Ordination Examinations Preparation: Worship and Sacraments

In 2013, the Book of Common Worship editorial team — which included representatives from the PC(USA) office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) and the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) — began working on this edition of the BCW, which was first published in 1906. Co-editors David Gambrell, associate for Theology and Worship, and Kimberly Long, former associate professor of worship at Columbia Theological Seminary, along with the editorial team surveyed church leaders digitally and conducted a half-dozen consultations around the country. They also worked with a diverse group of 150 editorial advisors.

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This book is Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This volume contains the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and the Rules of Discipline. Additional information is provided to the reader through the inclusion of Received Ecumenical Statements of Guidance and Articles of Agreement.

This revised study edition of the Book of Confessions contains the official creeds, catechisms, and confessional statements of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including the new Confession of Belhar that was added at the 222nd General Assembly (2016). Each text is introduced by an informative essay providing in-depth historical and theological background information. The book also includes two appendixes that explore the purpose of confessions. This study edition is ideal for seminarians and leaders looking for more extensive information about the history and theology of the confessions along with the official documents, all conveniently located in one volume.

Published during the tenth anniversary of the Book of Common Worship (1993), The Companion to the Book of Common Worship is a practical guide, answering questions such as how do I use the Book of Common Worship to its fullest advantage? and how can the Book of Common Worship form a congregation into a community that glorifies and enjoys God?

Presbyterian worship is known for its balance between form and freedom, seeking to be faithful to the leading of God's Word and open to the movement of God's spirit. For those who plan, lead, and participate in worship, living within this tension can be a creative challenge, one that poses many questions for our liturgical theology and practice.

Presbyterian Worship Questions and Answers draws on the author's scholarly insights, pastoral instincts, and decade of experience in the Presbyterian denomination's Office of Theology and Worship to provide accessible answers to the questions people frequently ask about Presbyterian worship along with a few we ought to ask more frequently. From the philosophical--What is worship and what does it have to do with real life?--to the practical--Why is there a pink candle and when do we light it?--Presbyterian Worship Questions and Answers seeks to shed new light on the meaning and mystery of worship in the Reformed tradition.