons are admitted by letter to membership in
another church, they may become members of the session/diaconate in34

Constitutionthat church only by election and installation.

3.00 JUDICATORIES OF THE CHURCH
3.01 Since the government of the church should have order and be
effective, it is necessary that it possess clear and reasonable form. The
legislative, administrative, and judicial bodies, sometimes referred toas judicatories, are, in regular gradation, session, presbytery, synod,
and the General Assembly.
3.02 The connectional nature of the church is expressed in thefollowing governmental structure. The session exercises pastoral
oversight and jurisdiction over a particular church; the presbytery overordained ministers, sessions, and churches within a prescribed area;
the synod over presbyteries, ministers, sessions, and churches within aprescribed area; and the General Assembly over synods, presbyteries,
ministers, sessions, and churches.
3.03 The authority of each level of church government is limitedby the stated provisions of the Constitution. Although each judicatory
exercises exclusive original jurisdiction over all the matters specificallybelonging to it, the lower judicatories are subject to the review andappellate authority of the next higher judicatory.
3.04 Every properly constituted unit of church government on
any level has the right to resolve questions of doctrine and discipline
properly and seriously proposed, and in general to maintain truth andrighteousness, and to condemn erroneous opinions and practices which
would injure the peace, purity and progress of the church.
3.05 All meetings of judicatories shall be opened and closed withprayer.
3.06 Called meetings of presbytery, synod, and the General
Assembly shall be composed of the same representatives, or theiralternates, who constituted the preceding stated meeting, unless the
judicatory elects someone else as its representative. An elder whose
tenure of office on the session has expired is not eligible to serve asa representative to a called meeting of a judicatory. A called meetingof a judicatory may be rescinded when a majority of those signing
the request for the called meeting communicate in writing with theModerator, or in the Moderator’s absence or illness the Stated Clerk,
their desire to rescind the call. This request must be made in writing atleast five days before the called meeting.
3.07 Other ministers [who are not members of the body],who areConstitution

35

present in a meeting of presbytery or synod may or may not be seatedby the action of the body as advisory members, which if granted gives
them the privilege to speak to any matter before the body. Persons
so seated shall be introduced to the presbytery or the synod by themoderator.
Comment: Except for persons who are designated as advisory
members by right, persons whose presence would assist the judicatory
in the accomplishment of its work can always be seated as advisory
members and granted permission to speak to the judicatory by amajority vote or common consent.
3.071 The following persons shall be seated by a judicatory as
advisory members with full privilege of speaking to any issue before
the judicatory, but no vote:a. In sessions, assistant and associate pastors approved andinstalled by the presbytery.
b. In middle judicatories, elected officers of the judicatory, (forexample, stated clerk, engrossing clerk, and treasurer), andofficial representatives from the judicatory’s standing
committees or boards.
3.072 The following persons may, with the approval of the judicatory,
be seated as advisory members of the judicatory upon their introduction
by the moderator:
a. In middle judicatories, visiting ordained Cumberland
Presbyterian ministers and elders.
b. Elected youth advisory delegates.
c. Representatives from higher judicatories
d. Visiting ministers or leaders from other denominations withwhich the judicatory is in partnership.
e. Any other person whose presence would, in the judgment of
the judicatory, serve the mission and ministry of the judicatory.
3.08 Minutes and all other official records of sessions, presbyteries,
synods, and general assemblies are the property in perpetuity of said
judicatories or their legal successors. When congregations, presbyteries,
or synods are dissolved, their records are held for them by the next
highest judicatory within whose bounds they were before dissolution.
All minutes and other official records of existing and dissolved sessions,presbyteries, and synods, or copies thereof, are to be deposited for safe
keeping in the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian

36Constitution

Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. It is the
responsibility of the clerk of each judicatory to make recommendation
to the judicatory for the permanent safe keeping of that judicatory's
records.
3.10 Committees and Commissions of Judicatories
3.11 Each judicatory may, in order to exercise its proper oversightand authority, form standing and/or ad hoc committees as it deems
appropriate and elect or appoint persons to such committees. Suchcommittees shall examine, consider, and recommend to the judicatory
various measures for promoting the work of the judicatory.
3.12 Each judicatory may appoint commissions which are authorized
to deliberate upon and conclude the business submitted to them,subject to the review of the judicatory. Full records of a commission's
proceedings must be submitted to the appointing judicatory, and, if
approved, may be entered in the minutes of that judicatory. A majorityof a commission shall constitute a quorum. Commissions may be
appointed for purposes such as the following:a. Ordination of ministers, in which case the commission must
contain a quorum of the presbytery, including two ministers;b. Installation of pastors and associate/assistant pastors;c. Organization of new churches;d. Taking testimony in or conducting disciplinary hearings;
e. Visitation of congregations experiencing disorder;
f. Hearing appeals;g. Investigation of any specified problem in the church.
3.20 References
3.21 Each judicatory except the highest may seek the formal adviceof the judicatory immediately higher through reference. A referenceis a representation, in writing, to the judicatory immediately higher,of a matter not yet decided by the lower judicatory. A judicatory
which makes reference must have all the testimony and documents
duly prepared and in readiness for the action or counsel of the higher
judicatory. A reference shall be made by vote of the judicatory.
3.22 A reference may be appropriate in cases which involve new,difficult, or delicate matters about which the lower judicatory may beundecided or of divided opinion.
3.23 References may be made for the purpose of counsel,
preparatory to a decision by the lower judicatory, in which case thereference suspends decision of the matter in the lower judicatory; orreferences may submit the entire case to the judgment of the higher

Constitution

37

judicatory for ultimate decision by it.
3.24 The judicatory receiving a reference is not required to givecounsel or make a decision but may remit the matter to the judicatoryby which it was referred.
3.25 References may in some cases be proper; yet it is generally forthe good of the church that every judicatory exercise its own judgment.
3.30 Of Property
This section is declaratory of principles to which the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America andtheir antecedent church bodies have adhered from the inception of thepresbyterian form of church government.
3.31 The provisions of church government as set forth in theConstitution, Rules of Discipline, and Rules of Order prescribing themanner in which decisions are made, reviewed, and corrected within
this church are applicable to all matters pertaining to property.
3.32a The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a connectional
church and all lower judicatories of the church to-wit: synod,
presbytery, and the particular churches are parts of that body andtherefore all property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a
synod, the General Assembly, or the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee or trustees, oran unincorporated association, and whether the property is used inprograms of the particular church or of a more inclusive judicatory
or retained for the production of income, and whether or not the deedto the property so states, is held in trust nevertheless for the use andbenefit of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
3.32b The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America is aconnectional church and all lower judicatories of the church to-wit:
synod, presbytery, and the particular churches are parts of that body andtherefore all property held by or for a particular church, a presbytery, a
synod, the General Assembly, or the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America, whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee ortrustees, or an unincorporated association, and whether the property
is used in programs of the particular church or of a more inclusive
judicatory or retained for the production of income, and whether or not
the deed to the property so states, is held in trust nevertheless for the use
and benefit of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
3.33 Whenever property of, or held for, a particular church ceases
to be used by the church, as a particular church of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America inaccordance with this Constitution, such property shall be held, used,38

Constitution

applied, transferred or sold as provided by the presbytery in which thatparticular church is located.
3.34 Whenever a particular church is formally dissolved by thepresbytery, or has become extinct by reason of dispersal of its members,
the abandonment of its work, or other cause, such property as it may
have shall be held, used, and applied for such uses, purposes, and trusts
as the presbytery in which said particular church is located may direct,
limit, and appoint, or such property may be sold or disposed of as thepresbytery may direct, in conformity with this Constitution.
3.35 A particular church shall not sell, convey, lease, pledge,
mortgage, or encumber its real property used for purposes of worship,
nurture, or ministry without the written permission of the presbytery inwhich the particular church is located, transmitted through the sessionof the particular church. In granting its permission, the presbytery does
not become a party to the church’s agreement, nor a guarantor of any
indebtedness.

4.0 SESSION
4.1 The session of a particular church consists of the ministerin charge and elders elected by the congregation. There must be aminimum of two elders, but the actual number shall be determined by
the congregation in accordance with such rules as it may establish.
4.2 In a church which has no pastor, or in the absence of theminister in charge or of the moderator appointed by presbytery, thesession may meet and transact any business.
4.3 The session may be convened when two or more of its members
so request. The minister in charge may convene the session at any time
during or immediately following a regular service of worship and atother times by giving proper notice to session members.
4.4 A majority of the session constitutes a quorum unless thecongregation has set a quorum otherwise; but any two elders, inconjunction with the minister may receive members and grant letters of
dismission.
4.5 The session is charged with pastoral oversight of the particularchurch and has the responsibility to:a. Call a pastor (also an associate/assistant pastor) subject to theapproval of presbytery;(Form for issuing a call to a pastor or associate/assistant pastor,
see Constitution, Appendix 4.)
b. Receive members into the church;Constitution

39

c. Resolve questions of doctrine and discipline in the congregation;
d. Admonish or suspend members found guilty in a disciplinary
hearing, subject to appeal to presbytery;e. Urge upon parents the importance of presenting their children forbaptism;f. Grant letters of dismission, which when given for parents shallalways include the names of their baptized children;g. Ordain and install elders and deacons when elected and require
these officers to devote themselves to their responsibilities;
h. Examine the proceedings and supervise the work of the deacons;
i. Establish and give oversight to church schools, Bible classes,
fellowship and other organizations within the church, with special
attention being given to nurture of the children;
j. Encourage the stewardship of church members, order andsupervise collections for Godly purposes, and in general,
oversee the finances of the church;k. Assemble the congregation and provide for worship when there isno minister;l. Initiate and coordinate the best measures for promoting andextending the work of the church;
m. Elect representatives to the higher church judicatories, and requireon their return a report of their diligence and the decisions of the
judicatory;n. Observe and carry out the injunctions of the higher judicatories.
4.6The session may designate two elders, either of whom, when authorized
by the presbytery, may administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to thecongregation. (This applies only to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.)
4.7 The members of the session, excluding the minister, are thetrustees of the church. They shall hold title to the property of the churchand shall execute all transactions required by civil law. If it seems
desirable the session may elect a smaller number of persons to serveas trustees. In this instance the trustees may act only as specificallyauthorized by the session. The tenure of office of such trustees may be
for an indefinite period or for definite terms on a rotation basis.
4.8 Each session shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings
which must be submitted to presbytery, at least annually, for review.
Each session shall also keep a record of congregational meetings, of
marriages, of baptisms, of additions, and of the death and dismission ofchurch members.

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5.0 PRESBYTERY
5.1 A presbytery consists of the ordained ministers and the elders
elected to represent the session of the churches within a prescribed area.
Presbyteries may be organized on the basis of geographical boundaries
or, where the prosperity and enlargement of the church would justify
it, on the basis of a common language other than English. Ordinarily,
a non-geographical presbytery may overlap the bounds of geographicalpresbyteries.
5.2 A minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America who has become a ministerof a larger parish composed of denominational units, at least one ofwhich is associated with another church; a minister of a union church;a minister for a limited time of a congregation of another church; or aprofessor of religion in a college or seminary of another church, maywith the approval of the presbytery, accept for a period of such service,ministerial membership in another denomination or denominations.
Such additional membership, in whatever manner conferred, shall notalter said minister's status as a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America or terminate or
modify any of the solemn obligations which the minister assumed bygiving affirmative answer to the questions put by the presbytery at thetime of ordination.
5.3 A minister of another church with whom the General
Assembly has a reciprocal agreement whose ecclesiastical relations
have been certified by that church, who has become the minister of acongregation or of a larger parish composed of denominational units,
at least one of which is associated with this church, a minister of aunion church or a minister of a church outside of the United Stateswith whom the General Assembly has a reciprocal agreement who isserving in a ministerial capacity in this church, including employment
as a professor in a college or seminary of this church, may be enrolled
for the period of such service as a member of the presbytery and have
temporarily the rights and privileges of such membership.
5.4 The session of every particular church shall be entitled to
one or more representatives in the presbytery. In a particular church
having an active membership of 1 to 300, the session shall be entitled
to send one elder as its representative to presbytery; in a particularchurch having an active membership of 301 to 600, the session shallbe entitled to send two elders as representatives to presbytery, and thebasis for representation shall continue in the above proportion. Elder

Constitution

41

representatives may be required to give proper evidence of their election
by the session they represent.
5.5 The presbytery, having met at the time and place appointed,
may proceed to business provided a quorum of four persons (ministers
and session representatives) are present, including at least one ministerand one elder.
5.6 The presbytery is charged with pastoral oversight and has the
responsibility to:a. Receive, examine, dismiss, and license candidates and ordain
them to the ministry.
b. Receive, dismiss, install, remove, and discipline ministers;(Forms for Dismission and Reception of Ministers, see Constitution
Appendices 5 and 6, respectively.)c. Approve ministers to serve as pastors and in other types ofministry;d. Require ministers to devote themselves diligently to their sacredcalling and censure and otherwise discipline the delinquent;e. Review the records of the sessions, discipline sessions forwhatever they may have done contrary to order, and take effectualcare that they observe the government of the church;
f. Examine and decide appeals, protests, and referrals brought
before it in an orderly manner;g. Establish the pastoral relation and dissolve it at the request of one
or both of the parties, or where the interests of religion imperatively
demand it;h. See that the injunctions of the higher judicatories are obeyed;i. Condemn erroneous opinions which hinder the peace or purity of
the church, and resolve questions of doctrine and discipline
properly and seriously proposed;
j. Visit particular churches, inquire into their condition, and redress
the evils that may have arisen in them;k. Settle differences regarding church property and its use;l. Approve the location of new churches and the relocation ofexisting churches;
m. Approve proposals and plans of churches considering building or
rebuilding church facilities or additions;n. Unite or divide such churches as are in a chronic state of crisis orinaction, unite or divide other churches with the consent ofa majority of the members thereof, and, for cause, dissolve a
church and attach its members to another congregation;o. Form and receive new churches and concert measures for the42Constitution

enlargement of the church within its bounds;
p. Take special oversight of churches which do not have the servicesof a minister, appointing a minister to moderate the session; and,if necessary, authorize two elders designated by the session toadminister the Lord’s Supper to the congregation, provided that theelders shall be instructed by the committee on the ministry in themeaning of the sacrament and how it should be administered; theelders shall serve under the authority of an ordained Cumberland
Presbyterian minister selected by the presbytery, and each grantof authority shall be for one year;
q. Formulate budgets and assign shares to the churches of thepresbytery;r. Institute and oversee the agencies necessary in the work of thepresbytery;s. In general, order whatever pertains to the welfare of the churches
under its care;t. Elect representatives to the higher judicatories;
u. Propose to the synod or to the General Assembly such measures
as may be for the good of the church or of society in general.
5.7 The presbytery shall keep full and accurate records of its
proceedings and submit them to the synod for review at its statedmeeting. It shall report regularly to synod and to the General Assembly
its roll, including all candidates, licentiates, ministers, session clerks,
and churches. In addition, it shall report on licensures and ordinations;on reception, dismission, or death of ministers; on the union, division,and formation of churches, and on such statistical and other informationas may be required to describe the state of religion in its midst.
5.8 The presbytery shall meet as often as once a year on its own
adjournment, and when an emergency shall require a meeting sooner
than the time to which it stands adjourned, the moderator, or in caseof the moderator's absence, death, or inability to act, the stated clerk
shall with written concurrence or at the written request of two minister
members and two session members of different churches, call a
special meeting. The call shall give notice, specifying the particularbusiness of the intended meeting, to every minister and session of every
particular church on its roll, at least ten days prior to the proposed timeof meeting. Nothing shall be transacted at such called meeting otherthan the particular business for which the presbytery was convened.
5.9 If, for any cause, the presbytery shall fail to meet according
to its adjournment, it shall be the duty of the moderator, or, in case of
the moderator's absence, death, or inability to act, the stated clerk, orConstitution

43

in case of the stated clerk's absence, death, or inability to act, persons
constituting the equivalent of a quorum, to call a meeting as early aspracticable, at such a place as may be designated, for transaction of
the regular business. For this purpose notice shall be given, as before
prescribed, not less than ten days prior to the proposed time for meeting.
6.00 THE AUTHORITY OF PRESBYTERY OVERMINISTERS, LICENTIATES, AND CANDIDATES
6.10 Receiving Candidates
6.11 Every presbytery shall have a committee on the ministry or
one which performs the same functions, one of which shall be to direct
and nurture persons in preparation for the ministry.
6.12 To be received as a candidate for the ministry, a person must
be a member in good standing of a particular church in the receivingpresbytery. Persons desiring to become candidates for the ministry
shall confer with the committee on the ministry prior to presenting
themselves to presbytery.
6.13 Those who seek to be licensed and ordained to the ministry
shall undergo a period of training and preparation in order that theoffice may be committed only to qualified persons. In order to forma correct judgment of the qualifications of those seeking admission
to the office of the ministry, presbyteries shall receive and, following
satisfactory preparation, license candidates who shall then be designated"licentiates." Such persons shall be required to give further satisfactoryevidence of their qualifications for the ministry before receiving
ordination.
6.14 The committee on the ministry shall examine candidates
respecting personal religious experience, motives leading to theseeking of the office of the ministry and the internal call to it, andplans for education. Such prior examination by the committee shallnot preclude examination by the presbytery at the time of reception.
A written statement concerning the candidate from the session of hisor her church shall also be heard at the time of reception, along withwritten or verbal testimonials from others who may desire to express
themselves on behalf of the candidate.
6.15 The reception of candidates for the ministry shall be at a duly
constituted meeting of presbytery. Following the examination of thecandidate and the various testimonials that may be given, a member ofthe committee on the ministry or a person appointed for that purpose
shall address the candidate as follows:44

Constitution

The Presbytery of___________________________________of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America, having heard the testimonials on your behalf and having
sustained your examination thus far, now requires you to make answer
to the following questions:
I. As far as you know your heart, do you believe yourself to be called
by God to the office of the Christian ministry.
II. Do you promise, in reliance upon the grace of God, to maintaina Christian character and conduct, and to be diligent and faithful
in making full preparation for the ministry?
III. Do you promise to work with the presbytery through its
committee on the ministry in matters that pertain to yourpreparation for the ministry?
IV. Do you now desire to be received by this presbytery as a candidate
for the ministry in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America?
Following formal reception by the presbytery, the person presiding
shall offer an appropriate prayer. Following the prayer, with thecongregation standing, the person presiding shall address the candidate
as follows:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church,
I do now declare by the authority of this presbytery that you are
acknowledged and received as a candidate for licensure and ordinationin the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America and I now direct that your name be entered on theroll of the presbytery as a candidate for the ministry.
The person presiding shall then extend to the candidate the hand of
Christian fellowship, saying:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine
upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up the light of his
countenance upon you and give you peace; through Jesus Christ ourLord. Amen.
Proper record of the reception shall be made in the minutes ofpresbytery.
6.16 Presbytery may remove the name of a candidate from its roll at
any time, but not without indicating the reasons therefor. A candidate
may at any time request that his or her name be removed from the roll,which may be done at the next stated meeting of presbytery.
6.17 Upon being received by presbytery, a probationer who is amember of the session of his or her church may remain in that position
by mutual agreement of the Committee on the Ministry and the ChurchConstitution

45

Session. The probationer, however, may not be elected to represent the
church at any of the higher judicatories.
6.18 A candidate may be granted a letter of dismission to anotherpresbytery, but the presbytery is not bound to receive the letter. The
receiving presbytery may give the candidate the regular examination
above stated. A candidate transferring to another presbytery must unitewith a particular church in the presbytery to which he or she transfers.
6.200 Licensing Candidates
6.201 Licensure is a judgment by presbytery that a candidate forthe ministry has exhibited certain qualities and abilities suitable tothe office of ministry and has achieved a certain level of preparation
for the ministry. This judgment shall be based on a prior examinationof the candidate by the committee on the ministry as to his or her
personal spiritual growth; understanding of the nature of the churchand its ministry; knowledge of the scriptures, theology, and church
history; oral and written use of the native language; and knowledgeof any other subjects integral to this level of preparation. Vocational
and psychological testing administered by professionals is advisableas part of the process of examination. The report of the committee on
the ministry of its examination shall not preclude examination by thepresbytery.
6.202 No candidate shall be licensed who has not completed anundergraduate degree from a college or university approved by thepresbytery. Exceptions may be made only of persons possessing
suitable gifts and abilities for a fruitful ministry, but who, because ofreasons considered valid in the judgment of the presbytery, cannot
complete an undergraduate degree. In such cases the candidate shallnot be licensed until he or she has completed satisfactorily, under the
direction of the committee on the ministry, a three-year program ofalternate studies approved by the General Assembly.
6.203 The licensing of candidates shall be done at a duly constituted
meeting of the presbytery or by a commission of the presbytery
meeting at a previously designated time and place. The commission
shall consist of a quorum of presbytery, but must include two ordained
ministers. After a brief statement as to the meaning and significance of
licensure, the person presiding shall propose the following questions tothe candidate:
I. Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments tobe the inspired word of God, the authority for faith andpractice?

