Our church sessions (local church body of government) are made up of teaching and ruling elders, with each having equal representation and vote.
Presbyteries consist of the particular churches within geographical areas across the United States and Canada. Churches are represented by their minister(s) and one ruling elder (more for larger churches) at each meeting. Presbytery meetings are held twice annually (or thrice annually by some presbyteries).
The General Synod meets annually in one of our churches. Representation includes all ordained ministers and a ruling elder from each church (more for larger churches) at each meeting. The synod meets near the beginning of August for its six day sessions. Families are often in attendance and visitors are encouraged to attend.
Each congregation calls its own pastor without interference from outside; i.e., ministers are not appointed and each church owns its own real estate and church building(s).
Form of Government Chapters
- Chapter I: Preliminary Principles
- Chapter 2: Of the Church
- Chapter 3: Of Particular Churches of the BPC
- Chapter 4: Church Government
- Chapter 5: Of Ministers
- Chapter 6: Of Ruling Elders
- Chapter 7: Of Deacons
- Chapter 8: Church Session
- Chapter 9: Of the Presbytery
- Chapter 10: General Synod
- Chapter 11: Board of Deacons
- Chapter 12: Electing and Ordaining Ruling Elders and Deacons
- Chapter 13: Licensing Candidates or Probationers to Preach the Gospel
- Chapter 14: Election of Pastors and of Ordination to the Ministry
- Chapter 15: Removing a Minister from One Charge to Another
- Chapter 16: Resigning a Pastoral Charge
- Chapter 17: Of Moderators
- Chapter 18: Clerks
- Chapter 19: Vacant Congregations Assembling for Public Worship
- Chapter 20: Incorporation and Corporations
- Chapter 21: Amendments