Overture 04-47. On Amending G-14.0513 and G-11.0502f to Clarify Language Regarding Temporary Pastoral Relations—From the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.

The Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area respectfully overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendments to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:

1. Shall G-14.0513 be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]

“When a church does not have a pastor, or while the pastor is unable to perform her or his duties, the session should obtain the services of a minister of this denomination in a temporary pastoral relation. When a congregation employs more than one pastor, or a pastor and one or more associate pastors, and there is a vacancy in one of these positions, it may obtain the services of a minister in a temporary pastoral relation. No formal call shall be issued by the congregation and no formal installation shall take place. Temporary pastoral relations are those of stated supply, associate stated supply, interim pastor, interim co-pastor, interim associate pastor, temporary pastoral supply, or organizing pastor:

“a. A stated supply is a minister appointed by the presbytery, after consultation with the session, to perform the functions of a pastor in a church which is not seeking an installed pastor or while the pastor is unable to perform her or his duties. The relation shall be established only by the presbytery and shall extend for a period not to exceed twelve months at a time. A stated supply shall not be reappointed until the presbytery, through its committee on ministry, has reviewed her or his effectiveness. A stated supply may, with presbytery’s approval, serve as moderator of the session.

“b. An associate stated supply is a minister appointed by the presbytery, after consultation with the session, to perform functions of an associate pastor in a church which is not seeking an installed associate pastor or while the associate pastor is unable to perform her or his duties. The relation shall be established only by the presbytery and shall extend for a period not to exceed twelve months at a time. An associate stated supply shall not be reappointed until the presbytery, through its committee on ministry, has reviewed her or his effectiveness.

“b. c. An interim pastor is a minister invited by the session of a church without an installed pastor to preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and fulfill pastoral duties perform the functions of a pastor for a specified period not to exceed twelve months at a time, while the church is seeking a pastor. An interim co-pastor is a minister invited by the session of a church without an installed co-pastor which had a co-pastor model which was in effect for at least three years and where the congregation desires to continue such model of permanent ministerial relationship, to preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and fulfill pastoral duties perform the functions of a co-pastor for a specified period not to exceed twelve months at a time, while the church is seeking a co-pastor. The session may not secure or dissolve a relationship with an interim pastor or interim co-pastor without the concurrence of the presbytery through its committee on ministry. A minister may not be called to be the next installed pastor, co-pastor, or associate pastor of a church served as interim pastor or interim co-pastor.

“c. d. An interim associate pastor is a minister invited by the session to serve in this position perform the duties of an associate pastor while the church is seeking a new associate pastor or is seeking a pastor to serve as co-pastor in accord with G-6.0202. The session may not secure or dissolve a relationship with an interim associate pastor without the concurrence of the presbytery through its committee on ministry. An interim associate pastor shall serve for a specified period not to exceed twelve months at a time and may not be called to be the next installed pastor, co-pastor, or associate pastor of a church served as interim associate pastor.

“d. e. A temporary pastoral supply may be a minister, a candidate, a commissioned lay pastor, or an elder, secured by the session to conduct services when there is no pastor or the pastor is unable to perform pastoral duties. The session shall seek the counsel of presbytery through its committee on ministry before securing a temporary pastoral supply. A temporary pastoral supply may not be called to be a pastor, co-pastor, or associate pastor of a church served as temporary pastoral supply, unless six months have elapsed since the end of the temporary pastoral supply relationship, except by a two-thirds vote of presbytery. A presbytery may choose to shorten or cancel the six-month interval if it is determined to be in the best interest of the congregation.

“e. f. When a church is without a pastor or when the pastor is unable to perform pastoral duties, the session, after obtaining the approval of the presbytery having jurisdiction over the church through its committee on ministry, may secure the services of an inquirer or a candidate to serve as temporary pastoral supply. Appropriate guidance and supervision for such an inquirer or a candidate serving as temporary pastoral supply must be assured by the presbytery having jurisdiction over the church and approved by the inquirer’s or candidate’s committee on preparation for ministry.

“f. g. [Text remains unchanged.]”

2. Shall G-11.0502f be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]

“f. It shall counsel with sessions regarding stated supplies, associate stated supplies, interim pastors, interim co-pastors, interim associate pastors, and temporary pastoral supplies when a church is without a pastor or when the pastor or associate pastor is unable to perform her or his duties, and it shall provide lists of pastors, commissioned lay pastors, and qualified lay persons who have been trained and commissioned by the presbytery to supply vacant pulpits. Concurrence of the presbytery through its committee on ministry is required when a session invites an interim pastor, interim co-pastor, or interim associate pastor as provided for in G-14.0513b and c. Approval of the committee on ministry is required when a session invites a pastoral supply as provided in G-14.0513e.”

Rationale

This overture seeks to clarify and make the language of the Book of Order uniform regarding Temporary Pastoral Relations (G-14.0513). There are several reasons for this overture.

1. Standardize the language of pastoral duties. Descriptions of the several temporary relations listed contain different language regarding what duties can be included in the relationship. Changes are in paragraphs a, b, and e.

2. Make it clear when and under what circumstances temporary positions can become installed.

3. Establish an associate stated supply. This addition serves two purposes. First, it allows for the situation where an associate pastor becomes disabled and/or is unable to perform her or his duties. This situation might be handled through a pastoral supply, but in a lengthy disability situation, another solution is needed.

Second, this paragraph allows churches with installed pastors to attempt new models of ministry without the establishment of an installed position, either permanent or designated. This might be a new outreach ministry to an immigrant group, or a temporary staffing for membership growth, or simply a church determining the long-term viability of an associate pastor. The associate stated supply gives the flexibility of a year-to-year contract without the expectation that the ministry will continue (i.e., allowing “failure”) or that the person initially responsible for the ministry will continue if it is decided to establish an installed position. We find no other place in the Book of Order that allows this flexibility and creativity without establishment of a permanent, installed position.

4. Change “temporary supply” to “pastoral supply” to eliminate confusion between temporary relation, referring to several temporary situations, and temporary supply, referring to one specific temporary relation. Confusion over the meaning of these terms has been apparent in work with sessions, the presbytery, and the General Assembly.

5. Changes to G-14.0513f and G-11.0502f make these sections consistent with the changes to G-14.0513a-e as proposed.