Duties of clerk of session pcusa book

Presbytery fees pulpit supply, moderators of sessions, etc. Manual for clerks of session west jersey presbytery. Pcusa structure and governing bodies presbyterian church. He covers how to take good minutes, what records to keep, how to support and assist the pastor and proper order. Only the session can authorize the lords supper w2. Participate in the annual clerk of day coordinated by the presbyterys stated session clerk. The clerk of session plays a vital role within the presbyterian church usa. The book of order mandates that each governing body of the pcusa have a moderator and a clerk. It is designed to be helpful in fulfilling the duties of a c lerk of s ession, and to provide guidance and information related to common questions which arise. This will speed the online approval of the document by the clerk. Congregations are required to have a board of deacons g2. The book of order mandates that each governing body of the pcusa have a moderator and a clerk1. Our duties include the search for fair and inclusive representation, protection of the rights of all, enabling mechanisms for dispute resolution and church discipline, promotion of the balanced presentation of ideas, and the preparation and retention of accurate records. The majority of my fellow session members did not grow up presbyterian, and had probably never cracked open the westminster confession or the book of order, so they had little knowledge of presbyterian doctrine or government.

The form will then be returned to the clerk of session of the church through the stated clerk of the. This video series reflects the 202015 pcusa book of order. Attend all stated and called meetings of the session 3. When the clerk is a member of the session, the difficulty can often be just the opposite. To the congregation the session clerk is the person. Margaret is looking forward to the new clerks orientation may 14 to 16. Ruling elders, the immediate representatives of the people, are chosen by them, that, in conjunction with the pastor, or minister, they may exercise government and discipline, and take the oversight of the spiritual interests of the particular church, and also of the. Handbook for clerks of session 2012 this handbook is dedicated to all clerks of session of trinity presbytery, both past and present. It is written with the following assumptions, that the clerk of session. The clerk of session is elected to be the continuing clerical officer of the congregation. Jim rowell, interim stated clerk trinity presbytery 554 davega dr. As a ruling elder myself, i recognize the need for polity education for those of us who are not seminarytrained church leaders.

Election and duties the clerk of session is elected by the session. The session takes care of the guidance and direction of the ministry of the local church, including almost all. The clerk is responsible for the preservation of the minutes of both the session and the congregation. It can be easy for the clerk to function more as a member of the session and not in their role as clerk. The responsibilities of the office of the stated clerk are unique and very important to the wellbeing of the whole church. Be familiar with the responsibilities of the session as described in the book of. Manual for clerks of session presbytery of baltimore. Clerks serving a session are called clerks of session. The clerks of presbytery and general assembly are called stated clerks. The clerk of session serves as the clerk at congregational meetings. Manual for clerks of session and a reference for moderators.

Here are ten things i think every ruling elder should know. The clerk is responsible for the preservation of the minutes of both the session and the. The duties and qualifications of ruling elders the. Fact checking your clerk of session the presbyterian lay. Attend all meetings of the presbytery, recording accurately and publishing regularly the transactions of the presbytery, and maintaining. The stated clerk is a ruling elder or teaching elder of the presbyterian church u. Book of order 201921 handbook for clerks of session. Clerks are unique and important group of people in the presbyterian church. The stated clerk also serves as a polity resource to clerks of session, moderators and the constitutional committees of the presbytery.

The clerk of session of your church can give you the churchorganization id your churchs pin number, and can help you gather the current statistical information. The clerk and pastor work on the docket for the session meeting togetherbut book of order wise, the clerk is the primary person responsible for this. Brochures and cards bulletin inserts forms and applications liturgy and worship aids manuals and policies video, audio and multimedia publications and periodicals posters and fliers reports and study guides prayer cards. Any church member may be asked, but the committee should include one or more sitting elders, choir director and the pastor as resource person. The clerk is one of the two session officers specified and required by the book of order, the other normally the pastor being the moderator. The basic duties of the clerk of session can be found in the form of government g3. In those situations, the other ruling elders on the session may have to support the clerk in the clerk role.

Each session shall also keep a record of congregational meetings, of marriages, of baptisms, of additions, and of the death and dismission of church members. A part of the reformed tradition, it is the largest presbyterian denomination in the us, and known for its relatively progressive stance on doctrine. Clerk of session training videos presbytery of coastal. Gifts to shared mission given without restrictions go where they are needed most and fund many parts of the presbyterian mission agencys mission and ministry. The clerk must be a ruling elder but does not need to be an active member of the session. Clerks of presbyteries, synods, and the general assembly are called stated clerks. The clerk of session must be an active ruling elder.

