PRESBYTERY OF MISSISSIPPI
PRESBYTERY MANUAL
Standing Rules, Operating Procedures, and Appendices
January 1, 2008
P A R T O N E
- S T A N D I N G R U L E S
ARTICLE 1. THE PRESBYTERY AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES
1.1 NAME.
The name of this presbytery shall be "The Presbytery of
Mississippi."
1.2 DEFINITION. The presbytery shall consist of all member
churches within the geographic bounds of the presbytery and all the Ministers
of the Word and Sacrament who have been received into membership. The
presbytery has those duties, authorities, powers, and responsibilities
specified by the Book of Order in G-3.0000, G-11.0000, and G-14.0000.
1.3 MISSION STATEMENT
We seek locally to:
Strengthen and resource
congregations, paying particular attention
to our smaller churches;
Create a collegial environment
of both professional and spiritual care for minister
members of presbytery;
Equip leaders of congregations through nurture, education,
and fellowship.
We pray that through this work
all communicants will be more effective in their
congregations as well as in the
shared work of the presbytery.
We seek regionally to:
Participate in shared mission
and mission projects;
Create opportunities for the
people of God to gather for education
and fellowship;
Care for and oversee the
administrative work that supports our spiritual growth.
We pray that through this work we
will deepen connections to each other and to the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
We seek globally to:
Encourage individuals and
congregations to enter into mission efforts beyond
the bounds of the
presbytery through financial support, leadership involvement,
and project implementation.
We pray that through this work
we will increase discipleship and service by bringing
the love of God in Jesus Christ
to a hurting world.
1.4
ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES. The
organizational principles of the Presbytery of Mississippi presuppose the
fellowship of believers in covenanted relationship with one another and with
God through Jesus Christ. “The organization rests upon the fellowship and is
not designed to work without trust and love” (G-7.0103). Our trust and love are
nurtured and strengthened by our shared commitment to these principles, mutual
accountability for our actions, and open and honest communication with each
other.
ARTICLE 2.
MEETINGS
2.1 STATED
MEETINGS. Three stated meetings shall be held each year. The meeting in February shall be held on the fourth Saturday of
the month; the meeting in May shall be held
on the third Thursday of the month; the
meeting in October shall be held on the fourth Thursday of the month, and
convening at a time determined by the Presbytery Council.
2.2 OTHER
MEETINGS. Presbytery may adjourn to
meet as deemed advisable. Matters permissible
for consideration at adjourned meetings shall be those which would have been
permissible at the meeting of which this is an adjourned meeting. Special meetings may be held as deemed
necessary, as provided in G-11.0201.
Ordinarily, the examination of ministers from other presbyteries, or of
candidates seeking ordination, shall not be handled in special meetings.
2.3 PLACE
OF MEETINGS. Presbytery Council shall
recommend future meeting places. If presbytery
should adjourn without designating the next place of meeting, Presbytery
Council has the authority to determine the place. If it becomes necessary to change the date, time or place of a presbytery
meeting after it has been set by council or approved by presbytery, it may be
done by agreement among any three of the following: The moderator of presbytery, the moderator of the Presbytery
Council, the stated clerk, and the executive presbyter.
2.4 QUORUM. The quorum for all meetings shall be three
ministers and elders from at least three churches (G-11.0202).
2.5 DOCKET. The docket of presbytery will be recommended
by Presbytery Council, and ordinarily important discussions and decisions will
be planned to take place as early as possible during the day. The docket may be amended at any time during
the meeting by a majority vote.
2.6 ATTENDANCE. Every minister should attend every meeting,
unless providentially hindered, and all sessions should be represented at every
meeting, unless providentially hindered.
Members of presbytery will be expected to arrive on time and to attend
all sessions unless specifically excused by presbytery. When providentially hindered from attendance,
a minister or sessional representative will be expected to request an excuse
from the presbytery, stating the reason for non-attendance. Ministers who are honorably retired, infirm,
or disabled are excused from attendance at presbytery meetings. Ministers in the military chaplaincy, in
overseas missions, or enrolled in graduate studies outside of the geographical
bounds of the presbytery are also excused during their period of service or
study.
2.7 CORRESPONDING
MEMBERS. It is the policy of this presbytery
to regard all visiting ministers as corresponding members and to grant them the
privilege of the floor with voice but without vote. Elders who chair presbytery committees have voice and vote at
presbytery meetings during their
terms of office (G.11-0101c). The moderator of Presbyterian Women of the presbytery
is granted the privilege of the floor with voice at every meeting.
2.8 PREPARATION
FOR MEETINGS. All overtures,
communications, and committee reports which are to be presented at a meeting of
presbytery shall normally be furnished to the stated clerk at least three weeks
prior to such meeting. All overtures or
committee reports for a prospective meeting of presbytery are to be duplicated
in full by the stated clerk or under his direction, and these, together with
the proposed docket, mailed (in a form and manner determined by the stated clerk)
two weeks prior to the meeting of presbytery:
one copy of said overtures, reports, and docket to be sent to every
minister, committee chair, and council member, and as many copies to each clerk
of session as the number of elder representatives the session is entitled to
send to presbytery meetings.
2.9 SPECIAL
OBSERVANCES. Provision shall be made
for the following special observances.
2.9.1 The
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed annually.
2.9.2 Commissioners
to meetings of the synod and of the General Assembly shall report on their
attendance at the next stated meeting of the presbytery, in person, if
possible, otherwise by letter.
2.9.3 At
the October stated meeting, elders
who have died during the past year shall be memorialized, and their names, the
churches served, and dates of death shall be recorded in the minutes. Deceased ministers shall be memorialized at
the next convenient stated meeting, and a page in the minutes set apart for a
brief account of the minister's life and work.
The stated clerk shall arrange for someone to present to the presbytery
a proper memorial paper.
2.10 APPROVAL
OF MINUTES. The presbytery waives the
reading of the minutes and authorizes the moderator and the stated clerk to
read and approve the minutes for the presbytery.
2.11 BALANCE
OF MEMBERS. Because the presbytery has a large number of resident
honorably retired minister members, the active participation of those honorably
retired members will be used as a criterion in determining balance between
ministers and elders entitled to vote at presbytery meetings (See G-11.0101b).
ARTICLE 3.
OFFICERS
3.1 OFFICERS. The officers of presbytery are moderator, vice
moderator, stated clerk, and treasurer.
3.2 MODERATOR. The moderator shall be elected to preside
for one year, without eligibility for successive re-election. The election shall be held in October, to
become effective in February. The moderator
of the presbytery may be the vice moderator from the previous year. Unless specified otherwise in the motion
establishing standing committees or special committees, the moderator shall
appoint committee members and designate the chair.
3.3 VICE
MODERATOR. The vice moderator shall be
nominated yearly by the Nominating Committee and will serve a term of one
year. The vice moderator shall serve as
moderator if and when the occasion arises and is ordinarily nominated as
moderator the following year.
3.4 STATED
CLERK. The stated clerk will be nominated
to presbytery by the Nominations Committee and be elected for a term of four
years, with eligibility for reelection.
This position may be held by the executive presbyter. The duties of the stated clerk shall be
those described in G-9.0203 and in the position description of the stated
clerk. (See the Appendix containing the
Presbytery Personnel Policies.)
3.5 TREASURER. The presbytery shall elect a treasurer, upon
nomination by the Nominations Committee, for a term of four years, with
eligibility for reelection. This
position will ordinarily be held by the executive presbyter. When the office is held by the executive presbyter,
the term is concurrent with that of the executive presbyter. The duties of the treasurer shall be to
collect the presbytery per capita assessment, to make authorized disbursements
from this current expense fund; to receive benevolent funds from churches,
church organizations and individuals and to disburse them according to presbytery's
budget or to their designation if restricted; to make proper reports to presbytery;
and in consultation with the Subcommittee on Finance to prepare budgets for
benevolences and current expenses. The
treasurer shall submit quarterly reports to the Presbytery Council and to the
presbytery. The treasurer shall be bonded
in an amount designated by presbytery, with presbytery paying the bonding
premiums.
3.6 TERMS
OF OFFICE. The above officers shall usually
be elected at the October stated meetings, to take office at the following February
stated meeting. Those elected to these
offices shall serve until their successors are chosen. Vacancies in any of the offices may be
filled at any meeting of presbytery.
ARTICLE 4.
PRESBYTERY COUNCIL
4.1 PRESBYTERY
COUNCIL. The Presbytery Council is the
responsible agency for the planning of presbytery's programs and budget,
monitoring and evaluating the work of all program committees and staff, and
coordinating of reports from the ecclesiastical committees.
4.2 MEMBERSHIP. The council consists of ex-officio members
(by virtue of office/with vote) who are the moderators of the three program
committees; the moderators of the ecclesiastical committees of Ministry,
Nominations, Representation, and Preparation for Ministry; the presidents of
Presbyterian Women and Presbyterian Men; the moderator, vice moderator, stated
clerk, and treasurer (when this office is not held by the executive presbyter);
plus three persons elected at large to ensure inclusiveness. The three at-large members of the council
will serve terms of three years each with one person serving in each year's
class. The executive presbyter and all
special presbyters will serve as advisory members of council. Moderators of special committees, the
Permanent Judicial Commission, and the Trustees will serve as advisors to the council
without votes. Ordinarily no more than
one person from a particular church will serve on the council.
4.3 MEETINGS. When a member of council who is the moderator
of a presbytery committee is unable to attend a meeting of the council, another
member of that committee designated by the committee moderator may attend the council
meeting in the moderator's place, with both voice and vote.
4.4 MODERATOR. The moderator of council is an ex-officio
member of all council subcommittees and may act as an advisory member of all presbytery
program committees. The moderator of council
will not currently be serving as the moderator of another presbytery committee
or related organization.
4.5 FINANCE
AND PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEES. The
moderator of council, in consultation with council, shall appoint the chairs of
the Finance and Personnel Subcommittees from the membership of the council. The attempt shall be made to name persons
whose skills, interests, and relationship styles give evidence that they could
serve effectively on these subcommittees.
4.5.1 The
moderator of council, in consultation with council, shall appoint three persons
from the presbytery at large to serve on the Finance Subcommittee. These three persons should include one
minister and two lay persons. It would
be helpful for these persons to be reasonably accessible to the Hattiesburg
area.
4.5.2 The
moderator of council, in consultation with council, shall appoint three persons
from the presbytery at large to serve on the Personnel Subcommittee. These three persons should include one
minister and two lay persons.
4.6 OTHER
SUBCOMMITTEES. The council may appoint
other subcommittees as needed. All subcommittees are appointed for a particular
and time-specific objective. The objective and the time frame for completion of
the objective shall be made known to the presbytery at the time of the
appointment of a subcommittee.
4.7 PRESBYTERY
DOCKET. The council will recommend the
docket for each presbytery meeting.
4.8 PER
CAPITA ASSESSMENT. The council will
recommend to presbytery the per capita assessment each year in October, when
reporting the budget of the presbytery.
The per capita assessment which goes to presbytery will be used to pay
for the costs of the operation of presbytery, Presbytery Council, and its
ecclesiastical committees.
ARTICLE 5.
COMMITTEES
5.1 COMMITTEES. The committees of the presbytery shall be
ecclesiastical, program, standing, and special.
5.2 MEMBERS. The Nominations Committee will make every
effort to ensure that membership on the committees is evenly distributed among
all the churches of presbytery by number and proportionally distributed by
membership within churches. Ordinarily
no committee will have more than one member from any one church.
5.2.1 No
person will ordinarily serve on more than one committee of presbytery at one
time, except for members of the Nominations Committee, members of the Permanent
Judicial Commission, members of special committees, and the moderators of
committees who serve on the council in addition to their regular committee
assignment.
5.3 TERMS
OF MEMBERS. The terms of nomination for
all persons serving on presbytery committees will be three years, with the
terms of the Permanent Judicial Commission being six years as set by the Book
of Order. The classes will be nominated
in equal numbers, as far as is possible, for the three years on each committee.
5.3.1 All
persons serving on presbytery committees are eligible to serve two consecutive
terms. After serving two terms on a
particular committee, persons must rotate off for at least one full year before
being eligible to serve on that particular committee again.
5.3.2 Any
committee of presbytery may request presbytery to remove from membership of the
committee any person who has failed to attend three consecutive committee
meetings without being excused. The
Nominations Committee will endeavor to replace those persons as soon as possible.
5.4 REPORTS. All committees that are to report at a
meeting of presbytery shall normally furnish a copy of their report to the
stated clerk and to the presbytery office at least three weeks prior to such
meeting. All committees are to furnish a brief written report indicating the
date, time, location, members present, and topic(s) discussed at each meeting.
5.5 MODERATORS
AND VICE MODERATORS. Moderators of all
the program committees and ecclesiastical committees may serve for two years
and are nominated by the Nominations Committee. Each committee will elect a vice moderator from its own
membership who will be responsible for functioning as moderator in the
moderator's absence.
5.6 ECCLESIASTICAL
COMMITTEES. Ecclesiastical committees relate
to the governance of the presbytery.
They include the Committee on Ministry, Nominations, Representation, and
Preparation for Ministry, along with the Trustees and the Permanent Judicial
Commission. Their duties are defined by the Book of Order and Standing Rules.
5.7 PROGRAM
COMMITTEES. Program committees implement
the various ministries of the presbytery with a special focus on the mission
directives determined by the presbytery. These include Church Extension,
Christian Nurture, and the Mission Committee.
These committees will be under the direct supervision of the council and
will report to presbytery through the council.
Staff resourcing will be made available to each of these committees in
addition to the council.
5.7.1 Program
committees are expected to develop a program plan, structure, and budget each
year.
5.7.2 All
program committees will be responsible to meet at least three times a year prior to the regularly scheduled
meetings of presbytery and report to the council and to presbytery.
5.7.3 Program
committees should announce presbytery-sponsored events and place those events
on presbytery’s calendar six months ahead of the date for these events. Registration materials for such events
should be distributed at least three months before the date of the event.
5.8 STANDING
COMMITTEES. At stated meetings the moderator
shall appoint standing committees, of no more than three members each (naming
the chair for each committee), to consider and report on any matter requiring
attention at that meeting of presbytery, as follows:
5.8.1 Bills
and Overtures, as needed.
5.8.2 Thanks,
for each meeting.
5.9 SPECIAL
COMMITTEES. The presbytery will form
special committees as required to meet special needs or carry out particular
assignments. The moderator of each such
committee will serve as an advisory member of the council.
ARTICLE 6.
THE COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY
6.1 The
Committee on Ministry, as an ecclesiastical committee, is responsible to carry
out the duties set forth in G.11-0500.
