Words matter, and the words we use matter when we talk about Christ’s Church. The Book of Church Order can be unclear to many people, and even long term BCO students disagree over particular portions. We should not make it more difficult by conflating terms and words. BCO 9–7 is extremely clear, and if the Session desires to have men and women assist the diaconate there is a clear process that should be followed.

Words matter. In everyday conversation your choice of words can have an impact on your relationships temporarily or permanently. All of us, at some point in our lives, have needed to apologize and seek forgiveness because we did not choose the right word. For some of us, this happens more often than for others.

Words matter in everyday speech when we do not have time to perfectly articulate the exact words that need to be said. The principle is even more important in a Constitutional document that has been written down, debated, prayed over, voted on, and passed through multiple thresholds. The Book of Church Order is one of these documents. Though not perfectly consistent, the choice of words in the BCO is deliberate and significant.

Sadly, I believe some people read our BCO with a thesaurus in their hand treating concepts and principles as interchangeable. This is particularly true of how some churches believe they are following BCO 9–7. We should do what the BCO explicitly says rather than doing what we want it to say (See article). BCO 9–7 is extremely clear;

It is often expedient that the Session of a church should select and appoint godly men and women of the congregation to assist the deacons in caring for the sick, the widows, the orphans, the prisoners, and others who may be in any distress or need. These assistants to the deacons are not officers of the church (BCO 7–2) and, as such, are not subjects for ordination (BCO 17).

Notice that both verbs, ‘select’ and ‘appoint,’ are deliberate. They are not interchangeable with ‘elect’ or ‘install.’ These distinctions matter. Not to mention the specific function they are to carry out mainly the task of ‘caring’. In this article I aim to provide clear definitions and references to show why we must be cautious about the words we use and the practices we adopt.

Congregation

The congregation consists of all the communing members of a particular church, and they only are entitled to vote (BCO 25–1).

We need to make a few observations about this definition. First, the Book of Church Order distinguishes between the visible church (BCO 2–1), the particular church (BCO 4–1), and the congregation (BCO 25–1). While these overlap in meaning, they are not identical. If we were to draw a Venn diagram, there would be areas of intersection, but each has its own distinct sphere. The Visible church speaks of the universal visible church across the world, which includes professing believers and their children. This visible church is divided by denominations, but only those who maintain Word and Sacraments in their fundamental integrity are true branches of Christ’s Church (BCO 2–2). A particular church is a group of members of the visible church who are united together through worship, covenant community, and government, under the rule of Christ (BCO 4–1). More could be said about this but for now we see Church is an important word.

Congregation is not the Church technically speaking, the congregation in the BCO speaks of only those who are eligible to vote, which we call communing members. The word ‘congregation’ can sometimes function synonymously with ‘church.’ For example, when speaking of ordination and installation the BCO expresses both ‘in the presence of the congregation’ and ‘in the presence of the church’ (BCO 24–6). Or election by the church, which is technically the congregation (BCO 12–5.b). However, almost always congregation has the technical term found in BCO 25–1.

We need to make one decisive point; the congregation is not a court in the church (BCO 10–2). We are not Congregationalist. The congregation meets together at the direction of the Session (BCO 25–2). The Session must call a congregational meeting upon the request of a specific number of members, depending on the size of the congregation. The BCO continues, that even if a Session fails to call a congregational meeting, they cannot call their own meeting, but only through way of complaint can they finally get their desired congregational meeting. The congregational meetings are called for specific purposes as the Session deems necessary (BCO 12–5.d). No one can complain against an action of a congregation as it is not a court (BCO 43).

Court (Session)

A governing body of the Church exercising spiritual authority. In the PCA there are three courts: Session, Presbytery, and General Assembly (BCO 10–2). Courts act jointly (not independently) under Christ, the King and Head of the Church.

A court is the method the church is governed. Composed of Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders (BCO 12–1; 13–1; 14–1). They are arranged in graded order (lower and higher) of session, Presbytery and General Assembly. They share the same kinds of rights and powers (Ministerial and declarative) but differ in what the Constitution provides (BCO 11–3). Technically speaking a court only exists when a quorum is present and they are in ‘session.’

The power of the court only comes through election of men through the proper process. No person can be a member of a court in the PCA unless they have been nominated, examined, and ordained as an elder in the Denomination (Deacons may be appointed to serve on committees (BCO 9–5)). Every man casting a vote in any court of the PCA is accountable to God through the vows they have taken before God. The actions of a court are subject to review and complaint, and in the case of judicial matters appeal (BCO 40; 42–43).

Select

Select refers to the act of choosing from among qualified options (BCO 9–7; 25–6).

The few instances of this phrase in the BCO show how it is clearly used. In the case of BCO 9–7, it is the Session, not the congregation, who selects men and women who have qualifications, they are godly, and they are members of the congregation. In the case of BCO 25–6, the congregation may elect trustees, selecting them from their membership.

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