Synods Settle Consciences

The Westminster Confession of Faith leads Presbyterians to confess that "for the edification of the Church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods." (31:3). The reason such assemblies called synods edify the Church is because they determine controversies of faith and morals. The model for this kind of church assembly is set forth in Acts 15 where the Jerusalem synod met to address the theology of the Judaizers. The result of this synod is expressed in the spiritual effect of the syondical decree which is recorded in verse 32 about the response of the church of Antioch: they rejoiced because of its encouragement. This joyful response of Antioch is what synods aim at by their decisions: settled consciences.