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Constitution

II. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as containing the essential doctrines taught in
the holy scriptures?
III. Do you promise to promote the peace, unity, and purity of thechurch?
IV. Do you promise continued cooperation with the presbytery
through its committee on the ministry as you continue preparationfor ordination, and as you perform those functions of ministrywhich pertain to a licentiate, as set forth in the Constitution?
The questions being answered in the affirmative, the person presiding
shall offer a prayer appropriate to the occasion. Following the prayer,with the congregation standing, the person presiding shall address thecandidate as follows:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church,
and by the authority which he has given to the church for its edification,
the presbytery now licenses you to preach the gospel and perform otherfunctions of ministry as set forth in the Constitution. To this end may
the blessing of God rest upon you and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart.
Amen.
Proper record of the licensure shall be made in the minutes ofpresbytery.
6.204 A licentiate may preach the gospel within the bounds ofpresbytery or elsewhere with the approval of all presbyteries involved.
6.205 A licentiate may, with the approval of the committee on theministry of the presbytery and of the presbytery, serve as a stated supply
of one or more particular churches of the presbytery.
6.206 A licentiate may serve as stated supply in congregations ofother presbyteries, but only with the approval of the committees on theministry of both or all presbyteries involved and the approval of thepresbyteries. In such cases there should be a close working relationshipbetween the committees on the ministry of both or all presbyteries, withdirect supervision of the person's ministry being given by the presbytery
in which the licentiate is serving.
6.207 A licentiate who has been authorized to serve as a statedsupply is nevertheless expected to continue his or her preparation forordination.
6.208 A licentiate is not a member of presbytery or synod, and thus
has no vote in these bodies; nor can a licentiate be a commissioner tothe General Assembly.
6.209 A licentiate may be given a letter of dismission to anotherConstitution

47

presbytery, but that presbytery is not bound to receive the letter. The
receiving presbytery may give the licentiate the regular examination
above stated. A licentiate must unite with a particular church in thepresbytery to which he or she transfers.
6.210 A licentiate retains membership in a particular church. But
inasmuch as such a person may perform certain functions of ministry
only by authority of presbytery, he or she is subject to the disciplinary
action of presbytery.
6.211 A presbytery may at any time drop the name of a licentiate
from its roll, but not without indicating the reason therefor, nor without
giving the licentiate an opportunity to be heard.
6.30 Ordination of Ministers
6.31 Ordination is the setting apart of a licentiate to the full workof the gospel ministry. Since the ordained ministry is the highest
ecclesiastical office of the church, presbyteries shall be careful to ordain
no one until fully satisfied with his or her qualifications for so importanta work. A licentiate shall be ordained only if he or she has a call to achurch or to a ministry approved by the presbytery. Presbyteries shallnot feel obligated to ordain a licentiate because of long tenure as such,nor continue him or her longer than there is promise of usefulness.
6.32 Prior to ordination the licentiate shall sustain a careful andsatisfactory examination by the committee on the ministry and thepresbytery as a whole upon the following: experimental religion,
continuing spiritual growth, the internal call to the ministry, knowledgeof the scriptures, church history, systematic theology, pastoral careand counseling, church administration, the educational task of thechurch, preparation and delivery of sermons, the nature and meaningof public worship, and the doctrine and government of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. As
part of the above examination presbytery may require such written andspoken discourses as may be judged needful, including the planningand conducting of a presbyterial worship service with the licentiatedelivering the sermon. The prior examination by the committee on theministry shall not preclude examination by the presbytery.
6.33 In addition to the disciplines of study named above, presbytery
shall encourage the licentiate as part of his or her preparation forordination to obtain at least a working knowledge of the Hebrew andGreek languages, the usefulness of which to the understanding of thescriptures is hereby affirmed.
6.34 No licentiate shall be ordained who has not completed a

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degree in a graduate school of theology approved by the presbytery.
Exceptions may be made only of persons possessing suitable gifts andabilities for a fruitful ministry, but who, because of reasons consideredvalid in the judgment of the presbytery, cannot be expected to complete
the regular course of study in a graduate school of theology. In suchcases a licentiate shall not be ordained until he or she has satisfactorily
completed under the direction of the presbytery a two-year program ofalternate studies approved by the General Assembly.
6.35 Ordination shall be by the presbytery at either a regular, anadjourned, or a called meeting; or it may be by a commission of thepresbytery, which must consist of a quorum of the body and include
two ordained ministers.
6.36 When a presbytery shall become satisfied with the qualificationsof a licentiate, it shall announce a date and place for ordination and makepreparation for the same. Following the sermon in a regular worshipservice at the time and place previously announced, the licentiate
shall take his or her place at the front of the sanctuary. After a brief
statement by the person presiding as to the purpose of the meeting andthe meaning of ordination, the following questions shall be proposed to
the licentiate:
I. Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments tobe the inspired word of God, the authority for faith andpractice?
II. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of faith of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as containing the essential doctrines taught in
the holy scriptures?
III. Do you approve of and promise to uphold the government of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America?
IV. In participating as a minister in the judicatories of the church,
do you promise to share in a responsible way in the decisions
that are made, to abide by those decisions, and to promote thewelfare of the church?
V. As far as you know your heart, have you been induced by theHoly Spirit to answer the call to the ministry from love of God
and neighbor and a sincere desire to glorify God and advance his
Kingdom in the world?
VI. As God may enable you, do you promise to be zealous andfaithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel and the purity andConstitution

49

peace of the church, irrespective of any opposition that may arise
to you on that account?
VII.Do you promise to be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all
your duties as a Christian and a minister of the gospel, andendeavor to so conduct yourself both privately and publicly as
not to give offense to Christ and his church?
The above questions being answered in the affirmative, the licentiate
shall kneel. All ministers of the presbytery present, with advisory
members by invitation, and all elders who are members of thepresbytery, shall gather around him or her. As the person presiding, oranother appointed for the purpose, offers an appropriate prayer, all thepresbyters shall, by the laying on of hands, solemnly set the licentiate
apart to the office of the gospel ministry.
Then, with all the presbyters reverently standing, the person presiding
shall say:In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the church,
and by the authority of this presbytery, I now declare you duly ordained
to the office of the gospel ministry, committing to you full authority topreach the word, to administer the sacraments, and to bear rule in the
church.
Then the presiding minister, followed by all the presbyters, shall takethe new minister by the hand, saying to him or her: We give you thehand of fellowship to take part in the ministry of the gospel with us.
After the presbyters have returned to their places, the personpresiding, or some other person appointed for the purpose, shall deliver
an appropriate charge to the new minister. A prayer shall then be offeredin which the new minister is recommended to the grace of God for that
ministry to which he or she has been set apart.
The transaction shall be duly recorded in the presbyterial minutes,
the newly ordained minister's name added to the roll of ministers of thepresbytery, and the church of which the minister was a member notified
to drop his or her name from its roll.
6.40 Recognition of Ordination
6.41 A minister of another ecclesiastical body who desires tobecome a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America shall appear before the committee on
the ministry of the presbytery in which he or she wishes to be received.
The committee on the ministry shall investigate the following:a. Whether the minister has proper credentials from his or her

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ecclesiastical body;b. Whether the minister has a degree from a college and graduate
school of theology;
c. Whether the minister has a knowledge of the history, theology,
and government of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America;
d. Whether the minister seems fit for service as a minister in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America.
6.42 The committee on the ministry, if satisfied in each of theareas described in Section 6.41 may recommend to presbytery thatthe minister be received as an ordained minister in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America,
upon giving affirmative answer to the questions put to licentiates attheir ordination. Such procedure shall not exclude the opportunity forpresbytery to examine the minister.
6.43 If the person seeking to become a minister in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
neither has degrees from a college and a graduate school of theology
nor has completed a course of study comparable to the program ofalternate studies approved by the General Assembly, he or she shall be
required during a probationary period to meet the educational standards
for ordination. A person who does not have a college degree or has
not completed the program of alternate studies shall have the status ofa candidate. A person who has a college degree or has completed theprogram of alternate studies required of a licentiate shall have the statusof a licentiate. When the educational requirements have been satisfied,
the probationary period may be ended and the minister's previous
ordination confirmed upon giving affirmative answer to the questions
put to licentiates at their ordination. Such procedure shall not exclude
the opportunity for presbytery to examine the minister.
6.50 Jurisdiction over Ministers
6.51 A letter of dismission for a minister, licentiate, or candidate
shall be granted to a particular presbytery of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America or
another ecclesiastical body. A minister, licentiate, or candidate shallremain under the appropriate jurisdiction of the presbytery granting
the letter of dismission until proper notification of reception by thepresbytery or other ecclesiastical body to which the letter was granted.
No minister, licentiate, or candidate of one presbytery shall be received

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51

by another presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America without a duly certified
letter of dismission from the former presbytery.
6.52 If a minister lives outside the bounds of the presbytery inwhich he or she desires to hold membership, he or she must receive
the consent of the synod in which that presbytery is located to holdmembership in that presbytery.
6.53 A minister against whom no charges are pending or who isunder no disciplinary action, if fully satisfied that God has not called
him or her to the ministry, or if he or she has satisfactory evidence of
his or her inability to serve as a minister, or if he or she shall for any
other reason desire to do so, may request that his or her ordination be
revoked and that he or she be divested of the office. The committee on
the ministry shall be directed to counsel with the person, if it has notalready done so, and report to the next stated meeting of the presbytery.
If the person remains firm in his or her request, the presbytery shallapprove the request, noting that it is not a disciplinary action.
6.54 A minister whose ordination has been revoked at his or her own
request or by deposition may be received as a member in a particularchurch on re-affirmation of faith.
6.55 A retired ordained clergy may, upon his or her retirement andrequest be thereafter excused from further meetings of the presbytery
and synod without affecting his or her relationship to presbytery andsynod.

7.00 RELATIONS BETWEEN MINISTERS,LICENTIATES, OR CANDIDATES AND CHURCHES
7.01 A person may be called to a particular church to one of four
relationships: pastor, associate/assistant pastor, stated supply, or interim
pastor.
7.02 The office of pastor is to be held only by an ordained minister,whom the particular church has called for an indefinite time and towhom the presbytery has entrusted the spiritual care of the church,
including the office of moderator of the session.
7.03 The office of associate/assistant pastor is to be held only by an
ordained minister whom the particular church has called for a definite
or indefinite time to fulfill various pastoral functions as outlined by the
church issuing the call, and approved by the presbytery. In the absenceof the pastor, the associate pastor may, with the approval of the pastor
and session, serve as moderator of the session or of a congregational

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meeting.
7.04 The office of stated supply may be held by an ordained minister,a licentiate, or a candidate, whom the particular church has called for anindefinite time, or, in the case of an interim supply, for a definite time,
for less than full time work. An ordained minister serving as statedsupply may fulfill all duties and functions pertaining to the spiritualcare of the church, including moderating the session. A licentiate or acandidate serving as stated supply may fulfill the duties and functions
except moderating the session, administering the sacraments, andsolemnizing marriages.
7.05 The office of interim pastor is to be held by an ordained minister
who is invited by the session of a church without an installed pastor.
An interim pastor may preach the word, administer the sacraments, andfulfill pastoral duties for a specified period of time not to exceed twelve
months, while the church is seeking a pastor. An interim pastor may not
be called to be the next installed pastor or associate/assistant pastor ofa church served as interim pastor.
7.06 A person shall enter into one of these relationships with aparticular church only with the approval of the presbytery in the boundsof which the particular church is located. The church session shallbear responsibility for the selection of the person, and the presbytery’s
approval shall relate to the person’s ministerial credentials, commitment
to the theology and government of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, and standing in
his or her current presbytery, if any. The presbytery may authorize its
board of missions to act on its behalf in examining the call and to givetentative approval to a relationship between a particular church anda minister, licentiate, or candidate, subject to formal approval at a
meeting of the presbytery.
7.07 The relationship between a minister, licentiate, or candidate
and a particular church may be dissolved only by presbytery, acting on
the request of both parties, or on the request of one party if sufficientreasons are presented, or when, in the opinion of the presbytery, thewell-being of the particular church demands it.
7.10 Installation of Pastors and Associate/Assistant Pastors
7.11 Pastors and associate/assistant pastors shall be installed bypresbytery or by a commission of presbytery. The service of installation
shall include a sermon appropriate to the occasion, a brief explanationof the nature of the pastoral relation, and the asking of the following

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53

questions:
To the minister:I. Are you willing to assume the responsibilities as pastor (orassociate/assistant pastor) of this church, according to theagreements made in your acceptance of the call?
II. Do you believe that in taking upon you these pastoral
responsibilities you are influenced by a sincere desire to promote
the glory of God and the good of the church?
III. Do you solemnly covenant that, in reliance upon the grace ofGod, you will endeavor faithfully to fulfill the responsibilities ofa pastor (or associate/assistant pastor) to this church, to preachand teach the word of God, to care for the sick, the troubled, thedying, and the bereaved, and to lead this church in its witness
and ministry, as God gives you wisdom and strength?
When these questions have been answered in the affirmative, thefollowing questions shall be asked:
To the elders of the session:
I. As the immediate representatives of the people, are you willingto share with the minister, as your pastor (or associate/assistantpastor), in the government and leadership of the congregation?
II. The Constitution identifies the session of a particular church as
the minister in charge and the elders elected by the people. The
session thus constituted is charged with the pastoral oversight ofthe congregation. Are you, with this minister in charge, willingto share fully in the pastoral oversight of the congregation?
III. Do you covenant with this minister, as your leader and pastor, toshare openly and fully with him or her about all the ministriesof this particular church, praying for and with him or her, andencouraging him or her in this work with you?
To the congregation:
I. Are you willing to enter into the pastoral relation with thisminister whom you have called to be your pastor (or associate/assistant pastor)?
II. Do you covenant to encourage and assist him or her in theministry which you share with him or her in this congregation?
III. Do you covenant that through your stewardship and prayers
you will continue that material and spiritual support by which heorshe will be sustained in his or her ministry with you?
When these questions have been answered in the affirmative, thepresiding minister shall say:
I now declare that ____________________ has been regularly called54

Constitution

and installed pastor (or associate/assistant pastor) of this congregation,agreeable to the word of God and according to the government of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America. Therefore, ____________________ is entitled to all support,
encouragement, and honor in the Lord. In the name of the Father, andof the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The presiding minister, or one appointed for the purpose, shallthen deliver an appropriate charge to the pastor (or associate/assistantpastor) and to the congregation to fulfill the covenant made between
them. Then, by prayer, the minister shall commend them to the graceof God and to God's holy keeping.

8.0 SYNOD
8.1 A synod consists of at least three presbyteries in a prescribedarea and the ministers and the elder representatives from the churches
within those presbyteries.
8.2 Representation to synod may be based on either all ministers
and the elder representative/s from each church within the presbyteries
with one (1) elder representative from each church for every 300 active
members or a portion thereof or designated representatives from eachpresbytery consisting of one (1) elder and one (1) minister for every
1,000 active members or a portion thereof within the presbytery; theelders being from different churches.
8.3 The synod having met at the time and place appointed mayproceed to business provided a quorum of six persons (ministers andsession representatives) are present, including at least one minister and
one elder, with representation from at least three presbyteries.
8.4 Members of a presbytery from which an appeal or protest is
made shall not be entitled to vote on that question.
8.5 A synod has the oversight and responsibility to:a. Examine and decide appeals, protests, and referrals regularly sentup from the presbyteries;
b. Review the records of the presbyteries, redress whatever they
may have done contrary to order, take effectual care that theyobserve the government of the church and obey the injunctions of
the higher judicatories;c. Organize, divide, or dissolve presbyteries, when deemed
expedient;d. Appoint persons to such work as may be under synod's
jurisdiction;

Constitution

55

e. Formulate budgets and assign shares to the presbyteries;
f. In general, to order with respect to the presbyteries, sessions, andchurches under its care according to the government of the church,whatever pertains to their spiritual welfare and the edification of
the church,
g. Settle differences regarding church property and its use, upon
appeal;h. Concert measures for promoting the prosperity and enlargementof the church within its bounds; and,i. Propose to the General Assembly such measures as may be ofcommon advantage to the entire church.
8.6 The synod shall keep full and accurate records of its proceedings,
submit them to the General Assembly for review at its stated meetings,
and in general, report on all important changes and the state of religion
within its bounds, as well as supplying other information which may berequested by the General Assembly.
8.7 The synod shall meet as often as once every two years on its
own adjournment, and when an emergency shall require a meetingsooner than the time to which it stands adjourned, the moderator, orin case of the moderator's absence, death, or inability to act, the statedclerk shall with written concurrence or at the written request of three
minister members and three session members, with representation fromat least three presbyteries, call a special meeting. The call shall givenotice, specifying the particular business of the intended meeting, toevery minister and session of every particular church on its roll, at least
thirty days prior to the proposed time of meeting. Nothing shall betransacted at such a called meeting other than the particular business forwhich the synod was convened.
8.8 If, for any cause, the synod shall fail to meet according to its
adjournment, it shall be the duty of the moderator, or, in case of themoderator's absence, death, or inability to act, the stated clerk, or, incase of the stated clerk's absence, death, or inability to act, persons
constituting the equivalent of a quorum, to call a meeting as early aspractical, at such place as may be designated, for the transaction of
the regular business. For this purpose notice shall be given to every
minister and session on its roll at least thirty days prior to the meeting.

9.0 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
9.1 The General Assembly is the highest judicatory of this church
and represents in one body all the particular churches thereof. It bears

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Constitution

the title of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and constitutes
the bond of union, peace, correspondence and mutual confidence
among all its churches and judicatories.
9.2 The General Assembly shall meet as often as once every
two years, at such time and place as may have been determined, andshall consist of commissioners from the presbyteries in the following
proportions:
FOR CUMBERLANDPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
a. A presbytery having anactive membership (including
ordained clergy) of 1-1000
shall be entitled to send one
minister and one elder;b. A presbytery having anactive membership (including
ordained clergy) of 1001-2000
shall be entitled to send two
ministers and two elders;c. The basis for representation
shall continue in the above
proportions.

FOR CUMBERLANDPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IN AMERICA
a. A presbytery having anactive church membership of
1-200 shall be entitled to send
one minister and one elder;b. A presbytery having anactive church membership of
201-400 shall be entitled tosend two ministers and twoelders;c. A presbytery having anactive church membership of
401-1000 shall be entitled tosend three ministers and threeelders;d. A presbytery having anactive church membership of1001-above shall be entitled
to send four ministers and four
elders.

