Chapter 29: Offenses

29-1. An offense, the proper object of judicial process, is anything in the
doctrines or practice of a Church member professing faith in Christ which is
contrary to the Word of God. The Confession of Faith and the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly, together with the
formularies of government, discipline, and worship are accepted by the
Presbyterian Church in America as standard expositions of the teachings of
Scripture in relation to both faith and practice. Nothing, therefore, ought to be
considered by any court as an offense, or admitted as a matter of accusation,
which cannot be proved to be such from Scripture.

29-2. Offenses are either personal or general, private or public; but all of
them being sins against God, are therefore grounds of discipline.

29-3. Personal offenses are violations of the divine law, considered in the
special relation of wrongs or injuries to particular individuals. General
offenses are heresies or immoralities having no such relation, or considered
apart from it.