C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
PCA BCO 3-1. The power which Christ has committed to His Church vests in the whole body, the rulers and those ruled, constituting it a spiritual commonwealth. This power, as exercised by the people, extends to the choice of those officers whom He has appointed in His Church.
What are your thoughts? Do the people choose and install the officers, or does the Presbytery "really" do that?
For example - church chooses Harry to be an elder. ("Nominates" Harry). No one would say that the people have "chosen him", at least, for all intents and purposes not really. They simply pointed to Harry and thought he'd make a good elder. The Presbytery, really, examines, ordains and installs him.
If that is true, then what "power" does the congregation have? They certainyl have the right to bring up a disciplinary issue before the session. But again, that is not really "power." They are not telling the session what to do or how to do it. They are simply bringin up an offense that needs to be taken care of by them.
I'm reading "Jus Divinum" again and it really talks about a night and day kind of giovernmentalstructure in terms of "power" and the "power of the keys" (all the various keys in terms of how authority works).
Thoughts?
What are your thoughts? Do the people choose and install the officers, or does the Presbytery "really" do that?
For example - church chooses Harry to be an elder. ("Nominates" Harry). No one would say that the people have "chosen him", at least, for all intents and purposes not really. They simply pointed to Harry and thought he'd make a good elder. The Presbytery, really, examines, ordains and installs him.
If that is true, then what "power" does the congregation have? They certainyl have the right to bring up a disciplinary issue before the session. But again, that is not really "power." They are not telling the session what to do or how to do it. They are simply bringin up an offense that needs to be taken care of by them.
I'm reading "Jus Divinum" again and it really talks about a night and day kind of giovernmentalstructure in terms of "power" and the "power of the keys" (all the various keys in terms of how authority works).
Thoughts?