The Church and its Polity

Charles Hodge — The Church and its Polity, edited by A. A. Hodge (London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1879).

Hodge’s collected writing on the doctrine and government of the Church, gathered after his death by his son A. A. Hodge from the annual articles on the General Assembly he wrote for the Princeton Review from 1835 and from his other articles and lectures on ecclesiology; it is the same book as Discussions in Church Polity (New York: Scribner, 1878). Part I sets out the principles: the idea of the Church as the communion of saints, the Oxford and Roman theories of it, its visibility and perpetuity, the principles of church union, its province, the relation of Church and State, Presbyterianism, the orders of the Church of England, and liturgies. Part II applies them to the Presbyterian constitution, from the particular church and its officers through the presbytery and the General Assembly to discipline, article by article on the questions the Assembly had to decide.

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Contents (53)

1. Preface

Part I. Preliminary Principles

2. Introductory Notes to the Annual Articles on “The General Assembly” in the Princeton Review, 1835 and 1837
3. Chapter I. Idea of the Church
4. Chapter II. Theories of the Church
5. Chapter III. Visibility of the Church
6. Chapter IV. Perpetuity of the Church
7. Chapter V. Principles of Church Union
8. Chapter VI. Province of the Church
9. Chapter VII. Relation of the Church and State
10. Chapter VIII. Presbyterianism
11. Chapter IX. The Church of England and Presbyterian Orders
12. Chapter X. Presbyterian Liturgies

Part II. Application of Principles

13. Chapter XI. History and Intent of Constitution
14. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 1. The Session says who are Church Members
15. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 2. Validity of Romish Baptism
16. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 3. Infant Members Subjects of Discipline
17. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 4. Terms of Communion
18. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 5. Dismission of Members to other Churches
19. Chapter XII. A Particular Church, § 6. The Right of Church Members to withdraw from the Communion of the Church
20. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 1. Title of Bishop
21. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 2. Who may Vote in the Election of Pastor
22. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 3. Support of the Clergy
23. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 4. Warrant and Theory of Ruling Eldership
24. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 5. Rights of Ruling Elders
25. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 6. Whether Ruling Elders may join in the Imposition of Hands when Ministers are Ordained
26. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 7. Significance of Laying on of Hands
27. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 8. Installation not essential to Validity of Eldership
28. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 9. The Right of Elders to exhort and to expound the Scriptures
29. Chapter XIII. Church Officers, § 10. Relative Powers of Elders and Deacons
30. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 1. Quorum of Presbytery
31. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 2. Ordination by less than Three Ministers
32. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 3. Presbytery judges the Qualifications of its Members
33. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 4. Length of Study before Ordination
34. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 5. Ordination “Sine Titulo”
35. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 6. Reordination
36. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 7. Adoption of the Confession of Faith
37. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 8. Church Membership of Ministers
38. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 9. Ministers without Pastoral Charge
39. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 10. Demission of the Ministry
40. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 11. Commissions of Presbyteries and Synods
41. Chapter XIV. The Presbytery, § 12. Supervision of Vacant Churches
42. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 1. Commissioners
43. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 2. Manner of Conducting Business
44. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 3. Power to Act by Commission
45. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 4. Decisions and Deliverances on Doctrines
46. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 5. Superintendence
47. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 6. Boards and Committees
48. Chapter XV. The General Assembly, § 7. Correspondence with other Churches
49. Chapter XVI. Discipline, § 1. Revision of the Book
50. Chapter XVI. Discipline, § 2. Citation of Judicatories
51. Chapter XVI. Discipline, § 3. Appeals and Complaints
52. Chapter XVI. Discipline, § 4. Decisions may Confirm or Reverse in Part, and be Expressed in Minute of a Special Committee
53. Chapter XVI. Discipline, § 5. Finality of the Assembly’s Judicial Decisions