BOOK OF ORDER - 2025-2027

Sep 25, 2026

Upload by Blitz

BOOK OF ORDER 2025-2027 presents Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), integrating the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and Church Discipline. It explains how twelve confessional documents relate to church life and faith, and clarifies reference terminology and reference-number conventions used throughout the text. The volume describes mandated, recommended, commended, permissible, and advisory handbook practices, and notes amendments effective July 2, 2025.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages353

Reading Time14 h 50 min

AccessFree to download

PREFACE

Explanation of the Reference Number System of the Book of Order

THE FOUNDATIONS OF PRESBYTERIAN POLITY

Chapter One: The Mission of the Church

God’s Mission

Jesus Christ Is Head of the Church

The Authority of Christ

Christ Calls and Equips the Church

BOOK OF ORDER 2025-2027 The first part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is contained in the Book of Confessions. The text of twelve confessional documents comprise this volume. Together these documents stand to be significant and instructive to both the individual and corporate life and faith of Presbyterians. The Book of Order is the second part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . This volume contains the Foundations, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Church Discipline. The Book of Order is published by the Office of the General Assembly in English, with translations in Korean and Spanish. The Book of Order, 2025-2027 is also available in the following formats: • Large-print (looseleaf) • On the church’[s website at www.pcusa.org](s website at www.pcusa.org) • In a searchable annotated version with notes on changes and authoritative interpretations made since 1983, historical summaries and General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission [decisions at www.index.pcusa.org](decisions at www.index.pcusa.org) • E-book for Kindle BOOK OF ORDER 2025-2027 The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Part II THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) PART II BOOK OF ORDER 2025-2027 PUBLISHED BY Interim Unified Agency 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202-1396 Copyright © 2025 Interim Unified Agency Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (quotations used in the context of church ministry excepted), without the prior permission of the publisher. The sessions, presbyteries, synods and entities of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may use sections of this publication without receiving prior written permission from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ISBN – 979-8-9885501-4-3 Printed in the United States of America Additional copies available from the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396, by calling (800) 533-4371 (PPC) PREFACE The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as defined in F-3.04, consists of the Book of Confessions (Part I) and the Book of Order (Part II) . The Book of Confessions contains the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Scots Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism, the Theological Declaration of Barmen, the Confession of 1967, the Confession of Belhar, and A Brief Statement of Faith – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . The Book of Order contains the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and Church Discipline. In this Book of Order (1) SHALL and IS TO BE/ARE TO BE signify practice that is mandated (2) SHOULD signifies practice that is strongly recommended (3) IS APPROPRIATE signifies practice that is commended as suitable,(4) MAY signifies practice that is permissible but not required. (5) ADVISORY HANDBOOK signifies a handbook to guide councils in procedures related to the oversight of ministry. Such handbooks suggest procedures that are commended but not required. The amendments to the Foundations, the Form of Government, and the Directory for Worship, and Church Discipline proposed to the presbyteries by the 226rd General Assembly (2024) and approved by the majority of the presbyteries, are included in this volume. Words that have been stricken are omitted from the text. New wording appears in boldface within the appropriate paragraph. Supplements for the Church Discipline including forms and Resource Guide for dealing with allegations of Sexual Misconduct may be found in the Annotated Book of Oder online at

FAQs

What does Part II of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution include?

Part II contains the Foundations, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and Church Discipline.

How does the Book of Order distinguish between mandated, recommended, and permissible practices?

It uses terms such as SHALL/IS TO BE/ARE TO BE for mandated practice, SHOULD for strongly recommended practice, IS APPROPRIATE for commended suitability, and MAY for permissible but not required practice. It also uses ADVISORY HANDBOOK to guide councils with suggested procedures.

How is the reference number system structured in the Book of Order?

References begin with a capital letter indicating the part (F, G, W, or D). A chapter number appears after the letter, and four numerals after the decimal indicate section and subsection numbers.

Sep 25, 2026

Upload by Blitz