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Chapter 1: Background of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
1.1 Standards
1. The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (which in this Book of Order is referred to as “the Church”) is part of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church recognizing Jesus Christ as its Lord and Head.
2. The supreme rule of faith and life and the supreme standard of the Church is the Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
3. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms are the subordinate standards of the Church.
4. The Declaratory Act 1892-3 of the General Assembly of the Church sets out, in regard to certain doctrines what is required from those entering upon office.
5. The Directory of Worship (1995) and The Westminster Form of Church Government set out generally the order of worship, discipline and government in the Church.
6. The Church itself has the right, in dependence on the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, to formulate, interpret or modify its subordinate standards, always in agreement with its supreme standard and the fundamental doctrines of the Reformed Faith contained in its subordinate standards. The Church itself will be the sole judge whether this formulation, interpretation or modification is in agreement with its supreme standard.
Defined terms: Church, General Assembly.
1.2 Background
1. The Church is part of the reformed tradition of the church and derives from the Presbyterian heritage within that tradition. As such the Church stands within a heritage of confessions of faith that give living expression to the Word of God.
2. The character of the Church derives also from its New Zealand heritage. The Church acknowledges a bicultural commitment and rejoices in its multicultural character.
Defined term: Church
1.3 The Church
As part of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church, the Church shares in the wider church of Jesus Christ throughout the world and is committed to sharing in God’s mission to the world, and seeking to announce, with the promised guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, the good news of God’s transforming love in Jesus Christ.
Defined term: Church
1.4 A Presbyterian Church
1. The Church derives its reformed and evangelical character from the 16th century European Reformation that spread to Scotland and led to the formation of the Scottish Presbyterian Church.
2. The character and structure of the Church owes much to the Reformation including commitments to
a) Jesus Christ as Lord over each individual, society and all of life,
b) the responsibility of members of the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, to study the Scriptures,
c) the responsibility of the Church’s ministers, guided by the Holy Spirit, to expound the Scriptures, and
d) the potential for study, teaching and proclamation of the Word of God to change lives and transform society in accordance with God’s purpose in the world.
3. The Church stands within a heritage of confessions of faith that give living expression to the Word of God.
4. The Church is a Reformed church, ever requiring reformation, listening and responding to the Word of God in dependence on the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit.
5. The Church has set aside ministers and elders to guide and govern the Church’s life.
6. Government of the Church is vested in local church councils, regional presbyteries, synods, Te Aka Puaho, and the General Assembly of the Church.
Defined terms: Church, church council, elder, General Assembly, member, minister, presbytery, Synod, Te Aka Puaho
1.5 A multicultural Church with a bicultural commitment
1. The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi):
a) was signed in 1840 by the Crown and Tangata Whenua,
b) made extensive settlement of New Zealand by Europeans possible,
c) retained certain specified rights for Tangata Whenua, and
d) has been characterised as a “partnership”.
2. It is within the context of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) that the Church recognises a bicultural partnership between Te Aka Puaho and its other church courts. These bicultural partners work together within the mission of God.
3. The Church has become a multicultural church. Immigration from Pacific Island and other nations throughout the world have transformed, continue to transform and contribute to the multicultural character of the Church.
Defined terms: Church, court, Te Aka Puaho.
1.6 A Church committed to unity
1. The Church seeks to honour Jesus’ prayer that his followers “will be one with each other, just as you and I are one”. (John 17:11)
2. The Church is itself a church born of union. In 1901 the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, as it was known when it was established in 1862, and the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland founded in 1866, agreed to unite as one church.
3. In 1967 the Church participated in an Act of Commitment with the Associated Churches of Christ, The Anglican Church in New Zealand, the Congregational Union of New Zealand and the Methodist Church of New Zealand.
4. The Act of Commitment has enabled and continues to enable the emergence of uniting congregations. These congregations are members of Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand and are still members of their partner denominations.
5. Another sign of unity was the decision in 1969 for 28 churches of the Congregational Union to join the Presbyterian Church, bringing with them their Pacific Islander members.
6. The Church continues to give expression to the union all Christians enjoy in Jesus Christ.
Defined terms: Act of Commitment, Church, congregation.
1.7 The Formula
1. Ministers and elders and other office bearers must make themselves accountable to the Church by subscribing to the following formula:
“I believe the fundamental doctrines of the Christian Faith contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and other subordinate standards of this Church. I acknowledge the Presbyterian government of this Church to be agreeable to the Word of God, and I promise that I will submit to and agree with that government. I promise to observe the order and administration of worship and public ritual as these are or may be allowed in this Church.”
Note: (i) If any changes in relation to the Subordinate Standards are proposed to the 2006 General Assembly, and if these changes affect the formula, these changes will be reflected in subsection (1) if and when, and only if and when, the Assembly has adopted them. (ii) If, and only if, the 2006 General Assembly adopts a Focal Identity Statement as a confession of faith, this Focal Identity Statement will be incorporated into this section of the Book of Order as follows: “(2) In 2006 the General Assembly adopted the following Focal Identity Statement as a contemporary confession of faith: (Insert Focal Identity Statement) (3) The Focal Identity Statement may serve as a vehicle for the public profession of faith required of all members of the Church.” |
Defined terms: Church, elder, General Assembly, member, minister, office bearer
1.8 Alteration of this Chapter
Sections 1 and 7 and this section 8 cannot be altered, amended or deleted in any way except in accordance with the special legislative procedure.
Defined term: special legislative procedure