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Overture 55
On Amending G-11.0503, Open Communication, to
Include Elders Who Are Commissioned as Lay Pastors—From
the Presbytery of the Western Reserve.
The Presbytery of the Western Reserve 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 G-11.0503 be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is
shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is
shown as italic.]
“The committee shall be open to communication at all times
with the ministers, elders who are commissioned as lay pastors,
elders who are members of sessions, sessions of the presbytery,
and Certified Christian Educators within the bounds of the presbytery.”
Rationale
Elders who are commissioned as lay pastors
act as the pastor of a congregation, with the responsibilities
given by the presbytery. Churches and their pastors fall under
the care and guidance of the committee on ministry. An elder
serving on the session of a particular church served by a commissioned
lay pastor has constitutional access to the committee on ministry.
An elder who has been commissioned to serve as the pastor, but
who is most likely not a member of the church, may or may not
have been named moderator of the session, and may not be recognized
as named under G-10.0101 as being included in the membership
of the session, should be able to have the same access to the
committee on ministry as a minister who serves similar functions
in the particular church.
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