An elder must be serving as a member of a session at the time of themeeting of the General Assembly in order to be eligible to serve as acommissioner.
When an emergency shall require a meeting sooner than the time towhich it stands adjourned, the Moderator, or in case of the Moderator'sabsence, death, or inability to act, the Stated Clerk shall with thewritten concurrence or at the written request of twenty commissioners,
ten of whom shall be ministers and ten elders, representing at least

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57

five presbyteries, call a special meeting. The call shall give notice inwriting at least sixty days prior to the proposed meeting, specifying theparticular business of the intended meeting, to the stated clerks of allpresbyteries, and to all commissioners and their alternates. Nothing
shall be transacted at such a called meeting other than the particularbusiness for which the General Assembly was convened.
9.3 Any twenty or more commissioners, of whom at least ten
are ministers, and ten elders, being met on the day and at the place
appointed shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
9.4 The General Assembly has oversight and responsibility to:a. Receive and decide all appeals, protests, and referrals regularly
brought before it from the lower judicatories;
b. Bear testimony against error in doctrine and immorality inpractice, injuriously affecting the church;c. Decide in all controversies respecting doctrine, discipline, church
property, and interpretation of the Constitution;d. Institute and review the work of denominational entities;
e. Give its counsel and instruction in conformity with the governmentof the church in all cases submitted to it;
f. Review the records of the synods;
g. Take care that the lower judicatories observe the government of
the church and exercise its review and appellate authority toredress what they may have done contrary to order,
h. Formulate budgets and assign shares to the presbyteries;
i. Concert measures for promoting the prosperity and enlargementof the church and create, divide, or dissolve synods;
j. Appoint persons to such labors as are under its jurisdiction;
k. Resolve schismatic contentions and disputations, according to
the government and discipline of the church;
l. Receive under its jurisdiction other ecclesiastical bodies whoseorganization conforms to the doctrine and order of this church,
and authorize synods and presbyteries to exercise similar power
in receiving bodies suited to become constituents of thosejudicatories and lying within their geographical bounds,
respectively;
m. Keep watch over the affairs of the whole church;n. Correspond with other churches; and,o. In general, recommend measures for the promotion of love, truth,and holiness throughout all the churches under its care.
9.5 The General Assembly, in order to promote the mission workof the Church and the development of new churches outside the United

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Constitution

States, may authorize a synod or its missions entity (utilizing ordained
personnel) to act in place of a presbytery with respect to persons,ministers, and churches outside the United States and outside thebounds of any existing presbytery. The missions entity or synod may
attach mission work to an existing presbytery, with the presbytery’s
approval. The General Assembly shall provide for the oversight andresponsibility of the body’s ecclesiastical actions.
9.6 If, for any cause the General Assembly shall fail to meet at thetime and place to which it stands adjourned, it shall be the duty of themoderator, or, in case of the moderator's absence, death, or inability toact, the stated clerk, to call a meeting as early as practical, at such placeas may be designated, for the transaction of the regular business. For
this purpose notice shall be sent to the stated clerks of the presbyteries
not less than sixty days prior to the meeting. In case of the absence,
death, or inability to act of both the moderator and stated clerk, suchmeeting may, in like manner, be called by five commissioners, fromany five of the presbyteries.
10.0 RELATIONS BETWEEN CHURCHES
10.1 The General Assembly, a synod, or a presbytery may cooperatewith the General Assembly, a synod, a presbytery or a comparable
judicatory of another ecclesiastical body or bodies, and a presbytery
may authorize one or more of its constituent churches or agencies tocooperate with a church, churches, or agencies of another ecclesiasticalbody or bodies in undertaking and conducting a program. This may
be done through informal arrangement or through formal structure,including incorporation.
10.2 When a particular church of another ecclesiastical body,whose constitution contains provisions similar to these, requests thatit be received by a presbytery of this church, the presbytery shall notreceive the particular church from the other ecclesiastical body unless:a. That particular church has been regularly dismissed by thepresbytery or comparable judicatory of jurisdiction and any timely
complaint to such action of dismissal has been finally determined;andb. Both the receiving and dismissing presbytery have sought theadvice of the appropriate agency of the highest judicatory of theirchurch dealing with relations between ecclesiastical bodies.
When a particular church has been properly dismissed and received

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59

under the above provisions, no financial consideration shall be requiredof the receiving presbytery except that if the property is encumberedby mortgage, or other encumbrance, the receiving presbytery shallassume and agree to pay all obligations of such encumbrance.
10.3 When a particular church of another ecclesiastical bodywith dissimilar constitutional provisions to these, or an independent
congregation, requests that it be received by a presbytery of this church,
the presbytery shall not receive the particular church unless:(a) That particular church has been regularly dismissed by acomparable judicatory, or is certified by congregational voteto be free to pursue a relationship with this church because
it is self-determining, and there are no pending ecclesiasticalor civil complaints against the congregation, and(b) The presbytery has investigated to assure that the congregation
comes on good faith and desires to embrace Cumberland
Presbyterian doctrine, polity, and practice, and will undergo
mentoring, clergy and lay, for a provisional period of not lessthan two years.
During the provisional period, the congregation shall, under
supervision of presbytery, operate as a Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in all respects, and shall have official representation at presbytery.
Members of the congregation will be eligible to serve on judicatoryboards and as General Assembly Commissioners upon completion of
the provisional period. If at any time during the provisional period
either presbytery or the congregation is dissatisfied with the progress
toward assimilation as a Cumberland Presbyterian Church, therelationship shall be dissolved thirty days after formal vote by thepresbytery and/or congregation to that effect, with written notice of that
intent to presbytery and the congregation.
10.4 A presbytery may authorize one or more of its constituent
churches to form a federated or union church with a church or churchesof another ecclesiastical body or bodies or may organize a federated
or union church acting in concert with a comparable judicatory of
another ecclesiastical body or bodies. This shall be done by agreementin writing between the presbytery and the comparable judicatory of theother ecclesiastical body or bodies.
10.5 A presbytery or synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America and a presbytery or synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, whose boundaries coincide or can be made to coincide, may
form a union presbytery or synod which shall be related in the same

60

Constitution

way to both denominations.
11.0 AMENDMENTS
11.1 Amendments to the Confession of Faith, Catechism,
Constitution, Rules of Discipline, Directory for Worship, and Rules ofOrder may be proposed to the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church or the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America. If received favorably by either
General Assembly, all proposed amendments shall be referred to a
Joint Committee on Amendments composed of the five members of
the Permanent Committee on Judiciary of each General Assembly for
preparation for the two assemblies for action.
11.2 When a proposed amendment to the Confession of Faith,
Catechism, Constitution, or Rules of Discipline is presented by the Joint
Committee on Amendments to the General Assembly of each church, on
recommendation of each assembly the amendment may be transmitted
to its presbyteries by three-fourths vote of the members thereof voting
thereon, provided there is present and voting not less than 75% of thefull membership of the assembly based on the complete representationof all its presbyteries.
11.3 An amendment to the Confession of Faith, Catechism, orRules of Discipline shall have been adopted when, on its transmission
by both assemblies to their presbyteries, a three-fourths majority of thepresbyteries of each General Assembly shall have approved it and suchapproval is declared by each General Assembly to have been given.
The vote of a presbytery shall be by simple majority.
11.4 An amendment to the Constitution shall have been adopted:
a. For both churches, when a three-fourths majority of thepresbyteries of each General Assembly shall have approved it andsuch approval is declared by each General Assembly to have been
given; each presbytery voting by simply majority, and,b. For either church when a three-fourths majority of its presbyteries
shall have approved it and such approval is declared by its General
Assembly to have been given; each presbytery voting by simple
majority. In such instances the amendment shall be identified as
applicable to the Constitution of the church adopting it, and theoriginal section to which the amendment was applied shall remaina part of the Constitution of the church rejecting it.
c. Presbyteries shall act upon an amendment referred by the General

Constitution--Appendices

61

Assembly within the first year of the referral and report their voteno later than the next meeting of the General Assembly after theamendment was transmitted to the presbyteries.
11.5 An amendment to the Directory for Worship or the Rules ofOrder shall have been adopted when a two-thirds majority of the entire
number of commissioners enrolled at each General Assembly shallhave approved it, provided such amendment shall not conflict in letteror spirit with the Confession of Faith or Constitution.

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Constitution--Appendices

APPENDICES TO THE CONSTITUTION
APPENDIX ILETTER OF DISMISSION FOR CHURCH MEMBERS(To be forwarded by the clerk of the session of the dismissing congregation to the proper
official of the receiving church. Husband and wife should be issued individual letters.)

This certifies that ______________, a member in good standing of the______________congregation of _______________Presbytery of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America, is hereby dismissed at his/her own request to the ___________
congregation of the __________________ Church. The following are
the names of his/her baptized children:________________________.
The above named person is an elder □, deacon □, in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
Given by order of the session of the _________________congregationof the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America, this the _______ day of __________ AD_______________.
Signed__________________________________________________(Moderator or Clerk of Session)
Address_________________________________________________.

APPENDIX 2
CERTIFICATE OF RECEPTION FOR CHURCH MEMBERS(The pastor of the receiving congregation should complete this form, detach, and mailto the moderator or clerk of the session granting the letter.)This certifies that ______________, a member in good standing of the_________________ congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, upon presentationof a letter of dismission from the above named congregation,
bearing the date _______________, 20_____, was received by the________________congregation of the ______________ Church on________________, 20____. Signed_________________ (Pastor).
A permanent record of the dismissal should be kept by the clerk andshould include the following:Constitution--Appendices63

Session Clerk's Record
Name of Member______________ Address_____________________
Dismissed to:Name of congregation_______________________________________Name of denomination______________________________________
Letter of Dismission sent to: Name____________________________
Address______________________Date sent_____________________
Certificate of Reception returned: Date received__________________
Note: If Certificate of Reception is not returned in six months inquiry
should be made.

APPENDIX 3ADMISSION OF NEW CHURCHES
When a new church is organized, the session shall apply for the new
church's admission into the presbytery in whose bounds it is located.
The following form may be used:
TO THE PRESBYTERY OF ________________________________The undersigned respectfully declare that on the _______________
day of ________________, AD __________, a new church wasorganized at ________________________________ by the Reverend_____________________________ ( or a commission of presbytery),which adopted the principles of the government of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America,and has a membership of _________. The following persons were
elected as elders:____________________, _____________________,____________________. The following persons were elected as
deacons:________________, _______________, ________________.
We apply to be received under your care, and promise as the session
to comply with all the duties and obligations enjoined upon particularchurches and their officers by the government of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Date_______
Elders64

Constitution--Appendices

APPENDIX 4
SELECTING PASTORS AND ASSOCIATE/ASSISTANT PASTORSIn calling a minister to be the pastor or associate/assistant pastor of
the church, the session should endeavor to ascertain the will of themembership, and should select the minister it believes will best serve
the interests of that particular church. The call should be presented tothe minister as follows:_______________________________________Church,
being
satisfied of your ministerial qualifications and being confident of yourability to minister to the diverse needs of this congregation extends toyou a call to serve for an indefinite period of time as pastor (or associate/assistant pastor) of this church and to join with us in a ministry to
the entire community. We commit ourselves to provide the support,cooperation, and encouragement necessary to enable you to fulfill thiscalling. We pledge to pay an annual salary of $____________________.
The call may then detail other considerations such as vacation
arrangements, sick leave, travel costs in serving the congregation, andterms regulating the termination of the contract. The call in its entirety
will be subject to the approval of the presbytery.

APPENDIX 5
LETTER OF DISMISSION FOR MINISTERS OR PROBATIONERS(To be completed and forwarded by the stated clerk of the dismissing presbytery to thestated clerk or the proper official of the receiving judicatory.)

This certifies that __________________________________________,an ordained minister □ , licentiate □ , candidate □ , in good standing
in the ________________________ Presbytery of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America,
is hereby at his/her own request dismissed therefrom and isrecommended favorably to the ____________________ Presbytery of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America, or to the following judicatory of the designated church:____________________. Given by the order of ________________
Presbytery, this ______ day of __________ A.D. __________.
Signed_______________________________________(Stated Clerk)
Address_________________________________________________

Rules of Discipline

65

APPENDIX 6
CERTIFICATE OF RECEPTIONFOR MINISTERS OR PROBATIONERS(The stated clerk or the proper official of the receiving judicatory must complete thisform, detach, and mail to the stated clerk of the dismissing presbytery.)This certifies that __________________________________________, an ordained minister □ , licentiate □ , candidate □ , of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, uponpresentation of a letter of dismission from the ______________________
Presbytery, bearing the date __________________, 20_____, wasreceived by the ____________________ Presbytery of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, or
the following judicatory of the designated church: _____________ on
the date ________________, 20_____.
Signed__________________(Stated Clerk or other authorized official)
Address_________________________________________________
Presbyterial Clerk's Record of Dismission
Name_________________, an ordained minister□, licentiate□, candidate□, was dismissed to the ___________________
Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, or the following judicatory of thedesignated church:___________________ on the _______ day of___________________ A. D. ______________.
Record of Reception
The above named person was received by the ______________
Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, or the following judicatory of thedesignatedchurch:_________________________________________ on the _________ day of _____________________ A. D.
___________.
Record of the Reception signed by:____________________________(Stated Clerk or other authorized official)
Address _________________________________________________

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Rules of Discipline

RULES OF DISCIPLINE
1.0 PURPOSE OF DISCIPLINE
1.1 Discipline in the church is a positive expression in the spirit oflove and helpfulness of concern both for the offender and for the church.
Its purpose is that the life and work of the church may be orderly,
conducive to the spiritual growth of the members, and corrective ofweaknesses, mistakes and offenses by individuals and judicatories.
Appropriate reasons for discipline are actions contrary to the faith andpractice to which, according to the scriptures, all Christians are called,
or which are contrary to the government of the church.
1.2 Discipline in the church should be appropriate to the natureof the error or offense. All acts of discipline, both for individuals andjudicatories, should be weighed carefully, keeping in mind the purposeof discipline.
1.3 The various approaches in discipline have the same purposeand generally should begin with counseling and only then proceed tothe more severe approaches. Discipline may include, but is not limited
to, the following:a. Counseling is the effort to encourage and assist the person or
judicatory to correct what is wrong, to remedy deficiencies, and tolearn and grow spiritually through the experience;b. Admonition is a formal action to identify the weakness, mistake,or offense of a person or judicatory and to urge or order its
correction;c. Suspension of a member of a church is a temporary exclusionfrom the right to vote in a congregational meeting and a removalfrom any position of leadership, including the session anddiaconate. For a minister it is a temporary prohibition against
the performance of the duties of the office. For a judicatory it is atemporary withdrawal of its power to act and a denial of
representation in higher judicatories. Suspension may be for adefinite or indefinite period of time;d. The act of deposing is the revoking of the ordination of a minister,elder, or deacon and removal from the office.
2.0 AUTHORITY IN DISCIPLINE
2.1 The responsibility and authority for discipline in a particularchurch belongs to the session. Oversight of the children of the church
belongs first to their parents, but the session is responsible to giveRules of Discipline

67

support to parents as they lead and guide children in their spiritual
formation. The action by the session to admonish or suspend a member
shall be taken only with respect to serious offenses, and then only after
full opportunity is given for the approach of counseling. Removalof an elder from the session or a deacon from the diaconate may be
accompanied by deposition from office.
2.2 The responsibility and authority for the discipline of ministers
and churches rests with the presbytery to which they belong. The
action by the presbytery to admonish, suspend, or depose shall be taken
only with respect to serious offenses and then only after full opportunity
is given for the approach of counseling.
2.3 When the action of a particular church is detrimental to thespiritual welfare of its members or to the connectional relations andministries of the larger church, it shall be counseled by the board of
missions of the presbytery or by a special committee or commission
appointed by the presbytery. Should counseling fail to achieve thedesired objective, the presbytery may admonish the church and instruct
its session to correct what is wrong, suspend the session and govern
the church temporarily through a commission, dissolve the session andconduct a new election of elders, or dissolve the church and attach its
members to other congregations.
2.4 The responsibility and authority for discipline of theirconstituent judicatories by synods and the General Assembly is
exercised in general review and control, or in response to an appealof an action taken by a constituent judicatory. When the action of aconstituent judicatory is contrary to the rules of government of thechurch or detrimental to the connectional relations or life and ministriesof the church, it may be counseled through a special committee orcommission, admonished, suspended, instructed to correct what iswrong, or dissolved.
2.5 Each presbytery shall have a standing commission whichshall be called the "judiciary committee." Each judicatory above thesession shall have a standing commission which shall be called the"disciplinary commission." Notwithstanding that these bodies may becalled "committees," each of these standing commissions shall exercise
the powers and responsibilities entrusted to it under these Rules, andshall be authorized to deliberate upon and conclude any businesssubmitted to it pursuant to these Rules. A judicatory may assign otherduties and responsibilities to its judiciary committee or its disciplinarycommission, with or without the authority to act upon or to conclude
such other the matters.

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Rules of Discipline

Comment: The judiciary committee and disciplinary commission
may be separate bodies or may be subcommittees of existingcommittees or commissions of the judicatory. These bodies could also
have responsibilities in addition to those assigned in these rules. In
some instances, a committee may be a "hybrid" body, acting in someof its responsibilities as a committee and at other times acting with theauthority of a commission. For example, a presbytery may alreadyhave a judiciary committee which performs other, committee-likefunctions. The judiciary committee can continue to perform its function
as a presbyterial committee, exercising only the traditional role andauthority of a committee. However, when the judiciary committee isperforming a function under these disciplinary rules, it takes on therole of a commission and "shall be authorized to deliberate upon andconclude any business submitted to it." Because the judiciary committee
and disciplinary commission may act as commissions, each should becomposed of enough ministers and elders to constitute a quorum of thepresbytery (or synod, as the case may be).
3.0 DISCIPLINE OF PERSONS
3.100
Cases Without Disciplinary Hearings
3.101 When a member, at his or her own initiative, acknowledges
to the session an error or offense and gives evidence of a sincere effort
to correct the matter, a record shall be made of the case. With theconsent of the person, any disciplinary action taken shall be without aformal disciplinary hearing.
3.102 When a member in good standing without securing a letterof dismission or asking that his or her name be removed, shall joinsome other Christian church or religious body, the irregularity shall be
noted and his or her name removed from the membership roll by actionof the session. If there are charges pending against the person, or if
he or she is under some disciplinary action, this information shall be
communicated to the church or religious body upon its request. If themember is an elder or deacon, and he or she joins a religious body otherthan a Christian church, his or her ordination shall be revoked and he or
she shall be divested of the office.
Comment: Paragraph 3.102 applies only if the member is moving toanother denomination. If the member is joining another Cumberland
Presbyterian church, the fact that charges are pending may, andgenerally should, be communicated to the new church. When the member

Rules of Discipline69

is leaving the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, information on
charges pending against the member is provided only upon the requestof the receiving church.
3.103 A minister, at his or her own initiative, may acknowledge
to the judiciary committee an error or offense. If the minister gives
evidence of a sincere effort to correct the matter and consents to any
discipline proposed by the committee, the matter may be resolved
and the discipline imposed without a formal disciplinary hearing.
Otherwise, the judiciary committee shall refer the matter to thedisciplinary commission for action as provided in section 3.400.
3.104 When a minister in good standing, without asking for a letterof dismission, shall join some other Christian church or religious body,the irregularity shall be noted and his or her name removed from thepresbyterial roll by action of the presbytery. If charges are pending
against the person, or if he or she is under disciplinary action, thisinformation shall be communicated to the church or religious bodyupon its request. If the minister joins a religious body other than a
Christian church, his or her ordination shall be revoked and he or she
shall be divested of the office.
Comment: Paragraph 3.104 applies only if the minister is moving toanother denomination. If the minister is moving to another presbytery of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church, the fact that charges are pending
should be communicated to the new presbytery. When the minister isleaving the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, information on
charges pending against the minister is provided only upon the requestof the receiving church.
3.200
Disciplinary Hearings Before Sessions
3.201 Any charges made against a member (the accused) shallbe acted upon by a session only if they are in the form of a written
document signed by the person making the charges (the complainant).
The complainant may be a person who claims to be a victim of the
conduct which is the basis for the complaint or another member who
has reliable and compelling information about the conduct in thecomplaint. Whether or not the charges are written, the session or anyof its members may counsel with a member to encourage and assist themember to learn and grow spiritually.

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Comment: Disciplinary hearings for church members and forministers are addressed in separate sections. Paragraph 3.201 makes
it clearer that the charges may be brought, and the written charges canbe signed, by a person other than the victim of the misconduct. For
example, written charges can be brought by a witness to the misconduct
or someone in whom the victim has confided (such as a parent) if there
is "reliable and compelling information" that misconduct has occurred.
The paragraph also reminds sessions that Christian counseling isalways in order.
3.202 No charges against a person shall be considered if they are
made more than two years after the alleged error or offense, except in
the case of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment, in which case a ten(10) year time limit shall apply, but in the case of the sexual abuse ormolestation of a child, no time limit shall apply.
3.203 When a session has received charges affecting the Christiancharacter of a person under its care, it shall designate a committee toinvestigate the charges and counsel with the person accused. If thecharges concern matters of potentially serious consequences, thesession may at any time suspend the person from any position ofleadership until the conclusion of the hearing and of any appeals. It
shall be stated that the suspension is not a presumption of guilt but is ameasure needed for the welfare of the church.
3.204 If the committee reports that, upon investigation, it finds
no basis for the charges, the session shall dismiss the charges. If thecommittee finds that there are grounds to believe that an offense wascommitted by the accused, and the accused acknowledges the error or
offense, and gives evidence of a sincere effort to correct the matter, thecommittee shall so report to the session and recommend appropriate
disciplinary action. With the consent of the person, disciplinary action
may be imposed without a formal disciplinary hearing. A record shallbe made of the case, and the moderator shall direct the clerk to notify
the complainant of the discipline imposed.
3.205 If the committee, upon investigation, finds that there are
grounds to believe that an offense was committed by the accused,
but the accused has not acknowledged the error or offense, or does
not consent to the proposed disciplinary action, the committee shallpresent a written report to the session which includes a statement of thecharges, the information the committee obtained in its investigation,
the committee's findings, and its recommendations for discipline. The
session shall hold a hearing to determine guilt, to impose discipline, orboth.

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71

a. Unless the accused, the complainant, and the session agree
otherwise, a date for the hearing shall be set no sooner than ten(10) days. The moderator shall direct the clerk to give written
notice of the hearing to the person charged (the accused); theperson filing the charges (the complainant); all active members of
the session; the investigating committee; and all witnesses
requested by the accused, the complainant, or the session. The
notice shall include the statement of the charges as framed by theinvestigating committee and shall state that the decision to
conduct the hearing is not an indication that the accused is guiltyof the offense.
b. Written notice should be hand delivered or sent by first classmail to the last known address of the person entitled to notice.
Written notice provided in some other manner is effective if
actually received.
c. The session may postpone the hearing for good cause. The
failure of the accused or the complainant to appear at the hearing
shall not automatically cause a postponement.
3.206 The hearing shall be conducted as follows:a. The hearing shall be a closed meeting unless the accused, thecomplainant, and the session agree otherwise. If closed, thepersons permitted to attend shall be: the members of the session;
the accused and a companion; the complainant and a companion;
and, if requested by the session, a representative from theinvestigating committee. The session shall determine whether topermit all of the witnesses to be present for the entire proceedingor to hear witnesses one at a time.
Comment: The "companion" who is permitted to accompany thecomplainant or accused may be a spouse, parent, other family member,friend, or a professional adviser such as a counselor or attorney.
However, unless the companion is also a witness, he or she has no rolein the process except to provide support and advice to the complainantor accused. The companion should not inject himself or herself into theproceedings. If the companion is an attorney, he or she should bear inmind that the proceeding is an ecclesiastical or spiritual proceeding,
not a legal one.
b. The clerk shall keep a complete recording of the hearing, either
by audio recording, audio-video recording, or by a writtentranscript.

