THE DECREE BOOK
Introduction to the Revised Decree
by the Chief Overseer
The faith, constitution, government and general rules of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.
Words of the Chief Overseer in introducing the first and revised decree book of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc. compiled by a quorum of bishops and elders together with the Chief Overseer. Approved and accepted by the Chief Overseer and General Assembly of the Church held at Quitman, Georgia, beginning June 25, 1915, and published at Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 25, 1923 by the Board of the Official Organ of the Church. The words of introducing the first and revised decree book to the Church and to the general public as used by Saint Mary Magdalena are as follows:
"Our petition and humble request of all those who may chance to come into possession of one of these Decree Books of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, is that you read its contents carefully and prayerfully in the name of the Lord, and we believe you shall, if honest of hearts, acknowledge them to be of much benefit and value to all who are, and those who may become, members of this Church, by helping them to keep mindful of their duty to God and the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, and to know the value and importance of having their business and duty outlined before them in book form they shall have no need to err in anything contained in this Decree Book, as we believe all human beings should know that it is the will of God that all true people should have a rule to walk by in any matter of business, both spiritual and temporal, and they should have their rules written up in books. God has books in heaven (Psalms 69:28). The apostles kept books when they were here in times past (II Timothy 4:13, Daniel 7:10). Revelations 21:12-13 shows that books shall be opened in the great judgement. Knowing these things, we do ask the ministers of the Lord, as they go throughout the land, in the city, in the country, and in every place, to deliver the Decree for the saints to keep. Remember the scriptures, Acts 16:4. We are also glad to be able to let the readers of this Decree Book know that we realize that God's soul hath no pleasure in them that draw back (Hebrews 10:39), and in this we shall not draw back from the laws or rules of our respective states, land or country; nor from the government and rules of our Church. For those who despise governments are, as the apostle Peter has said in II Peter, second chapter, from the tenth to the fifteenth verse. Therefore we submit ourselves to them in the fear of the Lord. May God ever bless this book and anoint all its contents with the blessed Holy Ghost. Therefore, all rules or governments and all things contained in this book are accepted, approved and adopted by the Holy Ghost and ourselves, the humble servants of the Lord, the Chief Overseer, and the State Bishops and the Elders and the standing committees of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth. Amen."
--from The Constitution, Government, and General Decree Book of The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Inc., Nashville: New and Living Way Publishing Company, 1924.