Overture 03

On Amending G-14.0506 Regarding Commissioned Lay Pastor Emeritus or Emerita—From the Presbytery of the Noroeste.

The Presbytery of the Noroeste respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:

Shall the first sentence of G-14.0605 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 any pastor or associate pastor or any commissioned lay pastor retires, and the congregation is moved by affection and gratitude to continue an association in an honorary relationship, it may, at a regularly called congregational meeting, elect him or her the pastor or associate pastor as pastor emeritus or emerita, and the commissioned lay pastor emeritus or emerita, with or without honorarium, but with no pastoral authority or duty. . . .”

Rationale

There are commissioned lay pastors who for many years have faithfully served small congregations.

There is provision in the Book of Order for honoring a pastor or associate pastor as pastor emeritus or emerita but no such provision for a commissioned lay pastor.

This creates a seeming distinction between large congregations with greater resources and small congregations with lesser resources and which seemingly disenfranchises the latter from bestowing an honor that is reserved to the former all of which is not consistent with the principles of justice and inclusiveness enshrined in the Book of Order.

The Advisory Committee on the Constitution established a principle that what is not prohibited in the Book of Order is permitted, by opining in its response to Overture 89-17 “that nothing in the Book of Order prevents a congregation moved by affection and gratitude from electing officers that it wishes to honor emeritus or emerita. Such title would have no effect on the ability of those elected to represent the church in higher courts and would not deprive them of their perpetual office.”

The Presbytery of the Noroeste has interpreted G-14.0605 as not forbidding a commissioned lay pastor from being honored as a lay pastor emeritus or emerita and has authorized the Iglesia Presbiteriana Corrales in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, to honor, upon his retirement, its commissioned lay pastor of eleven years with the title of pastor laico emérito (lay pastor emeritus).

The Presbytery of the Noroeste believes there is a substantial distinction between a lay pastor emeritus or emerita and an elder officer emeritus or emerita and that presbytery must still be consulted “concerning the wisdom of this relationship.”

The Presbytery of the Noroeste has noted (1) that an associate pastor may be honored as pastor emeritus or emerita, (2) that the title “commissioned lay pastor emeritus or emerita” is too long and there is no longer commission in effect, and (3) that the church may want to maintain the distinction between ministers and elders, although for the congregation the commissioned lay pastor is its pastor.

The Presbytery of the Noroeste wishes all small congregations and all presbyteries to be aware that faithful commissioned lay pastors may be honored with an emeritus or emerita status.