72

Rules of Disciplinec. The moderator shall charge the members of the body and all others
present to remember the purpose of discipline in the church as
stated in Section 1.1.
d. The statement of charges prepared by the investigating committee
shall be read.
e. The list of witnesses shall be reviewed. Any person may challenge
whether a witness is competent to provide evidence. The
session shall be the final judge of whether a witness is competentto provide evidence and whether any evidence offered is relevantto the proceeding.
f. The accused may give a statement in response to the charges.
g. Testimony and other evidence against the accused shall bereceived first, followed by testimony and other evidence on behalfof the accused. Testimony should be offered in a manner consistent
with the purposes of discipline, and not in a bitter or retaliatory
spirit.
h. The moderator shall provide an opportunity for the accused, thecomplainant, or members of the session to question each witness
and any other evidence. The moderator may disallow anyquestion which is frivolous, irrelevant, or otherwise inappropriate,but the moderator's ruling may be appealed to the session.
i. The accused or the complainant may challenge the right of any
member of the session to speak or vote on the grounds of personal
prejudice, including undue personal interest in the matter. All
challenges shall be decided by the session.
j. A final statement may be made by the complainant and the accused,
who shall have the right to speak last.
k. Only the members of the session shall be present during, andparticipate in, the deliberation of the case. All of the evidence
shall be weighed and evaluated.
l. The session shall vote on the following question: "According to
the evidence presented, is it more likely that the accused is guilty
or not guilty of the charge(s) made against him or her?" Theaccused shall be found not guilty unless a majority of thosemembers of the session who are present and voting shall find theaccused guilty.
3.207 If the accused is found not guilty:
a. The moderator shall announce the decision to the accused and thecomplainant. The moderator shall remind those present of thegravity of disciplinary proceedings, the nature of the church as afellowship of reconciliation, and the responsibility of all Christians

Rules of Discipline73

to act toward each other in the spirit of repentance and forgiving
love.
b. No record of the charges or the decision need be entered into theminutes unless the session, for good cause, shall direct
otherwise.
3.208 If the accused is found guilty:
a. The session shall determine the discipline under which he or she
shall be placed. When the nature of the discipline has been
determined, the moderator shall announce the decision and thediscipline to the accused and the complainant. Any discipline
imposed shall take effect immediately unless the session directs
otherwise.
b. The moderator shall urge the person placed under discipline torespond to the decisions in prayer and self-examination and to
make such efforts as are possible to remedy the error or offense.
c. The moderator shall remind those present of the gravity of
disciplinary proceedings, the nature of the church as a fellowshipof reconciliation, and the responsibility of all Christians to act
toward each other in the spirit of repentance and forgiving love.
d. The minutes shall reflect the name of the accused, the charges
of which he or she has been found guilty, and the discipline
imposed. Appropriate care shall be taken to protect the name oridentity of any victim.
3.209 If, after a disciplinary hearing has been held, new evidence isdiscovered that could alter the decision that was made, the person underdiscipline may ask the session to conduct a supplemental hearing. If
the session determines that a new hearing should be held, only evidence
not already presented may be offered at the new hearing.
3.210 If there appears to be sufficient evidence to warrant
terminating the discipline imposed, the session may conduct a hearing
to consider such action. The discipline may be terminated if sufficientand reliable testimony or other evidence is presented that (i) the person
has repented of the error or offense; (ii) the person has taken steps tocorrect the matter; and (iii) the session finds that the person is unlikely
to commit the error or offense again.
Comment: Discipline should not be terminated unless the session
believes it is unlikely that the person will commit the error or offense
again.
3.211 When a person under some kind of discipline moves his

74

Rules of Disciplineor her membership to another church, the session may, if it seems
advisable, transmit a summary of the disciplinary hearing to that body,which shall proceed to act as though it had imposed the discipline.
3.300
Specific Procedures for Elders and Deacons3.301 No elder or deacon, because of the office, is to be shieldedfrom investigation or discipline; nor is he or she, because of theprominence which the office gives, to be subjected to investigation on
insignificant charges nor disciplined on slight grounds.
3.302 If, as a result of an investigation and hearing as provided
in section 3.200, an elder or deacon has been found guilty of anerror or offense that has caused great harm in the church or seriously
compromised his or her ability to perform the duties of the office,regardless of any mitigating circumstances, he or she shall be suspended
or deposed. The session shall nevertheless express its hope that healing
and reconciliation may be accomplished.
3.303 When an elder or deacon has been suspended or deposed, thesession shall continue to exercise pastoral care over the person, with theparticular intention of bringing about reconciliation and restoration.
3.304 When an elder or deacon is suspended or deposed, or when
the suspension or deposition has been removed, notice of the action
shall be given to the congregation.
3.305 When an elder or deacon has been deposed, the action toremove the discipline renews the ordination and restores the office, but
in order to serve in a congregation the person must be elected again.
3.400
Discipline of Ministers
3.401 A complaint of misconduct on the part of a minister should
be reported to the stated clerk of the presbytery or a member of thedisciplinary commission. The person who receives the complaint shallpromptly communicate it to the chair of the disciplinary commission
and the stated clerk.
Comment: These rules recognize an important philosophicalprinciple regarding a complaint: Once a complaint has been made,jurisdiction over the complaint belongs to the body (in this case, thepresbytery or its subordinate bodies), and not to the individual who
initially brought the complaint. A complaint will not result in a formal
disciplinary hearing if the disciplinary commission, upon investigation,finds the complaint to be groundless. Conversely, if it appears that amember of the presbytery has engaged in misconduct, it is the duty

Rules of Discipline

75of the presbytery, not the complainant, to see that the misconduct is
stopped and appropriate discipline is imposed. These rules place theburden of going forward on a complaint on the disciplinary commission
and the judiciary committee, not on the complainant. Any person withknowledge of a complaint should assist the complainant in getting thecomplaint to the attention of the proper authority.
3.402 Any charges made against a minister (the accused) shallbe acted upon by the disciplinary commission only if they are in theform of a written document signed by the person making the charges(the complainant). The complainant may be a person who claims
to be a victim of the conduct which is the basis for the complaint or
another person who has reliable and compelling information about the
conduct in the complaint. Whether or not the charges are written, thedisciplinary commission or any other member of a presbytery may
counsel with a minister to encourage and assist the minister to learn
and grow spiritually.
3.403 No charges against a minister shall be considered if they are
made more than two years after the alleged error or offense except asprovided below. In the case of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment,
the charges must be brought within ten (10) years after the alleged error
or offense. In the case of the sexual abuse or molestation of a child, notime limit shall apply.
3.404 When the disciplinary commission has received charges
affecting the Christian character of a person under the care of thepresbytery, it shall investigate the charges and counsel with theminister accused. If the charges concern matters of potentially serious
consequences, the disciplinary commission may at any time place
limitations on the person's ministry or suspend the person from any
position of ministry until the conclusion of the hearing and of any
appeals. It shall be stated that the action taken is not a presumption of
guilt but is a protective measure for the welfare of the church.
3.405 If the disciplinary commission, upon investigation, finds nobasis for the charges, it shall close the matter and report that action
to the accused, the complainant, and the judiciary committee. If thecommittee finds that there are grounds to believe that an offense wascommitted by the accused, and the accused acknowledges the error
or offense and gives evidence of a sincere effort to correct the matter,the disciplinary commission shall so report to the judiciary committee
and recommend appropriate disciplinary action. With the accused's
consent, the judiciary committee may impose disciplinary action

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without a formal disciplinary hearing. A record shall be made of thecase, and the committee on ministry shall notify the complainant of thediscipline imposed.
3.406 If the disciplinary commission, upon investigation, findsthat there are grounds to believe that an offense was committed by theaccused, but the accused has not acknowledged the error or offense, ordoes not consent to the proposed disciplinary action, the disciplinarycommission shall name from one to three of its members to serve as
representatives to bring the charges before the judiciary committee ina formal hearing. The disciplinary commission shall promptly provide
a written report to the chair of the judiciary committee which includes
the names of the commission's representatives, a statement of thecharges, the information the commission obtained in its investigation,
the commission's findings, and its recommendations for discipline.
3.407 The judiciary committee shall hold a hearing to determine
guilt, to impose discipline, or both.
a. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the hearing shall take place
no sooner than fourteen (14) days nor more than thirty (30) days
from the date the disciplinary commission makes its report.
The chair of the judiciary committee shall give written noticeof the hearing to the accused; the complainant; the members of the
judiciary committee; the representatives of the disciplinarycommission; and all witnesses requested by the accused or
representatives of the disciplinary commission. The notice shall
include the statement of the charges as framed by the disciplinarycommission and shall state that the decision to conduct the hearing
is not an indication that the accused is guilty of the offense.
b. Written notice should be hand delivered or sent by first class mailto the last known address of the person entitled to notice. Written
notice provided in some other manner is effective if actually
received.
c. The judiciary committee may postpone the hearing for goodcause. The failure of the accused or the complainant to appear at
the hearing shall not automatically cause a postponement.
3.408 The hearing shall be conducted as follows:a. The hearing shall be closed except to those persons entitled to
notice of the hearing. The judiciary committee may determine
whether to permit all of the witnesses to be present for the entire
proceeding or to hear witnesses one at a time.
b. The judiciary committee shall keep a complete recording of
the hearing, either by audio recording, audio-video recording, orRules of Discipline77

by a written transcript.
c. The hearing shall be conducted by the chair of the judiciarycommittee or, if the chair is absent, by the vice chair or anothermember of the judiciary committee. The chair shall charge all
those present to remember the purpose of discipline in the church
as stated in Section 1.1.
d. The statement of charges submitted by the disciplinary commission
shall be reviewed.
e. The list of witnesses shall be reviewed. Any person may challenge
whether a witness is competent to provide evidence. The judiciarycommittee shall be the final judge of whether a witness iscompetent to provide evidence and whether any evidence offered
is relevant to the proceeding.
f. The accused may give a brief statement in response to thecharges.
g. Testimony and other evidence against the accused shall bereceived first, followed by testimony and other evidence on behalfof the accused. Testimony should be offered in a manner consistent
with the purposes of discipline, and not in a bitter or retaliatory
spirit;h. The chair shall provide an opportunity for the accused, therepresentatives of the disciplinary commission, or members of the
judiciary committee to question each witness and any otherevidence. The moderator may disallow any question which is
frivolous, irrelevant, or otherwise inappropriate, but the chair's
ruling may be appealed to the judiciary committee.
i. The accused or the representatives of the disciplinary commission
may challenge the right of any member of the judiciary committee
to speak or vote on the grounds of personal prejudice, including
undue personal interest in the matter. All challenges shall bedecided by the judiciary committee.
j. A final statement may be made by the representatives of thedisciplinary commission and/or the complainant and the accused,
but the accused shall have the right to speak last.
k. Only the members of the judiciary committee shall be present
during, and participate in, the deliberation of the case. All of theevidence shall be weighed and evaluated.
l. The judiciary committee shall vote on the following question:"According to the evidence presented, is it more likely that theaccused is guilty or not guilty of the charge(s) made against him
or her?" The accused shall be found not guilty unless a majority

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Rules of Disciplineof those members of the judiciary committee who are present
and voting shall find the accused guilty.
3.409 If the accused is found not guilty:
a. The chair shall report the decision to the accused, the complainant,and the representatives of the disciplinary commission. The chair
shall remind those present of the gravity of disciplinary
proceedings, the nature of the church as a fellowship ofreconciliation, and the responsibility of all Christians to act
toward each other in the spirit of repentance and forgiving love.
b. The judiciary committee shall make a report to the presbytery as
follows: "The judiciary committee considered charges brought
against [name of accused]. After an investigation and hearing,the committee found [name of accused] not guilty of thecharges."3.410 If the accused is found guilty:
a. The judiciary committee shall determine the discipline underwhich he or she shall be placed. If the error or offense has
caused great harm in the church and seriously compromised
his or her ability to perform the duties of the office, regardlessof any mitigating circumstances, he or she shall be suspended ordeposed.
b. When the nature of the discipline has been determined, the chair
shall announce the decision and the discipline to the accused, thecomplainant, and the representatives of the disciplinarycommission. Any discipline imposed shall take effect immediately
unless the judiciary committee directs otherwise.
c. The chair shall urge the minister placed under discipline torespond to the decisions in prayer and self-examination and to
make such efforts as are possible to remedy the error or offense.
d. The chair shall remind those present of the gravity of disciplinary
proceedings, the nature of the church as a fellowship ofreconciliation, and the responsibility of all Christians to act
toward each other in the spirit of repentance and forgiving love.
e. The judiciary committee shall make a report to the presbytery ina closed meeting attended only by the committee and the membersof presbytery, except that the complainant and the accused shallhave the opportunity to address the presbytery in the meeting.
The report shall include the name of the accused, the charges
of which he or she was found guilty, and the discipline imposed.
Appropriate care shall be taken to protect the name or identity ofany victim. The action of the judiciary committee shall beRules of Discipline

79

final unless the presbytery, by a two-thirds vote shall appoint a
new commission to review the finding of guilt, the discipline
imposed, or both. If a new commission is appointed, it shallreview the decision of the judiciary committee using the rules
applicable to an appeal.
Comment: There are several reasons why a two-thirds vote of
the presbytery is required to overturn the decision of the judiciarycommittee. The presbytery has vested its authority in the judiciarycommittee. Rescinding the committee's decision is treated like amotion to rescind, which requires a two-thirds vote (see Rules of Ordersec. 8.35b). Most presbyteries have considered it wise not to address
disciplinary matters on the floor of presbytery for several reasons(including the press of time, the need to protect a victim's privacy,
concern about defamation or other legal liabilities, and the fact that,
especially for larger presbyteries, presbyterial meetings do not lendthemselves well to conducting hearings). An appeal can proceed
directly to the next highest judicatory without the delay inherent in
waiting for the presbytery to meet.
3.411 If, after a disciplinary hearing has been held, new evidence
is discovered that could alter the decision that was made, the minister
under discipline may ask the judiciary committee to conduct a
supplemental hearing. If the judiciary committee determines that a newhearing should be held, only evidence not already presented may beoffered at the new hearing.
3.412 No minister, because of the office, shall be shieldedfrom investigation or discipline; nor shall he or she, because of theprominence which the office gives, be subjected to investigation on
insignificant charges nor disciplined on slight grounds.
3.413 If a minister habitually fails to engage in some form ofministry approved by the presbytery as described in the Constitution, it
shall be the duty of the presbytery to inquire into the reasons for such
failure and to take such action as may be proper.
3.414 When a minister has been suspended or deposed, thepresbytery shall continue to exercise pastoral care over the person andshall confer with the person about his or her continuing church relation.
3.415 A minister who has been suspended or deposed may berestored only at his or her request. If there appears to be sufficientevidence to warrant restoring the minister, the judiciary committee
may conduct a hearing to consider such action. The minister may be80Rules of Discipline

restored only if the judiciary committee finds on the basis of sufficientand reliable testimony or other evidence that (i) the person has, over asatisfactory period of time, exhibited repentance for the error or offense;(ii) the person has taken steps to correct the matter; (iii) the person isunlikely to commit the error or offense again; and (iv) the person is fit
for ministry in the Church. Restoring a minister who has been deposed
renews his or her ordination and restores the office.
3.416 When a minister is suspended he or she shall not performthe duties of the office in any church during the time of suspension.
Any church which he or she is serving as pastor shall be notified of thesuspension. Any church, aware of the suspension, and which permits
the minister to perform the duties of the office in its bounds during thetime of suspension, becomes liable to discipline.
3.417 When a minister is suspended, the presbytery may, at its
discretion, dissolve the pastoral relationship which he or she has withany church in its bounds.
3.418 When a minister is deposed he or she shall not perform theduties of the office in any church. Any church which he or she is serving
as pastor shall be notified, and the presbytery shall dissolve the pastoral
relationship. Any church which is aware of the act of deposing, andwhich permits the minister to perform the duties of the office in its
bounds, becomes liable to discipline.
3.419 When a minister has been suspended or deposed, the clerk
shall send a notice to the clerks of all other presbyteries stating thatthe person was found guilty of a serious error or offense and deposed.
When a minister has been restored, the clerk shall send a notice to theclerks of all other presbyteries stating that the person has been restored.
3.500Appeals Regarding the Discipline of Persons
3.501 An appeal of a disciplinary action removes the case to thenext higher judicatory. An appeal of any disciplinary action of a lower
judicatory must be filed within thirty (30) days after the decision of thesession, the presbytery's judiciary committee, or the synod's judiciarycommittee, whichever shall apply. If no appeal of a judicatory's action
is filed in a timely manner, the action of the lower judicatory shall befinal.
Comment: An appeal may be filed long before the disciplinary action
has been reported to the full presbytery or synod. If the presbytery
or synod votes to reconsider the disciplinary decision which has been
made on its behalf, the appeal is dismissed in order to give the lower

Rules of Discipline81

judicatory the opportunity to make a final decision. Once an appeal
has been decided by a higher judicatory, it is too late for the lower
judicatory to undertake a reconsideration of its own decision.
3.502 If a lower judicatory whose action is being appealed votes toreconsider its decision, the appeal shall be dismissed and the matter sent
back to the lower judicatory. When the lower judicatory has completed
its reconsideration and taken a final action on the matter, that action
may be the subject of a new appeal.
3.503 Proper grounds for appeal are: the lower judicatory failed tofollow the proper procedures; the lower judicatory committed an error
or injustice in the decision; or the lower judicatory acted contrary to theConstitution or other rules of the church.
3.504 An appeal of a matter regarding the discipline of persons may
be made by the complainant or an accused who has been found guilty of
an offense or error. A disciplinary decision of a presbytery's judiciarycommittee may also be appealed by the presbytery's disciplinarycommission.
3.505 An appeal is begun by filing a notice of appeal with thestated clerk of the next higher judicatory. The notice of appeal shall
include information sufficient to identify the person making the appeal,
the body which issued the ruling from which the appeal is taken, thegrounds for the appeal, and that portion of the decision below which is
being appealed.
3.506 The stated clerk shall promptly forward a copy of the appeal
to the chair of the judicatory's standing judiciary committee. The appeal
shall go forward unless the stated clerk and the chair of the judiciarycommittee find that the appeal fails to meet the criteria for a proper
appeal, in which case the appeal shall be dismissed. If the appeal isdismissed, the stated clerk shall write a letter to the person who filed
the appeal explaining why the appeal was dismissed. If the appeal
is permitted to go forward, the chair of the judiciary committee shallobtain the record of the full hearing held by the session or the judiciarycommittee, whichever shall apply.
3.507 The proper parties to an appeal are as follows:a. In an appeal from the action of a session, the accused and thecomplainant.
b. In any other appeal, the accused, the complainant, and thepresbytery's disciplinary commission.
c. The party which files the appeal shall be the appellant, and allother parties shall be considered respondents.

