First (Scots) Presbyterian Church

First (Scots) Presbyterian Church

• Established in 1731 when twelve Scottish families separated amicably from the Independent Meeting House (now the Circular Congregational Church).

• Separation allowed them to govern themselves according to the forms and discipline of the Church of Scotland (representative system) as opposed to the congregational system (one-person-one-vote).

• Scottish heritage is reflected in the image of the seal of the Church of Scotland, depicted in the central window of the sanctuary’s rear balcony. The burning bush is encircled by the Latin inscription "Nec tamen consumebatur," meaning "Nevertheless it was not consumed."

NEC TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR“Nevertheless it was not consumed.”

First (Scots) is a member of the C-A Presbytery.Includes 48 churches plus one “New Church Development” Extends from Orangeburg to Hilton Head, and from

Charleston to Allendale and Barnwell

There are 172 presbyteries in the PCUSA.

Synod of the South Atlantic

Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery is a member of

the Synod of the South Atlantic, which includes 16

Presbyteries.

Sixteen Synods in the PCUSA

The 221st General Assembly (GA) decided to consolidate the synods, reducing their number to 10 or 12.

Organization of the Presbyterian Church

Legislative BranchSession

Presbytery

Synod

General Assembly

Executive Branch

Office of the General Assembly and Stated Clerk

Presbyterian Mission Agency

Presbyterian Foundation

PC(USA) Investment and Loan Program

Board of Pensions Presbyterian

Publishing Corporation

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Services

• “[prevents and corrects] . . . irregularities and delinquencies by councils”

• “[prevents and corrects] . . .offenses by persons”

Permanent Judicial Commission

The Constitution of the PC (U.S.A.)

Procedure for Submitting an Overture to the General Assembly

Session

• First (Scots) proposes an overture and submits it to the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery (CAP).

Presbytery

or Synod

• If CAP approves overture, it seeks concurrence of another presbytery.• Two presbyteries (or a synod) submit(s) overture to the 222nd General

Assembly and name(s) an overture advocate.

General

Assembly

• Commissioners to the General Assembly vote on the overture.

Methods of Making Changes toThe Book of Order

• GA committee proposes change.• Delegate to GA proposes change

on the floor of the GA.

General Assembly

(GA)

• Presbyteries (2 required) submit overture proposing change.

• Synod submits overture proposing change.

Presbytery or Synod

Methods of Proposing Changes toThe Book of Confessions or The Book of Order

Two church sessions jointly submit an overture to their Presbytery.

The Presbytery seeks concurrence of at least one other Presbytery.

At least two Presbyteries refer overture to the General Assembly.

Percentage of Presbytery Votes Required for Any Changein the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church:

66 2/3 % 51 %

Presbyterian Church (USA)