The session elects the clerk for such term as it shall determine. Sample manual of administrative operations session of. Manual for clerks of session march 30, 2015 4 introduction welcome to the office of clerk of session. To the other officebearers the session clerk is chief among them, even though not necessarily senior either in age or in length of service. The stated clerk is the chief ecclesiastical officer of the general assembly. Central florida presbytery manual for clerks of session. If the clerk is not a member of session, general privilege of voice may be given by session for comments germane to the office and its duties but she may not make motions or.

Serve as secretary for meetings of the congregation, seeing that the minutes are received by session and are inscribed in the permanent session minute book. The duties of the clerk of session are found in the book of order and roberts. The session promises and obligates itself to provide you with the following. The book of order may be downloaded free of charge from the presbyterian. Organize minutes with this professional quality minutes of session book. Upon approval by the committee on ministry the form will be signed by the moderator. Before leaving pcusa in 2006, i was an elder in a congregation near dallas. Office of the stated clerk presbytery of the pacific. The pastor has both voice and vote in a congregational meeting. Submit the session minute book to the stated clerk of the presbytery. The pcusa was established by the 1983 merger of the presbyterian church in the united states, whose churches were located.

Serving as clerk of session presbytery of charlotte. Manual for clerks of session national capital presbytery. In the pastoral function elders rarely bring issues to session meetings. Clerks of session resources presbytery of charlotte. The clerk of the session has many duties regarding the records of the church, and also serves as secretary of. The clerk may be an elected member of the session, or may be an elder not currently so serving. The stated clerk shall have the duties and responsibilities set forth in the book of order and the presbyterys administrative manual, as well as the following duties. When the stated clerk deems it necessary, after consulting with appropriate persons or bodies, the stated clerk may retain legal counsel and institute or participate in legal proceedings in civil and criminal courts. Handbook for clerks of session pca administrative committee. This handbook for clerks of session is written for clerks by clerks, as a guide to the responsibilities of clerks of session. The presbyterian church usa, abbreviated pcusa, is a mainline protestant christian denomination in the united states.

Carlisle presbytery policy for churches considering leaving. By his office, the pastor serves as the moderator of the session. Locate the session minutes book and the church register. The clerk of session is a critical job in any presbyterian church. Clerkofsession checklist orthodox presbyterian church. The primary role of the clerk of session is to maintain and preserve the records. The clerk of the session must be an elder, but not necessarily one serving currently on the session. Made of maroon imitation leather with gold foil imprint on front, spine, and back. To the minister the session clerk is his or her right hand man, even when the position is held by a woman, as is now the case in a number of congregations. The clerk of session always strives to be a servant of the session, and seeks to be equipped spiritually to fulfill the servant role. The clerk of the session has many duties regarding the records of the church, and also serves as. Keep the presbytery address and telephone number close at hand. The stated clerk shall give advisory opinions concerning the meaning of the provisions of the constitution of the presbyterian church u. Attend all meetings of the presbytery, recording accurately and publishing regularly.

Reimbursement for travel in the performance of your professional duties while serving our congregation at the current irs rate. Thank you for agreeing to be the clerk of session for your church. Those serving sessions are called clerks of session. The handbook for clerks of session is written for clerks by clerks as a guide to the responsibilities of the clerk of session. You have joined a unique and important group of people in the presbyterian church u. This meeting will be hosted by a general assembly focus group of the way forward committee, which was formed at the last general assembly to study the structure of the pcusa and recommend changes to make it more effective. Presbyterian church of bull shoals ministries worship. The clerk must be an elder but does not need to be an active member of the session. At the january stated meeting of the session report the names of at least three people who will serve on the worship committee.

A parish associate agreement, appendix 1, will initially be completed by the session, pastor, parish associate and submitted to the committee on ministry. The clerk of session and the moderator of the session are liaisons between the session and the presbytery. There may be times that members of the congregation voice concerns to the session and that correspondence will come to you, which in turn you would share with the pastor as how best to proceed. Some of the examples she uses to illustrate how formats rapidly change include floppy disks, film strips, and 45rpm vinyl records. Session records checklist fillable storing church records video from the presbyterian historical society. Rules for church records clerks handbook 2019 checklist for sessional records. The clerk of session the book of church order bco requires that every court of the pca have a moderator and a clerk.

A session is a body of elected elders governing each local church within presbyterian polity. Session responsibilities the session is made up of the pastor of the church who serves as moderator and all elders elected and installed to active service. Our book of church order sums up the duties as follows. New training for stated clerks presbyterian historical. Session responsibilities community presbyterian church. This manual will address the role of the session in presbyterian polity, the.