The original Westminster Form of Presbyterian Church Government sought to say only what could be supported by Scripture. Note the proof texts in the original, compared to the relatively minimal text of the Form of Government itself. The Regulative Principle applied to polity as much as doctrine and worship.

In this, both the OPC and PCA say more than they need to in their Form of Government.

Certainly, procedures will need to be codified to achieve uniformity in the application of Biblical norms over time. But, a distinction needs to be made between what is derived implicitly and by good and necessary consequence from Scripture and what is circumstantial for good order. It is interesting how the Scottish Free Churches do this. I have here a copy of The Practice of the Free Church of Scotland in her Several Courts (1995 edition).

A friend of mine commented several years ago, “The decline of a denomination begins with a loose leaf Book of Order.” I do appreciate the cloth bound BOCO of he OPC.

If our polity is derived from Scripture, we should have most things about right by now, and rarely need to change it.

__________________
Glenn Ferrell
Pastor, Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church
OPC
Boise, Idaho