Book of Discipline

Glossary

APPEAL is a communication to a higher court of a judicial nature (see Book of Discipline VIII).

PROTEST is a dissent from the decision of any court by a member who voted on that matter.

COMPLAINT is a communication from a member of a lower court objecting to a non-judicial action of a lower court to a higher court (see Book of Discipline IX:13).

OVERTURE: Amendments to the Constitution or calls for the Synod to change the manner in which it functions may be presented by means of an overture. An overture must originate with a court of the church.

PETITION is the means of requesting a court to take administrative (non-judicial) action which does not involve amendments to the Constitution or calls for the Synod to change the manner in which it functions.

MEMORIAL is a non-judicial statement to a court of the church which does not seek action.

For definitions of “judicial” and “non-judicial,” see Book of Discipline Chapter I.

Book of Discipline of the Bible Presbyterian Church, General Synod ©1998 Amended by the 55th, 56th, and 58th, 66th, 69th, and 88th General Synods of the Bible Presbyterian Church.