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3.508 The appeal shall be considered by the judiciary committeeof the higher judicatory, which shall hold an appeal hearing as soon aspractical after the receipt of the appeal.
a. Written notice of the appeal hearing shall be provided to theaccused, the complainant, the presbytery’s disciplinarycommission, and the members of the judiciary committee hearing
the appeal. The notice shall include the date, time, and place of
the appeal hearing; the names of the accused and the complainant;the statement of the charges which were the subject of the hearing
below; the decision reached by each lower judicatory which has
considered the matter; the name of the party who appealed; thegrounds for the appeal; and describe the portion of the decision
below which is being appealed.
b. Written notice should be hand delivered or sent by first class mailto the last known address of the person entitled to notice. Written
notice provided in some other manner is effective if actually
received.
c. The judiciary committee may postpone the appeal hearing forgood cause. The failure of any party to appear at the hearing shallnot automatically cause a postponement.
3.509 The appeal hearing according to the following rules.
a. The judiciary committee shall review the record of the hearing
below, either during or shortly before the appeal hearing.
b. The judiciary committee shall hear first from the appellant, whoshall explain why the action of the lower judicatory was flawed orincorrect. The judiciary committee shall then hear from therespondent or respondents. The appellant shall then be entitled tomake a closing statement.
c. The appeal hearing shall be conducted entirely on the record of
the proceedings below unless the judiciary committee shallrequest additional evidence or information. The appeal hearing
may be continued in order that the additional information orevidence may be obtained.
d. Only the members of the judiciary committee shall be present
during, and participate in, the deliberation of the appeal.
3.510 The judiciary committee shall rule against the appeal unlessthe appellant shows both:a. the lower judicatory failed to follow the proper procedures;committed an error or injustice in the decision; or acted contrary
to the Constitution or other rules of the church; andb. the improper action by the lower judicatory had a significant

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83

affect on the final decision in the case.
3.511 If the judiciary committee rules against the appeal, the rulingof the lower judiciary shall stand. The appellant shall have a right ofappeal to the next higher judicatory, if any.
3.512 If the judiciary committee rules in favor of the appeal, it may
reverse the action appealed in whole or in part; remit the case to thelower judicatory for the purpose of amending an incorrect or defective
record; or direct the lower judicatory to reconsider the action appealed.
3.513 The judiciary committee shall make a report directly toits judicatory which states: that an appeal was made, the parties tothe appeal (except that appropriate care shall be taken to protect thename or identity of any victim), the grounds for the appeal, and thedisposition of the appeal. The judiciary committee's disposition of theappeal shall be final unless the judicatory, by a two-thirds vote, shallappoint a new commission to review the appeal. If a new commission
is appointed, it shall review the decision of the lower judicatory using
the rules applicable to an appeal.
Comment: Because the judiciary committee's action is the act of acommission, the report of its action should go directly to the judicatory
and should not pass through or be made to a committee of the judicatory.
4.0 DISCIPLINE OF JUDICATORIES
4.001 Every decision made by any judicatory, except the General
Assembly, is subject to review by the next highest judicatory and may
be brought before it by general review and control, appeal, or protest.
4.002 Persons who are members of a judicatory whose actions
are the subject of appeal or protest shall not be eligible to serve on
a committee or commission of the higher judicatory dealing with theappeal or protest; nor shall such persons, if members of the higher
judicatory, be eligible to vote on any motions related to the appeal orprotest.
4.100General Review and Control
4.101 Every judicatory above the session shall, at stated intervals asprescribed, review the proceedings of the judicatory next below. If any
judicatory shall fail to send its records to the next highest judicatory forthis purpose, it may be ordered to do so immediately or on a specified
date, or else face disciplinary action.
4.102 In reviewing the records of a lower judicatory, it is proper to84

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examine whether:a. The proceedings have been correct;
b. The proceedings have been wise and equitable and for theedification of the church;c. The proceedings have been correctly recorded; andd. The directives of the higher judicatories have been obeyed.
4.103 Generally, the higher judicatory shall record in its minutes
the approval of the record or any action it considers appropriate withregard to any errors or irregularities that were found. It shall make anentry of the same in the records under review. In addition, if any action
is taken, it shall send a communication to the clerk of the judicatory
whose records were under review, listing the errors or irregularities
and indicating the corrective action that is to be taken. In reviewing
the record of disciplinary actions against persons, no action of a lower
judicatory shall be altered or reversed, unless regularly brought up by
appeal.
4.104 Should a judicatory neglect to perform its duty, andthereby allow false doctrine or immorality to develop, offenders to go
undisciplined, or other great irregularities to occur and not be properly
recorded, the higher judicatory being aware by other means that suchneglect or irregularity has occurred, shall make inquiry into and shall
examine, deliberate, and decide the entire matter as if it had beenrecorded, and thus brought up by review and control.
4.105 When a judicatory has been advised by the records of aconstituent judicatory, by resolution, or by any other satisfactory meansof any important neglect, error, or irregularity of its proceedings, it may
cite the lower judicatory to appear through a representative or in writing
to explain what it has done or failed to do in the matter in question.
Except in disciplinary cases, after full investigation the actions of alower judicatory may be reversed in part or as a whole; or the matter
may be referred back to the lower judicatory with instructions that it
be reconsidered and corrective action taken. If the explanations of thelower judicatory are satisfactory and it is able to show that the matter
is not of serious consequence, the review may be terminated with acaution to exercise greater care in future actions.
4.200 Appeals
4.201 The following rules apply to appeals of a disciplinary action
by a judicatory concerning a constituent body and appeals of all nondisciplinary actions. An appeal removes a case already decided from alower to the next higher judicatory.

Rules of Discipline85

4.202 Proper grounds for appeal are: the lower judicatory failed tofollow the proper procedures; the lower judicatory committed an error
or injustice in the decision; or the lower judicatory acted contrary to theConstitution or other rules of the church.
4.203 An appeal is begun by filing a written notice of appeal withthe stated clerk of the next higher judicatory. The notice of appeal shall
include information sufficient to identify the person(s) or judicatory
making the appeal, the action which is being appealed, the judicatory
which took the action which is being appealed, the grounds for theappeal, and that portion of the action below which is being appealed.
Notice of appeal by a person or persons must be given within ten daysof the action being appealed. Notice of appeal by a judicatory mustbe given within sixty days following the date of the action it wishes toappeal.
4.204 An appeal of a disciplinary action by a judicatory of one ofits constituent judicatories may be made by any member of the higher
judicatory, provided it is signed by one-third of those present and voting
when the disciplinary action was taken; or it may be authorized by anaction of the judicatory that is the subject of the discipline. The appeal
suspends the disciplinary action until the appeal is finally decided.
4.205 An appeal of any and all non-disciplinary actions of a
judicatory may be made by any person who is a member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America, but it shall not suspend the action until the appeal is finallydecided, except in the following cases, and then only if the appeal issigned by one-third of the members of the judicatory who were present
and voting at the time the action was taken:
a. The ordination of a minister;b. The action of a presbytery to unite, divide, or dissolve particularchurches;c. The action of a synod to unite, divide, or dissolve any of its
presbyteries.
4.206 The proper parties to an appeal are as follows:a. The person(s) or judicatory which filed the appeal, which shall be
the appellant.
b. The judicatory which is alleged to have committed the error or
offense, which shall be the respondent.
4.207 If the appeal has been properly and timely made, an appeal
hearing shall be held as soon as practical after the receipt of the appeal.
The appeal hearing shall be conducted by the higher judicatory or by acommission it appoints for that purpose.

86

Rules of Disciplinea. Written notice of the appeal hearing shall be provided to theappellant, which shall be directed to the stated clerk if theappellant is a judicatory; to the stated clerk of the respondent; andto the members of the judicatory or commission which is hearing
the appeal. The notice shall include the date, time, and place of
the appeal hearing and shall include a copy of the notice of appeal
filed by the appellant.
b. Written notice should be hand delivered or sent by first class mailto the last known address of the person entitled to notice. Written
notice provided in some other manner is effective if actually
received.
c. The judicatory or commission hearing the appeal may postpone
the appeal hearing for good cause. The failure of any party toappear at the hearing shall not automatically cause a
postponement.
4.208 The appeal hearing shall be conducted according to thefollowing rules.
a. The judicatory or commission hearing the appeal shall confirm
that the appeal was properly and timely filed.
b. The record of the action being appealed shall be reviewed.
c. The appellant (or a representative of the appellant if the appellant
is more than one person or a judicatory) shall be called upon to
explain the error or offense of the lower judicatory. The respondent
shall have an opportunity to defend the action, or failure to act,of the lower judicatory. The appellant shall then be entitled tomake a brief closing statement.
d. The body hearing the appeal may request additional evidence orinformation. If necessary, the appeal hearing may be continued
in order that the additional information or evidence may beobtained.
e. Only the members of the judicatory or commission hearing theappeal shall participate in the deliberation of the appeal.
4.209 The appeal shall be denied unless the appellant shows thelower judicatory failed to follow the proper procedures; or committed
an error or injustice in the decision; or acted contrary to the Constitution
or other rules of the church.
4.210 If the appeal is denied, the action of the lower judicatory shallstand. The appellant shall have an immediate right of appeal to the next
higher judicatory, if any. If the appellant fails to pursue another appeal
in a timely manner, the appeal shall be regarded as abandoned and theaction or decision appealed from shall be final.

Directory of Worship87

4.211 If the judicatory or commission hearing the appeal rules infavor of the appeal, it may reverse the action appealed in whole or in
part; remit the case to the lower judicatory for the purpose of amending
an incorrect or defective record; or direct the lower judicatory toreconsider the action appealed. If the action of the lower judicatory isof such a nature that it cannot be corrected, the lower judicatory may beadmonished.
4.300Dissents and Protests
4.301 A dissent is a declaration unaccompanied by reasons by one
or more members of a minority of a judicatory, expressing a different
opinion from that of the majority as to a particular matter. If statedin temperate language, the dissent shall be noted in the records of the
judicatory, together with the names of the persons dissenting.
4.302 A protest is a declaration accompanied by reasons by one
or more members of a minority of a judicatory, expressing a different
opinion from that of the majority, as to a particular matter. If stated intemperate language, the protest with its reasons shall be entered in therecords, together with the names of the persons protesting.
4.303 When a protest is lodged by any member of a judicatory, thejudicatory may respond to the reasons given in the protest.
4.304 The higher judicatory shall take cognizance of all protests
appearing upon the records passing under its review. The higher
judicatory may, but need not, take any other action with respect to aprotest.

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DIRECTORY OF WORSHIP
PrefaceWorship is fundamental to the mission of the Christian church. To
worship God is to act out our obedience to the God who has revealed
himself to us, called and claimed us as his people. In worship theinitiative lies with God and the focus is on God. God and God's
redemptive and creative work are both the object and the subjectof worship. To worship is to re-enact the gospel in its fullness andsimplicity.
In worship we discover and express our identity as God's people, we
participate in the ongoing redemptive work of God in the world and
we offer ourselves anew to the One who has created, redeemed andsustained us. We worship because of who we are and who God is.
The dominant character of Christian worship is praise of God. Becauseof who God is, what God has done, and what God has promised to do, it
is in order for us to praise God for that steadfast love which is peculiar
to God.
Christians worship in the name of Jesus Christ: in the power of Jesus
Christ and in the freedom of Jesus Christ. Jesus through his birth,
life, death and resurrection offered up perfect worship to God, and as
Christians we are free to participate in that perfect expression of praise.
Therefore, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ is central to Christian
worship, and all Christian worship seeks to reflect and be shaped bythat life and ministry. Jesus Christ is the living Word whose presence
and spirit alone make valid all of Christian worship.
As human beings we also realize that we worship out of a senseof need. We are not sufficient unto ourselves, and we experience asense of completeness and fulfillment through the encounter with andworship of our Creator. To worship is to be fully human.
Christians can worship God at any time, for all time has beenredeemed by him in Jesus Christ. From the beginning of Christian
worship, however, one day has been set aside for corporate worship: theLord's Day. This day is the first day of the week and it was designatedas the proper day for corporate worship of Christians because it was theday Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. It was "on the first day of
the week" that the followers of Jesus discovered the empty tomb andmet the risen Lord. Hence the day appointed for Christian worship is aremembrance of the resurrection of Jesus. Each Sunday is understoodby Christians at worship to be an Easter day; every time of corporateDirectory of Worship89

worship is understood to be a celebration of the victory of God acted
out through the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
The Lord's Day also commemorates the first day of creation. On
the first day of the week God began creation, and likewise on the firstday of the week God began his "new creation." Hence this day is seen
as being basic to all good. God created the world and pronounced it
good; in Jesus Christ God redeemed the world and claimed it anew for
its goodness. Christians worship on the Lord's Day remembering andcelebrating God's creation and redemption: God's creating the world
and proclaiming it good and God's decisive action in making all things
new and good. By designating one day as the Lord's Day Christians
show forth what is true for all days and all creation: Jesus Christ is
Lord of all creation.

I. THE CORPORATE WORSHIP OF GOD
God through Jesus Christ redeems individuals into relationship tohimself and to one another as members of the church, which is the bodyof Christ. Christian worship, therefore, above all is to be understoodas communal or corporate. This means that one's individuality finds
its true meaning as a part of the community of faith and that individual
worship is never understood to be in isolation from the faith and praiseof the community. Moreover, it is in order to emphasize that individualor private worship is an essential part of the Christian life and is needfulin order for corporate worship to find its deepest meaning and fullest
integrity, just as corporate worship is necessary in order that individual
worship can have appropriate substance and shape.
The corporate worship of the church also gives direction, focus andshape to the worship carried out by families. Their worship is guided
by corporate worship and they are aware that their worship is done aspeople who are members of a worshiping community. Indeed, worshipin the home is strongly encouraged. Scripture, prayer, hymns andpersonal witness are all a vital part of the worship of families.
A. THE ORDERING OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
It is appropriate that groups of Christians give thought to the orderingof their worship. Order and design are necessary not simply because
worship is a social act in which agreed upon procedures are critical
for responsible action by any group, but because God chose a specificform through which he carried out his ultimate act of self-revelation:
the incarnation, the cross, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus

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Christ.
Throughout the history of the Christian movement order and design
have been critical for corporate worship. Moreover, through the years
a certain basic shape and design for corporate worship has emerged
and has been adopted by Christians under the leadership of the Holy
Spirit. This basic design has had at its center the praise and prayers of
the people of God, the proclamation of God's Word and the celebrationof the sacraments. These emphases in turn have been given particularorder and expression so that a distinctive liturgical drama has beendeveloped which is comprised of various components and actions inrelationship to each other and to the overall purpose of worship.
Even so, there is no one "right" or "perfect" order or design forcorporate worship. Rather, those designing corporate worship are to
take thought for what is appropriate for a particular group on the basisof their specific situations together with the purpose and intent of thechurch's worship, and the liturgical tradition of their ecclesiastical body.
Corporate worship is always to be viewed as the people's service.
The worshipers are not to be spectators watching what a few do, butparticipants who, together with those leading worship, are engaged in amutual act of meeting between God and his called-out people. Leadersof worship should also keep in mind that they are worshipers too, andthat their function is to enable all present to worship God.
The ordering of worship is not intended to prohibit spontaneity incorporate worship. Instead it is proper to design worship in anticipationof spontaneity. A variety of responses meaningful for the worshipers
can be incorporated in the people's worship, and genuine, naturalexpressions of praise and confession are to be encouraged.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America has never adopted any official liturgy. The
responsibility for designing corporate worship for groups of Christians
is lodged with the judicatories. In the case of the local congregation, itis the session, under the leadership of the pastor, who has responsibility
for the design of corporate worship. The members of the otherjudicatories are responsible for ordering corporate worship for thosegroups of Christians, which at any given time are under the jurisdictionof that particular judicatory.
Ministers of the Word have special responsibilities for the orderingof corporate worship. They are educated in the history and theology ofChristian worship and they are expected to give strong guidance andleadership to all persons who are engaged in designing and leading
corporate worship.

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B. ORDINARY ACTS OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
Persons designing and participating in corporate worship are to takethought for those acts which Christians historically have found to bevalid and necessary expressions of their worship. These acts help us toremember and to understand what we are to do and what we are to say
as we meet to worship God.
1. Praise of God. Worshiping God involves praising God. Christians
praise God for who God is and for what God has done, is doing and has
promised to do. We praise God because God is the Sovereign Lord
over all of life.
2. Confession of Sin. While Christians are redeemed and worshipas a part of the redeemed community, sin is still a part of their lives.
Corporate worship has traditionally provided an occasion when
Christians acknowledge their sinfulness and confess their sins to God.
3. Proclamation. Whenever Christians worship, the gospel is to be
proclaimed. The gospel means good news and is centered in what God
has revealed to humankind throughout history, especially God's ultimate
revelation in Jesus Christ. In worship Christians both announce andhear that good news of God's love, grace, judgment, reconciliation,
forgiveness, mercy, and God's gracious call to service.
4. Affirmation of Faith. Stating what the community of faith believes
is an ordinary part of Christian worship. That faith both shapes thelife of the worshipers and gives expression to the hope and expectancy
which is a part of the Christian life.
5. Offering. The worship of the people of God is incomplete without
the act of giving. Surely it is well to be reminded that in worship God
gives himself anew to the worshipers. Also, in worship those present
offer themselves to God, to be shaped, empowered, directed, changed
by God; and they offer their gifts to God to be blessed and used by God.
6. Commitment and Commissioning. Corporate worship neverloses contact with the world. In corporate worship the worshipers givethought for all the world, and are enabled to move into the world toserve God and participate with God in the ongoing redemption of theworld. In corporate worship persons may respond in acts of repentanceand faith and commit themselves to serve God and to serve other humanbeings in the name of Jesus Christ. It is fitting that acts of commitment
and commissioning be included in worship.
7. Celebrating the Sacraments. The sacraments of the Lord's
Supper and baptism are sign-acts of God's self-giving which are meansby which God's grace is made available to us. The sacraments give apeculiar shape to the worship of Christians and are the primary signs of

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Directory of Worshipthe covenant of grace.
While it is appropriate to include all these acts in any occasion of
corporate worship, it is not necessary to incorporate all acts in order toexpress valid worship. Over a period of time, however, all of the acts
mentioned above should be expressed, and thought should be given by
those responsible for designing corporate worship to ensure that such is so.
C. BASIC RESOURCES FOR CORPORATE WORSHIPThe resources used by those designing worship are to be tested forsuitability by the purpose and intent of worship itself. Historically the
resources used by the church are as follows:
1. Scripture. Scripture is the written word of God and has apreeminent place in all aspects of the lives of Christians and the life of
the church.
The reading of one or more passages of scripture should be a part ofevery corporate worship experience.
Those responsible for reading scripture in worship are expected tobe very familiar with the selected passages and read them in such amanner that they are readily heard by the other worshipers. Scripture
readings should be selected so that over a period of time the entire
witness of scripture is read as a part of worship.
In addition to the reading of the Bible in worship, scripture is also
the fundamental resource for the opening sentences or call to worship,
the invitation to celebrate the sacraments, the assurance of pardon, theblessing, prayer, and proclamation. Indeed, scripture itself proclaims
God's word.
2. Prayers. Prayer is inseparable from the Christian life. To be a
Christian is to pray and to join others in prayer. Prayer therefore is an
essential aspect of all Christian worship.
Christians pray not primarily to "receive" something from God, but
as an expression of their creaturehood and their dependence upon God
as their creator. The primary purposes of prayer are: (1) to enter into
the presence of God to experience anew God's judgment, grace andpower; (2) to praise God, and (3) to invite God into our world and into
our lives.
All prayer in corporate worship is informed by the Lord's Prayer. Its
customary use as a vital part of worship is encouraged, and the natureand character of that prayer should serve as a guide for all prayer.
Christians also have the prayers that have been handed down throughthe church's history to use in corporate worship and to use as a guidefor all prayers prayed in worship. The prayers of the "great cloud ofDirectory of Worship

93

witnesses" which surround us are our prayers, too, and enable all thesaints, living and dead to participate in corporate worship.
It is in order to formulate new prayers for worship which are based
upon and added to this prayer tradition. But whether new prayers areformulated or ancient prayers prayed anew, the matter of first importanceis that they be in accord with the prayer tradition of the church.
Whether prayers are written or not is of no prime importance. Whatis important is that ordinarily the prayers be prepared and that they beprayed so that all present may participate in the prayers.
Prayer involves, among other emphases, the following: adoration or
praise of God, confession of sin, offering of thanksgiving, interceding
on behalf of others, supplication and surrender, offering of ourselves
and our gifts.
3. Music. The earliest records of the Christian community makeclear that music was an integral part of the worship of believers.
Singing their praise and prayers was customary and meaningful.
Music enables worshipers to offer their worship in a more completeway. It is imperative therefore that music provide the occasion forpeople to focus upon God and God's will, to experience the presence of
God and to worship God in spirit and truth.
Selection of music is to be done with utmost care, giving thought tothe quality of the music, and its appropriateness for Christian worshipand for the particular worshipers.
4. Hymns, Spirituals and Gospel Songs. Throughout the ages
Christians have sung their faith as a part of their worship. Hymns,
spirituals and gospel songs vary in content and focus and may be used
as a part of the many different acts of worship: praise, confession of sin,
proclamation, commitment, affirmation of faith.
From these resources for worship, care should be taken to ensurethat the text expresses some aspect of biblical truth, and that the tunereflects music quality and is suitable for the people who are to sing it.
5. Sermon. In corporate worship the sermon is central toproclamation. Its purpose is to present some aspect of the gospel ina manner which will enable all present to be engaged once more by
God's good news, have their lives claimed anew by God and invite a
response of obedience to God's call.
Sermons are based upon scripture and shaped by scripture. In
preparing sermons it is necessary to be guided by all of scripture inorder that all aspects of the gospel will be proclaimed. Orderly selectionof scripture passages upon which those preaching base their sermons,such as some form of lectionary, is encouraged.

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Sermons should be preached in a manner which reflects informed
communication skills.
6. Creeds. Creeds are one form of expressing what the communityof faith believes. The Bible contains numerous creedal statements
which summarize the faith of various worshiping groups. Scripture
passages such as Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Deuteronomy 26:5-9,
I Corinthians 15:3-7, Philippians 2:6-11 represent creedal statements
likely used in corporate worship.
The ancient creeds known as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene
Creed still serve worshipers well. In addition, other creeds have been
produced which may be used in worship as a means of expressing
personal and corporate faith. It is appropriate for Christians to write
new creeds for worship, so long as they are in accord with the biblicalwitness.
D. SUGGESTED ORDERS FOR CORPORATE WORSHIP
While there is no one order for worship which is appropriate for all
Christians, there is a classic shape to corporate worship which informs
all our worship. That shape is one of God's action and our response toGod. The following orders for Christian worship are informed by thatclassical shape. The first order includes the celebration of the Lord's
Supper, since the Lord's Supper is an act which gives the peculiar shape
to all Christian worship.
1. Corporate Worship Including the Lord's Supper
PreludeThe corporate worship begins as Christians present themselves to join
together to worship God. The music chosen for a prelude should enablepeople to focus their attention on God and God's kingdom. Worshipers
are to be instructed that the prelude is a part of their corporate worship.
It is not a "mood setter" or a time to "get ready" for worship. Perhaps
ringing a bell before the prelude begins, or some signal from the leaderof worship prior to the prelude indicating that worship is now to begin
would be helpful. The liturgist may simply say "Let us worship God."
Then the prelude can begin.

