This PDF contains a study document for sessions and presbyteries on the nature and function of a subordinate standard in the life of the courts and congregations of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Produced by the Church Doctrine Committee, from Acts and Proceedings of General Assembly (2003), pp. 247-72.

Part 1, The Nature of Presbyterian Confessionalism, is an overview of the nature of confession and its place within the historic Church since the days of the apostles. In particular, this section highlights the characteristics of confessions within the Reformed tradition within which The Presbyterian Church in Canada stands.

Part 2, Approaches to Confessions as Subordinate Standards in The Presbyterian Church in Canada Since 1875, focuses on the interpretation of the Westminster Confession of Faith as a subordinate standard in the history of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. This section further is concerned to explain the various understandings of what it means to "subscribe" to a confession as a subordinate standard, and thus to explain how the church relates to and uses subordinate standards in its life.

Part 3, Replies to the Survey on Subordinate Standards, reports on the range of responses the committee received to its survey. This part reports on how individuals and congregations currently understand and use the confessions and subordinate standards.

Part 4, Conclusions, draws on the three previous sections to propose an understanding of the confessions as statements of faith within the church and as subordinate standards to which church leaders subscribe in taking their vows of office.

Part 5, Confessions in the Presbyterian Heritage, provides a helpful historical summary and overview of the principal confessions in use in the church today.