This committee will consist of eighteen members.
6.2 The
committee shall also have the following tasks:
6.2.1 The
Committee on Ministry will conduct the examination of all candidates for
ordination and in-coming ministers.
6.2.2 The
Committee on Ministry has authority to dissolve the pastoral relationship in
cases where the congregation and pastor concur; to dismiss ministers to other
presbyteries; to authorize the stated clerk to issue certificates of dismissal;
and to approve calls, terms of calls, or changes in terms of calls, so long as
they meet or exceed the established minimum standards, reporting all such
actions to the next stated meeting of the presbytery (G-11.0502h).
6.2.3 Requests
for permission to labor outside the bounds of presbytery, and requests for
extension of permission to labor outside the bounds of presbytery, shall be
presented to presbytery through the Committee on Ministry. Leave of absence from the presbytery, or
permission to labor outside its bounds, when granted, shall be on an annual basis,
except that in the case of missionaries serving outside the United States, or
of military chaplains, this permission shall be regarded as granted for the
duration of their service. Honorably
retired ministers are authorized to labor outside the bounds of presbytery as
opportunity presents itself.
6.2.4 Ministers
not engaged in pastoral work or not residing within the bounds of presbytery,
will be expected to report to each October stated meeting, through the
Committee on Ministry, concerning their location and activities.
6.2.5 Churches
may receive Personal Information Forms directly from ministers who are seeking
calls within our presbytery, as long as those forms are also submitted to the
Committee on Ministry and the executive presbyter. But churches are not to extend calls to ministers to become
pastors, or sessions to invite ministers to fill the pulpit or serve as
temporary supply for more than one month, without first consulting with the
Committee on Ministry.
6.2.6 The
Committee on Ministry may grant permission to a pastor-elect to move on the
field prior to the examination by presbytery: (1) when requested by the
congregation, (2) when the pastor-elect has already been examined and approved
by the Committee on Ministry, (3) when the Committee on Ministry anticipates no
problems in the particular case, and (4) when the congregation realizes that
the presbytery assumes no financial responsibility.
6.2.7 The
Committee on Ministry will conduct the annual review of sessional records,
ascertaining that the actions taken by the churches as recorded in their
minutes are in compliance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), and that sessions have conducted the required annual financial
review.
6.2.8 The
Committee on Ministry will supervise the training and service of commissioned
lay pastors according to G-14.0801.
ARTICLE 7.
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
7.1 NOMINATIONS
COMMITTEE. The Nominations Committee
will nominate presbytery officers and the members and moderators of all
committees except its own.
7.1.1 The
Nominations Committee and its moderator will be nominated and elected from the
floor of presbytery.
7.1.1.1 Any
person is eligible to be elected to the Nominations Committee, including
members of other committees.
7.1.1.2 The
members of the Nominations Committee will be elected based upon the following
criteria: At the regular October
meeting of presbytery, the presbytery will divide into four geographic cluster
groups. Each year at the October
meeting the clusters will nominate replacements for persons rotating off who
come from their area.
7.1.1.3
Each cluster will nominate a minister, a laywoman, and a layman.
7.1.1.4 The
current list of geographic clusters is found in Appendix II.
7.1.1.5 Following
the election of new members to the Nominations Committee, the moderator of presbytery
will request a nomination of committee moderator from the floor. This person shall indicate a willingness to
serve before being elected.
7.1.2 The
moderator of the Committee on Representation will serve as an advisory member
of the Nominations Committee.
7.2 COMMITTEES. The following provisions will guide
nominations and elections.
7.2.1 Terms
of service on presbytery committees end at the close of the February presbytery
meeting, and classes are numbered by the year in which that February falls.
7.2.2 Persons
elected to new terms on presbytery committees are expected to attend the
meetings of their committees between the October and February presbytery
meetings as visitors with privilege of the floor but without vote.
7.2.3 Persons
elected to fill unexpired terms on presbytery committees shall assume office
immediately upon their election.
7.2.4 The
Nominations Committee shall attempt to fill vacancies on presbytery committees
during the year by nominating successors at the presbytery meeting when
resignations are approved or vacancies declared. If this is not possible, vacancies will be filled by nominations
at the next stated meeting of presbytery.
7.2.5 The
Nominations Committee shall ask churches to submit names of persons to serve on
presbytery committees by having churches turn in a nomination form for each
person to be considered. Any church
member can be nominated to serve on a program committee. Only presbyters may be nominated to serve on
ecclesiastical committees.
7.2.6 The
Nominations Committee will ordinarily nominate persons to be moderators of all
program and ecclesiastical committees from those persons who have served at
least one year on the committee. Moderators
of committees may serve two one-year terms.
7.2.7 Ordinarily
every presbytery committee shall have racial ethnic representation.
7.3 MINISTER
ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONERS. The election by presbytery of minister commissioners
(principal and alternate) to the General Assembly will take place at February
stated meetings in years when General Assembly meets. Nominations will be allowed from the floor and from the Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee shall use the
following guidelines:
7.3.1 Nominations
ordinarily shall come from a roll of the active ministers which is maintained
by the committee in consultation with the stated clerk.
7.3.2 Length of service within the presbytery may be considered.
7.3.3 Lapse
of time since having attended General Assembly as a commissioner may be considered.
7.3.4 A
minister ordinarily must have been a member of presbytery for at least eighteen
consecutive months prior to the opening date of the General Assembly to which
he or she is nominated.
7.3.5 A
minister residing within the bounds of presbytery ordinarily must have attended
at least four of the last five regular stated meetings of presbytery prior to
his or her nomination and have actively served on one or more committees and
have actively supported the work of
the presbytery.
7.3.6 The
Nominations Committee will place in nomination two ministers as principal and
two as alternate.
7.3.7 The
Nominations Committee shall not present the same nominee for commissioner for
more than two consecutive years.
7.3.8 The
alternate is not automatically nominated as the principal commissioner for the
next year.
7.4 ELDER
ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONERS. The election by
presbytery of elder commissioners (principal and alternate) to the General
Assembly will take place at February stated meetings in years when General
Assembly meets from nominations from
the floor and from nominations submitted to presbytery by the Nominations
Committee. The Nominations Committee
shall use the following guidelines:
7.4.1 Nominations
ordinarily shall come from a list of elders who have actively served on one or more presbytery committees
within the past three years.
7.4.2 An
elder must have been an elder for at least eighteen months, and he or she must
be active in the local church.
7.4.3 The
Nominations Committee will place in nomination two elders as principal and two
as alternate.
7.4.4 The
Nominations Committee shall not present the same church for more than two
consecutive years.
7.4.5 The
alternate is not automatically nominated as the principal commissioner for the
next year.
7.5 SYNOD
COMMISSIONERS.
7.5.1 The
Presbytery of Mississippi is entitled to elect two commissioners to meetings of
the Synod of Living Waters, one minister and one elder, who will hold
overlapping three year terms as established by synod procedures.
7.5.2 Commissioners
may be reelected for one additional three year term.
7.5.3 Two
ministers and two elders shall be nominated to the presbytery to be synod
commissioner. One minister and one elder shall be elected at the October
meeting each year, to take office in the following January.
7.6 Presbytery
staff members will not be elected to serve as voting members of committees but
will be utilized as resource persons in consultation with the executive presbyter.
7.7 Vacancies. When a vacancy occurs among the officers,
committees, or commissioners of presbytery, the vacancy may be filled until the
next meeting of presbytery by the presbytery moderator, the stated clerk, the moderator
of the Nominations Committee, the moderator of the Presbytery Council, and the
executive presbyter, or by any three of these officers.
ARTICLE 8.
COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
8.1 The
Committee on Preparation for Ministry shall be composed of six members, and it
shall assist the presbytery, its pastors, churches, and persons preparing for
ministry to fulfill the provisions of G-14.0300.
8.2 The
Committee on Preparation for Ministry has authority to dismiss candidates upon
their request, by authorizing the stated clerk to issue certificates of
transfer for them, such action to be reported to the presbytery by the
committee at the next stated meeting.
ARTICLE 9.
COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION
9.1 The
Committee on Representation shall be composed of eight persons whose responsibility
shall be to fulfill the requirements of G-9.0105.
ARTICLE 10. TRUSTEES
10.1 The
presbytery's incorporators and legal trustees are the members of the first
Presbytery Council who signed the articles of incorporation, and their successors
in office. However, the presbytery has
chosen to elect six elders as Trustees to give advice to the presbytery and
Presbytery Council on issues concerning the real property of presbytery and its
churches.
10.2 The
Trustees shall be elected in three classes of two persons in each class. The moderator of the Trustees shall be
designated by presbytery.
10.3 The
Trustees shall hold title to the real property of the presbytery and may convey
real property for and on behalf of the presbytery when authorized to do
so. Reasonable notice in reasonable
detail shall be sent to all the churches prior to a meeting of presbytery in
which it is proposed that a purchase or sale of property of substantial value
be made.
10.4 Presbytery
authorizes any two trustees, named by the Trustees, to sign deeds and legal
documents when those actions are approved by presbytery.
10.5 Management
of the financial assets and trust funds of the presbytery shall not be the
responsibility of the Trustees, but shall be the responsibility of the Presbytery
Council or those persons to whom the Presbytery Council shall assign that
responsibility.
10.6 Recommendations
from the Trustees to the presbytery shall be adopted by the Trustees in normal
parliamentary fashion at any properly held meeting of the Trustees. If less than a majority of the Trustees are
present, the report and recommendations shall note that fact and shall be
considered as advice to the presbytery.
ARTICLE 11. CHURCH
EXTENSION COMMITTEE
11.1 The
Church Extension Committee is responsible for developing and promoting
effective programs of evangelism, and for organizing and supervising the
development of new congregations. This committee
is also responsible to provide for the effective development of the life and
ministry of the churches of presbytery and to assist aid-receiving churches in
their program development and mission needs.
It will be made up of twelve members.
11.2 The
responsibilities of the Church Extension Committee are contained in the
Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE 12. COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN NURTURE
12.1 The
Christian Nurture Committee is responsible for the promotion and development of
nurture, education, and leadership needs among the churches of presbytery and
their members. This committee will be
made up of nine members.
12.2 The
responsibilities of this committee are listed in the Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE 13. MISSION COMMITTEE
13.1 The
Mission Committee is responsible for developing and promoting programs on
mission to meet human needs within and beyond the bounds of presbytery. This committee will be made up of nine
members.
13.2 The
duties of this committee are listed in the Operating Procedures.
ARTICLE 14. RELATED UNITS
14.1 MEN'S
AND WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS. Presbyterian
Women and Presbyterian Men are related organizations of presbytery and will
have a liaison relationship with the work of presbytery through membership on
the council, through ex-officio representation on appropriate program
committees, and through coordination of their program plans with the program
plans of presbytery.
14.1.1 Presbyterian
Women and Presbyterian Men will coordinate their schedules and plans with the
regular presbytery program approved by the presbytery, and shall make an annual
report to the council and through the council to the presbytery.
14.2 PRESBYTERY
OF MISSISSIPPI CAMPUS MINISTRY
BOARD. The presbytery shall nominate
and elect six members to the Presbytery of
Mississippi Campus Ministry Board.
Members shall be elected to three-year terms and are eligible to serve
two consecutive terms. The following
shall also serve as advisory members of the board: staff persons working in
campus ministries supported by Presbytery of
Mississippi Campus Ministry Board and staff persons of the presbytery.
14.3 SELF-DEVELOPMENT
OF PEOPLE COMMITTEE. The presbytery
shall elect nine members to this committee, five of whom shall be
African-American. This committee shall
have the responsibility to validate Self-Development of People projects within
the bounds of the presbytery.
ARTICLE 15. COMMISSIONS
15.1 MEMBERSHIP. The minimum number of members of a
commission shall consist of not fewer than seven, composed of elders and
ministers in as nearly equal numbers as possible, with no more than one elder
member from any one church. However,
ordination and installation commissions may have as few as five members. The moderator of the presbytery and the
moderator of a commission to ordain or install pastors shall have the authority
to make any necessary changes in personnel or assignment. The presbytery's Permanent Judicial
Commission shall consist of nine members, who shall elect their own moderator
and clerk.
15.2 QUORUM. The quorum of a judicial commission shall be
one more than one half of the members.
Unless determined otherwise at the time of appointment, the quorum of an
administrative commission shall be one more than one half of the members.
15.3 COMMISSION
OFFICERS. In electing a commission, the
presbytery shall name the moderator of the commission. The commission shall elect its own clerk.
15.4 EXPENSES. Necessary expenses of members of commissions
to ordain or install pastors should, if possible, be paid by the church or
churches for which the service is performed; should a church be unable to
provide such reimbursement, assistance of presbytery may be requested.
15.5 SCOPE
OF POWER. Whenever an administrative commission
is appointed "the appointing body shall state specifically the scope of
power given to a commission" (G-9.0502).
ARTICLE 16. EXPENSES OF PRESBYTERY
16.1 Necessary
funds for the current expenses of the presbytery shall be provided by a presbytery
assessment on each congregation, at a rate per member established annually by presbytery
when the annual operating budget is approved.
This per capita assessment shall be due and payable on the first day of
each year, based on a church's membership on the first day of the preceding
year.
16.2 Disbursements
from this fund are authorized as follows:
16.2.1 Synod's
per capita assessment, as established by synod.
16.2.2 General
Assembly's per capita assessment, as established by the Assembly. Only those
funds actually received from particular churches which are designated to pay
General Assembly per capita will be forwarded to the General Assembly.
16.2.3 Salaries
of presbytery officers and staff, the expenses of their offices, of committees
and of commissions as established annually at the adoption of presbytery's
operating budget.
16.2.4 Necessary
expenses of installation/ordination commission if not paid by the church or
churches for which these services are performed.
16.3 The
presbytery shall pay quarterly to the Board of Pensions of the General Assembly
the full dues of the specified salaried officers and staff of the presbytery.
16.4 It
shall be customary for each member of presbytery to pay for his or her lunch at
meetings of presbytery.
ARTICLE 17. RULES OF ORDER
17.1 The
rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be
the parliamentary authority governing the presbytery in all cases to which they
are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or any Standing Rules or Manual the presbytery
may adopt.
ARTICLE 18.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES;AMENDMENTS
18.1 The
Manual of Presbytery, including the Standing Rules and the Operating
Procedures, may be suspended for a designated amount of time not to exceed
three consecutive meetings of presbytery upon motion, by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the representatives present and voting.
18.2 These
Rules and Procedures may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
representatives present and voting, at two successive stated meetings of presbytery.
