If anyone complain that he has been wronged by the decision of a minor assembly, he shall have the right to appeal to a major ecclesiastical assembly, and whatever may be agreed upon by a majority vote shall be considered settled and binding, unless it be proved to conflict with the Word of God or with the articles of the Church Order, as long as they are not changed by the general synod.
*Decisions pertaining to Article 31
- Appeal to a major gathering against any decision of an ecclesiastical body must be made upon the immediately following meeting of the body to which appeal is directed, at the same time giving notification to the secretary of the body by whose decision he is aggrieved. Of every judgment rendered in the case, those concerned shall receive a notification. (Adopted by Classis of June 6, 7, 1934; Synod of 1944, Arts. 66, 67.)
- “Explanation of the rules for Protests, Appeals, and Overtures.” II. B. 5, states: "Article 31 declares that whatever is decided by a major assembly by majority vote, relative to an appeal,must be considered settled and binding—'unless it be proved to conflict with the Word of God or with the articles of the Church Order.’ The implication here is that one may indeed attempt to demonstrate to an ecclesiastical assembly that its decision conflicts with the Word of God or the Church Order, but during the process of protest and appeal, he must submit to the decision by which he is aggrieved" (Adopted by Synod 2004).