Freedom of conscience, as we use it in the life of the church, is the right to disagree with a position of a council or councils of the church. It is derived directly from this principle that ‘God alone is Lord of the conscience’ and that our consciences are thus bound to nothing other than Scripture. Freedom of conscience is extended only to individuals and not to councils of the church and G-2.0105 of the Book of Order delineates specific limits on the freedom of conscience for those who serve in ordered ministries.
Agency: Office of the General Assembly
Departments: Constitutional Interpretation