18.3 In
consultation with the executive presbyter, the stated clerk may make editorial
changes or corrections to the Appendices of the Presbytery Manual, when these
do not involve any change of substance.
18.4
Appendices to the
Presbytery Manual which are factual or descriptive, rather than policy or
position statements, and which need updating annually, may be removed from the
Presbytery Manual and placed in the Presbytery Directory, which is issued
annually.
P A R T T W O
- O P E R A T I N G P R O C E D U R E S
ARTICLE 19. PRINCIPLES OF COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
19.1 We
are a presbytery that works for the well-being of each church and minister
member as an expression of our commitment to the body of Christ.
19.2 We
are a presbytery that seeks to serve rather than to be served.
19.3 We
are a presbytery that practices mutual forbearance, forgiveness, and patience
in our relationships with one another.
19.4 We
are a presbytery that embodies the truth that each congregation is uniquely
gifted by the Holy Spirit for its witness in the world.
19.5 We
are a presbytery that believes we are enriched by our connectional nature of
government and the fellowship within this presbytery.
19.6 We
are a presbytery committed to living out our ordination vows.
ARTICLE 20. ADMINISTRATIVE PRINCIPLES
20.1 Principles
which shall inform presbytery administration are:
20.1.1 Wise
Rule - The presbytery is made up of many persons of diverse interests and
perspectives. Wise rule is based upon
the process of reflecting on our common experiences. It occurs when all persons can effectively participate in the
decision process, and when decisions are reached in an open and informed
manner. When this occurs, the decisions
which are reached are taken to be the corporate will of God for the presbytery.
20.1.2 Public
Processes - The presbytery will carry out its work in a public manner where the
intentions and actions of the presbytery and its leaders will be public and
open to examination by persons affected by their work. The processes of presbytery will be known so
that churches and individuals can have direct and immediate access to its
ongoing work.
20.1.3 Responsive
System - The presbytery will be open and available to listen and hear the
expressed needs of congregations. Church members and sessions will have access
to the decision-making processes, and the structure is designed to be flexible,
changeable, and responsive to changing needs.
20.1.4 Intentional
Programs - The presbytery will have clearly stated mission goals. The presbytery will develop and implement
programs through thoughtful, intentional planning. This planning will function through a goal-setting process which
will be open and inclusive, involving both local churches and members of
presbytery committees. Attention will
be given to planning, implementing, evaluating, and modifying all the programs
of presbytery such that they are responsive to local needs and consistent with
the mission priorities established by the presbytery's churches and its
committees.
20.1.5 Accountability
- The work of presbytery is to be carried out in a manner that makes each
person and committee working within presbytery accountable for their
actions. This will be conducted through
on-going monitoring of program implementation as well as through yearly
evaluations.
20.1.6 Process
Planning - The committees of presbytery, working under the leadership of the
Council, will engage in an annual planning cycle designed to establish a clear
set of program goals.
ARTICLE 21. PRESBYTERY COUNCIL
21.1 The
Presbytery Council shall have the following responsibilities:
21.1.1 The
Council will receive regular reports from all program committees and staff, and
will monitor the work of committees and staff to ensure that the goals and
mission priorities of presbytery are accomplished.
21.1.2 The
Council will present "challenge budgets" to presbytery at the fall
meeting of presbytery each year. These
budgets will reflect the planning/goal setting of the ecclesiastical committees
and the program committees.
21.1.2.1 The
Council will request the support of the Ecclesiastical Budget by recommending
to presbytery a per capital assessment figure which will ensure the funding of
the Ecclesiastical Budget.
21.1.2.2
The Council will communicate to the churches the per capita assessment figures
approved by the General Assembly and the synod as soon as those figures are
known.
21.1.2.3
The Council will send to presbytery "askings" figures for each church,
which will, together with other known sources of income, fund the Program
Budget of presbytery. These figures
will be provided to each church in the fall of each year to enable churches to
include these figures in their stewardship and interpretation efforts.
21.1.3 Each
year the Council will recommend adoption of balanced budgets of presbytery
ecclesiastical and program spending no later than January; presbytery may amend
its budgets at any meeting.
21.1.4 The
Council will recommend a docket for each presbytery meeting.
21.1.5 Each
year the Council will receive three
financial reports from the treasurer of presbytery. A yearly audit of all accounts will be conducted and reported to
presbytery.
21.1.6 The
Council will be responsible for ecumenical relations.
21.1.7 The
Council may amend reports of program committees. It may comment on the reports of ecclesiastical committees, but
those complete reports will be forwarded to presbytery along with any comment.
21.1.8 The
Council may recommend the establishment of Trust Funds in order to promote the
work of presbytery. Interest from such
funds shall be paid into the program budget of presbytery as earned. The corpus of Trust Funds may not be invaded
without the specific action of presbytery.
(Current Trust Funds are listed in Appendix IX.) Presbytery Council may authorize the
treasurer to invade the principal of the Trust Funds as necessary for cash flow
purposes for periods not to exceed one year, provided that such invasion is
reported to the Council and to the presbytery at all stated meetings.
21.1.9 The
Council may recommend to presbytery the approval of Validated Causes. This approval signifies that contributions
to such causes are approved for selected giving by churches. (Current Validated Causes are listed in
Appendix X.)
21.1.10 The Council may establish a Steering
Committee. The Steering Committee
members will be the moderators of the three program committees, the moderator
of the Committee on Ministry, the moderator of Council, and the Executive
Presbyter. When a committee moderator
is unable to attend a meeting of the Steering Committee, another member of that
committee designated by the committee moderator may attend the meeting in the
moderator's place, with both voice and vote.
The Steering Committee will be moderated by the Moderator of
Council. The Steering Committee will
meet in the months in which Council and presbytery do not meet or on call of
the Moderator of Council. The Steering
Committee has responsibilities for the following:
21.1.10.1
To act for the Council between its meetings in implementing actions of
Council, reporting fully to the next meeting of Council.
21.1.10.2
To respond on behalf of Council to needs arising in the presbytery
between meetings of Council, reporting fully on its actions to the next meeting
of Council.
21.1.10.3
To assist the committees of presbytery in coordinating their work, in
reviewing their plans, and in responding to emerging needs.
21.1.10.4
To consult with the Executive Presbyter concerning the work of that
office and the administering of presbytery's program.
21.1.10.5
To appoint subcommittees of the Council, whose members need not be
members of the Council.
21.1.10.6
To review and evaluate the work of the Stated Clerk and the treasurer of
presbytery. Reviews shall be conducted
at the mid-points and end-points of their terms; and the reviews shall evaluate
their job descriptions, their performance, and their compensation (if
applicable).
21.1.10.7
To receive and act upon all grant and loan applications requiring
presbytery review. Appropriate reports
shall be made to the presbytery.
21.1.11 The Council will provide for a
program and budget planning process each year as follows:
21.1.11.1
Each program committee shall schedule a meeting after the May meeting of
presbytery for the purpose of reviewing the work of the previous year and
planning its program for the following year.
21.1.11.2
Any minister member of presbytery or communicant member of any church in
the presbytery may attend these review and planning meetings.
21.1.11.3
The results of the review and planning meetings will be reported to the
Council's Steering Committee for its preparation of a challenge budget for
presbytery.
21.1.12 The
Council is responsible for seeing that appropriate worship arrangements are
made for all the meetings of presbytery.
Those responsibilities may be assigned to groups or individuals at the
Council’s discretion.
ARTICLE 22. CHRISTIAN NURTURE COMMITTEE
22.1 RESPONSIBILITIES. The Christian Nurture Committee has the
following responsibilities:
22.1.1 To
assist congregations in the development of their Christian education programs,
offering teacher recruitment and training assistance, curriculum evaluation and
selection guidance based on Reformed theological principles and concepts, and
providing a center of Christian education resource materials.
22.1.2 To
develop, produce, and promote a comprehensive camps and conference program for
the presbytery, developing the necessary contracts for facilities to house
such.
22.1.3 To
establish and maintain liaison with the Mississippi Campus Ministry Board and
promote campus ministry with the presbytery.
22.1.4 To
plan, promote, and produce special events for the nurture of older and younger
adults in the churches of the presbytery.
22.1.5 To
plan, promote, and produce special training events for church professionals in
the presbytery.
22.1.6 To
support congregations by providing assistance in worship understanding by
offering worship education events, coordinating and responding with resources
to the needs of congregations in areas of worship and music.
22.1.7 To
assist in planning, promoting, and producing presbytery-wide forums and
training events covering areas across the spectrum of congregational life.
22.1.8 To
assist congregations in the special area of youth work, with persons and
resources, and to provide a Presbytery Youth Council to plan and implement
special youth programs and events.
22.1.9 To
encourage and assist congregations in leadership development by offering
supplementary church officer training, and to make available resources for the
spiritual life development of members which will allow for spiritual gifts
discovery and training in basic organizational and management skills of lay
leaders.
22.1.10 To plan and organize a Pastors
renewal Weekend to be held annually the weekend after Easter. Attendance at
this event is strongly encouraged for pastors actively serving congregations,
and this weekend does not count as vacation time.
22.1.11 To supervise the training of
commissioned lay pastors in accordance with G-14.0801. Presbytery’s training
program for commissioned lay pastors is found in Article 25.
22.2 POLICIES.
22.2.1 The
Christian Nurture Committee will develop and maintain a network relationship
with congregations by locating and meeting regularly with persons in each
congregation who are responsible for areas of church life falling under the
aegis of Christian Nurture, e.g., Christian education, worship, youth work,
older and younger adults, and camping.
22.2.2 The
Christian Nurture Committee will establish and promote a Resource Center and
maintain oversight of its operations, providing funding for the purchase of
materials pertinent to the work of the committee. Further, the committee shall regularly request from other bodies
within the presbytery for materials to be included in the Resource Center. Funding for needs of bodies other than the
Christian Nurture Committee shall come from the requesting bodies.
22.2.3 The
Christian Nurture Committee will provide an annual Presbytery School. All presbytery committees and related
organizations will be invited to participate in its planning and curriculum and
to negotiate costs of such based on the income from the tuition of this
event. Each presbytery group
participating will assign one of its members to work with the Christian Nurture
Committee in the planning and production of the school.
22.2.4 The
Christian Nurture Committee will provide an annual event for church
professionals.
22.2.5 The
Christian Nurture Committee will develop a plan for selection and funding
scholarships to the camping programs of presbytery.
ARTICLE 23.
CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE
23.1 This
committee has the following responsibilities:
23.1.1 To
promote evangelism in the life of the churches of presbytery through training
events, advocacy of evangelism, and providing resource materials.
29.1.2 To
plan for the development of new churches by doing the following:
23.1.2.1 Develop a presbytery-wide strategy for the
purchase of property for new church development.
23.1.2.2 Supervise the beginning of new churches and
the development of initial facilities for new churches.
23.1.2.3
Plan for the support of new church development projects from presbytery
funds so designated, through sponsorship of new churches by sister churches,
and through grants and loans from other church agencies.
23.1.2.4 Produce a mission design for each new church
development prior to the calling of an organizing pastor; and establish a
pastor nominating committee for each new church development.
23.1.2.5 Consult with persons interested in starting
a new church.
23.1.2.6 Recommend the terms of call for new church
development pastors to the Committee on Ministry, and to review annually such
calls.
23.1.3 Work
with all aid-receiving churches, receiving all requests for aid and developing
with these churches a budget plan each year for aid-support. This yearly plan will be developed in the
context of each church having a long range plan.
23.1.3.1 Aid-receiving churches will be responsible
to identify whether they are capable of becoming self-supporting or whether
they will require long-term aid/support.
The churches capable of becoming self-supporting will normally not
receive aid for more than five years, which aid will primarily go toward pastor
support. The churches which will need
long-term aid will either receive minimal aid for program operation or supply
preaching, will consider yoked fields of ministry with other churches, or will
seek to employ a minister who has adequate income from another job (a
tentmaking ministry).
23.1.3.2
The Church Extension Committee will conduct with each aid-receiving
church a joint review of its yearly financial report and the next year's budget
as a part of the regular budgeting by the committee of aid support
dollars. The committee will be
responsible to work with all aid receiving churches to establish and maintain
proper financial accounting procedures.
23.1.4 Assist
churches who request help in developing a long range plan.
23.1.5 Provide
resource materials for congregational development.
23.1.6 Plan
and carry out training event(s).
23.1.7 Organize
programs on church development.
23.1.8 Administer
the funds for the Church Building Repair Account.
23.1.9 Develop
a program of offering grants and loans to churches to encourage creative
programming in areas of congregation life.
23.1.10 Meet
with all small churches and develop a comprehensive strategy for their
effective nurture and development within life of the presbytery.
23.1.11 Serve
as presbytery liaison with yoked churches and tentmaking churches.
23.1.12 The
Committee on Ministry is responsible for matters relating to pastoral calls and
problems relating to pastoral leadership.
23.2 The
committee will be responsible for visitation of each aid-receiving church
annually to review their mission needs and plans.
23.3 The
Church Extension Committee will work with the larger churches of presbytery to
encourage the development of resourcing roles by these churches with smaller
churches in their geographic areas.
23.4 The
Church Extension Committee will work with the Christian Nurture Committee to
conduct events for all pastors and church professionals of presbytery.
23.5 This
committee, along with the Christian Nurture Committee, will have the primary
responsibility to plan for an annual Presbytery School.
23.6 The
Committee shall be guided by the following policies:
23.6.1 New
Church Development projects will be expected to reach self-support status by
the beginning of the sixth year of development. Self-support status includes support of the pastor and the normal
operating costs of the church.
23.6.2 The
committee will encourage and support creative evangelism programs in the
churches. Funds for this support must
come from regular budget funds or from funds specifically contributed for these
purposes.
23.6.3 The
committee is authorized to spend up to $5,000 as earnest money to secure
property in areas which have been approved by presbytery as strategic to new
church development. All such actions
will be reported to the next regular meeting of presbytery.
23.6.4 Terms
of the Call for a Pastor in an Aid-Receiving Church
23.6.4.1
Funds from the Church Extension Committee being sent to a church for
aid-support will be paid only for pastoral support. Funds will only be available for churches being served by a
full-time, yoked, or approved part-time pastor. The aid will be sent monthly to the treasurer of the church. If there are any outstanding loans by the
presbytery to the pastor, this amount will be withheld from the pastor's aid
package.
23.6.4.2
The terms of the call of a pastor of an aid-receiving church will be
reviewed each year by the Church Extension Committee. Changes in the terms of the call relating to the amount of money
paid by the church will be reported to the Committee on Ministry.
