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The general responsibilities of the COM are "to serve
as pastor and counselor to ministers; to facilitate relations
between congregations, ministers, and the presbytery; and to
settle difficulties on behalf of presbytery when possible and
expedient". The Book of Order further defines these areas
of responsibility in G-11.0502a through G-11.0502j:
- Visit and consult regularly with each minister in the presbytery;
Report to presbytery the type of work in which each minister
of the presbytery is engaged; Require an annual report of
each minister performing work which is not under the jurisdiction
of the presbytery or a higher governing body of the church.
- Make recommendations to presbytery regarding calls for
the services of its ministers.
- Visit with each session of the presbytery at least once
every three years.
- Counsel with churches and their Pastor Nominating Committees
regarding calls for permanent pastoral relations.
- Counsel with churches regarding the advisability of calling
a designated pastor.
- Counsel with churches regarding stated supplies, interim
pastors, interim co- pastors, interim associate pastors, and
temporary supplies, providing lists of available pastors,
commissioned lay pastors, and qualified lay persons who have
been trained and commissioned by presbytery to supply vacant
pulpits.
- Provide for the implementation of equal employment opportunity
for ministers and candidates, and report to presbytery the
steps taken by each calling group to implement equal employment
opportunity.
- If authorized by presbytery, to find in order calls issued
by churches, to approve and present calls, to approve examination
of ministers transferring from other presbyteries, to dissolve
pastoral relationships in certain situations, to grant permission
to labor within or outside the bounds of presbytery, and to
dismiss ministers to other presbyteries.
- Promote the peace and harmony of the churches.
- Counsel with session regarding difficulties in the congregation,
act as mediator in conflict situations, and/or act to correct
difficulties in a conflict situation when asked to do so by
the parties involved or when authorized by presbytery to do
so.
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