For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such Assemblies as are commonly called Synods or Councils: and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular Churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification, and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies; and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.
Changes from Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), Paragraph 31.1
For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such Assemblies as are commonly called Synods or Councils: and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular Churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification, and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies; and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.
For the better Government, and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such Assemblies, as are commonly called Synods or Councels.
Westminster Confession of Faith (American revision, 1788), Paragraph 31.1
For the better government and further edification of the Church, there ought to be such Assemblies as are commonly called Synods or Councils: and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular Churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification, and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies; and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the Church.
As Magistrates may lawfully call a Synod of Ministers, and other fit Persons, to consult and advise with, about matters of Religion; So, if Magistrates be open Enemies to the Church, the Ministers of Christ, of themselves, by vertue of their Office; or, they, with other fit persons, upon delegation from their Churches, may meet together in such Assemblies.
Ought there to be such Assemblies for the Government and further edification of the Church, as are called Synods and Councils? Yes. May not the Ministers of the Church of…
The word synod originally means simply an assembly, and is so used in this place. The divines, careful not to render their formulary sectarian, avoided such close determination of…
This section determines the question as to the parties in whom the right of calling such synods is vested. The first part of the section has been objected to as countenancing…
