CHURCH ORDER OF THE FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF AUSTRALIA

as adopted by Synod 2003 and including subsequent amendments by FRCA synods up to 2018

INTRODUCTION

ARTICLE 1 – Purpose and division

I OFFICES AND SUPERVISION OF DOCTRINE

ARTICLE 2 – The offices

ARTICLE 3: The calling to office

ARTICLE 4 – Bound to a church

ARTICLE 5 – Eligibility for the ministry

ARTICLE 6 – Ordination and installation of ministers of the Word

ARTICLE 7 – From one church to another

ARTICLE 8 – Exceptional gifts

ARTICLE 9 – Admission of ministers who have recently joined the church

ARTICLE 10 – Officiating in another church

ARTICLE 11 – Proper support

ARTICLE 12 – Call to an extraordinary task

ARTICLE 13 – Retirement of ministers

ARTICLE 14 – Dismissal

ARTICLE 15 – Bound for life

ARTICLE 16 – Task of ministers

ARTICLE 17 – Training for the ministry

ARTICLE 18 – Students of theology

ARTICLE 19 – Task of Missionaries

ARTICLE 20 – Task of elders

ARTICLE 21 – Task of deacons

ARTICLE 22 – Equality of respective duties

ARTICLE 23 – Term of office

ARTICLE 24 – Subscription to the Confession by ministers and teaching staff

ARTICLE 25 – Subscription to the Confession by elders and deacons

ARTICLE 26 – False doctrine

ARTICLE 27 – Office-bearers and the government

II ASSEMBLIES

ARTICLE 28 – The ecclesiastical assemblies

ARTICLE 29 – Proceedings

ARTICLE 30 – Authority of the assemblies

ARTICLE 31 – Appeals

ARTICLE 32 – Credentials and voting

ARTICLE 34 – Chairman and clerk

ARTICLE 35 – Jurisdiction

ARTICLE 36 – Consistory

ARTICLE 37 – Consistory and the deacons

ARTICLE 38 – Constitution of a consistory

ARTICLE 39 – Places without a consistory

ARTICLE 40 – Meeting of deacons

ARTICLE 41 – Classis

ARTICLE 42 – Ministers who are not delegated to a classis

ARTICLE 43 – Counsellors

ARTICLE 44 – Church visitors

ARTICLE 45 – Synod

ARTICLE 46 – Relationship with other churches

ARTICLE 47 – Censure in classis and synod

ARTICLE 48 – Deputies of major assemblies

ARTICLE 49 – Archives

ARTICLE 50 – Mission

III WORSHIP, SACRAMENTS AND CEREMONIES

ARTICLE 51 – Administration of sacraments

ARTICLE 52 – Baptism of infants

ARTICLE 53 – Baptismal promise and education

ARTICLE 54 – Public profession of faith

ARTICLE 55 – Baptism of adults

ARTICLE 56 – Lord’s Supper

ARTICLE 57 – Admission to the Lord’s Supper

ARTICLE 58 – Church records

ARTICLE 59 – Attestations for communicant members

ARTICLE 60 – Attestations for non-communicant members.

ARTICLE 61 – Support after departure

ARTICLE 62 – Church services

ARTICLE 63 – Catechism preaching

ARTICLE 64 – Psalms and Hymns

ARTICLE 65 – Ecclesiastical feast days

ARTICLE 66 – Days of prayer

ARTICLE 67 – Marriage

ARTICLE 68 – Funerals

IV CHURCH DISCIPLINE

ARTICLE 69 – Aim of discipline

ARTICLE 70 – Mutual responsibility

ARTICLE 71 – Consistory involvement

ARTICLE 72 – Repentance

ARTICLE 73 – Discipline in respect of communicant members

ARTICLE 74 – Announcements during the procedure

ARTICLE 75 – Re-admission

ARTICLE 76 – Suspension and deposition of office-bearers

ARTICLE 77 – Serious and gross sins on the part of office-bearers

ARTICLE 78 – Christian censure

ARTICLE 79 – Discipline in respect of non-communicant members

CONCLUDING ARTICLES

ARTICLE 80 – No lording over others

ARTICLE 81 – Observance and revision of the Church Order