Rules and Procedure of the Presbyterian Church of South Australia
Chapter 1 The Church
1.
The Church
1.1.
The church: The Presbyterian Church of South Australia is part of the universal church, is a
constituent part of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and is in historical continuity with the Church
of Scotland reformed in 1560. It was founded in 1865 by the union of certain Presbyteries and synods
at that time organised within the state, namely: the synod deriving from the Church of Scotland
directly and others deriving from the Free Church of Scotland and the United Presbyterian Church.
1.2.
Standards: The standards of the Church are those which apply arising from the
establishment of The Presbyterian Church of Australia in 1901:
1.2.1. Supreme standard: The supreme standard of the church is the Word of God contained in
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and which this Church regards as the only rule of faith
and practice.
1.2.2. Subordinate (or secondary) standard: The subordinate standard of the church shall be
the Westminster Confession of Faith, as amended by the General Assembly of Australia, and read in
the light of the Declaratory Statement contained in the Basis of Union.
1.3.
Powers, duties and jurisdiction: As a constituent part of the Presbyterian Church of
Australia, the Presbyterian Church of South Australia has and exercises the powers, discharges the
duties, and enjoys the rights and privileges as are provided for in the Basis of Union and the Articles
of Agreement of the Deed of Union of 24 July 1901, and in subsequent competent amendments to
them.
The Presbyterian Church of South Australia has full autonomy in all matters, except when power in
any particular matter has been given to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of
Australia under the Basis of Union and the Articles of Agreement of the Deed of Union. The
Presbyterian Church of South Australia’s powers which are modified to a greater or lesser degree
by those of the Presbyterian Church of Australia are:
the doctrine, worship and discipline of the church, world mission, the training of students for the
ministry, the reception of ministers from other churches, welfare of youth, and home missions.
Power relating to other matters may by amendment of the Articles of Agreement be assigned by
the state churches to the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
The powers of the Church in South Australia are defined in relation to matters of property in the
cases to which the Act applies by the Presbyterian Church of South Australia Act, 1899, of the
Parliament of the then Province now State of South Australia and the Presbyterian Trusts Act 1971
of the Parliament of the State of South Australia.
1.4.
Government and courts: In accordance with the Presbyterian form of government set
out in the Second Book of Discipline and the Form of Presbyterial Church Government, the church is
governed by ministers and representative elders acting in orderly association in a hierarchy of courts
of the church by which its organic unity is maintained. These, in ascending order, are the session, the
presbytery and the General Assembly.
1.5.
The congregation and people of the church: In accordance with the law and
practice of the church, the people are organised in congregations within parishes, mission stations or
mission fields as arranged in each case by the presbytery of the bounds. Every congregation is placed
under the supervision of a session (Rules 2.1.1 and 3.1.2).
1.6.
Authority of courts of the church: The authority of the courts of the church is a
delegated authority and is received from the Lord Jesus Christ, the only King and Head of the church.
It is therefore a declarative and ministerial authority: that is to say, it sets out what Christ has
revealed (declarative) and applies his law according to his direction and in agreement with the Word
of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (ministerial).
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Rules and Procedure of the Presbyterian Church of South Australia
Chapter 1 The Church
1.7.
Law of the church: The law of the church is the will of Christ for it. This law finds partial
expression and formulation from time to time in:
1.7.1. formal standards: (Rule 1.2);
1.7.2. legislative enactments:
1.7.3. declarations, directions and resolutions of church courts: and
1.7.4. un-prescribed but approved customary arrangements, practices and procedure.
1.8.
Constitutions binding on the church: The following explicit formulations of church
law are binding on the Presbyterian Church of South Australia the:
1.8.1. Constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Australia: and the rules, regulations,
declarations and directions lawfully made or given by its General Assembly to the extent that they are
applicable to the Presbyterian Church of South Australia;
1.8.2. Constitution of the Presbyterian Church of South Australia: as modified by the “Basis
of Union” and the “Articles of Agreement” of the “Deed of Union” of 24 July 1901, and the rules,
regulations, declarations and directions lawfully made or given by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of South Australia.
1.9.
Procedure for amending rules: All paragraphs of Chapters 1 to 6 are declared to be
“Rules” of the church and may be referred to as such. They may only be amended, repealed or added
to under the “Barrier Act” (Rule 7.15) procedure as provided in the relevant rules of Chapter 5 “The
General Assembly” (Rules 5.4.1 – 5.4.14).
1.10. Title and logo
1.10.1. Official Title: The official title of the church in South Australia is the “Presbyterian Church of
South Australia”.
1.10.2. Crest and Logo: Any of the following crests or logos may be used by the Presbyterian
Church of South Australia Assembly, presbyteries, sessions and churches;
1.10.2.1.
The burning bush enclosed within a circle, with the words “PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA” around the inside of the circle and the words “NEC TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR”
(meaning: and yet it was not being destroyed) inscribed under the burning bush for
example;
1.10.2.2.
The General Assembly of Australia crest, with St Andrew’s, Southern,
Roman Crosses, Thistle, Rose and Shamrock and Burning Bush surrounded by a banner
with the words “NEC TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR”, and outside that a further banner with the
words “PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA” available from the Website of the
Presbyterian Church of Australia, for example;
1.10.2.3.
The General Assembly of Australia logo (as adopted by the GAA July 2001,
and as subsequently modified or replaced) and available from the Website of the
Presbyterian Church of Australia, for example;
End of Chapter 1
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