wfn.org | PPC And OGA to Make Software Versions of The Book of Confessions

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

11-December-1996 
 
 
96491     PPC And OGA to Make Software Versions of The  
         Book of Confessions And Annotated Book of Order 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) and the 
Office of the General Assembly (OGA) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 
have entered into an agreement to distribute an electronic version of both 
parts of "The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)."  Part I of 
the Constitution is the "Book of Confessions." Part II is the "Book of 
Order." 
 
     "I am delighted over the new agreement between PPC and OGA to publish 
the Folio edition of both the "Book of Confessions" and the "Book of 
Order," said the Rev. Clifton Kirpatrick, stated clerk of the General 
Assembly. "We in OGA are deeply committed to increasing the use of our 
Constitution in the church and believe this is an important step in that 
direction. We are delighted for this new joint venture." 
 
     OGA has produced digital versions of both documents in "Folio Views," 
an information-based software package commonly used by the legal community. 
PPC has agreed to market and distribute the software, and will provide 
technical support to users through its customer service helpline. These 
software programs are the same ones that were used in the popular "Book of 
Common Worship--Software Edition." The easy-to-use software will be 
available in both Windows and Macintosh formats under the Geneva Press 
imprint. 
 
      The "Book of Confessions" contains the official texts of the 10 
confessions approved by the PC(USA) at the time of reunion in 1983, and the 
"Brief Statement of Faith" adopted in 1991. Software users will be able to 
search the confessions for words, phrases, or biblical references with 
ease. In addition, the software will allow users to import texts from 
confessional documents into word processing programs for use in church 
bulletins and educational programs. 
 
     The "Book of Order" contains the Form of Government, Directory for 
Worship, and Rules of Discipline of the PC(USA). The software edition will 
contain the complete annotated texts of the 1996-97 "Book of Order." 
Software users will be able to search the "Book of Order" for words, topics 
or phrases.  They will be able to use a subject index to move easily 
between chapters and sections. As with printed editions, the software 
edition of the "Book of Order" will be revised annually. 
 
     The software editions of the "Book of Confessions" and the annotated 
"Book of Order" will be available for purchase from PPC in early January, 
and may be ordered by calling (800)227-2872.  
 
     PPC is the publisher of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and produces 
educational resources for Presbyterian congregations and members, and 
theological and religious books and other materials for a wider audience. 
 
 (Information for this story was furnished by Steve Metzger, PPC production 
director). 

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For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

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