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Opening Sentences
Traditionally these sentences have always been scripture with thefocus being on God and our relationship to him. The classic model for
Presbyterian worship has been Psalm 124:8, "Our help is in the name of
the Lord who made heaven and earth." Many other passages of scripture
can be used as opening sentences, and may be said responsively. But
whatever passages are used, they will emphasize why the participants
have gathered and what they are about. The use here of any material
other than scripture should be carefully examined as to substance andintent.
Hymn of Praise
The dominant purpose of Christian worship is praise--the joyful
response of the people to God's unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ. It ishighly appropriate, therefore, that the people sing their praise to God
following the opening sentences. The hymn should be one whose tune
and text point to God's greatness, majesty, love and goodness.
Prayer of Adoration
Ordinarily the prayer following the hymn of praise continues thetheme of praise and adoration. Care should be taken to shape the prayer
as one of adoration, and remember that other prayers in the service will
be shaped by other appropriate prayer emphases.
Confession of Sin and Declaration of Pardon
or Words of Assurance
The confession of sin and the assurance of forgiveness are an integral
part of worship, just as they are an integral part of the Christian life.
Historically this act is found in one of two places: following the act ofadoration or before the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
It is in order to call the worshipers to confession through the use of
scripture passages. The prayer of confession follows and often it ismost meaningful when prayed in unison. If it is prayed by one person
on behalf of all, it should be carefully planned and thoughtfully prayedso that it can indeed be a corporate prayer in which all may participate.
The act of confession is to be followed by a strong affirmation or
declaration of pardon. Here again scripture provides the best treasury
for such affirmation, and needs no comment of any kind. For example,
I John 1:9 is often used: "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just,and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

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Directory of WorshipResponses of Praise
A response of praise appropriately follows the act of confession
and the granted forgiveness from God. This response can take several
forms. Psalms and canticles (songs from the Bible other than thosecontained in the Psalter) have long been used for this purpose. The
reading from the Psalter is appropriately followed by the singing of
the Gloria Patri ("Glory Be to the Father"), or some other response ofpraise.
The Hearing of God's Word
The reading, proclaiming and hearing of God's word constitute thesecond major movement in the order of worship. We gather to hear
God's word addressed to us through the reading of scripture and thepreaching of the sermon. Here proclamation is central and uppermost.
The reading of scripture is of critical importance to proclamation.
Whoever is responsible for reading it should be adequately preparedand possess the ability to read well.
In selecting the scripture passage or passages to be read careful
thought is to be given to providing the worshipers with all the manyand varied themes and emphases of God's word.
The use of a lectionary for corporate worship is highly recommended.
A lectionary is a systematic ordering of scripture to ensure that the many
themes of scripture will be read and provide the basis for proclamation.
Traditionally lectionaries are developed around the Christian year andprescribe specific readings for each Sunday. It is also appropriate forthose who design worship to produce a lectionary for use.
Customarily the reading of scripture is preceded by a Prayer for
Illumination which calls upon God to enable us to be receptive to his
word.
It is appropriate that the scripture readings be separated by an anthem
or canticle or hymn.
The sermon appropriately follows the last scripture reading andordinarily is to be based upon one or more of the readings. Care should
be exercised that the sermon not violate the integrity of worshipnor compromise the biblical witness. A prayer or Ascription of Praiseappropriately follows the sermon.
Affirmation of Faith or Creed
The affirmation of faith by the worshipers has from the early yearsof the Christian movement been a central part of corporate worship.
Historically the recital of the Creed or personal Affirmation of FaithDirectory of Worship97

was the basis on which worshipers were admitted to the Lord's Supper.
Only those persons who were willing to say "I believe..." were allowed
to participate in the worship of the people of God at the table. Also, theCreed or Affirmation of Faith functions as a response to our hearing ofGod's word.
It is fitting also that an appropriate hymn be sung to express further
the worshipers' belief or faith.
The Prayers of the People
The people's Affirmation of Faith is appropriately followed by the
Prayers of the People. These are prayers that may be offered by aminister or a layperson to which all present can respond by saying"Amen."The Prayers of the People may include thanksgiving, supplication,intercession, and conclude with the Lords' Prayer. Thanksgiving lifts up
the expression of gratitude common to all those present and may include
appreciation for the church; supplication focuses on the needs of theworshipers both individual and corporate; intercession incorporates theneeds of those not present but whose needs are well known, especiallythe needs of those who are not members of the Christian community;
the Lord's Prayer is the model of all our prayers and enables all present
to pray according to Jesus' teaching and understanding of prayer.
The Presenting of the Gifts or Offering
Historically the offering was the occasion in corporate worshipwhen the elements of bread and wine which were to be used in the
Lord's Supper were presented. It is appropriate to bring them to thecommunion table still, or if the table has already had the elements
placed upon it, they are at this time prepared for the Lord's Supper
which is to follow.
At this point in the service, money and other offerings are brought
forward. The giving of money is to be seen as an act of worship, asymbol of our commitment as individuals and as a corporate body to
the redemptive work of God in the world. Even if there is no money tobe given as a part of a particular service of corporate worship, some actof self-giving is in order for that service. The Doxology may be sung as
an act of praise following the giving of our gifts, and the act of giving
may conclude with a Prayer of Dedication.
The Celebration of the Lord's Supper
The celebration of the Lord's Supper is central to Christian worship.

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In this liturgical act a visible presentation of the word is joined to it andproclamation. Together, sermon and sacrament bear witness to God's
redemptive actions in the death and resurrection of Christ. It is always
appropriate to include the sacrament as a part of corporate worship.
In celebrating the Lord's Supper, those designing worship should be
guided by the acts which have traditionally accompanied that necessary
part of corporate worship. Those acts may be identified by different
names and be clustered under different headings, but essentially they
are these:a. Invitation to the Lord's Table. The minister who is to lead thecongregation in celebrating the Lord's Supper invites all who
believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to participate inthis celebration.
b. Words of Institution. Scripture passages which establish thewarrant for this celebration are read or recited by the one who isdesignated to officiate at the communion table. Appropriate
words are found in I Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-30;
Mark 14:19-26, and Luke 22:19-20. Other passages of scripture
which relate Jesus' meeting with his disciples for a meal after the
resurrection may also be used for this purpose.
c. Prayer of Thanksgiving. This prayer most often includes anexpression of thanksgiving to God for who he is and what he hasdone in Jesus Christ, a calling upon God to send the Holy Spirit
upon the elements and the people, and an offering of the lives ofthe people to be used by God.
d. Breaking and Pouring. Action at this point in the liturgy is mostmeaningful. The acts of breaking the bread and pouring the wine
dramatically remind us that Christ's body was broken and his
blood was shed for all. It is important therefore that such action
be thoughtfully done and clearly visible to all present. A loaf ofbread of sufficient size needs to be provided for the breaking, anda chalice and flagon are necessary for the pouring. After the
pouring, the chalice can be elevated for all to see. If the act of
pouring is omitted, the chalice may still be elevated.
e. Partaking of the Elements. Different ways of distributing theelements have developed in the life and worship of the church
which are appropriate. Congregations of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
have traditionally followed the procedure of serving theworshipers in their pews. Using this method, the minister may
partake of the elements, then serve the ruling elders, who in turn

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serve the congregation; or the minister and ruling elders may
serve others first and then serve one another.
Another method used is having the members of the congregation
come forward to partake and be served by the minister and rulingelders. Still another approach is to have the worshipers come forward
and be served while seated at a table.
In each method used, worshipers may stand, sit or kneel.
Many worshipers have found the use of one loaf of bread and onecup (traditionally called the "common cup") for all worshipers to be
most meaningful. Some congregations use the common cup only forthe minister and the ruling elders.
f. Post Communion Prayer. A prayer of praise, commitment andintercession may follow the distributing of the elements. A
canticle of the church or a hymn may appropriately follow thisprayer.
g. The Dismissal/Charge/Benediction. Corporate worship may
conclude with a dismissal signaling the concluding of worship,
or a charge in which the people are exhorted to go into the world
to be the people of God, or a pronouncement of a blessing upon
the people, or any combination of the three. Leaders areencouraged to use biblical material for this act.
Postlude
Like the prelude this music should be chosen with corporate worshipin mind. Moreover, if it is to be a part of worship, then all present
should be requested to remain silent and listen to the postlude andmake it a part of their worship. If this is to happen, it means that inmost instances the postlude will be brief. If the postlude is not to beunderstood as a part of worship, then it is recommended that it beremoved from the order of worship and that the service conclude withthe dismissal or benediction.
Announcements
Persons responsible for designing corporate worship will need tothink through how the making of necessary announcements will relate
to corporate worship. Some congregations will choose to present
all necessary announcements in a bulletin and expect the worshipers
to read them without any mention of them being made as a part ofworship. Other congregations may decide to make announcements
prior to the beginning of corporate worship. Another option is to makeannouncements after corporate worship.

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Those congregations which decide it is the wise choice to makeannouncements as a part of worship should give thought to how thiscan be done without disrupting worship. One possibility is to makeannouncements just prior to the Prayers of the People, and incorporate
the concerns of the announcements into the prayers. Wheneverannouncements are made as a part of corporate worship, they should
be restricted to announcements which relate directly to the on-goingmission of the congregation and have relevance for all members of theworshiping community.
2. An Order for Corporate Worship Without the Lord's Supper
PreludeOpening Sentences
Hymn of Praise
Call to Confession
Declaration of Pardon
Psalter Reading
Gloria Patri
Prayer for Illumination
First Scripture Reading
SermonAscription of Praise
Creed
Hymn
The Prayers of the People
The Offering
Offertory Anthem
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn
Benediction
3. A Second Order for Corporate Worship Without the
Lord's Supper
PreludeOpening Sentences or Call to Worship
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise
Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Pardon

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Responsive Reading
Gloria Patri
Invitation to Give
Giving of Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading(s)Prayers of the People
SermonHymn of Consecration
Benediction
Silent Prayer
Postlude
4. A Third Order for Corporate Worship Without the
Lord's Supper
PreludeOpening Sentences or Call to Worship
Processional Hymn
Prayers: Adoration (the people standing)Confession (the people seated)
Assurance of Pardon
Psalm
Gloria Patri
Scripture Reading(s)AnthemSermonCreed
Offering
Prayers of the People
Lord's Prayer
Recessional Hymn
Dismissal and/or Benediction
PostludeE. ORDERS FOR OCCASIONAL WORSHIP
There are various occasions other than the Lord's Day when groupsof Christians gather to worship. Families are encouraged in worship,different meetings and programs appropriately include worship, and102

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through the week opportunities may be given for Christians to join
together to pray and praise God. The following orders, or some adapted
versions of them, are recommended for voluntary use.
Order 1PreludeScripture Sentences
Hymn
Responsive Reading
Gloria Patri
Scripture Reading
Prayers
Hymn
Benediction
Postlude
Order 2
Scripture Sentences
Hymn of Praise
Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon
Doxology
Scripture Reading
Special Music
Prayers
Hymn
Silent Reflection
Charge and Dismissal
Order 3PreludeOpening Sentences or Call to Worship
Hymn
Scripture Reading
Silent Reflection on Scripture, orBrief Interpretation of Scripture
Prayers
Hymn
Closing PrayerDirectory of Worship

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Order 4
Hymn
Reading of Scripture
Brief Interpretation of Scripture
Silent Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Dismissal and/or Benediction
F. LEADERSHIP OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
General Guidelines
Thoughtful, responsible and imaginative leadership is critical for
corporate worship; weak, careless and sloppy leadership diminishes
significantly the worship of the people of God. The purpose of theleadership is to enable the worshipers to unite in their praise and homage
to God, to act out the liturgical drama, and to respond obediently to
God's claim on their lives. The leader directs the people with respect toactions or words.
There is no one way worship is to be conducted; the leadership will
depend greatly upon the situation and the person or persons responsible
for the leadership. The general rule for leadership is to do and saywhatever is necessary to enable the worshipers to be certain what action
is to take place or what is to be said, but do no more than is necessary.
Some additional guidelines for leaders of worship are:a. Present yourself as a worshiper along with the others;b. Avoid any action or comment which primarily calls attention to
yourself as a leader or distracts people from their worship;c. Be direct and forceful in your leadership;d. Plan carefully all comments and leadership actions;e. Be brief and clear with all directions;f. Learn how to lead non-verbally, andg. Make use of the historically liturgical language in directing or
leading the worshipers.
While the ordained minister is frequently the person most active inleading corporate worship, leadership of the worshipers is in no way
restricted to the clergy. Various members of the congregation may
function as leaders of worship and are encouraged to do so. The choir
and instrumental musicians provide leadership for the parts of theworship involving music, and other laypersons also provide various
types of leadership. It is paramount, however, that anyone whofunctions as a leader of worship be carefully prepared.

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Symbols and Vestments
Through the centuries the Christian community has made use ofsymbols and vestments to aid in their worship. Christians can choose
from this vast storehouse of symbols or create their own for use in theplace designated for worship. What is crucial in use of symbols is thatthose who are asked to use them understand clearly their meaning andtheir function.
Vestments worn by leaders of worship may also enrich and enhance
corporate worship. Robes worn by choir members and other musicians,
clergy robes, albs, chasubles, stoles can all serve a useful purpose if
they are properly introduced and understood. Vestments can fittingly
symbolize the function of the leader of worship and can direct attention
away from the individual to the responsibility the person is carrying out
on behalf of the worshiper.
G. THE CHOIR, MUSICIANS AND CORPORATE WORSHIPThe primary choir for all singing in worship is the worshiping
congregation. Where there is an auxiliary choir to provide liturgicalleadership, the members of that choir should always understandthemselves as worshipers offering their special gifts to God so thatthe congregation can sing and worship more faithfully. When a choirsings responses or anthems, it is representing the congregation, just as
ordained ministers do when they pray or preach.
Choir directors and other musicians have knowledge concerning
music which is valuable in planning and conducting corporate worship.
They should work closely with ministers and others in designing theworship service. Ministers and musicians especially should work
creatively with each other, sharing knowledge and understanding andlearning from each other.
H. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR AND CORPORATE WORSHIPAs worship developed in the Christian community during the first
centuries, an ordered attempt was made to ensure that in its worship thechurch would represent the whole of the gospel and the full spectrumof Christian truth. This ordering became known as the Christian year.
The primary emphases of the Christian year are the birth, passion andresurrection of Jesus Christ, and the empowering of the church formission. Various "seasons" (designated days or weeks) were developed
so that suitable attention could be given to the various aspects of thegospel.
Worshipers are encouraged to be instructed by the seasons andDirectory of Worship

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emphases of the Christian year in order that their worship may morenearly reflect the whole of the gospel.

II. THE SACRAMENTS
Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the two sacraments instituted by
Christ, are part of the full expression of corporate worship. They are
understood to be signs of Christ's presence with us and thereby belong
to the regular worship of Christians. The primary importance in bothsacraments is what God does and the reality of God's self-giving in andthrough the water, bread and wine. Like all aspects of worship they arecorporate acts in the deepest sense, and they always point to the saving
grace of Christ and Christ's benefits offered to us. Especially do thesacraments re-enact the redemptive acts of God by which we are united
to Jesus Christ and made one in Christ.
The power and meaning of the sacraments depend upon the presenceof Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word. They are also linked to the
proclaimed word, and are inseparably connected to the Word, incarnate
and proclaimed. They are in a true sense a visible Word. The Wordand sacraments together give the fundamental shape to all Christian
worship.
A. THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AND CORPORATEWORSHIP
Baptism is a sign of God's love for us and of Christ's grace extended
to us. In baptism God claims persons as his own and marks them as
peculiarly his, heirs of the covenant of grace. Baptism signifies andrepresents the forgiveness of sin, the engrafting into Christ, the comingof the Holy Spirit into our lives, and the death and resurrection to newlife. It is both proclamation and affirmation. It proclaims that God's
grace and love reach out to people before they are able to respond, andit affirms our new identity as members of the body of Christ. It sets
people apart from the rest of the world, and claims them as participantsin the ministry of Jesus Christ.
No person is worthy by her or his own merit to receive the gift ofGod's grace conferred and proclaimed in baptism. Whether it is abeliever who is baptized or a child of a believer, each is totallydependent on God's grace and forgiveness freely offered in Christ
through his church.
Baptism is an act of worship of the whole church. It should, therefore,
ordinarily be administered in the context of corporate worship. If there106

Directory of Worshipare compelling reasons to administer the sacrament in some othercontext than the regular worship of a congregation, members of thecongregation should still be present and scripture, proclamation, prayer
and affirmation of the faith of the congregation should be a part of theact.
The meaning and significance of baptism are never limited to theperson receiving the sacrament, but its benefits relate to all, as thosepresent who have been baptized recall their own membership in thecovenant community, the claim of God upon their own lives, and theirdependence upon God's grace and forgiveness freely given.
The nature and character of baptism dictates that it can be administeredonly once to each person. The sign and seal once administered last for
the whole course of our lives.
The proper recipients of baptism are believers and their children.
The sacrament is to be administered by an ordained minister.
B. CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
It is recommended that prior to the celebration of the sacrament ofbaptism, the person to be baptized or the parent(s) of the child who is
to be baptized should receive thorough instructions from the pastor andthe session as to the meaning of baptism and its significance for the
church and the one receiving the sacrament. After adequate instruction
has been given, a date should be set for the celebration of the sacrament.
The date should be a time when the regular worship of the congregation
is anticipated.
The sacrament is administered during corporate worship in the context
of affirmation of faith and may occur before or after the preaching of theWord. At the time in worship appointed for the sacrament, the minister
may begin the celebration by simply asking that those who are to bebaptized will come or be brought to the baptismal font. The minister,along with any others who are to assist in administering the sacrament,
will then join them at the font. A hymn reflecting one of the themes ofthe sacrament may be sung.
Once at the font, with the participants in their proper places, theminister may then read or recite scripture passages which set forth the
deep meaning of baptism found in scripture. Such texts as Isaiah 40:11;
Acts 2:39; Matthew 28:18-19; Psalm 103:17-18, and Mark 10:15-16
are highly appropriate, as are many other texts.
The minister will then state for all to hear the meaning of baptism,emphasizing the notions of the covenant of grace, God's forgiveness ofour sins, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into our lives and declaringDirectory of Worship107that through the sacrament we are marked as members of the householdof faith.
The parents of those to be baptized, or each believer who is to
be baptized, will next be asked to make affirmation of faith in Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Savior, and they shall be asked to declare their
willingness to be obedient to Christ through serving Christ as a memberof Christ's church. Parents of children receiving baptism are also asked
to declare their intention to teach their children of the love of God,to instruct them in the Christian faith, and to assist them to live lives
obedient to the gospel.
The following questions and responses are suggestive of questions
which could be used for the purposes stated above:
1. Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
2. Do you trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation?
I trust only in Jesus Christ.
3. Do you intend to be Christ's faithful disciple?
I do so intend, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The next two questions are to be asked only of the parent(s) of thechildren to be baptized:
4. Do you seek baptism for your child?
I do, confessing its meaning for my salvation and the salvation of
my child.
5. Do you intend to teach your child of the meaning of baptism for a
person's life, the love of God and the meaning of Christiandiscipline?
I so intend, relying greatly upon the Holy Spirit and the communityof faith.
The members of the congregation are then to be asked if they will
accept, witness to, and support the persons who are to be baptized,
recognizing them as members of Christ's church. A question such as
the following could be put to the worshiping congregation.
Do you, the people of God, members of Christ's church, promise toshare with this new member the good news of the gospel, to surround(him/her) with love and compassion, and to support (him/her) throughprayer, fellowship, and direction?
We do so promise and we so intend.
The response of the congregation being given, the minister will thenlead the congregation in prayer, giving thanks for God's grace andforgiveness, God's love and mercy and for the church of Jesus Christ.
Other biblical themes concerning baptism may be used to enrich the108

Directory of Worshipprayer. Moreover, it is in order to pray for the blessing of the water andthe coming of the Holy Spirit into the life of the one to be baptized.
Following the prayer, the minister shall ask the Christian name ofthe one to be baptized. The congregation will then stand for the act ofbaptism.
Pouring or sprinkling water on the person who is to receive thesacrament the minister shall say:"__________________, I baptize you in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
After the act of baptism the minister shall charge the congregation
with respect to their responsibilities. A hymn may then be sung, or
testimonies presented by members of the congregation. Or the ministermay give witness to the fact that Christians are no longer aliens but
fellow workers with Christ.
When persons being baptized are to be received into the church, thesession may receive them before the act of baptism, or after the act ofbaptism, or at a meeting of the session at a later date.
Prayers may conclude the celebration, prayers of thanksgiving andintercession. The prayers may be in unison, silent or bidding in form.
A blessing or peace may then be pronounced.
C. THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER AND
CORPORATE WORSHIPThe sacrament of the Lord's Supper is not to be thought of as anaddition to corporate worship; it is rather to be understood as central
to Christian worship. It gives distinctive shape to the worship ofChristians, and it should be celebrated frequently enough that it is clear
to everyone that the Lord's Supper is a central part of corporate worship.
In the Lord's Supper God acts to give those who come to the tablein faith the spiritual nourishment necessary to sustain them in their
Christian lives. The quality and growth of one's life as a Christian aretied inseparably to this sacrament.
This sacrament is more than a memorial to, or a reminder of, Christ's
sacrificial death and resurrection. It is a means, instituted by Christ
for his disciples. through which the risen Lord is truly present withhis people as a continuing power and reality. While the meaningof Christ's sacrificial death is at the heart of this sacrament, it is a
resurrected, living Christ whom we encounter through the bread andthe wine.
The time and place for each celebration of the Lord's Supper is tobe set by the church judicatory which has jurisdiction over the groupDirectory of Worship

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of Christians who are to celebrate the sacrament. The sacrament is to
be offered freely to all who express personal faith, but all who are topartake were to be encouraged to confess their sins, to be reconciled toeach other and to all human beings, and to come in humility and hope
to Christ's table.
Celebrating the Lord's Supper
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated as an integral
part of corporate worship. Its administration will ordinarily follow thereading and proclamation of the word.
The celebration of the Lord's Supper may begin with the minister,or an elder authorized by the presbytery to administer the sacrament,
reading or reciting scripture passages which speak of Christ's invitation
to us to come to him. Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 5:6; Luke 13:29;
John 6:35, 48-51; John 10:10-11, and Revelation 3:20 are passages
which may be used, but there are many others which may be used.
After the hymn has been sung the minister then reads or recites thebiblical words of institution. These are passages of scripture whichtell of Christ's institution of the Lord's Supper: I Corinthians 11:23-26;
Luke 22:14-19; Matthew 26:26-28, and Mark 14:22-25.
The minister after presenting the words of institution then leads theworshipers in a prayer of thanksgiving. This prayer and its emphasis of
thanksgiving has been so critical to this sacrament that the sacrament
often is referred to as the Eucharist, which comes from the Greek wordin the New Testament, Eucharisto, which means thanksgiving. It should
include thanksgiving to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, thanksgiving
for Christ's life, death and resurrection, and thanksgiving for Christ'spresence among his people. Traditionally the prayer has also included
a petition for the coming of the Holy Spirit to bring about our unionwith the risen Christ. It is appropriate that the Lord's Prayer follows theprayer of thanksgiving.
The minister may then break bread in the presence of the people,
repeating the words of Jesus: “This is my body, which is for you; do thisin remembrance of me.”
The minister may then pour the wine in the presence of the people,
voicing Jesus' words: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do
this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
It is in order for the minister and those assisting the ministerthemselves to partake of both elements, and then distribute the bread
and wine to the other worshipers. As the elements are being passed, ahymn may be sung, or scripture may be read or silence observed.