23.6.5 Payments
of Funds to Ministry Maintenance Churches
23.6.5.1 Weekly Supply Preaching
Upon receipt of a voucher, the moderator
of this committee will reimburse a church in this category up to $25 per week,
providing the church pays at least $50 to a supply preacher.
23.6.5.2 Part-Time Pastoral Services
The Church Extension Committee will supplement
a church's payment for a part-time pastor approved by the Committee on
Ministry. The money will be sent to the
church treasurer on a monthly basis.
Funds will be available only for the time
a church is being served by a pastor.
Any payment due the Board of Pensions must be sent by the church. The church will include in its call to a
pastor its expectations for pastoral services in addition to filling the
pulpit.
The Church Extension Committee, with its
funds allocated by presbytery for aid-support, will make supplemental payments
only for weekly pulpit supply or part-time ministry; and will not pay for
aid-support to a church for program purposes or other purposes. If a church would like to receive support to
develop or run a specific program, there is a line-item in the Church Extension
Committee budget for program grants based upon regular application and approval
guidelines being followed.
23.6.6 Evaluation
and Accountability
A written report of the results of the Yearly
Consultation with Aid-Receiving Churches will be made to the Committee on
Ministry each year along with any recommendations for changes in the terms of
the call of a specific pastor of an aid-receiving church.
23.6.7 Policy
and Procedure on Yoked Ministries
The terms of the call for every yoked ministry shall
be written on a one year basis, subject to review and evaluation each year, and
renewal if desirable. Each yoked
ministry is to be evaluated and reviewed during the Yearly Consultation with
Aid-Receiving Churches. Any recommended
changes in yoked ministries will be made by the Church Extension Committee to
the Committee on Ministry for consideration and action.
The Church Extension Committee shall be responsible to
explore with any/all aid-receiving churches the possibility of developing a
yoked ministry. These plans will be
discussed with the various churches by the Church Extension Committee, which will keep the Committee on Ministry informed and
will use this committee in an advisory capacity in developing possible yoked
ministries.
ARTICLE 24. MISSION COMMITTEE
24.1 RESPONSIBILITIES. The Mission Committee has the following
responsibilities:
24.1.1 To
identify and prioritize human needs within the bounds of presbytery and to
recommend to presbytery programs for responding to these needs, or the support
of organizations working to meet these needs.
24.1.2 To
promote the meeting of human needs among the churches of the presbytery through
resource materials, training events, and organized programs of ministry.
24.1.3 To
promote mission needs on a national and international level within the churches
of presbytery, and to identify mission projects which can be carried out by
churches as well as promote the financial support of missions among the
churches.
24.1.4 To
serve as an advocate for issues of human compassion, justice and peacemaking in
the life of the presbytery.
24.1.5 To
receive and review all requests for support coming to the presbytery from
mission groups, community agencies and related organizations, and to develop a
plan for supporting these various agencies with the funds in the committee
budget.
24.1.6 To
administer the Disaster Fund Account.
24.1.7 To
monitor, review, and evaluate the work of the Hunger Action Enabler.
24.2 POLICIES.
24.2.1 The
Mission Committee will make recommendations to presbytery regarding all special
requests for grants not otherwise covered by adopted guidelines.
24.2.2 The
Mission Committee will promote among the churches of presbytery the concerns
and programs of national and international mission of the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.).
24.2.3 The
Mission Committee may develop and promote mission projects both within and
beyond the bounds of presbytery. The
committee will seek to involve the churches of presbytery in these projects.
24.3 THE
HUNGER SUBCOMMITTEE: The Hunger
Subcommittee shall supervise the work of the Hunger Action Enabler and shall
report to presbytery through the Mission Committee.
24.3.1 MEMBERSHIP: The subcommittee shall be composed of six
members serving three year terms,
with two members elected each year.
24.3.2 TASKS:
24.3.2.1 To attend an initial training event to help
members be more prepared for their tasks.
24.3.2.2 To meet at least three times a year to
review hunger program issues, to promote responses to hunger and related
issues.
24.3.2.3 To encourage congregations to participate in
the One Great Hour of Sharing offering each year, in the Two Cents A Meal
program of presbytery, and in other forms of hunger action.
24.3.2.4 To encourage Mississippi Hunger Action
groups which are working on hunger related problems to apply for funding from
the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
24.3.2.5 To provide information, materials and
programs for groups and churches wishing to work to end hunger.
24.3.2.6 To provide guidance and support to the
Hunger Action Enabler.
24.3.2.7 To provide reports regularly on their
activities to the Mission Committee and the presbytery.
24.3.3 BUDGET: The Hunger Subcommittee shall be a line-item
in the Mission Committee's budget.
ARTICLE 25. COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY
25.1 The
Committee on Ministry will provide support to vacant churches by working with
their pulpit committees in accord with the requirements of the Book of
Order. The Committee on Ministry is
responsible for assisting vacant churches in conducting evaluations of their
life and mission before completing their Church Information Forms. Care is to be taken to develop a clear
understanding of the pastoral skills and abilities best suited to serve the needs
of a particular church.
25.2 The
Committee on Ministry shall seek to plan for and oversee the nurture of all
ministers within the presbytery, when career assessment and counseling services
are needed.
25.3 The
Committee on Ministry will conduct a thorough examination of all incoming
ministers and candidates for ordination in its regular meetings. The committee will conduct a brief
representative examination on the floor of presbytery of all incoming ministers
and of ministerial candidates, always allowing for questions from the floor.
25.4 A
written biographical sketch and a statement of faith of all new or incoming
ministers will be printed in the White Book.
25.5 The
Committee on Ministry will develop a time-table and schedule for its required
triennial visits to all church sessions.
Committee members will lead the teams who will carry out these
visits. One-third of the sessions will
be visited each year, on a rotating basis.
The schedule will be published and made available to the churches. The Executive Presbyter may accompany the
committee on these visits and make other visits as required by circumstances to
the various churches.
25.6 The
Committee on Ministry will receive, review, and print a complete summary of the
terms of each ministerial call every year in the minutes of the spring meeting
of the presbytery.
25.7 The
Committee on Ministry will maintain a list of approved pulpit supplies and will
make the list available to churches without pastors.
25.8 The
Committee on Ministry will work with the Church Extension Committee in the
calling of all ministers to serve aid-receiving churches, and will review with
this committee the possibilities of yoked ministries and stated supplies for
those churches receiving aid which are not able to become self-supporting. A recommendation is to be received from the
Church Extension Committee of the proposed pastor prior to a call being
approved by the Committee on Ministry (G-11.0502 d.).
25.9 The
Commissioned Lay Pastor training
program for the presbytery will be as follows:
25.9.1 Courses required
4 month courses: Bible, Preaching,
Reformed Theology
3 month courses (to be taught in pairs)
Worship, Polity, Pastoral Care, Teaching
25.9.2
Continuing Education required
25.9.2.1. Attend at least one presbytery
meeting per year
25.9.2.2. The CLP must attend at least one
approved Continuing Education event per year. There will be opportunities for
additional enrichment. These will be approved by the Committee on Ministry and
will include such events as Kaleidoscope, camps and conferences, college and/or
seminary courses, etc.
25.9.3
To establish the position of CLP Program Director: This person will
basically act as the "Dean" and will need to keep files on each
student from initial application, course progress and completion, tracking of
continuing education and through the commissioning process.
25.9.4
To form an Executive Board of COM Moderator, CLP Director and Executive
Presbyter: The board will be authorized to act between COM meetings to make
emergency decisions regarding the program (substitutes for instructors,
problems that arise during the training, etc.)
25.9.5 To authorize the Executive Board to
negotiate the pay as necessary with a cap of $1,600.00 per course.
25.9.6 To set
the cost for the student as follows:
25.9.6.1. $100.00 for application fee
25.9.6.2. $200.00 for 4-month course
25.9.6.3. $150.00 for 3-month course
25.9.6.4. Full course payment in advance
25.9.6.5. Course cost is
same for CLP and pulpit supply tracks (Final cost for the CLP program will be
$1,300.00, not including books, supplies and travel)
25.9.7
To allow COM to promote the training program and to solicit additional
funds from churches to offset the cost to the students.
25.9.8
To establish a new line item in the presbytery budget for receiving and
disbursing the CLP funds.
25.9.9
To authorize the use of presbytery staff, as time permits, to assist in
the management of the CLP program with communication and promotion.
25.9.10
To authorize the COM/Executive Board to make course substitutions and
establish reciprocity with other presbytery CLP programs.
25.10 All
Commissioned Lay Pastor relationships will be limited to one year terms, which
can be renewed annually.
25.11 The
Committee on Ministry shall have the following policy regarding committee
members participating on pastor nominating committees of their congregations
and on procedures before the Committee on Ministry involving their
congregations and/or their ministers.
25.11.1 When
a Committee on Ministry member becomes a member of a Pastor Nominating
Committee that person shall neither participate in nor be present at Committee
on Ministry discussions relative to that church and the work of the Pastor
Nominating Committee. The member will be
expected to leave the meeting during the time of such discussions.
25.11.2 When
the Pastor Nominating Committee of a particular church is reporting to the
Committee on Ministry about its pastoral search, any member of Committee on
Ministry who is also a member or minister of that congregation shall not
participate in or be present at those discussions.
25.11.3 When
the Committee on Ministry is examining a minister for membership in the
presbytery, no Committee on Ministry member of or a minister related to the
congregation to be served by the minister being examined shall participate in
or be present during the examination.
25.11.4 When
a member of the Committee on Ministry has kinship ties by blood or marriage
with a minister being examined by the Committee on Ministry for membership in
the presbytery, the member of the Committee on Ministry shall not participate
or be present during the examination.
ARTICLE 26. PRESBYTERY OFFICE
26.1 The
presbytery shall maintain an office in Hattiesburg. This office will function as follows:
26.1.1 Be
the office of the Executive Presbyter.
26.1.2 Have the necessary support staff to be efficient in its operation.
26.1.3 Have the necessary equipment to be efficient and effective in its
work.
26.1.4 Be accessible to the public.
26.1.5 Provide support services for the work of Special Presbyters.
26.1.6 Provide housing for the Resource Center.
ARTICLE 27. RESOURCE CENTER
27.1 The
purpose of the Resource Center is to provide resources and materials for the
committees and other appropriate bodies of the presbytery and for its local
churches as they plan and program for presbytery and local mission. Through the Resource Center the members of
presbytery will be given access to a wide range of resources from governing
bodies of the church, as well as commercially available resources.
27.2 Particular
responsibilities of the Resource Center are as follows:
27.2.1 Train
the “Resource Contacts” from both committees and churches.
27.2.2 Solicit suggestions from the committees and churches of
presbytery.
27.2.3 Provide
a catalog of the resources available in the center to the churches of the
presbytery, and provide timely updates.
These updates will highlight new materials and materials of seasonal
importance.
27.2.4 Provide
consultation on programming possibilities, either from the Resource Center
Director or through a network of consultants developed for this purpose.
27.3 Relationship
with committees of presbytery. To
enable the Resource Center to serve the needs of presbytery committees and
churches, those committees are asked to do the following:
27.3.1 Designate
a “Resource Contact” whose duty will be to act as a consultant to churches and
others in the presbytery needing guidance about programs and materials within
the area of responsibility of that committee, especially those programs and
materials held by the Resource Center.
27.3.2 Furnish
to the Resource Center annually the committee’s suggestions for materials to be
added to the center’s holdings.
27.3.3 Budget
sufficient money to cover the costs of the materials suggested above.
27.4 Relationship
with churches of presbytery. To enable
the Resource Center to serve the needs of individual churches, those churches
are asked to do the following:
27.4.1 Designate
a “Resource Contact” whose duty shall be to understand the operation of the
center, and encourage persons in the church to utilize the resources of the
center as effectively as possible.
27.4.2 Inform
the Resource Center of resources it needs and finds lacking in the center.
27.4.3 Inform
the Resource Center of resources it owns and is willing to lend to other
churches. These resources may be church
music, videos, printed materials – anything which might be found in the
Resource Center itself.
27.5 Organizationally,
the Resource Center Committee is a subcommittee of the Christian Nurture
Committee. Its membership, leadership,
and budget are controlled by the Operating Procedures of the Christian Nurture
Committee with the exception of budgeting for resources from outside the
committee. The Resource Center Director
is an ex-officio members of this subcommittee.
27.6 The
Resource Center is physically located at the presbytery office, and consists of
print and media resources and the administrative apparatus necessary to carry
out its functions. The center also
makes available, by inclusion in its catalog, resources held by churches of the
presbytery, if those churches have agreed to make their resources available.
27.7 The
Resource Center is operated by the Resource Center Director, who is supported
by the Resource Center Subcommittee. Some presbytery secretarial time is
available to the Resource Center.
27.8 The
tasks of the Resource Center Director are as follows:
27.8.1 Overseeing
the operation of the Resource Center, which involves the functions listed
below. (It is anticipated that the
director will be assisted by volunteer helpers.)
27.8.1.1 Cataloging
materials (including those held by churches)
27.8.1.2 Shelving
materials
27.8.1.3 Checking
materials in and out.
27.8.1.4 Retrieving
overdue materials.
27.8.2 Relating
to any outside consultants (staff of local churches or educational consultants)
about Resource Center concerns.
27.8.3 Developing
a growing awareness of the materials in the Resource Center, with the
objectives of:
27.8.3.1 Acting
as a consultant to persons needing specific suggestions for programs.
27.8.3.2 Making
suggestions about the appropriateness of particular materials for inclusion in
the Resource Center.
27.8.4 Promoting the Resource Center in presbytery
events and churches, as time permits.
27.9 The
tasks of the Resource Center subcommittee are as follows:
27.9.1 Assisting
the Resource Center Director in formulating policies for the center.
27.9.2 Assisting
the Resource Center Director in the operation of the center, and in the
recruiting of volunteers for its operation.
27.9.3 Approving
by majority vote expenditures for resources.
27.9.4 Promoting
the use of the Resource Center and the availability of its contents at presbytery
events, in churches and in newsletters.
ARTICLE 28. PRESBYTERY STAFF
28.1 STAFF. The presbytery may employ staff persons to
serve as resource persons to the Presbytery Council and its subcommittees, the
ecclesiastical committees, the program committees and any other agencies of the
presbytery.
28.2 EXECUTIVE
PRESBYTER. The Executive Presbyter is
the chief administrative officer of the presbytery. The Executive Presbyter may be the treasurer of presbytery and
may serve as the Stated Clerk upon election by the presbytery. The particular duties and responsibilities
of the Executive Presbyter are set forth in the Executive Presbyter Position
Description included in the Personnel Policies of the Presbytery of
Mississippi.
