The following is taken from our Form
of Government ("Chapter II:
Concerning the Government of the Church"),
summarizing the Presbyterian form of Church government as practiced by the
ARP church.
A. GENERAL STATEMENT - THE
CHURCH'S NEED FOR GOVERNMENT
"In order that the Church shall achieve desired goals as given to it by
God, it is necessary that its efforts and its energies be directed in an
orderly manner. Government based on Scriptural example and instruction is
logically the means of accomplishing such necessary direction and coalescence
of energy. Leadership and authority, both of which are necessary to
government, are defined for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church by this
Form of Government. While the Scriptures do not teach a detailed form of
church government, the Presbyterian form - that which governs the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church - is agreeable to and founded upon
Old and New Testament principles. The Presbyterian form of church
government is government by presbyters (elders) assembled in church
courts."
B. THE PRESBYTERIAN FORM OF CHURCH
GOVERNMENT - A HISTORICAL STATEMENT
1. The Presbyterian form of church
government was given its first modern form by John Calvin in Geneva in
1542.
Church men from other countries, including Scotland's John Knox, studied
under Calvin and developed a strong attachment to the principles of
Presbyterianism. Knox, upon his return to Scotland in 1560, adapted
Presbyterianism for Scottish purposes in the first "Book of
Discipline"-the basis for the government of the subsequent Church of
Scotland, and for the government of all those denominations having their
roots in the Reformation Church of that country. Andrew Melville's second
"Book of Discipline," ratified in 1581, brought Presbyterianism
closer to its present form.
2. The Westminster Assembly, which met in
London in 1643, wrote, in addition to our Confession of Faith and
Catechisms, the "Form of Presbyterian Church Government," which
was subsequently adopted in England, Ireland, and Scotland. The Associate
Church (1733) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church (1743) both continued
to adhere to this document as the basis for their church law in their
separate organizations and later carried it with them to America. The
union of these two bodies into the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
in Philadelphia on November 1, 1782, accepted this Westminster
"Form" as well, reserving the right "to adjust the
circumstances of public worship and ecclesiastical policy to the station
in which divine Providence may place us." [Minutes of the
Associate Reformed Synod - November 1, 1782 - Page 12.]
3. In 1799, the book of church government
was revised and adopted, and included as a part of the one-volume
"Constitution" of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
(together with the Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, a book of
discipline, directories for public and private worship and several
appendices). When the Associate Reformed Synod of the South withdrew from
the parent Church in 1822 to form an independent denomination, it
continued to subscribe to this document until, in 1903, prompted by the
question of the use of musical instruments in churches, a new revision was
adopted, and printed first in 1908. In 1929, the Synod ordered a further
revision which was completed and adopted in 1934, and printed first in
1937. In 1949, an additional revision was ordered, which became the
"Constitution" of 1953.
4. This present Form of Government was
ordered by the General Synod of 1965, and was adopted in 1971.
C. THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF
THE POWER OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT
1. Church government is not intended to
serve an arbitrary or dictatorial function. Its primary purpose is to
promote order within the Church so that the Church may best fulfill its
divinely appointed responsibilities. The disciplinary authority within the
Church is also designed to promote order with the Church and to cultivate
a spiritual climate in which the work of Jesus Christ can be effectively
accomplished for the glory of God.
2. The government of the church is expected
to operate always in the spirit of Christian love, with a keen sense of
responsibility to Him who is the Head of the Church.
