Overture 13

On Clarifying The Practice Of Our Theology Of Call For Those Serving General Assembly Entities—From the Presbytery of Santa Fe.

The Presbytery of Santa Fe respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to do the following:

1. Affirm its commitment to our Reformed Theology of Call as expressed in our Book of Order (see especially Chapter XI of the Form of Government) and the Personnel Policies of the General Assembly, so that all ministers of Word and Sacrament employed by the entities of the General Assembly and every chief administrative officer of a General Assembly entity may have a call to that work, with the full privileges and obligations involved in such a call.

2. In order to carry out that affirmation, the 217th General Assembly (2006) approves the following:

a. Instructs the Office of the General Assembly, the General Assembly Council, the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, Inc., the Board of Pensions, the Presbyterian Foundation, and the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to review their policies and practices and to effect any needed changes to bring them into full compliance with the Book of Order (G-11.0410) and General Assembly policies so that every minister of Word and Sacrament employed by them in any relationship shall have a call as defined by the Constitution of the church with full constitutional participation by the appropriate presbytery. Chief administrative officers of a General Assembly entity who are not ministers of Word and Sacrament should be accorded every courtesy in the formation and establishment of their call.

Minimal requirements for ministers of Word and Sacrament employed by assembly entities include: pre-employment consultation between the minister and his/her committee on ministry (COM), approval of the terms of call by the presbytery prior to employment, and timely notice of any changes, timely notification and full information to COM of any circumstance that might occasion disciplinary action along with full cooperation on the part of the agency in any investigation, and proper notice of the call’s dissolution.

b. The 217th General Assembly (2006) acknowledges that any financial provisions involved in a termination or settlement agreement concluding the relationship are changes in terms of call and shall be shared with the presbytery of membership for their approval (as are all changes in the terms of call) and the Board of Pensions.

c. The 217th General Assembly (2006), based upon its commitment to a theology of call and its understanding of the role of presbyteries, declares that termination or settlement agreements concluding service with non-disclosure terms may not prevent the presbytery’s COM full access to that information.

d. That certification of full compliance with these instructions be presented to the 218th General Assembly (2008) by each entity.

e. That at each assembly, beginning in 2008, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly shall receive from each entity, report to the assembly, and include in its Minutes, a list of the positions in each entity that are called positions, whether occupied by a minister of Word and Sacrament or a chief administrative officer, along with their full terms of call for the two years prior to the year of the assembly, including bonuses and all other financial provisions.

f. That the Stated Clerk be instructed to prepare and present to the 218th General Assembly (2008) any constitutional or standing rule change required to effect these instructions.

Rationale

Employment situations of ministers of Word and Sacrament, which are considered by national entities as contractual or “at will,” disrespects our theology of call to Christ’s service on the part of these persons and may actually prevent appropriate disciplinary functions of a presbytery. Such contrivances may prevent national entities from advising presbyteries of circumstances or behaviors that could result in disciplinary procedures. The accountability functions that exist under presbytery supported call processes are severely limited by national personnel practices. Such secrecy in employment practice may make national entities complicit in situations that might be cause for discipline.

While the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) values an understanding that the practice of ministry and the call to vocation are fundamental to the role of ministers of Word and Sacrament in service to the church, the practice of call for ministers of Word and Sacrament among our six national entities is at best uneven, and in some cases seems not to be guided by our Constitution or our written policies. For example: In some cases, ministers of Word and Sacrament are “hired” or “employed” without any usual call processes or even notice to their presbyteries of membership. Some calls, when issued, use nonstandard categories for terms and are difficult to interpret. Some international positions are “appointed,” avoiding the call process altogether and putting some ministers of Word and Sacrament in difficult situations relating to ministerial and sacramental functions on the field. While the Constitution and Personnel Policies provide every expectation that presbyteries will fully participate in the call process, establishing, changing, and dissolving calls for ministers of Word and Sacrament, the call process for those working in national entities is uneven and many cases very confusing to us all.

The Book of Order (G-11.0410) assumes that a formal call is presented to every minister of Word and Sacrament employed by one of the entities of the General Assembly:

An active member engaged in a validated ministry in other service of this church shall serve as a staff member of a presbytery, a synod, or the General Assembly of this church or of an organization related to one of these governing bodies; as a minister serving an organization sponsored by two or more denominations, one of which is this church, such as a federated church, a specialized ministry, an administrative office, or an interdenominational agency; as a partner in mission in connection with a church outside the United States of America. Before entering upon such service, the minister shall request and obtain the approval of the presbytery of membership. Changes in the terms of the call or dissolution of the relationship shall be reported to the presbytery.

The Personnel Polices require formal calls for chief administrative officers and ministers of Word and Sacrament:

3.05 Ministers of the Word and Sacrament

The nature of the relationship between persons ordained to Ministry of the Word and Sacrament and their presbyteries is governed by the Book of Order. They are covered by all Personnel Policies except where specifically excluded by federal, state, or local laws.

3.10 Calls

Written calls to service are required for ministers and certain staff and elected persons. For Ministers of the Word and Sacrament, the Employer will provide a detailed “terms of call” consistent with the Book of Order 11.0410. Before entering upon such service, the minister shall request and obtain the approval of the presbytery of membership. Changes in the terms of the call or dissolution of the relationship shall be reported to the presbytery.

For persons employed in positions where ordination is a minimum qualification, the terms of call must at least meet the presbytery minimums for salary and study leave. For persons employed in positions where ordination is not a minimum qualification, the terms of call and benefits will be established by the Employer and may or may not meet the presbytery minimums but will be comparable to those offered to other exempt and non-exempt staff in similar positions.

Chief Administrative Officers of General Assembly entities, synods, and presbyteries and elected staff shall also be provided with a written call stating the terms of employment.