Scott
Puritan Board Graduate
Is LC 158 consistent with section 19-1 of the PCA Book of Church Order? LC seems to include a blanket prohibition against non-ordained men teaching. BCO 19-1 permits (on license by presbytery) preaching by ruling elders, candidates, ministers from other denominations, and the very broad “or some other man.”
Here is LC 158:
Here is LC 158:
Here is 19-1 of the BCO:Q: By whom is the word of God to be preached?
A: The word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted,[1] and also duly approved and called to that office.[2]
To preserve the purity of the preaching of the Gospel, no man is permitted to preach in the pulpits of the Presbyterian Church in America on a regular basis without proper licensure from the Presbytery having jurisdiction where he will preach. An ordained teaching elder who is a member in good standing of another Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America may be licensed after being examined as to his views, according to the provision of BCO 13-6. This license shall immediately become void if the minister’s own Presbytery administers against him a censure of suspension from office or the sacraments, or deposition from office, or of excommunication (in the event of such censures, the Presbytery with jurisdiction shall always notify the licensing Presbytery). A ruling elder, a candidate for the ministry, a minister from some other denomination, or some other man may be licensed for the purpose of regularly providing the preaching of the Word upon his giving satisfaction to the Presbytery of his gifts and passing the licensure examination. (See also BCO 22-5 and 22-6.)