28.3 SPECIAL
PRESBYTERS. Special Presbyters may be
employed to provide staff services to program committees. These persons may be employed on a part-time
basis. The remainder of their work time
may be as pastors or specialists in churches of presbytery or in other work approved
by presbytery. Decisions for
authorizing Special Presbyters will be made through the normal planning
processes of the program committees and the Presbytery Council, with
recommendation to presbytery for its approval.
The duties of Special Presbyters will be developed in consultation
between the appropriate program committee, the Steering Committee of Council
and the Executive Presbyter. Special
Presbyters will be under the supervision of the Executive Presbyter.
28.4 The Council may authorize the employment of support staff
persons to serve the needs of presbytery's office. The Executive Presbyter will
employ, supervise, evaluate and terminate all such staff.
P A R T T H R E E - A P P E N D I C E
S
APPENDIX I: HISTORICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
The
Presbytery of Mississippi reported 78 ministers, 48 churches, 7499 active
members (not including ministers), on December 31, 1993. These churches are located in the southern
half of Mississippi, and serve 44 counties with a combined population of 1.6
million persons. The churches are
diverse in date of establishment, location, size, and composition. The Presbytery was created in January 1986,
when the churches and ministers of the Presbytery of Central Mississippi
(formerly, PCUS), the Presbytery of South Mississippi (formerly PCUS), and one church and minister of the former
Mississippi Presbytery (formerly PCUSA) were merged. These are all successors of the original Presbytery of
Mississippi, which was constituted by the Synod of Kentucky on March 6, 1816.
Presbyterianism
came into the region in several ways.
In the river area in the west congregations were gathered by
missionaries from New England and from South Carolina and Georgia, with support
from the Synod of North Carolina. Their
work spread toward the east. In the
eastern area settlers from the Carolinas brought their Presbyterianism with
them. The Presbyterian Church was
established as farming communities were established. In the coastal area the Presbyterian Church spread eastward from
New Orleans, and Presbyterianism took root in areas traditionally Roman
Catholic. The railroad brought
industrial development and transportation.
Development of commerce came along corridors from Jackson to Magnolia,
and from Vicksburg to Meridian. This
brought increased population and the growth of the Presbyterian Church. The timber industry, made possible by the
railroad, is largely responsible for the rise of Laurel, Brookhaven, and
McComb.
At
one time there was hardly a community of significant size that did not have a
Presbyterian congregation. The
Presbyterians provided a large portion of the local and statewide
leadership. Presbyterians have also
contributed significantly to the development of education in Mississippi. Within the bounds of the Presbytery, there
is Belhaven College, Mississippi College (which was originally Presbyterian),
and Chamberlain-Hunt Academy (the historical successor to Oakland College,
another Presbyterian school).
From
its early days Mississippi Presbyterianism has been diverse socially,
economically, politically, and theologically.
There have been wealthy plantation owners, farmers and commercial
leaders. There have always been Black
Presbyterians in Mississippi. Before
and during the Civil War, there were voices for abolition. Almost from the beginning Presbyterians have
debated the issues which produced the Old School and New School divisions in
the nineteenth century to the issues which produced the strife and bitterness
of the 1960s and the division of the 1970s.
The presbyteries which merged in 1986 lost about one half of their
churches and ministers in 1973 over differences concerning social change and
theological perspectives. Since that
division, the Presbyterian Church has existed as strong "pockets" of
congregations in the medium and major commercial areas. The river area, coastal area, and the
corridors are where the congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are
now located. There are rural congregations
in the eastern area with long histories, but none between Interstate 55 and the
River counties.
The
members of our presbytery are in churches mostly of small and medium in size,
with diverse histories, of all colors, and from all walks of life. We are still not of one mind. But we are a loyal part of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.). Some still feel
strongly the wounds of the past, but all abound in hope and are committed to
ministry and mission at home and in other parts of the world.
APPENDIX II: LIST OF GEOGRAPHIC
CLUSTERS
{Changed: Vicksburg moved,
Liberty added, Fayette and Durant removed}
Cluster 1 - Southwest Counties: J. J. White, Unity Memorial, Osyka,
Magnolia, First Natchez, Westminster Natchez, Port Gibson, Yokena, Brookhaven First,
Vicksburg First, and Liberty.
Cluster 2 - Jackson Area: St. Luke's, Fondren, Canton, Alexander Memorial, Faith, Covenant,
Briarwood, and Grace Chapel.
Cluster 3 - Meridian/Laurel/Hattiesburg: Trinity Meridian, Jones Memorial, Pilgrim
Grove, Prospect, Toomsuba, First-Trinity Laurel, Pineview, Westminster
Hattiesburg, Gavin Chapel, United, Pisgah, McFarland, and Fairview.
Cluster 4 - Gulf Coast Counties: Westminster Gulfport, Orange Grove, Ocean
Springs, Diamondhead, Ruth Memorial, Bay St. Louis, Handsboro, Long Beach,
Wiggins, Pineville, First Pascagoula, Vernal, First Lucedale, and Gautier.
APPENDIX III: LISTS OF CHURCHES
{Changed: Fayette and Durant
removed. Liberty?}
The following is a list of the churches by the date
of their organization:
APPENDIX
IV: GUIDELINES FOR CHURCHES HOSTING
PRESBYTERY
1. Alert local members that elders and
ministers will start arriving around 8:00 a.m.
2. Have refreshments ready by 8:30 a.m.
3. If parking is a problem, please have a
couple of people to direct the commissioners.
4. It is helpful to have directions to the
registration table so that commissioners will know where to register.
5. The presbytery's secretary is to be in
charge of registration. She will arrive
at 8:00 a.m. to set up for registration.
She will need two large tables - one for registration itself and one for
additional materials which commissioners will need to pick up. It would help to have one volunteer to work
with the secretary. The secretary has
had much experience in doing this.
Please allow her to supervise the registration process.
6. Have an additional table set up to
receive payment for lunch and to hand out meal tickets. This should be close enough to the
registration table for people to complete the purchase of meal tickets
immediately after registering. Two
persons can handle this process easily.
Please have these persons available by 8:30 a.m.
7. Ask local members to help commissioners
to be in the meeting promptly as it begins.
8. In the "welcome" have host
minister or elder give directions around the church, as well as
announcements. It may be to the
advantage of commissioners to have a sketch of the church with locations of
restrooms, fellowship hall, and designated meeting rooms.
9. Have an organist or pianist for the
opening worship service.
10. If the Lord's Supper is to be
celebrated, prepare the elements and designate elders to serve them. Work out details with the moderator of
presbytery or the designated officiant two weeks in advance.
11. Have a microphone in the pulpit for the
moderator.
12. Have a table in front of the sanctuary
for the stated clerk, with a microphone on it or near it, if possible.
13. Have a lectern in front of the sanctuary
that commissioners may use when recommendations or reports are presented to the
presbytery. A microphone would also be
helpful.
14. Ask commissioners and others to notify
host church a week in advance if tables are needed for displays.
15. If churches are going to have a number
of people present (because they wish to see their pastor-elect examined, or for
any other reason) they need to inform the host church beforehand, so that they
will have some idea of how many meals to prepare.
16. If lunch is buffet style, please have it
set up so people can go down two sides of the table. Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon, unless the presbytery or the
host church has a need to specify otherwise.
17. Normal attendance for presbytery is in
the neighborhood of 100.
18. If there are questions about these
arrangements, please contact the presbytery office.
APPENDIX V:
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR FIRST-TIME ELDER
REPRESENTATIVES TO PRESBYTERY
1.
Attend
a presbytery meeting before you have to serve as an official representative, if
possible. If you cannot do this, talk
to the elder who last served as representative.
2.
Find
out what your church does about reimbursing for travel expense of
representatives.
3.
Ask
for the copy of the "White Book" which was mailed to the clerk of
your session. This contains the docket
for the meeting, directions to the meeting place, reports of committees, and
other business which will be considered.
4.
Study
the materials carefully. Discuss the
business with your pastor, the session members, the moderator of your session
if your church is without a pastor, or the elder representative at the previous
meeting of presbytery. Ask questions
about matters which are not clear to you. Find out what are likely to be major
issues.
5.
Send
the pre-registration card back to the presbytery office. This can help to smooth your registering at
the meeting.
6.
Arrive
in time for worship and plan to stay until the business is completed.
7.
When
you register, pay for your lunch. When lunch
time arrives, plan to lunch with someone you did not know before the
meeting. Get to know other elders and
ministers.
8.
If
the meeting you are asked to attend happens to be an overnight meeting, read
the "White Book" for suggestions about accommodations or call the
presbytery office to see if special arrangements have been made.
9.
Sit
where you can see and hear well in order to enhance your participation in the
proceedings.
10.
When
you do not understand something, ask questions of the moderator or the person
making a report. This is your meeting.
11.
Be
familiar with the Form of Government in the Book of Order. Brush up on
parliamentary procedure so that you know how to make and amend motions.
12.
If
you want to do something about a piece of business, but you are not sure how to
accomplish your purpose, ask the moderator or the stated clerk for assistance.
13.
Review
the minutes of at least one previous meeting in order to be familiar with the
outcomes of previous meetings and the manner in which the meeting moves.
14.
Learn
the structure and committees of presbytery to understand the nature of their
business and how they function.
15.
Learn
how business gets to the presbytery: from matters sent from the General
Assembly and the synod, from committee recommendations, from overtures from
church sessions, from resolutions from individuals, and from motions from the
floor.
16.
If
you wish to speak to an issue, come prepared with a brief, clear
statement. If you wish to make a
motion, do so before you make your speech.
Do not speak too long or on too many issues or you will lose your
effectiveness.
17.
If
you find you will be unable to attend, request an excused absence from the
stated clerk and inform the alternate representative so that he or she can
attend in your place. Be sure to get the
"White Book" to the new representative.
18.
Use
break times, lunch time, and before meeting time to get to meet as many other
elders and ministers as possible.
19.
Report
on the meeting to your session and/or congregation so that your church will
have a growing understanding of their connection with other Presbyterians
around the presbytery, the country, and around the world.
APPENDIX VI: MINIMUM SALARY
STANDARDS
Presbytery has adopted the following Minimum Annual
Salary Standards which apply to full time calls for pastors who are members of
the presbytery. Because the numbers are
revised from time to time, actual amounts of money will not be listed
here. Those figures can be found in the
minutes of presbytery and the Committee on Ministry. They can also be found in the Directory of Presbytery, beginning
with the year 1996.
I. COMPENSATION:
1. Salary
2. Housing Allowance
a) A church providing a housing allowance
may divide the compensation between salary and housing allowance in the way which
best meets the needs of the pastor.
Churches and pastors are reminded that housing allowance amounts which
are not expended on housing-related costs must be declared as income.
b) When a manse is provided, a minimum
utilities/furnishings allowance will be paid.
3. Paid Vacation of 4 weeks
4. Attendance
at the annual “Pastor’s Renewal Weekend” is mandatory. The congregation will pay a minimum of $200
for their pastor to attend this event.
II. PROFESSIONAL EXPENSES:
1. Full moving expenses for normal
household goods and professional goods.
Unusual items will be subject to negotiation between the minister and
the calling body.
2. A book allowance will be provided to
assist the minister in continuing to keep informed.
3. A continuing education allowance shall
be provided to assist the minister in maintaining professional competence.
4. A paid study leave of at least two
weeks shall be provided. Provision may
be agreed to for this to accumulate over a period of time. Study leave should not be viewed as
additional vacation time. There should
be consultation between the minister and the session about use of study leave
time and continuing education funds.
5. Work related travel expenses should be
addressed.
6. In lieu of minimum total Professional
Expenses, the terms of the call may state "Professional Expenses of the
pastor shall be fully reimbursed."
The manner in which such reimbursement occurs should be negotiated and
tax law carefully consulted. Presbytery
urges churches to reimburse in full all expenses incurred by pastors in
fulfilling their duties.
7. The amounts provided for professional
expenses may be divided in the way which best meets the needs of the pastor.
8.
It is important to note that
business use of any automobile must be fully justified by complete records as
to purpose and mileage for tax reasons.
III. BENEFITS:
1. Full pension and major medical coverage
participation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) program is required.
2. One-half of the Self-employment
contribution for Social Security shall be provided. This must be treated by the pastor as taxable income.
IV. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MINISTER'S
COMPENSATION. Required by the Book of
Order.
V. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION
1. Consideration should be given for years
of service in setting the minister’s salary.
2. Additional benefits under those
provided by the Board of Pensions should be considered, such as: retirement savings accounts, dental plan,
and additional life insurance.
VI. In
G-14.0506, the Book of Order provides:
"The terms of the call shall always provide for compensation that meets or exceeds any minimum requirement of
the presbytery in effect when the call is made and shall thereafter be adjusted
annually as required to conform to such requirement." G-14.0506
APPENDIX
VII: EXPECTATIONS BY THE PRESBYTERY OF
MISSISSIPPI
FOR
ITS MINISTER MEMBERS
The
marks of a true visible church are two:
the preaching of the Word of God and the administration of the
sacraments according to the institution of Jesus Christ.
Whenever
a church in its profession of doctrine adheres to the Bible as the Word of God
and administers the sacraments according to Christ it is a part of the true
visible Church. The Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) is accordingly a true Church of Jesus Christ. Anyone promoting a schism is disrupting the
unity of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Book
of Order G-4.0200 states in part: "The unity of the church is a gift of
its Lord and finds expression in its faithfulness to the mission to which
Christ calls it."
Book
of Order G-4.0203 states in part: "Visible oneness, by which a diversity
of persons, gifts, and understandings is brought together, is an important sign
of the unity of God's people. It is
also a means by which that unity is achieved.
Further, while divisions into different denominations do not destroy
this unity, they do obscure it for both the church and the world."
Regarding
diversity and inclusiveness, Book of Order G-4.0400 states in part: "The church in its witness to the
uniqueness of the Christian faith is called to mission and must be responsive
to diversity in both the church and the world."
Book
of Order G-4.0403 states in part:
"The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall give full expression to the
rich diversity within its membership and shall provide means which will assure
a greater inclusiveness leading to wholeness in its emerging life."
The
Presbytery of Mississippi, consequently, is concerned about the expectations of
Ministers in this Presbytery regarding ordination vows, loyalty, unity,
diversity and inclusiveness. It is
especially concerned about not disrupting the unity of the Church of Jesus
Christ. Therefore:
1. Minister-members of this Presbytery are
accountable to the Presbytery in the exercise of their ministerial office. They are expected to:
a. Adhere to the essentials of the
Reformed faith and polity as expressed in the Book of Confessions and the Form
of Government.
b. Exercise the liberty of individual
conscience responsibly, without effort to alienate congregations or encourage
withdrawal.
c. Participate in the life and work of the
Presbytery, attending all stated meetings unless they present a valid excuse to
the Presbytery.
d. Support the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) and advocate loyalty to the denomination and its standards.
e. Promote loyalty to the church's
constitution in any congregation in which they may serve as pastor.
