The Constitution of the RPCNA · 2026 editionJump to a citation or search…⌘K

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Web transcription of the official 2026 PDF, with links (Crown & Covenant Publications), or the unchanged file. Where they differ, the PDF governs.Transcribed from the official 2026 PDF, with links (or the unchanged file). Where they differ, the PDF governs.

Index · C

CALLING

CATECHIZING

CELIBACY

CENSURES

  • See BD 4

    printed BD 4, read as BoD I.4: printed 'See BD 4' under CENSURES on page J-4, naming no part; the DISCIPLINE list on page J-12 enumerates the Book of Discipline as I.1-I.6 and II.1-II.4, and prints 'Church censures, BD I:4' — Part I chapter 4 is the chapter of censures, and the companion entry on J-4, 'To be absolved upon repentance, CF 30:2 See also BD 6', can only be Part I, which alone has a chapter 6

  • Degrees of censureCF 30:4; T 30:3
  • Of the church, committed to church officersCF 30:2, 4
  • Required by command of Christ and nature of churchT 30:1-2
  • Their useCF 30:3
  • To be absolved upon repentanceCF 30:2 See also BD 6
  • To be administered by courts of the churchT 30:3
  • Who proceeded againstCF 20:4; 29:8; 30:2; T 30:4

CENSURING

CHARITY

CHARMS

CHASTITY

CHILDREN

  • All Christians to bear witness to truth in education, and to resist and counteract humanistic influencesT 24:31, 32-33
  • And are to be baptizedCF 28:4; T 28:4; LC 166; SC 95
  • Christian schools to be supported and usedT 24:32
  • Dying in infancy, how savedCF 10:3
  • Education of, to be based on knowledge of GodT 24:29, and a biblical world and life view, T 24:32-34
  • Of believers, members of the visible churchCF 25:2; LC 62
  • Primarily responsibility of parents in the homeT 24:29

CHRIST

CHURCH

CHURCH GOVERNMENT

  • See DCG
  • Appointed by Christ, in the hand of church officers, distinct from civil magistrateCF 30:1; T 25:7, 10; 31:2; LC 45, 108
  • Discipline, See the DCG
  • Have the power of the keysCF 30:2
  • Not exempt from obedience to the magistrateCF 23:4
  • Not opposed under the pretense of Christian libertyCF 20:4
  • Relation to ChristT 25:7
  • To be ordered by prudence and the WordCF 1:6
  • Unscriptural formsT 31:4
  • What the power is, its useCF 30:2, 4

CIRCUMCISION

CIVIL GOVERNMENT

COMMANDMENTS, TEN

COMMON GRACE

COMMUNICANT MEMBERSHIP

COMMUNION OF ELECT WITH CHRIST

COMMUNION OF SAINTS

  • A privilege of the visible churchLC 63
  • Does not conflict with private ownership of propertyCF 26:3
  • Expressed through corporate worship and social meetingsT 26:2-3
  • In local congregationT 26:2
  • In the Lord’s supper testify mutual love and fellowshipLC 168; SC 96-97
  • Involves mutual support and encouragementT 26:3
  • Restrains evilT 26:1
  • Wherein it consistsCF 26:1-2

COMPANY

  • Unchaste company not to be keptSC 139; SC 71-72

    printed SC 139, read as LC 139: printed 'Unchaste company not to be kept, SC 139; SC 71-72' on page J-7; the Shorter Catechism ends at question 107, and LC 139 is the seventh-commandment question the entry means — the CHASTITY entry on page J-6 prints the same pair as 'LC 138; SC 71-72'

CONDITION

CONFESSION

CONGREGATIONS

CONSCIENCE

CONTENTMENT

CONTROVERSIES

  • Church’s final appeal original text of ScripturesCF 1:8
  • Spirit speaking in Scriptures is supreme judge of all religious controversiesCF 1:10
  • Synods and councils to settle matters of faith and conscienceCF 31:3, 5: T 31:6

CONVERSATION

CORRUPTION OF NATURE

COOPERATION BETWEEN CHURCHES

COVENANT

  • May be entered into by individuals, societies, churches, and nations, T Intro.:7; 22:6-9
  • Not enjoying God but by way of itCF 7:1
  • The means of God’s revelation to man, T Intro.:1-2
  • Unifying element of Scripture, T Intro.:1

COVENANT OF GRACE

COVENANT OF WORKS

COVENANTING

  • Continuing validityT 22:9
  • Dependent upon the covenant of graceT 22:9
  • Sacraments—ordinances for entering into and renewing covenant union—in both OT and NTT 22:8
  • Takes form of confessing Christ and His Lordship in NTT 22:9

COUNCILS AND SYNODS

  • Christ alone Head of Church and SynodsT 31:1, 3
  • How far they may meddle in civil affairsCF 31:5; T 31:6
  • Not infallible since the apostles’ timeCF 31:4
  • Not to be called by civil magistrates, or individual ChristiansT 31:2-3
  • Ought to beCF 31:1
  • Possess ecclesiastical authority onlyCF 31:5
  • Power of Synods and councilsCF 31:3
  • Subordinate standards, summary of biblical teaching, not substituteT 31:5
  • Their decisions are to be tried by ScripturesCF 1:10

CREATION

CREATURES

CURIOSITY

  • Such prying into God’s decrees forbiddenLC 113; SC 55
  • Such searching into God’s secrets forbiddenLC 105; SC 47

CURSE AND WRATH OF GOD

CURSING

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