PERMANENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION

The Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) report to the 44th General Assembly of its work during 2023-2024, plus recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

Use these quick links to navigate to a specific section of this report:

Summary of Work
Summary of Recommendations
Work of the Committee
Recommendations (Detailed)
Committee Members
Meeting Dates

Forrest Norman

Moderator
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

SUMMARY OF WORK

44-22: Reviewed the Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest overture to amend the Book of Government 8-2 C and Book of Worship 3-3.J.

44-24: Reviewed Rivers and Lakes Overture to amend Book of Worship 3-3.I.

44-26: Reviewed the MVC’s recommendation to amend the Book of Government sections 9-5E and 9-11 concerning Chaplain Endorsements.

44-29: Reviewed the MVC’s recommendation to amend the Book of Government sections 10-7 and 9.5C.3 concerning Transitional Pastors.

44-36: Reviewed the New River overture to amend the Book of Government 9-3.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

44-22: (Pacific Northwest overture to amend Book of Government 8-2 C and Book of Worship 3-3.J.)

The PJC finds that the overture from the Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest proposes language which addresses authority that is already provided for in the sections it seeks to amend, along with principles enumerated in G. 19-4.C.1, G. 20-4.A.3, and W. 7-5; and the proposal oﬀers language which unintentionally limits or restricts those provisions and therefore infuses ambiguity into the constitution, and therefore does not meet the standards of clarity, consistency and compatibility with the constitution, and therefore recommends that the assembly decline the proposal.

44-24: (Rivers and Lakes overture to amend Book of Worship 3-3.I)

The PJC finds that the Rivers and Lakes Overture meets the standard of clarity but does not meet the standards of consistency and compatibility with the Book of Order and Westminster Confession of Faith and recommends that the Assembly decline the proposal and refer to the Permanent Committee on Theology the question of whether the Westminster Standards limit receiving Communion to those who are baptized.

44-26: (The MVC recommends amending the Book of Government section 9-5E and 9-11 concerning Chaplain Endorsements)

The PJC finds that the recommendation from the Ministerial Vocation Committee on behalf of the Chaplain’s Work and Care Committee to amend G. 9.5.E and 9-11 concerning Chaplain endorsements does not satisfy the clarity, consistency, and compatibility standards, and therefore recommends the Assembly decline the overture.

44-29: (The MVC recommends amending the Book of Government section 10-7 and 9.5C.3 concerning Transitional Pastors)

The PJC finds the proposed amendment meets the standards of clarity, conformity, and consistency with the constitution, and recommends adoption of the amendment.

44-36: (New River overture to amend the Book of Government 9-3)

The PJC recommends that the overture from New River Presbytery proposing an amendment to G. 9-3 regarding standards for life and character of oﬃcers of the church, be referred to the Permanent Committee on Theology and to the Permanent Committee on Ministerial Vocation.

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

The Permanent Judicial Commission convened virtually to evaluate all overtures and recommendations from presbyteries and permanent committees, that potentially amend the constitutionm, with the objective of presenting its recommendations to the General Assembly. (G. 21-3 D. 2 a and b)

44-22: Pacific Northwest Overture

44-24: Rivers and Lakes Overture

44-26: Recommendation concerning Chaplain Endorsements

44-29: Recommendation concerning Transitional Pastors

44-36: New River Overture

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RECOMMENDATIONS (DETAILED)

RECOMMENDATION 44-22

(Pacific Northwest overture to amend Book of Government 8-2 C and Book of Worship 3-3.J.)

RATIONALE:
Under the Constitution the Session currently has the authority to receive members taking into consideration the individual’s mental capabilities and life situation. This includes not only developmentally disabled individuals, but other conditions which may have impacted an individual’s abilities to evidence a true commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord, including medical conditions, traumatic injury, and other scenarios and conditions. The current constitutional language is therefore broader than the proposed additional language. Likewise, Session and Minister have defined roles with respect to preparation for, and admission to The Lord’s Supper (see, e.g. W. 3, H, I, J, and M), along with Westminster Confession Chapter 29. The well intentioned and compassionate proposed additional language is therefore superfluous. The recommendation of the PJC is to keep the Constitution free of excess terminology to avoid future potential conflicts with clarity, consistency, and conformity.

RECOMMENDATION 44-24

(Rivers and Lakes overture to amend Book of Worship 3-3.I)

The PJC finds that the Rivers and Lakes Overture meets the standard of clarity but does not meet the standards of consistency and compatibility with the Book of Order and Westminster Confession of Faith and recommends that the Assembly decline the proposal and refer to the Permanent Committee on Theology the question of whether the Westminster Standards limit receiving Communion to those who are baptized.

RATIONALE:
The PJC noted that term “true believers” is used both in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Essentials of Our Faith whereas the term “baptized believers” is not, leading to potential inconsistency of language and incompatibility between the proposal and other constitutional documents. There may be “true believers” who have not been baptized. The proposed amendment also raises questions regarding the relationship of the “visible church” and the “true church.” The question of whether the Westminster Standards limits admission to the Lord’s table to only “baptized believers” and how that should be reflected in the Book of Worship are significant and best addressed by the Permanent Committee on Theology.

RECOMMENDATION 44-26

(The MVC recommends amending the Book of Government section 9-5E and 9-11 concerning Chaplain Endorsements)

RATIONALE:
The PJC finds the existing language in the Rules for Assembly (10-1.i) regarding CWCC is adequate to provide for the tasks addressed in the proposed amendment. The additional language does not clarify the endorsement process and potentionally complicate the process. (Parenthetically, the constitution does not refer to permant committes by name since they are sometimes renamed.)

RECOMMENDATION 44-29

(The MVC recommends amending the Book of Government section 10-7 and 9.5C.3 concerning Transitional Pastors)

The PJC approves amending the Book of Government sections 10-7 and 9.5C.3 concerning Transitional Pastors.

RATIONALE:
The PJC finds the proposed amendment meets the standards of clarity, conformity, and consistency with the constitution, and recommends adoption of the amendment.

RECOMMENDATION 44-36

(New River overture to amend the Book of Government 9-3)

RATIONALE:
The PJC recognizes the importance of maintaining the highest biblical standards for officers of the church and how those standards help to uphold the peace, unity and purity of the church. The PJC believes that theological definition of terms and doctrines not currently found in our constitution or position papers (G. 25-2.A) should be determined by the highest court of the church so as to be consistent with our confessional standards and then applied to the examinations of officers, and should be informed by the analysis of the Permanent Committees on Theology and Ministerial Vocation.

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