2. If ministers decide that they cannot
advocate and affirm a loyalty to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on an
essential of doctrine or polity, they have the responsibility of informing the
Presbytery and of withdrawing from the denomination without creating schism
within the congregation or between the congregation and the denomination. This is not to deny the right of dissent to
denominational positions and policies, but ". . . to further the peace,
unity, and purity of the church" (Book of Order G-14.0405g) and to
maintain its denominational health and its constitutional character.
Book of Order G-6.0108 states in part: "It is to be recognized, however, that
in becoming a candidate or officer of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) one
chooses to exercise freedom of conscience within certain bounds. His or her conscience is captive to the Word
of God as interpreted in the standards of the church so long as he or she
continues to seek or hold office in that body.
The decision as to whether a person has departed from essentials of
Reformed faith and polity is made initially by the individual concerned but
ultimately becomes the responsibility of the governing body in which he or she
serves. (G-1.0301; G-1.0302.)"
[The footnote to the last paragraph states: "Very early in the history of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, even before the General
Assembly was established, the plan of reunion of the Synod of New York and
Philadelphia contained the following sentences: 'That when any matter is
determined by a major vote, every member shall either actively concur with or passively
submit to such determination; or if his conscience permit him to do neither, he
shall, after sufficient liberty modestly to reason and remonstrate, peaceably
withdraw from our communion without attempting to make any schism. Provided always that this shall be
understood to extend only to such determination as the body shall judge
indispensable in doctrine or Presbyterian government.' (Hist. Dig. (P) p.
1310.)”]
3. The Presbytery interprets the above as
involved in the ordination vows of ministers and officers.
APPENDIX VIII:
POLICY REGARDING
CHURCHES WHICH RECEIVE PRESBYTERY FUNDS
1. Any congregation receiving funds from the
Presbytery of Mississippi shall keep adequate books and records to reflect all
financial transactions. These books and
records shall be open to inspection by representatives designated by Presbytery
Council at reasonable times.
2. Presbytery Council or its representatives
may inspect the books and other financial records of any congregation receiving
funds from the Presbytery of Mississippi.
3. A copy of the annual audit required by the
Book of Order (G-10.0401(d)) shall be provided to the Presbytery Council.
APPENDIX IX: PRESBYTERY TRUST
FUNDS
At
its January 17, 1987, stated meeting, the Presbytery of Mississippi approved
the establishing of the following "Restricted and Special Use Funds."
The current list of Presbytery Trust Funds is as follows:
The Disaster Response Fund
The Building and Repair Fund
The Candidates Grant Fund
The Camp Calvin Fund (New Church Development)
The Property Fund
The Emmanuel Church Fund (New Church Development)
The Presidential Hills Church Fund
The Bicentennial Campaign Fund (projects)
Note: In
1995 the Presbytery adopted the following policy with regard to the Candidates
Grant Fund:
a. The following criteria for making grants from
this Fund were established
i.
Anyone wishing to be considered for a grant shall be a candidate or inquirer
enrolled in and approved by the Presbytery of Mississippi of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
ii.
Anyone approved to receive a grant shall be attending or enrolled in a seminary
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
iii.
Anyone receiving a grant in one year and wishing to be considered for a grant
in a subsequent year shall be continuing to do acceptable academic work leading
to a degree.
iv. Need will be a factor in considering the
approval of grant requests.
v.
Grant funds shall be paid to the theological seminary in payment of education
expenses.
b. That all outstanding loans be forgiven.
c. That Presbytery grant permission to the Committee
on Preparation for Ministry to approach the sessions of the presbytery to
request their financial assistance in establishing a grant fund for the support
of the educational expenses of candidates and inquirers, with the understanding
that contributions to this fund shall be over and above support for all other
causes.
d. That presbytery ordinarily approve the
establishing of a line item in each year’s budget of the Committee on Preparation
for Ministry for grants to candidates and inquirers who meet the criteria to
receive grants; and that this line item be $250.00 times the number of
inquirers and candidates approved by presbytery and enrolled in or attending
theological institutions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) This amount will be increased by the special
“over and above” contributions from sessions and individuals.
The amounts currently in each fund and available for
presbytery’s use are reported in the annual financial report to presbytery
included in the January Stated Meeting minutes, beginning in 1997. Amounts in these funds in prior years can be
found in the annual audit reports for particular years, which are on file in
the presbytery office.
APPENDIX X: VALIDATED CAUSES
Validated
Causes are those causes approved for support by the congregations of the
Presbytery of Mississippi. Being
validated means that it is proper for the presbytery office and treasurer to
process and transmit funds from
churches to those causes. From time to
time presbytery may add or delete causes.
Ordinarily causes on this list are in addition to the institutions,
organizations, and programs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The presbytery office keeps a list of such
causes. As of January 1, 1996, the
following causes were validated:
Beginning Again in Christ,
The Central American Development Foundation, The Central Urban Ministry Center,
CUPS, French Camp Academy, The Luke Society, Natchez Children's Home, Palmer
Home, Stewpot Community Services, World Vision, and Wycliffe Bible Translators.
APPENDIX XI: THE LORD’S SUPPER
AT PRESBYTERY-SPONSORED EVENTS
Presbytery
authorizes the Lord’s Supper to be celebrated at presbytery-sponsored events
when administered by a minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and at
least one elder from within the presbytery.
APPENDIX
XII: PRESBYTERY PERSONNEL POLICY
ADOPTED BY PRESBYTERY OF MISSISSIPPI October 28, 1993
CONTENTS
A.
METHOD OF EMPLOYMENT
B.
STAFF CLASSIFICATION
C.
APPEAL PROCESS
D.
REMUNERATION
E.
BENEFITS
F.
STAFF EXPENSES
G.
STUDY LEAVE
H.
COMPENSATORY TIME
I.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW
J.
MAJOR PERFORMANCE REVIEW
K.
EMPLOYING DOCUMENTS
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A. METHOD OF
EMPLOYMENT
The
staff of presbytery are employed as follows:
1. Those called by the presbytery
2. Those employed by Council
3. Those employed by the executive presbyter
No
member of the staff of presbytery shall be employed until a Position
Description for the position has been prepared by the Personnel Committee
of Presbytery in consultation with the Steering Committee, has been recommended
to the Council and the Council has taken appropriate action. Presbytery must authorize the position to be
filled. Each Position Description shall
be reviewed by the Personnel Committee every third year with appropriate
recommendation to Council.
The
advice and consent of the executive presbyter shall be obtained prior to the
employment of any member of the staff of presbytery. No member of the staff of presbytery shall have his/her
employment terminated or modified until the executive presbyter has been
consulted.
B. STAFF
CLASSIFICATION
The
staff members of presbytery are Non-Constitutional.
A Non-Constitutional
staff member has duties and responsibilities determined by the presbytery and
set forth in a Position Description.
Exempt
Staff includes those who are ordained, seminary interns, certified
Directors of Education.
Non-Exempt
Staff are provisional until six (6) consecutive month of service
have been reached and a satisfactory six (6) months performance review and
evaluation has been received.
Non-exempt
staff who leave the employment of presbytery voluntarily shall give a minimum
of three weeks notice so that some training of replacements may take place
before their departure. Exempt staff
who leave the employment of presbytery voluntarily shall give one month notice
in order that exit interviews may take place and the requirements of the
constitution met.
C. APPEAL
PROCESS
The
appeal process as outlined provides to a staff member a method to voice a
grievance concerning any matter related to their employment. A complaint or grievance shall be in writing
and shall be dated and signed by the staff member. The complaint or grievance shall be given to the executive
presbyter who shall promptly mail a copy to each member of the Steering
Committee.
A
staff member may appeal to the Steering Committee, through the executive
presbyter, who shall arrange the requested meeting within fifteen (15) working
days. The moderator of the Steering
Committee shall render the decision of the Steering Committee in writing within
48 hours following the meeting.
A
staff member may appeal a decision to the Council within ten (10) working days
after receiving the decision. The
moderator of Council shall call a meeting of the Council within thirty (30)
working days of the receipt of the appeal.
The decision of the Council shall be presented to the staff member in
writing and shall be final except as provided by the Book of Order.
In
the absence of an executive presbyter, the designated "Head of Staff"
shall act in place of the executive presbyter.
D.
REMUNERATION
Remuneration
for services rendered consists of Salary and Benefits.
The
executive presbyter shall make an annual review of salary and benefits for all
staff members and shall make recommendations to the Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee shall make an annual
review of salary and benefits of the executive presbyter and prepare a
recommendation. The recommendations of
the Personnel Committee, through its regular channels of review and control,
shall be presented to presbytery.
Presbytery at its Fall stated meeting shall set the remuneration for
each member of staff for the following calendar year.
E. BENEFITS
Benefits
are provided as a ministry of love, care, and compassion and are for the mutual
protection and welfare of presbytery, staff member, and the staff member's
family.
The
terms and conditions of the basic Benefits
Plan of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are in materials provided by the
Board of Pensions.
Presbytery
will cooperate with staff members who wish to participate in an independent retirement savings plan
satisfying the requirements of section 403 (b) (including section 403 (9) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) and related sections.
HOLIDAYS
with pay are as follows:
Christmas
Day and the work days between Christmas Day and New Year's Day
A
holiday which falls on a Saturday or a Sunday shall be observed on the Monday
following or the Friday preceding at the discretion of the executive
presbyter. Those who are required to
work on a holiday shall be granted the holiday at another time.
"DAY"
is defined to mean a normal working day for the member of staff. Five (5) days of eight (8) hours each out of
seven (7) is a normal work week for Full Time, Non-Exempt Staff. Exempt Staff will have days and weeks when
the number of hours necessary to complete their tasks will vary greatly from
the norm.
PERSONAL
LEAVE with pay shall be five (5) days per year. These days shall be granted each January 1. Unused personal leave time may not be
carried forward from one year to the next.
Personal Leave may be taken for personal illness or injury; illness,
injury, or death of a member of the immediate family; jury duty or other court
required appearance. Persons leaving
the employment of presbytery shall not be paid for unused Personal Leave.
Two
(2) additional Personal Leave days for emergencies may be granted a member of
staff by the executive presbyter in any calendar year. The Personnel Committee may grant an
additional ten (10) days of Personal Leave days for emergencies. In the event of a major illness or accident,
requiring more than seventeen (17) days of Personal Leave in any one calendar
year, additional time may be granted by the Presbytery Council.
MATERNITY
LEAVE with pay of fifteen (15) working days shall be granted to a
mother. This leave shall be taken
beginning the day after discharge from a hospital following the birth of the
child or with the day an adopted child is brought into the home.
VACATION
with pay for Non-Exempt Staff is granted as follows:
a) Persons in the first year of service -
one week (five work days).
b) Persons who have completed one year of
service through the tenth year of service - two weeks (ten work days).
c) Persons who have completed ten or more
years of service - three weeks (fifteen work days).
VACATION
with pay for Exempt Staff shall
be four (4) weeks annual vacation with pay.
Vacation
time may not be carried from one year to the next. A person leaving the employment of presbytery shall be paid for
unused vacation time.
F. STAFF
EXPENSES
Expenses
incurred to perform duties or to enable the staff member to better fulfill
responsibilities are the responsibility of presbytery.
G.
STUDY LEAVE
Staff
members who attend a training course or continuing education event, to enhance
their effectiveness in the performance of duties at the request or with the
concurrence of the executive presbyter shall be granted Study Leave with pay to
attend. The executive presbyter
following consultation with and with the consent of Council may take study leave
with pay for events, training, continuing education that will enhance his or
her effectiveness.
Study
Leave with pay shall not exceed ten (10) work days each year unless prior
approval is granted by Council. The
cost of the approved training course or continuing education event shall be paid
by resbytery.
A
person leaving the employment of presbytery shall not be paid for unused Study
Leave.
H.
COMPENSATORY TIME
Exempt
Staff are not eligible for Compensatory Time.
Non-Exempt
Staff requested by the executive presbyter to work more than their normal
work day shall be provided Compensatory Time equal to the over-time
worked. Compensatory Time must be taken
within six (6) months of the time in which it is accrued.
A
person leaving the employment of presbytery shall be paid for unused
Compensatory Time.
I. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
REVIEW
The
Annual Performance Review of each member of staff should include:
a) Criteria agreed upon between the staff
persons and the reviewing group.
b) Self-evaluation by the staff person.
c) Review shall be completed in early fall
to allow Presbytery Council to report the results of review of staff to the
October meeting of presbytery.
The
review of non-exempt staff shall be done by the executive presbyter.
The
reviews of special presbyters shall be done by the executive presbyter and
representatives of the committees being served.
Review
of the executive presbyter shall be conducted by the Personnel Subcommittee of
the Steering Committee.
Review
of the stated clerk shall be conducted by the Personnel Subcommittee of the
Steering Committee.
J. MAJOR PERFORMANCE
REVIEW
Staff
called for a definite term shall have a Major Performance Review prior to the
Fall stated meeting of presbytery the year prior to the expiration of the
term. The Major Performance Review
shall include all the elements of the Annual Performance Review and in addition
shall include at least input from officers of presbytery and members of
committees and shall be conducted by the Personnel Committee.
K. EMPLOYING
DOCUMENTS
A POSITION
DESCRIPTION and PERSONNEL POLICY shall be provided to and reviewed
with each staff member at the time of employment.
A POSITION
DESCRIPTION shall state terms of employment that differ from those
contained in this PERSONNEL POLICY which in no case shall be less than
those stated in this PERSONNEL POLICY.
At
the October stated meeting of presbytery the Presbytery Council shall request
presbytery approval of the salary and benefits packages of all staff for the
succeeding year. Approval by presbytery
shall constitute notice to the staff.
Presbytery
reserves the right to modify in any way at any time these personnel
policies. The executive presbyter, or
someone designated by Presbytery Council shall explain changes with employees
of presbytery as soon as practicable after presbyter's approval of changes.
This
is a fair description of the PERSONNEL POLICY of presbytery but does not
necessarily set forth all details.
STATED
CLERK POSITION DESCRIPTION
A. DEFINITION. The stated clerk is the continuing ecclesiastical officer and the
official correspondent of the presbytery, the custodian of all ecclesiastical
records and rolls, and parliamentarian for the presbytery. The stated clerk is concerned with process
rather than program. It is the
responsibility of the clerk to help the presbytery in accomplishing its will in
accordance with the Church's constitution, with its own manual of operations,
and with established rules of parliamentary procedure. In potential or perceived tensions between
programmatic and mission goals on the one hand, and the principles of
Presbyterian polity on the other, it is the clerk's responsibility to uphold
the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).
B. CALLING BODY. The presbytery is the calling body of the stated clerk, who is
nominated by the Nominations Committee in consultation with the executive
presbyter.
C. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. The stated clerk is an officer of presbytery
and is accountable to presbytery for the performance of ecclesiastical duties
prescribed by the Constitution. For
other functions, the stated clerk is responsible to Council through the
executive presbyter. The stated clerk
is an Ex Officio Member of Council.
D. LENGTH OF CALL. The stated clerk is elected for a term of
four years, with eligibility for re-election.
The term of the stated clerk shall end with the election of a new
executive presbyter.
E. EVALUATION. The annual performance evaluation shall be conducted by the
Personnel Committee of the Presbytery Council to include: a) agreed upon
criteria; b) self-evaluation of the stated clerk; c) evaluation by the
executive presbyter. The executive
presbyter will report his evaluation and recommendation to the Personnel Committee
which will make appropriate recommendations.
A Major Performance Review shall be conducted by the Personnel Committee
prior to nomination for an additional term of office and shall include the
elements of the annual performance evaluation.
In addition it shall include at least input from officers of presbytery
and members of committees.
F. REMUNERATION. The stated clerk shall receive compensation from presbytery. The compensation package shall be
recommended by the Personnel Committee and shall include at least: salary,
participation in the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The presbytery shall reimburse the stated
clerk for all appropriate expenses.
G. CLASSIFICATION. Ordained, Part Time, Professional,
Constitutional.
H. CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES.
1. The stated clerk shall record the
transactions of presbytery, keep its rolls of membership and attendance,
preserve its records carefully, and furnish extracts from them when required by
another governing body of the church.
(BO G-9.0203).
2. In every disciplinary case and in those
remedial cases in which evidence is furnished, the stated clerk shall be
responsible for following and providing guidance to presbytery in following the
appropriate sections of the Book of Order.
3. Receive and refer all applicable papers
for the Permanent Judicial Commission, to which the stated clerk provides
resourcing and facilitation.
4. Receive, report, and send all official
correspondence between presbytery and sessions, and between presbytery and
higher governing bodies, including the submission of official copies of
overtures to synod and General Assembly for their response.
5. Annually, during the first week of
January, ascertain the number of resident ministers who are members of the
presbytery and the number of elders which the churches are entitled to send as
commissioners to presbytery meetings.
When the number of ministers is larger, the stated clerk shall bring the
imbalance to the attention of the presbytery at its first meeting of the year
(G-11.0101 b.).
I. ADDITIONAL
DUTIES OF THE STATED CLERK
1. With the moderator, read and approve
the minutes of the presbytery for the presbytery.
2. Print and distribute the minutes of
presbytery as determined by policies of presbytery.
3. Attest official copies of presbytery
minutes and submit them for annual review by synod.
4. Designate at each meeting of presbytery
the assistant clerks and tellers and supervise their work.
5. Request services of presbytery office
and secretary in implementation of stated clerk's duties.
6. Bring to every meeting of presbytery
copies of the Constitution of the church, Robert's Rules of Order, the minutes
of presbytery for the previous two years, and copies of all business properly
before the body.
7. Furnish annually to the Committee on
Ministry a record of attendance at meetings of presbytery by its continuing
members.
8. Serve as parliamentarian of 8resbytery.
9. Bring to the attention of presbytery
contemplated actions that may be unconstitutional.
10. Recommend to Council, on basis of constitutional
changes, amendments of Standing Rules to bring them into accord with Book of
Order revisions.
11. Assist the moderator to seek to ensure
that the meeting of presbytery is conducted in a manner well pleasing to our
Lord.
12. Notify those elected by presbytery to
Committees, Council, Commissions, as a commissioner, as an officer of
presbytery, and notify the Nominating Committee of vacancies.
13. Report names and addresses of
commissioners to synod and General Assembly, and attest credentials of
commissioners to the synod and the General Assembly.
14. Report presbytery actions to those who
need that information, particularly all ministerial changes to the General
Assembly, the synod, and the Board of Pensions.
15. Maintain the seniority list of ministers
and the rotation list of churches that are used in the election of
commissioners to the General Assembly and synod.
16. Upon request, provide information and
interpretation of the Book of Order and Presbyterian procedure for committee
chairs, pastors, and churches.
17. Issue certificates for ministers and
candidates upon authorization, and transmit all candidate transfers as well as
ministerial calls to and from other presbyteries, and receive and report all
notices of dismission and reception of ministers and candidates.
18. Receive and distribute proposed
constitutional amendments from the General Assembly, and record and report
presbytery vote to the General Assembly.
19. Furnish certificates of ordination and
honorable retirement.
20. Attend annual training events of
governing body clerks called by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. May designate a representative when
desirable.
21. Prepare the docket for presbytery
meetings, with the assistance of the executive presbyter and the Presbytery
Council.
22. Receive overtures, resolutions,
committee reports, and edit and distribute the White Book.
23. Receive in writing the actions of
administrative and judicial commissions and report them to the next meeting of
the presbytery.
24. Send timely notice of all presbytery
meetings, including docket for special meetings, to all ministers and clerks of
sessions.
25. Maintain official lists of names and
addresses of ministers and candidates, churches, clerks of sessions, and
committee memberships; receive changes, update lists, and report changes to
synod and General Assembly offices.
26. Receive, mail out, collect and total all
annual report forms for the presbytery and for the church sessions from the
Office of the General Assembly. The
former are filled out by the stated clerk; the latter are distributed by the
clerk, returned to the clerk, examined, balanced, tallied by the clerk, and
reported to the General Assembly and to the synod.
27. Make an annual statistical report at the
May meeting of presbytery.
28. Prepare an annual list of approved
ministries.
29. Assemble a list of all the active elders
of presbytery and their addresses, and provide it to the Office of the General
Assembly.
30. Compile and publish Directory of
ministers, candidates, churches, committees and committee members, and keep
changes in committee memberships and addresses up to date.
31. Receive and publish lists of deceased
elders at the October meetings of presbytery, appoint persons to prepare and
present memorials for deceased ministers, and publish these in the presbytery
minutes.
32. Handle all papers and records for
remedial and disciplinary cases.
33. Deposit noncurrent records of the
presbytery and of dissolved churches in the Department of History, Montreat.
34. Obtain and file Employer I.D. Numbers
from churches with the Office of the General Assembly.
35. Certify endorsements to the Presbyterian
Council on Chaplains and Military Personnel.
J. The Position Description does not
include all the duties and responsibilities of the stated clerk, but it is a
fair description of those primary areas of involvement of stated clerk.
EXECUTIVE
PRESBYTER POSITION DESCRIPTION
A.
CALLING ENTITY. The Executive Presbyter is called by presbytery in consultation
with synod council upon nomination by a special committee elected by presbytery.
B.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. The Executive Presbyter shall be accountable to
presbytery through the presbytery council and shall serve as an advisory member
of all committees and presbytery council.
C. LENGTH OF CALL. The Executive Presbyter shall initially be elected
for a term of three (3) years. Upon recommendation by council at the October
stated meeting of presbytery during the second year of service, the Executive
Presbyter may be reelected for an additional term of five (5) years. Subsequently,
upon recommendation by council at the October stated meeting of presbytery
during the next to last year of a current call, the Executive Presbyter may be
reelected for additional five (5) year terms.
D. TERMS OF CALL. Terms of call shall meet or exceed minimums as will
be set forth in the Personnel Policy or other policies of presbytery. Study
Leave as will be set forth in the Personnel Policy shall be amended to provide
that the annual Study Leave of two (2) weeks shall be cumulative to four (4)
weeks.
E. EVALUATION. The annual evaluation and the Major
Performance Review will occur as will be set forth in the Personnel Policy in
the revised Presbytery Manual.
F.
CLASSIFICATION. Ordained; Full Time; Exempt
G.
DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE PRESBYTER:
1. Shall be the administrator
of the presbytery, accountable to the presbytery through the council of presbytery,
responsible for carrying out the mission of presbytery and for the
implementation of decisions and matters of strategy, program, and resources.
The Executive Presbyter shall also provide staff services for the agencies and
committees of the presbytery. (G-9.0701)
2. Provide counsel to any
member of a church of presbytery, its sessions, or its continuing members,
without regard to race or sex, mindful of the constitution of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) and of the policies and highest interest of presbytery.
3. Seek to equip both
congregations and ministers in the implementation of the mission of presbytery
and the mission activities of the local congregations.
4. Work to develop, encourage
and strengthen collegiality among all churches, with especial attention to the
needs and concerns of the smaller churches and those without installed pastors.
5. Be the
model for presbytery: wise leadership; development and maintenance of caring,
open relationships; planning and goal setting; good communication.
6. Actively
seek invitations to visit in all the churches of presbytery as advisable in the
light of other duties, paying particular attention to the needs of smaller
churches and churches without pastors.
Mobility and compassionate communication are essential.
7. Supervise and coordinate the work of staff
persons.
8. Consult and concur with council and
any calling or nominating committee which may be authorized by presbytery prior
to their employment or nomination of constitutional officers and non-constitutional
staff.
9. Employ, oversee the work of, regularly
evaluate, and terminate non-exempt Staff.
10. As the Treasurer of
Presbytery:
a.
Develop with the Steering Committee the annual budgets of presbytery for
recommendation to council.
b.
Receive and distribute the various funds of presbytery according to policy or
as directed by council.
c.
Provide financial reports, projections, and analysis to council when and as
requested.
d.
Invest the funds of presbytery following guidelines that may be set forth from
time to time by council.
e.
Exercise cash flow management making timely recommendations to council.
11.
Provide, upon request, staff services for administrative commissions.
12.
Attend meetings of synod, General Assembly, and participate fully as a member
of Synod Staff Gathering.
13. Interpret the interests, decisions, programs, and policies
of the presbytery to the other governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church
(USA), to ecumenical bodies, to other denominations, and to the general public.
14. Interpret the mission and actions of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and of the synod to presbytery, the
churches of presbytery, the committees of presbytery, to related bodies, and to
the general public.
15. Coordinate the work of any and all General
Assembly or synod staff working in presbytery.
16.
Represent presbytery on ecumenical bodies and agencies.
17. Publish information
interpreting the mission and actions of presbytery and containing material of
interest.
H. This
Position Description does not include all the duties and responsibilities of
the Executive Presbyter, but it is a fair description of those primary areas of
involvement of the Executive Presbyter.
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR
SPECIAL PRESBYTER FOR CHRISTIAN NURTURE
A. CALLING BODY. The Presbytery of Mississippi through the Christian Nurture
Committee.
B. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. The Special Presbyter for Christian Nurture
shall be accountable to the Presbytery through the Christian Nurture Committee
and supervised by the Executive Presbyter.
The Special Presbyter for Christian Nurture shall be an advisory member
of the Christian Nurture Committee and shall attend Presbytery Council meetings
at the request of the Christian Nurture Committee or the Executive Presbyter.
C. LENGTH OF CALL. The Special Presbyter for Christian Nurture
shall initially be elected for a term of three years. Additional five year terms may be served upon recommendation by
the Presbytery Council and re-election by the Presbytery.
D. TERMS OF CALL. The Special Presbyter for Christian Nurture position is a
part-time position of from one-third to one-half time. The person filling this position may also
serve a congregation or other agency on a part-time basis. This other employment shall be approved by
Presbytery.
E. EVALUATION. The Christian Nurture Committee shall conduct an annual
evaluation. Major performance review
shall be conducted one year prior to the expiration of terms of service. Guidelines of the Personnel Policies shall
be followed in all reviews.
F. NETWORKING. The Special Presbyter for Christian nurture shall be responsible
for the development of networking for various Christian Education needs with
congregations of various sizes within the Presbytery of Mississippi. The person filling this position may develop
networks within the clusters already established, but not restricted by them.
G. CLASSIFICATION. Ordained or unordained; part-time; exempt.
H. DUTIES OF THE POSITION.
1. Work with the Christian Nurture
Committee:
a. To provide leadership and resourcing to
the Christian Nurture Committee.
b. To assist the Christian Nurture
Committee in planning and carrying out programs of growth and development for
church professionals (i.e., youth workers, pastors, educators, administrators,
musicians, secretaries, etc.)
c. To assist the Christian Nurture
Committee in planning and carrying out programs of leadership development for
congregations and committees of Presbytery.
2. Work with congregations of Presbytery
to assist them in developing comprehensive Christian Education programs
consistent with their needs and resources.
3. Work with other committees and
organizations in the Presbytery:
a. To assist in planning and carrying out
a program of camps, conferences, retreats and seminars for all age groups in
the Presbytery consistent with needs and resources.
b. To assist the Youth Council in planning
and carrying out a Presbytery-wide program of youth ministry.
c. To develop and promote the use of the
Resource Center.
4. Work with groups beyond the Presbytery:
a. To assist the Mississippi Campus
Ministry Board and the Synod of Living Waters in campus ministry efforts within
the Presbytery and the State.
b. To relate to groups such as: APCE, MSARC, and ECN Ministry Unit of the
General Assembly.
c. To assist the Executive Presbyter, as
may be requested and required, in interpreting the policies, decisions,
programs and interests of the Presbytery to the other governing bodies of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), other denominations and the general public; and
in interpreting the mission, actions, programs, policies and interests of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Synod of Living
Waters to the Presbytery, its committees, congregations, related bodies and
agencies, and to the general public.
POSITION
DESCRIPTION FOR BOOKKEEPER/SECRETARY
A. POSITION. Bookkeeper/Secretary
B. CALLING ENTITY. The Executive Presbyter
C. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. The Bookkeeper/Secretary shall be the
Bookkeeper for and shall be the Secretary to the Executive Presbyter. The Bookkeeper/Secretary shall be supervised
by the Executive Presbyter.
D. LENGTH OF CALL. The person filling this position shall serve
at the pleasure of the Executive Presbyter.
E. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. This position is subject to the Personnel
Policies.