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Directory of WorshipAs the minister gives the elements to the other worshipers, theminister may say: "This is the body of Christ; take, eat, and remember
Christ died for your sins, and was raised victorious over sin and death."and"This is the blood of Christ; take, all of you drink of it, and rememberthat Christ died for your sins, and was raised victorious over sin anddeath."or"Jesus said: 'I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will neverbe hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.'"and"Jesus said: 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Cut off from me
you can do nothing.'"
When all the worshipers have been served, the minister may remindthem of Christ's grace or bid them Christ's peace, using such phrases as:"The peace of God be with you" or "The grace of our Lord is yours."
The worshipers may then praise God by singing or reading a psalm,
or by singing a hymn of praise.
It is proper that a brief prayer of praise and thanksgiving follow, after
which a hymn may be sung. Following the hymn the worshipers may
be given a charge and commissioned using such words as the following:"Go out into the world in peace and be the people of God; be of goodcourage; hold firmly to all that is good; return no person evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help those in need; treat
all persons with respect and compassion; love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit."or"Rejoice in the Lord always: Let all people know your gentlenessand compassion and patience. Have no anxiety about anything, but ineverything trust Christ who has promised to be with us always. And thepeace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
The service properly concludes with a blessing, after which thepeople may respond by saying:"Alleluia! Amen!"

III. LITURGICAL RITES AND OCCASIONAL WORSHIP
A. PUBLIC PROFESSION OF FAITH
It is expected that corporate worship will be the occasion for persons
to make public their professions of faith. This will be so for persons

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who are baptized as children of believing parents and also for persons
who come to faith from outside the church. Both are reason for joy andrejoicing and for giving praise to God.
Such professions can appropriately take place in worship after thepreaching of the gospel, and just prior to or as a part of the congregationalaffirmation of faith. Certainly professions of faith should be included
in worship before the Lord's Supper is celebrated.
A variety of procedures may be used to incorporate into worship the
personal profession of faith of individuals. An invitation to Christiandiscipleship may be extended following preaching of the gospel, andpersons may present themselves to make public professions of faith atthat time. Or groups of individuals who have received instruction may
be presented to the congregation by the minister or a ruling elder. Again,
sponsors may bring the persons forward and present them. Whateverprocedure is used, it should honor the purpose and focus of worship;
the procedure should never be seen as an interruption of worship or an
intrusion into worship.
Once persons present themselves or are presented, they should begiven the opportunity to profess their faith. Most often this is done
according to the ancient custom in the church of asking questions.
However, a congregation may give persons the opportunity of giving astatement of their personal faith in lieu of responding to questions.
When those making a public profession of faith desire to affiliate
with the congregation, the following form of church covenant may be
used:
1. Do you repent of your sin and believe Jesus Christ to be your
Savior and the Lord of your life?
I Do.
2. Do you believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments tobe the inspired word of God, the source of authority for faith andpractice, and will you read and study them for guidance in living
the Christian life?
I do so believe and I do so promise.
3. Do you promise to be a faithful member of this church byparticipating in worship, sharing in its ministry of witness andservice, supporting the government of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America, and loving your brothers and sisters in Christ?
I do so promise.
4. Will you strive to overcome temptation and weakness, grow inknowledge and grace, and practice love in all relationships,

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being strengthened in your personal discipleship by your life in
the community of faith?
I will so strive.
5. Do you promise to be a good steward of the life, talents, time, andmoney which God has entrusted to you, giving of these gifts tothe church?
I do so promise.
An alternate form of church covenant which may be used is:
1. Who is your Lord and Savior?
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
2. Do you trust in Jesus Christ?
I do.
3. Do you intend to be Christ's disciple, to obey Christ's commands,
and serve Christ?
I do, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
4. Do you intend to be a faithful member of the part of Christ's body
called the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, worshiping and serving as amember of a local congregation, giving of yourself, your time andyour substance?
I do so intend, relying upon God's grace.
After the questions have been answered, or the testimonies given, theminister shall acknowledge those professing their faith to be disciples
of Jesus Christ, saying to each one something like the following:"________________, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You are a
fellow worker with us and with Christ. You are privileged to participate
with all of Christ's disciples in Christ's redemptive work in the world."
A charge or commissioning may follow this declaration. Indeed, theminister may prepare a charge or commissioning statement for eachoccasion. The statements which follow may serve as a guide:"Jesus said: ‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ Christ
sends us into the world, as he was sent into the world, not to beministered unto but to minister. May it be so for your life and for us
all."or"Be filled with the Spirit of Christ. Live a life worthy of the gospel,with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one anotherin love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the body of peace.
Be an imitator of Christ. Walk in love."Directory of Worship

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After this charge, the church session may act to receive as membersof the congregation those persons making a profession of faith. Or thesession may act to receive them at a meeting soon thereafter. Thenall present may join together in stating their common faith, using a
traditional or contemporary creed.
Transfer of Membership or Reaffirmation of Faith
If persons who have previously made a public profession of faith
desire to unite with a different congregation by transfer of membershipor reaffirmation of faith, they may be acknowledged at this time. Ifthey have already been received by the session, they may simply be
introduced and recognized. If they have not yet been received they
may be asked to declare their intentions publicly at this time and thenbe welcomed as members. An appropriate question would be:
Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord andSavior, and do you transfer your membership and loyalty to thiscongregation?
I do, rejoicing in the opportunity to worship and serve God in thiscongregation.
After all individual professions of faith and declarations of intent
have been stated, it is fitting that the session act to receive as membersof that congregation all who have reaffirmed their faith. Or the session
may act to receive them at a meeting soon thereafter. It is then highly
appropriate that all present join together in an affirmation of faith, using
one of the traditional or contemporary creeds of the church.
A prayer suitable for the occasion should follow, after whichthose who have been received as newly commissioned members arewelcomed into the ministry of Jesus Christ to the community which thecongregation serves.
B. CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
Christian marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman
in which they pledge their love to each other, commit themselves to
one another, promise mutual fidelity and covenant to live together ashusband and wife. Christians believe that God has ordained such a
relationship for the welfare and happiness of humankind. While it is
not necessary to be married to be an obedient Christian, and indeed
not everyone should marry, it is in order for Christians to marry and toadvocate marriage. Jesus Christ blessed the relationship of marriage,
it has been honored in the church throughout the church's history, and it
is to be held in high esteem among all people.

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Marriage is a relationship recognized and defined by both the state
and the church. The state views it as a civil contract among a woman anda man and the state with certain legal requirements placed upon all whoenter into the civil contract. Moreover, the state requires that numerous
requirements be met with respect to age, health and soundness of mind.
The church views marriage as more than a legal contract. Marriage
is understood to be a relationship which is patterned after God's
relationship to human beings in Jesus Christ. It involves self-giving,unselfish love one for the other and a profound sense of living their life
together under the guidance and providential care of God.
Ministers are expected to counsel with a woman and a man who
come to them to be married. That counseling will include instruction of
the couple with respect to the biblical meaning of marriage, explorationof the commitment which the man and the woman have to each other,
the requirements of the state, the design of the marriage service and thereligious commitments of those who present themselves to be married.
Each minister will decide, based upon counseling with the couple,
whether she or he can participate with the couple in the marriage
ceremony. In making such a determination, the minister should consider
matters such as the following: the concepts of marriage held by the
couple, their commitment to Jesus Christ and the Christian church,
their emotional, personal and financial suitability for marriage and theircommitment to a marriage relationship. It is prudent for ministers attimes to seek counsel from other ministers or laypersons in reaching adecision concerning his or her willingness to officiate at the marriage
service of particular couples.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America views a Christian service of marriage as a corporate
worship experience. Consequently everything in principle whichapplies to corporate worship applies to a marriage service. The focus
should be kept upon God and God's Word. All present are expectedto participate. Indeed, it is highly appropriate for a man and a woman
to be married as a part of a regular worship service. The man and thewoman, as well as all members of the wedding party, engage in thescheduled corporate worship of the congregation, and come forward
for the wedding service after the sermon and before the dismissal and/or benediction. It is also acceptable to have a service of marriage after
the dismissal and/or benediction, with all members of the congregation
invited to stay.
The essential elements of a marriage service are the following:(1) A brief statement of the meaning of Christian marriage by giving

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particular emphases to biblical material and themes. (2) Prayers for the
couple as they enter into their new relationship. (3) An exchange ofvows, appropriate to the Christian understanding of marriage between
the woman and the man, and an exchange of rings if desired. (4)Scripture reading. (5) A charge delivered to the couple. (6) A publicdeclaration that the man and woman are joined in marriage according tothe ordinance of God and the law of the state. (7) The pronouncementof a blessing upon the couple.
The minister should provide counseling for the couple with respect
to music. Any music which is a part of the Christian marriage ceremony
should focus attention upon God, who sanctifies marriage. Hymns forcongregation singing are recommended. If the minister lacks skill andknowledge in this area, it is highly recommended that counsel be soughtfrom a competent, qualified musician.
Flowers, decorations and other appointments can add to the marriage
service; however, care should be taken to avoid ostentation, excessive
expense and that which is unduly elaborate.
At times a woman and man previously married in a civil ceremony
may desire that their relationship be blessed by God through God's
church. In such a situation, the minister will counsel with the couple,
and if they demonstrate a Christian understanding of marriage and are
genuinely seeking God's blessing on their marriage, then an appropriate
service similar to a regular marriage ceremony may be performed asa part of a regularly scheduled service of corporate worship, or as aseparate ceremony.
C. THE CHRISTIAN FUNERAL
Christians recognize the inevitability of death, and the Christiangospel powerfully addresses the reality and the experience of death.
Christians are expected to affirm their confidence in Christ's victory
over death and the grave and to proclaim that death cannot separate
human beings from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Such isthe faith by which Christians live and in which Christians die.
The belief of Christians in the resurrection from the dead is not abelief which denies the reality of death or suggests that persons havewithin them some form of immortality. Rather, it is a belief that God's
love and power are greater than the power of death, so that though we
die and cease to exist, we are given new life, a new existence in God's
eternity. All this, Christians affirm because of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead on the first day of the week.
The Christian community has special responsibilities toward116

Directory of Worshippersons who are dying and toward those who are bereaved. Persons
who are confronted with imminent death should not be isolated fromthe Christian community nor should members of the community try toconvince them that they are not dying. Instead they should be supportedwith love, and affirmed as persons loved and forgiven by God.
When a person dies, the minister should be notified immediately. The
minister, as well as others in the congregation, should go immediately
to make contact with the family. It should be remembered that what is
important on such an occasion is not what is said, but what is importantis one's presence, and whom and what one represents. The ministershould listen and be sensitive to the needs of those bereaved. It is
expected that prayer will be offered with the family during the initial
contact. If the minister of the congregation is not available, then one ormore of the ruling elders should represent the church.
Ministers need to realize that the funeral is a cultural event as well
as a religious event. Consequently ministers should be sensitive tocustoms regarding death and burial of the dead which are characteristicof each particular community and honor those customs wheneverpossible. This necessitates that ministers work creatively with funeral
directors to ensure that there is adequate understanding on the part ofthe minister of various funeral practices and that there is an informal
understanding of the funeral director with respect to the minister's
theological understanding and practice.
The Christian funeral service is understood as a service of worshipand should be approached as such. Thought should be given to thedesigning of the service, and it is expected that those present will
participate in corporate worship. The singing of hymns, reading ofscripture, preaching of the gospel, confession of sin, affirmation offaith, the celebration of the Lord's Supper are all appropriate to theChristian funeral service. In designing such a service, the family should
be consulted and their desires should influence the shape and designof the service. It is strongly recommended that Christian funerals be
conducted at the church. The casket shall be closed at all times during
the service of worship.
It is not necessary to have the body of the deceased present for theservice of worship which is occasioned by death. Services of worshipwith the body being absent are recognized as appropriate and equally
meaningful as when a casket is present. Such a service may be scheduled
before or after the committal service, if the body is to be interred.
The committal service should be performed with dignity andsimplicity. It is to be brief, with scripture, prayer and a statement of theRules of Order

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Christian hope.
In all matters pertaining to the burial of the dead, ostentation,
excessive expense, preoccupation with the cosmetic are to be avoided.
The church is encouraged to support the wishes of the family of the
bereaved with respect to memorial gifts in lieu of or in addition toflowers. At the church the use of a funeral pall is strongly recommended.
Christians have a responsibility to think through the different
acceptable methods for disposing of the body of one who has died.
Persons are urged to consider the matter long before death is imminentand make a decision with respect to the disposition of their bodies
at the occasion of death. If the decision has not been made prior to
one's death, the family should be assisted by the minister to examine
the options. Interment, cremation and donation of the body for medical
purposes are all Christian methods of disposing of the body.
D. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY WORSHIP
Individuals and families should order their lives so that time
is available on a scheduled basis for prayer, reading of scripture,
meditation and informed personal examination. They are to look to thechurch, particularly ordained ministers, for guidance and instruction in
the nature, character and practice of prayer. All human beings need tobe taught how to pray just as Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.
Family worship is also advocated to be practiced on a regular basis.
In designing family worship, all members of the family should beconsidered, and worship should be designed so that all members canparticipate in the worship. Creativity and imagination are urged, anda variety of forms and approaches are desirable. Guidance from thechurch is to be sought.
It is important always for individuals and families to remember that
their worship is to be regarded as a part of the worship of the church,
the family of God. No Christian worship can ever be private worship;
it is always a part of the worship of the great cloud of witnesses, living
and dead, the universal church. One worships in the name of Jesus as apart of that church which is the body of Christ.

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RULES OF ORDER
1.0 MODERATOR
1.1
The moderator has all the authority necessary to maintainorder and for directing the business of the judicatory according to therules and regulations of the church.
1.2
The minister in charge is the moderator of the session. The
moderators of the other judicatories shall be elected for a set term andhold office until a successor is elected.
1.3
The moderator should be well-versed in parliamentary law
and be familiar with the standing rules of the judicatory. At the sametime, the moderator should bear in mind that rules are not a substitutefor common sense.
1.4
It is the duty of the moderator:
a. to announce in proper sequence the business that comes before
the judicatory in accordance with the agenda or program and theexisting orders of the day;b. to recognize members who are entitled to the floor;
c. to state and to put all questions that legitimately come before thejudicatory as motions or that otherwise arise in the course ofproceedings (except those that relate to the moderator), and toannounce the result of each vote; or, if a motion that is not in orderis made, to rule it out of order;
d. to protect the judicatory from frivolous or dilatory motions byrefusing to recognize them;e. to require that the rules relating to debate and to order and decorum
within the judicatory be observed;
f. to expedite business in every way compatible with the rights ofthe members;
g. to decide all questions of order, subject to appeal--unless, when in
doubt, such a question is submitted to the judicatory fordecision;h. to respond to inquiries of members relating to parliamentary
procedure or factual information bearing upon the business of the
judicatory;
i. to authenticate by signature, when necessary, all acts, orders, andproceedings of the judicatory;
j. to declare the meeting adjourned when the judicatory so votes or-when applicable--at the time prescribed on the program, or at
any time in the event of a sudden emergency affecting the safety

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119of those present:
k. to appoint all committees unless otherwise determined by the
judicatory, andl. to call the vice-moderator (or some other member) to the chair topreside temporarily; or before engaging in debate (except uponquestions of order).
1.5
At each meeting, in addition to the necessary papers proper tothat meeting's business, the moderator should have at hand:a. a copy of the standing rules of the judicatory;
b. a copy of the Rules of Order of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America;c. a copy of the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, andd. a memorandum of the complete order of business.
1.6
A judicatory may name the moderator an ex-officio memberof all its boards and agencies (with voting rights); otherwise, themoderator is an advisory (non-voting) member of such boards andagencies.
1.7
If the moderator of a session is absent, or if the session is
without a moderator, the clerk, or in his/her absence a member ofthe session, shall preside until a moderator pro tem is elected. In a
congregation without a pastor, the moderator pro tem may be a memberof the session or any ordained minister of the presbytery.
1.8
In judicatories above the session, if, during the term ofoffice, the moderator is absent, the vice-moderator shall preside. If
the vice-moderator is also absent (or if the judicatory does not havesuch an office), the stated clerk shall preside until a moderator pro tem
is elected. In the absence of all of these officers, the members shallselect a member of the judicatory to preside until a moderator pro tem
is selected. If the absence occurs at the end of the moderator's termof office, the same procedure applies, but the member elected by the
judicatory shall become the moderator, rather than the moderator pro
tem.
1.9
When an issue is being considered by a judicatory thatrefers to the moderator in a capacity not shared in common with othermembers, or that commends or censures the moderator, the chair
should be occupied by the vice-moderator or an appropriate temporary
occupant.

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2.0 VICE MODERATOR
2.1
A judicatory above the session may have a vice-moderator
when such an office is incorporated within its standing rules whichprescribe the manner of election.
2.2
The vice-moderator shall perform the duties of the moderator
during the absence or disability of the moderator or in the case of avacancy in the office of moderator, and shall perform such other duties
as from time to time may be assigned to the office of vice-moderator by
the judicatory.

3.0 STATED CLERK
3.1
Each judicatory shall elect a stated clerk who shall preserve allminutes, documents, and papers committed to the office of stated clerk
and submit these records to the next higher judicatory in compliancewith that judicatory's rules and regulations.
3.2
The stated clerk shall be elected for a definite term (normally
three years) and shall hold office until a successor is elected.
3.3
All records and documents are the property of the judicatory
and shall be kept and stored in accordance with the provision of theConstitution. Upon leaving office, the stated clerk shall transfer all
such records and documents to the successor.
3.4
It shall be the duty of the stated clerk to record all minutes
in permanent form and to supply extracts from them when properly
requested. The stated clerk shall perform the duties of the office ofstated clerk during the meeting of the judicatory unless otherwise
determined by the judicatory. Other duties of the stated clerk shall be:a. to keep on file all committee records;
b. to keep the judicatory's official membership roll;c. to make copies of the official minutes of the judicatory anddistribute them to the members prior to the next stated meeting(unless otherwise determined by the judicatory);d. to notify officers, committee members and delegates of theirelection or appointment, to furnish committees with whatever
documents are required for the performance of their duties and tohave on hand at each meeting a list of all existing committees andtheir members;
e. to certify delegates or commissioners;
f. to sign the minutes of all meetings;
g. to read all papers to be acted upon (unless otherwise determined

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121

by the judicatory), andh. to record any vote which requires more than a majority following
a polling of the judicatory or a division of the house.
3.5
The stated clerk shall record only those motions which are
adopted unless instructed otherwise by the judicatory.
3.6
The stated clerk may or may not be a member of the judicatory.

