Congregation

Scope Note: A congregation is a company of people, including children, organised and formed by a presbytery for Christian worship, instruction, fellowship, work and witness.

A congregation is defined functionally by the PCEA Handbook of Practice and Procedure (Section 2.12-16) in this way:

2.12 The session admits persons to the membership of the congregation. 2.13 The members in full communion of a congregation are baptised persons professing saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who satisfy the session as to their knowledge of the Word of God, whose life and outward conduct appears consistent with a Christian profession, and who are admitted to communicant membership by the session, and thus to participation in the Lord’s Supper and into full communion with the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia. It is usual for the minister to take the principal charge of examining applicants with respect to their profession and their knowledge. Ministers are members of the congregation they serve or to which they are attached, but jurisdiction over them belongs to their Presbytery (Act of Synod 2007.14). 2.14 The session may add communicant member by letter of transfer from another congregation of the church, or by disjunction certificate from another church not deemed to be in fundamental error in the judgement of the session. It may be helpful if persons becoming members on profession of faith be received during a service of worship on the Lord’s Day. [Reception of persons excommunicated from another church requires that reasons for such discipline be obtained from the church concerned, that the discipline be respected if scriptural, the consent of the presbytery be obtained if it proposed to receive the applicant, and that the other church be informed of the action taken and the reasons - see Act 3, Class 2, Synod 1978.] 2.15 An inquisitorial minuteness is not to be employed in the examination of persons for admission to membership. The essential requirements are competent knowledge of the Gospel, profession of faith in Christ, and a life and conduct consistent with that profession as far as can be judged outwardly. Whilst the importance of correct doctrine is not to be underestimated, members are not required to subscribe the Confession of Faith as are office-bearers. 2.16 Children in the care of a parent or parents who are communicant members are entered on the Baptismal Roll from which they are removed upon entering into full communion.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: