The Basis of Union of the Presbyterian Church of Australia is the document under which the constituent state churches agreed to unite at its first General Assembly[1] on 24 July 1901,[2] and is still a foundational text for the Uniting Church.[3]
The first point of the Basis on Union affirmed that the "Supreme Standard" of the united church would be the "Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments," while the second point affirmed that its "Subordinate Standard" would be the Westminster Confession of Faith, read in the light of a declaratory statement. This in turn consisted of six points. Much of it is derived from Declaratory Acts adopted by churches in Scotland, and, more particularly, the Declaratory Act approved (but not adopted) by the General Assembly of Victoria in 1882.[4]
The declaratory statement presses the necessity of preaching the free offer of salvation, and the "cardinal facts" of Jesus Christ's incarnation, atoning life and death, resurrection and ascension, as well as the bestowment of his Holy Spirit. It also qualifies some statements in the Westminster Confession, and allows "liberty of opinion" on matters in it which are "not essential to the doctrine therein taught."