Sometimes there are issues in the church that require a response. Sometimes issues arise that require clarity. It is my effort in this paper to address the issue of an unamendable church constitution and provide clarity, if the Lord is willing.
The goal of this paper is to address the issues surrounding a Presbyterian denomination that seeks to erect an unamendable constitution (The Westminster Standards, including the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms and The Book of Church Order). I write, not as an expert necessarily, but as one who has over forty years of experience in various Presbyterian contexts, and as one who has been an ordained officer in Presbyterian churches for twelve years. I am writing within the context of Presbyterianism, but these principles can be applied to any denomination with a church constitution.
Thesis: I will demonstrate that an unamendable church constitution is devoid of historical precedent, and erecting one results in numerous problems, including undermining the doctrine of Sola Scriptura and matters of conscience.
You can read the entire paper (or download it) here:
Binding the Conscience – Issues Surrounding an Unamendable Church Constitution
