The Constitution of the PC(USA)

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) consists of several parts. The first volume is The Book of Confessions, the second (consisting of the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline) is called the Book of Order.

The Book of Confessions

The Book of Confessions, containing historical statements of what we as a church believe, is available in several forms.

You can download

• The Book of Confessions in English
• Libro de Confesiones en Español

You can use this searchable online version,

or

You can purchase the printed version available from Presbyterian Distribution Service. Also available in Korean and Portuguese.

The Book of Order

The Book of Order is Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This document contains the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, Rules of Discipline, and the Formula of Agreement.

You can download the Book of Order in the following languages:

• English Book of Order
  
• Español Libro de Orden

You can use this searchable version online. This is a special web application which lets you search for a word or phrase in the Annotated Book of Order which includes the history of amendments since 1983.

You can purchase the print version of the Book of Order from Presbyterian Distribution Service.

Companion to the Constitution

Throughout our history, we Presbyterians have needed and wanted a companion to the Constitution. This volume is an attempt to provide that companion. It is a tool whose use, it is hoped, will bring a better understanding of the church’s Constitution and how it works. As a companion, this book is intended to be an aid to education and understanding. It should always be considered subordinate to the Constitution and not a substitute for it.

Companion to the Constitution

—Files marked with this icon are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. For best results, right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select "save target as" and save the document to your desktop for viewing and printing.

— Los archivos marcados con este icono pueden ser descargados en el formato publicable de Adobe Acrobat. Este archivo requiere obtener el programa Acrobat Reader que es gratis. Para mejores resultados haz clic sobre el enlace con el botón derecho del ratón (o haz clic y mantén el ratón para las Macintosh), selecciona "save target as" y guarda el documento en el tope de tu ordenador para poder verlo e imprimirlo.

NOTE: No part of the Book of Order or The Book of Confessions may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (brief quotations used in magazine or newspaper reviews excepted), without the prior permission of the publisher.

The sessions, presbyteries, and synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may use sections of this publication without receiving prior written permission from the publisher.