4.0 TREASURER
4.1
The treasurer shall be elected for a definite period of time(normally a three-year term).
4.2
The treasurer shall keep the books properly posted so as tobe able to provide a current report on the financial condition of the
judicatory.
4.3
The treasurer shall prepare a detailed annual report at the endof each fiscal year and such supplemental reports as the judicatory may
require.
4.4
The treasurer shall present the financial records for an annual
review or audit, the nature of such to be determined by the judicatory.
4.5
The treasurer shall not disburse any funds without proper
authorization from the judicatory.
4.6
The treasurer may or may not be a member of the judicatory.

5.0 OPENING AND CLOSING OF
JUDICATORY MEETINGS
5.1
The moderator shall open the meetings at the appointed timeby taking the chair, calling the meeting to order, and after ascertainingthat a quorum is present, calling the judicatory to prayer.
5.2
Should a quorum not be present at the appointed time, any
two members can adjourn the meeting from time to time to afford an
opportunity for a quorum to convene.
5.3
Following the roll call, the minutes not previously approved
shall be read, corrected, and approved by a vote of the judicatory. The
minutes of a church session shall be corrected and approved at the closeof the meeting or at the beginning of the next regular meeting. The
minutes of all judicatories above the church session shall be corrected
and approved before the adjournment of that particular meeting. If
the existence of an error or material omission in the minutes becomesreasonably established after their approval--even many years later-the minutes can then be corrected by means of the motion to Amend
Something Previously Adopted, which requires unanimous consent or a
two-thirds vote.

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5.4
The moderator of every judicatory above the session, inclosing its meeting, may have a hymn to be sung in addition to thepraying of a closing prayer or the pronouncement of a benediction.

6.0 QUORUMS
6.1
A majority of the session shall constitute a quorum unless thecongregation has set a quorum otherwise.
6.2
Four members shall constitute a quorum for the presbytery
provided at least one minister and one elder are present.
6.3
Six members from at least three presbyteries shall constitute a
quorum for synod providing this includes at least one minister and one
elder.
6.4
Any twenty or more commissioners, of whom at least ten
are ministers and ten elders shall constitute a quorum for the General
Assembly.

7.0 ADOPTION OF PROGRAM: ORDERS OF THE DAY
7.1
A program or agenda is adopted by a majority vote and isalways subject to change. However, after having been adopted, a twothirds vote is required for change.
7.2
An order of the day is a particular subject, question, or itemof business that is set in advance to be taken up at a given session,day, or meeting, or at a given hour provided that no business having
precedence over it interferes.
7.3
Orders of the day are divided into two classes: general orders
and special orders. When an hour is assigned to a particular subject on
the program, that subject is thereby made a special order. Subjects forwhich no hour is specified are general orders.
7.4
An order of the day that has been set for a particular hourcannot be considered before that hour unless the rules are suspended bya two-thirds vote.
7.5
A general order cannot be considered if other business ispending or if a prior general order has not been considered. A special
order interrupts all business except certain privileged questions (SeeRobert's Rules of Order).
7.6
Regular order of business:
a. Reading and Approval of Minutes (session only)
b. Reading and Referring (or acting upon) Communications
Addressed to the Judicatory
c. Reading of Resolutions
d. Reports of Officers, Boards, Standing Committees andRules of Order

123

Commissions
e. Reports of Select Committees
f. Unfinished Businessg. New Business8.00 MOTIONS
8.10 Bringing a Motion Before a Judicatory
8.11 There are three steps by which a motion is normally brought
before a judicatory: (1) a member makes a motion; (2) another member
seconds the motion, and (3) the moderator states the question on the
motion.
8.12 To make a motion a member must rise, address the moderator
and be recognized, and then state the motion.
8.13 The purpose of a second is to assure that more than one
member of the judicatory wants to deal with a particular issue. It is
not necessary for a member to obtain the floor to second a motion.
A motion made by direction of a committee composed of judicatory
members requires no second from the floor.
8.20 Considering a Motion
8.21 There are three basic steps by which a motion is considered:a. the members debate the motion (if debatable);b. the moderator puts the question (has the members vote), andc. the moderator announces the result of the vote.
8.30 Types of Motions
8.31 Main Motion
Purpose: To bring business before the judicatory.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is amendable;
requires only a majority vote (with few exceptions, see Robert's Rulesof Order); can be reconsidered.
8.32 Subsidiary Motions
Purpose: To assist the judicatory in treating or dispensing of main
motions.
A listing of subsidiary motions from the lowest to the highest in theorder of precedence:a. Postpone Indefinitely
Purpose: To kill a main motion for the duration of the session andavoid a direct vote on the question.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is not amendable; requires only a majority vote; an affirmative vote can bereconsidered, a negative vote cannot.

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Rules of Orderb. Amend
Purpose: To modify the wording--and within certain limits (seeRobert's Rules of Order, Section 12) the meaning--of a pending motion.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is generally
amendable; requires only a majority vote; can be reconsidered.
c. Commit or Refer
Purpose: To send a pending question to a committee so that thequestion may be carefully investigated and put into better condition forthe judicatory to consider.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is amendable;
requires only a majority vote; can be reconsidered if the committee has
not begun consideration of the question.
d. Postpone to a Certain Time (or Definitely)
Purpose: To defer action on a pending question within limits (seeRobert's Rules of Order, section 14) to a definite day, meeting, or hour,or until after a certain event.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is amendable;
requires only a majority vote; can be reconsidered.
e. Limit or Extend the Limits of Debate
Purpose: To exercise special control over debate.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is amendable
but any amendment is undebatable; requires a two-thirds vote; canbe reconsidered without debate any time before the order limiting or
extending debate is exhausted.
f. Previous Question
Purpose: To bring the judicatory to an immediate vote on one ormore pending questions.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is notamendable (except another member can move the previous question on
more or fewer pending questions); requires a two-thirds vote; can bereconsidered (before any vote has been taken).
g. Lay on the Table
Purpose: To allow the judicatory to lay the pending question
aside temporarily.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered.
8.33 Privileged Motions
Purpose: To allow the judicatory, without debate, to deal withspecial matters of immediate and overriding importance that do not
relate to the pending business.
A listing of privileged motions from the lowest to the highest in theorder of precedence:Rules of Order125

a. Call for the Orders of the Day
Purpose: To require the judicatory to follow its adopted program
or agenda.
Characteristics: Does not require a second; is not debatable; is
not amendable; does not require a vote, but can be set aside by a twothirds vote; cannot be reconsidered.
b. Raise a Question of Privilege
Purpose: To permit a request or main motion relating to the rights
and privileges of the judicatory or any of its members to be brought up
for immediate consideration while business is pending.
Characteristics: Does not require a second; is not debatable; is
not amendable; is ruled upon by the moderator; cannot be reconsidered.
c. RecessPurpose: To permit a short intermission in the judicatory's
proceedings which does not close the meeting, and after which businesswill be immediately resumed at the point where it was interrupted.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is amendable
as to the length of time, but such an amendment is not debatable;
requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered.
d. Adjourn
Purpose: To close the present meeting when no time for adjourning
has been set and provision for a future meeting exists.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered.
e. Fix Time to Which to Adjourn
Purpose: To set the time, and sometimes the place, for anothermeeting to continue business of the session with no effect on when thepresent meeting will adjourn.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is amendable
as to the date, hour or place, but such amendments are not debatable;
requires only a majority vote; can be reconsidered.
8.34 Incidental Motions
Purpose: To raise incidental questions (usually questions ofprocedure). Incidental questions usually must be decided before
business can proceed.
A listing of incidental motions:a. Point of Order
Purpose: To call upon the moderator for a ruling and an
enforcement of the rules of order.
Characteristics: Does not require a second; is not debatable; is
not amendable; is ruled upon by the chair (no vote is taken unless the126

Rules of Ordermoderator is in doubt or his ruling is appealed); cannot be reconsidered.
b. Appeal
Purpose: To take the moderator's ruling to the judicatory for final
decision.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is normally undebatable (seeRobert's Rules of Order for exceptions); is not amendable; a majority
or tie vote sustains the decision of the moderator; can be reconsidered.
c. Suspend the Rules
Purpose: To allow the judicatory to do something it cannot do
without violating one or more of its regular rules.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; requires a two-thirds vote; cannot be reconsidered.
d. Objection to the Consideration of a Question
Purpose: To enable the judicatory to avoid a particular main
motion when it believes it would be undesirable for the motion to evencome before the judicatory.
Characteristics: Does not require a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; a two-thirds vote against consideration is required to sustain
the objection; a vote sustaining the objection can be reconsidered, but
one not sustaining the objection cannot.
e. Division of a Question
Purpose: To allow the parts of a question to be separated.
Procedure: The motion to divide must clearly state the mannerin which the question is to be divided. A motion cannot be divided
unless each part presents a proper question for the judicatory to act
upon if none of the other parts are adopted. If a series of independent
questions are offered in one motion, the questions must receive separate
consideration at the request of a single member and the motion for
Division of a Question is not used. (See Robert's Rules of Order,
Section 27).
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is amendable;
requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered.
f. Consideration by Paragraph or Seriatim
Purpose: To allow a report or long motion consisting of a seriesof resolutions, paragraphs, articles, or sections to be considered by
opening the different parts to debate and amendment separately.
Procedure: Each sub-division should be read, explained by its
proponent and then opened for debate and amendment. Amendments
are voted on as they arise, but no sub-division is finally adopted atthat time. After all parts have been considered, the entire document is
opened for amendment. Following this, the vote is taken on the entire

Rules of Order127

document as amended.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is amendable;
requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered.
g. Division of the Judicatory
Purpose: To allow a member, whenever that member doubts theresults of a voice vote, or a vote by show of hands, or that a representative
number of the members present have voted, to require a standing vote.
Characteristics: Does not require a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; does not require a vote since a single member can demanda division; cannot be reconsidered.
8.35 Motions that Bring a Question Again Before the
Judicatory
Purpose: To allow the judicatory to bring questions before itagain through special procedures.
A list of motions that bring questions again before the judicatory:a. Take from the Table
Purpose: To bring before the judicatory a motion or a series ofadhering motions that has previously been laid on the table.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is not debatable; is notamendable; requires only a majority vote; cannot be reconsidered but
can be renewed each time that any business has been transacted.
b. Rescind; Amend something previously Adopted (two forms ofone motion)
Purpose: To allow a previous action or order to be canceled orcountermanded. The form to Rescind should be used when the object
is to delete; the form to Amend Something Previously Adopted should
be used when the object is to change a portion or all of a text.
Characteristics: Require a second; are debatable; are amendable;
require a two-thirds vote, a negative vote can be reconsidered, but
an affirmative cannot. These motions are not in order when it has
previously been moved to reconsider the vote on the main motion, andthe question can be reached by calling up the motion to Reconsider.
There is no time limit on these matters and they can be moved by any
member, regardless of how the member voted on the original question.
To Expunge: It shall require the unanimous vote of the memberspresent to expunge any matter from the records.
c. Discharge a Committee
Purpose: To take a matter out of a committee's hands before thecommittee has made a final report on it. So long as a question is in thehands of a committee, the judicatory cannot consider another motion
involving practically the same question.

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Rules of OrderCharacteristics: Requires a second; is debatable; is amendable;
requires a two-thirds vote; a negative vote can be reconsidered, but not
an affirmative vote.
d. Reconsider
Purpose: To allow the judicatory--within a limited time andwithout notice--to bring back for further consideration a motion which
has already been voted on.
Characteristics: Requires a second; is debatable when the originalquestion was debatable; is not amendable; requires only a majority voteregardless of the vote necessary to adopt the motion to be considered;cannot be reconsidered.
Special requirements of this motion:i. It can only be made by a member who voted with theprevailing side.
ii. In a meeting of more than one day, the motion toreconsider can be moved only on the same day theoriginal vote was taken, or on the next succeeding day.
8.40 Miscellaneous Rules Concerning Motions
a. Until the moderator states the question, the maker has theright to modify the motion or to withdraw it.
b. After the question has been stated by the moderator, themotion becomes property of the judicatory and cannot be
modified or withdrawn without the judicatory's consent.
c. If the maker of a motion modifies it before the question isstated, the member who seconded it has a right to withdraw
the second.

9.00 AMENDMENTS
9.10 Classification as to form
9.11 To insert or to add words or a paragraph.
9.12 To strike out words or a paragraph.
9.13 To strike out and insert (which applies to words) or to
substitute (which applies to one or more paragraphs).
9.20 To Amend by Substitution
9.21 A motion to amend by striking out one or more paragraphs
and adding one or more new paragraphs as a replacement is called amotion to substitute. In the case of a motion to substitute, the pending
question is first opened to improvement by secondary amendment; thenRules of Order

129

opportunity is given to amend the proposed substitute--so that both thepending question and the substitute may be put in the most desirable
form before the vote is taken on whether the substitution shall be made.
If the motion to substitute is carried, the substituted material can nolonger be amended except by adding nonmodifying matter.
9.30 Primary and Secondary Amendments
9.31 A primary amendment amends a main motion. A secondary
amendment amends a primary amendment. (It is sometimes called anamendment to the amendment). A secondary amendment cannot be
amended since it would make parliamentary procedure too complicated.
9.40 Improper Amendments
9.41 Improper amendments include those that:a. are not germane to the question to be amended;b. merely make the adoption of the amended question equivalent toa rejection of the amended motion;c. purposes to change one form of an amendment to another, andd. would have the effect of converting one parliamentary motion
into another.

10.00 ASSIGNMENT OF THE FLOOR AND DEBATE
10.01 To gain the floor, a member must rise, address the moderator,and be recognized by the moderator.
10.02 If two or more members rise to seek the floor at the sametime, the one farthest from the moderator shall be recognized.
10.03 Until a matter has been brought before the judicatory in theform of a motion proposing a specific action, it cannot be debated.
10.04 A member having obtained the floor for the purpose ofengaging in debate can speak no longer than ten minutes withoutobtaining the consent of the judicatory. Such permission can be given
by unanimous consent or by means of a motion to extend the limits ofdebate which requires a two-thirds vote and is not debatable.
10.05 No member can speak more than twice to the same question
on the same day without the consent of the judicatory. Asking or
answering a question is not counted as speaking in debate.
10.06 Debate can be closed by moving the previous question. The
previous question can be applied to any pending debatable or amendable
motion; to an entire series of such motions; or to any consecutive partof such a series.

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Rules of Order10.07 Rights in debate are not transferrable. A member may not
yield a portion of time to another member or reserve it for later except
by unanimous consent or by suspension of the rules.
10.08 In debate a member's remarks must be germane to the question
before the judicatory. For example, when a secondary amendment
is the pending question, the member can debate only that amendment,
not the primary amendment or the main motion.
10.09 When a question is pending, that measure can be criticizedin strong terms, but personalities should not be brought into the debate
nor should the motives of other members be questioned or attacked.
Members should always treat one another with respect.
10.10 Members of the judicatory should not address one anotherdirectly, but should address all remarks through the moderator.
10.11 As much as possible, the use of members' names should be
avoided in debate.

11.0 NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
11.1 Nominations are usually made by a nominating committee
and from the floor. The use of a nominating committee must notpreclude the making of nominations from the floor.
11.2 A nominating committee should be elected by the judicatory
unless its composition is determined by the standing rules.
11.3 Whenever possible, a member's consent should be obtained
before that member's name is placed in nomination.
11.4 After a motion to close nominations is duly made andseconded, two votes must be taken: the first, to close nominations; thesecond, to elect the nominees.
11.5 Election to an office becomes final immediately, if thecandidate is present, and does not decline; or if absent, has given priorconsent. If the member is absent and has not given prior consent, theelection becomes final when notice of election is given to the member,provided the member does not immediately decline.
11.6 A judicatory after having elected one of its members to
represent it at a higher judicatory shall not instruct that member how tovote on the issues; however, counseling with representatives is always
in order.

Rules of Order131

12.0 VOTING
12.1 Voting is normally by voice, by rising, by show of hands, orby ballot.
12.2 When more than one person is nominated for the same office,the method of voting shall be by ballot.
12.3 All members who are eligible to vote shall do so unlessexcused by the judicatory. Members thus excused shall not be allowed
a vote in subsequent proceedings relating to that particular question.
12.4 The moderator shall vote only when the moderator's votewould create or break a tie, or cause or block the attainment of a twothirds majority, or when the vote is taken by roll call.
12.5 No member of a judicatory shall participate in debate or voteon a matter in which the member has a pecuniary interest, a personal
interest, or other conflict of interest not common to other members of
the judicatory. A member of a judicatory has such a conflict of interest
when the member also belongs to a lower judicatory whose action is
the subject of an appeal to or review by the higher judicatory. In sucha case, the member may participate as a representative of the lower
judicatory but may not participate as a member of the higher judicatory.
Members are not prevented from voting for themselves for an office orother or other position to which members generally are eligible (seeRobert's Rules of Order, Section 45).
12.6 When various motions are made with respect to the filling ofblanks with particular numbers or times, the question shall always be
first taken on the highest number and the longest time.
12.7 When the moderator has begun taking the vote, no further
debate or remark shall be allowed except to correct a mistake.
12.8 A roll call vote on any question shall not be taken unlessrequested by at least one-fifth of the members present.
12.9 In all elections, a majority of votes are necessary to elect.

13.00 BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
13.01 A board is an administrative body of elected persons whose
powers are delegated to it by the authority of the judicatory.
13.02 A board cannot delegate its authority, but any board can
appoint subcommittees to work under its supervision or according to its
specific instructions. Such subcommittees always report to the board.
13.03 A committee is a body of one or more persons, elected or
appointed by a judicatory to consider, investigate, or take action on

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Rules of Ordercertain matters or subjects, or to do all of these things.
13.04 Committees are of two types: standing committees (whichhave a continuing existence) and special committees (which go out ofexistence as soon as they have completed a specified task or tasks).
Special committees are sometimes called select committees or ad hoc
committees.
13.05 The first person named on a committee shall be considered
the chairperson, whose duties it shall be to convene the committee andpreside over its meetings. If for any reason this person cannot act in thiscapacity, the second person named shall assume these responsibilities.
13.06 The moderator shall appoint the usual standing committees
but shall not raise new committees without instruction.
13.07 A member who is in opposition to the whole matter uponwhich a committee is to act shall not be compelled to serve on thatcommittee.
13.08 A committee has less authority to act independently for the
judicatory than a board. When a judicatory needs an ad hoc group,
which can act with more authority than a committee normally has,a commission should be elected. Commissions differ from ordinarycommittees in that while a committee can simply examine, consider
and report, a commission is authorized to deliberate upon and conclude
the business submitted to it, subject to the review of the judicatory
appointing it.
13.09 Board reports which are reviewed by a select committee
cannot be amended by the judicatory and, if printed, shall be printed
as submitted by the board. However, board reports which are brought
directly to the floor of the judicatory for review and action shall betreated as committee reports and be subject to amendment, but the
judicatory shall not make such a board report (or a committee orcommission report) appear to say something different from the wordingthat was actually reported. For this reason, the published report would
show clearly whatever changes the judicatory makes by the use ofbrackets, underlining, italics, or other appropriate means.
13.10 A judicatory may accept a report by concurring in it
and adopting its recommendations, or by simply adopting its
recommendations.
13.11 No action apart from filing is necessary upon a report that
contains only statements of fact or opinions for judicatory information.
13.12 Minority reports shall be heard only by consent of, or by amajority vote of, the judicatory. When a minority report is presented it
is for information only and it cannot be acted upon except by a motion
to substitute it for the report of the committee.

13.13 Ex-officio members of boards and committees are members
by virtue of some office that they hold. There is no distinction between
ex-officio members and appointed or elected members. When ex-officio
members cease to hold the offices that entitle them to membership on aboard or committee, their membership terminates automatically.
13.14 Advisory members are non-voting members who have theprivilege of offering counsel or advice to the board or committee.
13.15 Members of judicatory boards and committees who are
not members of the judicatory may vote in the board and committee
meetings but not in the meetings of the judicatory.
13.16 Every judicatory has a right to resolve itself into a Committeeof the Whole, in which members may freely converse together without
the formalities necessary in their ordinary proceedings. In all such cases
the moderator shall name the member who is to preside as chairperson.
If the committee be unable to agree, a motion may be made that thecommittee rise; and upon adoption of such motion, the moderator shallresume the chair, and the chairperson of the committee shall reportwhat has been done, and ask that the committee be discharged, whichbeing allowed, the matter shall be dropped. If the committee shallagree upon the report to be made, or have made progress in the same
without coming to a conclusion, the committee may rise, report what
has been done, and, if the case require, may ask leave to sit again; or theCommittee of the Whole may be dissolved, and the question consideredby the judicatory in the usual order of business.

14.0 CASES NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THESE RULES
14.1 These Rules of Order are based on Robert's Rules of Order.
All cases that may arise which are not provided for in these Rules or in
the Government of the church shall be governed by Robert's Rules ofOrder.