F. EVALUATION. Evaluation is subject to the Personnel Policies.
G. CLASSIFICATION. Full Time (40 hours per week); Non-Exempt
H. DUTIES
1. BOOKKEEPING
a. Receive and Deposit all money as
instructed.
b. Maintain an accounting of money
received and bills paid.
c. Receive, verify invoices and bills;
prepare checks for signature.
d. Maintain payroll records, write payroll
checks, and file required tax payments and records.
e. Keep records of all insurance policies
of Presbytery.
f. Keep records of invested funds and of
interest earned.
g. Provide regular reports as directed.
h. Maintain a record of all notes payable
and notes receivable.
i. Maintain adequate back-up for all
computer-based records.
j. Maintain whatever files are necessary
for bookkeeping purposes.
k. Prepare reports to be sent to Synod and
to General Assembly along with disbursement of funds to Synod, General
Assembly, and Validated Causes.
l. Prepare financial documents for audit.
2. SECRETARIAL
a. Serve as office receptionist, answering
telephone and greeting.
b. Assist committees with minutes, meeting
notices, correspondence, etc.
c. Maintain files, directories, and other
records of Presbytery.
d. Assist the Stated Clerk when requested.
e. Attend meetings of Presbytery as
requested.
f. Assist the Executive Presbyter
including correspondence, files, etc.
g. Order and maintain an adequate level of
materials, supplies, etc.
h. Maintain the calendar of Presbytery,
the time line of committee work, the daily calendar of the Executive Presbyter,
calling to the attention of appropriate persons impending dates.
i. Maintain regular office hours.
j. Ensure that the interior of the
building is always clean and orderly.
3. This position Description does not
include all the duties and responsibilities of the Bookkeeper/Secretary but it
is a fair description of those primary areas of involvement of the
Bookkeeper/Secretary.
APPENDIX XIII: SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT POLICY
Statement of Policy
It is the policy of the Presbytery of Mississippi
(Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.) that employees of Presbytery and congregations or
institutions under its care, will practice Christian, moral and legal behaviors
in all relationships that carry sexual responsibilities.
Allegations of sexual misconduct against any
employee will be investigated for substantiation or denial. Such inquiry will
follow procedures mandated in the Book of Order, and by the laws of the State
of Mississippi.
Sexual misconduct is a grave matter with spiritual
implications, and consequences that are both social and psychological. The destructiveness of such behaviors is a
mandate to Presbytery to give leadership in seeking redress and healing.
Presbytery will determine the veracity of charges,
appropriate procedures for determining guilt or innocence, and set forth a
Christian solution in all cases. All such measures will seek the peace and
purity of the church in an arena of pastoral care and understanding.
Damage control will be vital in behalf of all
persons, congregations and institutions. Therefore, Presbytery will promote
counseling where indicated, discipline for offenders, and offer measures that
will help persons, guilty or innocent, to deal with anger, conflict, and
turmoil resulting from the misconduct.
Definitions:
The following definitions are based on those adopted
by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) in recommendations
of policy and procedures on sexual misconduct; and of the Synod of Living
Waters.
Accused is the term used to
represent the persons against whom a claim is made of sexual misconduct.
Accuser is the term used to
represent the person claiming knowledge of sexual misconduct by a person
covered by this policy. The accuser mayor may not be the victim of the alleged
sexual misconduct. A person such as a family member, friend, or colleague of
the victim may be accuser whose information initiates an inquiry.
Child abuse of a sexual nature includes,
but is not limited to, any contact or interaction between a child and an adult
when the child is being used for the sexual stimulation of the adult person or
of a third person. The behavior may or may not involve touching. Sexual
behavior between a child and an adult is always considered forced whether or
not consented to by the child.
Inquiry is the term used in the
Rules of Discipline to determine whether charges should be filed based upon
allegations of an offense received by a governing body. See Book of Order,
D-7.0200.
Spousal abuse is the term used to
designate abuse within marital confines, such as alleged rape, physical
violence, psychological abuse, the use of spiritual, or physical or
psychological power to intimidate, subdue, or violate another person sexually.
Investigation is the term used by police,
secular prosecutors, and child protective services when responding to
allegations of an offense.
Mandated
Reporter is
described by state laws as a person who is required to report any and all
suspected incidents of child abuse, including child sexual abuse that come to
their attention. All persons covered by this policy have a duty to report
suspected child abuse of a sexual nature to the employing entity, supervisor,
or governing body representative. Such persons should be informed of and must
comply with state and local laws regarding incidents of actual or suspected
child abuse.
Reasonable
suspicion is
a subjective criterion that refers to a belief or opinion based on facts or
circumstances that are sufficient for a prudent person to want to inquire
further, to take protective action, or report to authorities. State child abuse reporting laws may include
wording that indicates what degree of suspicion or knowledge gives rise to the
duty to report.
Response is the action taken by the
governing body when a report of sexual misconduct is received. It may include
(1) inquiry into facts and circumstances; (2) possible disciplinary action
(administrative or judicial); (3) pastoral care for victims and their families
and others; (4) pastoral care and rehabilitation for the perpetrators, and care
for their families.
Response Team is the term used for the
group of people whose function it is to facilitate the process of responding to
allegations of sexual misconduct by a person covered by this policy. Presbytery
may appoint a number of trained persons to respond according to the needs.
Secular
authorities are
the civil government bodies (city, county, state, or federal) who are given
responsibility to investigate, criminally prosecute, and/or bring civil charges
against individuals accused of sexual crimes or offenses against adults and
children, and to resolve such crimes and offenses.
Sexual
harassment as
defined for this policy is: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or innuendo of a sexual nature
constituting abuse when one or more of the following occur:
1. Submission to
such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an
individual's employment.
2. Submission to
or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for
employment decisions affecting such individual.
3. Such conduct
has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work
performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working
environment.
Sexual
misconduct is
a comprehensive term used to include:
1. Physical
sexual contact within a ministerial, professional, or employment relationship;
2. Sexual
conduct that is injurious to the physical or emotional health of another such
as offensive, obscene, or suggestive language, seductive behavior, unwelcome
touching or fondling;
3. Rape or
sexual contact by force, threat, or intimidation;
4. Sexual
harassment as defined above;
5. Child or
spousal abuse as defined above.
Victim is the term used to identify
the person alleged to have been injured by sexual misconduct as defined above.
Volunteer is the term used for those
who provide services for Presbytery and receive no benefits or remuneration.
Such volunteers are treated the same as employees. Liabilities of Presbytery
are the same for volunteers as for employees.
Mississippi
Code deals
with specific categories of sexual behavior. These are presented more fully in
a section in this paper. Statutes cover
a list of at least ten crimes:
1. Adultery and fornication;
2. Indecent exposure;
3. Profane/indecent language;
4. Prostitution;
5. Seduction of minors and unnatural sexual
intercourse;
6. Voyeurism and distributing obscene materials;
7. Rape;
8. Sexual battery;
9. Gratification of lust (i.e., fondling);
10.
Dissemination of sexual material to minors, along with the exploitation of
minors. (See section written by Dan W. Duggan, Attorney at Law, Jackson, MS)
Homosexuality/Lesbianism
is not
within the scope of this paper. However, any intimidation, threat, offensive
conduct, language or innuendo arising from such status will be dealt with in
accordance with the principles set forth herein.
Proper Procedure When Confronting Offenses
This is intended to be a "user-friendly"
summary of the process presented in Chapter 7 of the Book of Order. This is not
intended for use by special disciplinary committees nor is it to be used for
legal reference. All inquiries beyond the scope of this general outline should
be referred to the Book of Order.
I. Step by step procedure in cases of alleged sexual
misconduct by a minister
A. Presentation of the
Accusation
Any member of a Presbyterian
Church within the Presbytery of Mississippi or member of Presbytery who feels
victimized by a Minister of Word and Sacrament should prepare a letter stating
the nature and facts concerning the accusation and present this letter to the
Stated Clerk of Presbytery [D-7.0300a].
B. Actions of Presbytery
1. The Stated
Clerk of Presbytery informs the accused that an accusation has been made and
the nature of the accusation but does not reveal the identity of the person who
made the accusation, and that a Special Disciplinary Committee will conduct an
investigation [D-7.0300b].
2. The Stated
Clerk shall act in accordance with D-7.000 informing the Presbytery, the
Special Disciplinary Committee and the accused of their responsibilities and of
the rights of the accused [D-7.0800, D-7.1000, D-7.1200. D-7.0900. D-7.1100].
3. The Special
Disciplinary Committee shall be designated by Presbytery, and shall have five
members.
C. Actions of the Special
Disciplinary Committee
1. It is
recommended that the Special Disciplinary Committee be responsible to see that
pastoral support is provided for the victim, the accuser, if different, and the
accused.
2. The Special
Disciplinary Committee shall meet separately with the accused and the accuser
as it carries out the responsibilities listed in the Book of Order: D-7.0800B.1-7.
It shall remind both the accused and the accuser that legal counsel must be a
member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) [D-8.1000a]. It shall inform the
accused of all rights accorded by the Book of Order [D-7.0900].
3. When the
Special Disciplinary Committee has completed its investigation, a meeting shall
be held with the accused [D-7.1000]. The Special Disciplinary Committee shall
list charges to be filed, if any; discuss options; or inform the accused and
the accuser that no charges will be filed.
4. The Special
Disciplinary Committee shall investigate and evaluate the possibility of a
"False Memory Syndrome".
5. When the
Special Disciplinary Committee decides the disposition of the accusation, it
shall:
a. in the case that
sufficient evidence is available for charges to be brought:
1) immediately
deliver the charges against the accused in writing to the Stated Clerk of the
Presbytery [D-7.1400a].
2) ask the
Stated clerk to inform the Presbytery of its decision and prepare to prosecute
the case [D-7.1400c];
3) inform the
accused and discuss with the Session of the accused’s church how professional
duties shall be handled;
4) these
procedures must be facilitated through the Session of the local church with the
guidance of the Presbytery Executive and the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery.
b. in the case
that insufficient evidence is available to proceed with a case, inform
Presbytery of the fact that no charges are being filed, and request the Stated
Clerk to formally inform the accused of the decision not to proceed.
6. All expenses of the
Special Disciplinary Committee shall be borne by Presbytery.
D. Response of the
Presbytery
1. The Stated
Clerk upon receipt of formal charges shall immediately convey the charge to the
Permanent Judicial Commission [D-7.1400c].
2. The Permanent
Judicial Commission shall:
a.
set a time for a preliminary hearing not later than ninety (90) days after
receipt of charge(s) [D-7.1600].
b.
through the Stated Clerk, notify the accused and the accused’s counsel, the Special
Disciplinary Committee and its counsel, of the time and place of the hearing
[D-7.1600b] and furnish a copy of the charge(s) to the accused.
II. Step by step
procedure in cases of alleged sexual misconduct by a church member who may be
an employee, a volunteer worker, or an officer of the church.
A. Presentation of the
accusation
1. Any member of
a church who feels victimized by an employee, a volunteer worker, an officer of
the church or a member of Presbytery should contact his/her Moderator of
Session or the Clerk of Session.
2. The person
who feels victimized shall write a letter stating the nature and facts of the
accusation and present it to the Clerk of Session [D-7.0300a].
3. The Session,
for the purpose of discipline, may find it necessary to investigate an alleged
offense. If so, it shall move to the establishment of a Special Disciplinary
Committee [D-7.0300b, D-70800a].
B. Actions by the Session
1. The Clerk of Session:
a. Informs the
accused that an accusation has been made and the nature of the accusation but
does not reveal the identity of the person who made the accusation [D-7
.0300b]; and
b. that a
Special Disciplinary Committee of the Session will conduct an investigation
[D-7.0300b].
c. Informs
Session that a Special Disciplinary Committee must be designated [D-7.0800] and
request a special Session meeting if a regular meeting is not scheduled within
fifteen (15) days of the date of the presentation of the accusation to the
Clerk.
2. The Clerk
shall act in accordance with 0-7.000 informing the session, the Special
Disciplinary Committee and the accused with the advise of the Stated Clerk of
Presbytery [D-7.0800, D-7.1000, D-7.1200, D-7.0900, D-7.1100].
C. Actions of the Special
Disciplinary Committee
1. It is
recommended that the Special Disciplinary Committee be responsible to ensure
that pastoral support is provided for the victim, the accuser, if different,
and the accused.
2. The Special
Disciplinary Committee shall meet separately with the accused and the accuser
as it carries out the responsibilities listed in the Book of Order:
D-7.0800B.1-7. It shall remind both the accused and accuser that legal counsel
must be a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) [D-8.1000a]. It shall
inform the accused of all rights accorded by the Book of Order [0-7.0900].
3. When the
Special Disciplinary Committee has completed its investigation, a meeting shall
be held with the accused [D-7.1000]. The Special Disciplinary Committee shall
list charges to be filed, if any; discuss options; or inform the accused and
the accuser that no charges will be filed.
4. The Special
Disciplinary Committee shall investigate and evaluate the possibility of a
“False Memory Syndrome”.
5. When the
Special Disciplinary Committee decides the disposition of the accusations, it
shall:
a. in the case that
sufficient evidence is available for charges to be brought,
1) immediately
deliver the charges against the accused in writing to the Clerk of Session
[D-7.1400a].
2) ask the Clerk
to inform the session of its decision and prepare to prosecute the case
[D-7.1400c].
3) inform the
accused and discuss with the session and the accused how duties shall be
handled;
4) These
procedures must be facilitated through the Session with the guidance of the
Presbytery Executive and the Stated Clerk.
D. Response of the Session
1. The Clerk of
Session, upon receipt of the charges, shall immediately convey the charges to
the Session, which determines whether if will try the case or refer it to the
next higher governing body [D-7.1400b]. Consultation with the Stated Clerk of
Presbytery is encouraged.
2. The Session
shall:
a. set a time
for a preliminary hearing not later than ninety (90) days after receipt of
charge(s) [D-7.l600].
b. through its
Clerk, notify the accused and counsel, the Special Disciplinary Committee and
its counsel, of the time and place of the hearing [D-7.1600b] and furnish the
accused with a copy of the charge(s).
APPENDIX XV: PRESBYTERY OF MISSISSIPPI ORGANIZATIONAL
CHART
APPENDIX XVI:
CHART OF THE GOVERNING BODY
SYSTEM OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
"The radical principles of Presbyterian Church
government and discipline are: That the
several different congregations of believers, taken collectively, constitute
one Church of Christ, called emphatically the Church; that a larger part of the
Church, or representation of it, should govern a smaller, or determine matters
of controversy which arise therein; that, in like manner, a representation of
the whole should govern and determine in regard to every part, and to all the
parts united: that is, that a majority
shall govern; and consequently that appeals may be carried from lower to higher
governing bodies, till they be finally decided by the collected wisdom and
united voice of the whole Church. For
these principles and this procedure, the example of the apostles and the
practice of the primitive Church are considered as authority" [Book of Order, G-1.0400].