I. The Purposes of and of those who may call Synods and Councils

        A. The Purposes of Synods and Councils

                1. For the better government of the Church

                2. For the further edification of the Church

        B. Of Those who may call Synods and Councils (Overseers and other rulers in the church)

                1. Overseers for the edification of the Church may appoint such assemblies as often as they judge it
                    expedient thereunto.

                2. Overseers for the edification of the Church may convene Synods and Councils as often as they
                     may judge it expedient thereunto.

II. The Responsibilities of Synods and Councils

        A. To ministerially determine controversies of faith and cases of conscience

        B. To set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of
             His Church in accordance with the Word of God

        C. To receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same in
             accordance with the Word of God

III. Synods not infallible; therefore they are not to be used as the
       rule of faith and practice but as a help in both.

IV. The Jurisdiction of Synods and Councils

        A. They are to handle nothing but that which is ecclesiastical

        B. Not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth except by way of humble petition in
             extraordinary circumstances or by way of advice if required by the civil magistrate.