| G-7.0000 |
THE PARTICULAR CHURCH |
| G-7.0100 |
1. Organization, Mission, and Government |
G-7.0101
Organized by Presbytery
as Part of
the Whole |
The church is both catholic and particular. Both characteristics are to be found in a particular church. A particular church in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can be organized only by the authority of a presbytery and shall function under the provisions of this Constitution. |
G-7.0102
Ministry |
The particular church carries a vital responsibility in the mission of the church. There God’s people perform especially the ministries of worship, proclamation, sharing the Sacramentsa  , evangelism, nurture, counseling, personal and social healing, and service. Without this basic ministry to persons, neighborhoods, and communities, and the support given at the congregational level through prayer, personnel, and money, any other significant ministry of the church becomes impossible. Congregations serve as essential mission arms of the presbytery and of the larger church. |
G-7.0103
Government |
The members of a particular church voluntarily put themselves under the leadership of their officers, whom they elect. The session, which consists of the pastor or co-pastors, the associate pastors, and the elders in active service, is the governing body in a particular church. The law and government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presuppose the fellowship of women and men with their children in voluntary covenanted relationship with one another and with God through Jesus Christ. The organization rests upon the fellowship and is not designed to work without trust and love. |
| G-7.0200 |
2. Organizing a Particular Church
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| G-7.0201 Constituting Covenant |
In organizing a particular church, presbytery, proceeding directly or through a commission, shall receive applications for membership in the church—whether by profession of faith, reaffirmation, or transfer of membership—from persons wishing to unite in forming a new congregation. These persons shall covenant together as follows:
We, the undersigned, in response to the grace of God, desire to be constituted and organized as a church to be known as _______________________________________________.
We promise and covenant to live together in unity and to work together in ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ, bound to him and to one another as a part of the body of Christ in this place according to the principles of faith, mission, and order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
(Signatures) |
G-7.0202 Presbytery Relationship |
- They shall be declared a constituted congregation of the presbytery and shall proceed to the election of elders and deacons, making provision in cooperation with the presbytery for their preparation, examination, ordination, and installation.
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- Presbytery shall continue to work closely with the congregation in securing pastoral leadership, in plans for the service and witness of the particular church, in coordinating its work with other churches, in counseling concerning bylaws for the congregation conforming to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and in giving other forms of support and encouragement that will strengthen the mission of the congregation in the larger life of the denomination.
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| G-7.0300 |
3. Meetings of the Congregation
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G-7.0301
Congregation |
The congregation is made up of all members on the active roll of a particular church. All such members who are present at a congregational meeting are entitled to vote. |
G-7.0302
Annual Meetings |
- The congregation shall hold an annual meeting and may hold other meetings as necessary. The annual meeting may consider such business as electing officers, hearing reports of the session along with plans for the coming year, hearing reports from the board of deacons and other organizations of the church, and transacting other business as is appropriate. It shall review the adequacy of the compensation of the pastor or pastors upon report of the prior review by the session. (G-10.0102n) Public notice of the meeting shall be given on two successive Sundays.
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| Special Meetings |
- Special meetings may be called for any or all of the purposes appropriate to an annual meeting or to conduct such other business as may be proper for congregational consideration. (G-7.0304) The business to be transacted shall be limited to items specifically listed in the call for the meeting.
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| Parliamentary Authority |
- All meetings of the congregation shall be conducted in accordance with the most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order, or a comparable parliamentary authority adopted by the congregation, except in those cases where this Constitution provides otherwise.
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G-7.0303
How Meetings Are Called |
- Meetings of the congregation shall be called
- by the session whenever it determines such a meeting is necessary,
- by the presbytery whenever it determines such a meeting is necessary,
- by the session when requested in writing by one fourth of the members on the active roll of the particular church.
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| Notice |
- Public notice of the meeting shall be given on two successive Sundays. The meeting may be convened following the notice given on the second Sunday.
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G-7.0304 Business |
- Business to be transacted at meetings of the congregation shall include the following:
- matters related to the electing of elders, deacons, and trustees;
- matters related to the calling of a pastor or pastors;
- matters related to the pastoral relationship, such as changing the call, or requesting or consenting or declining to consent to dissolution;
- matters related to buying, mortgaging, or selling real property (G-8.0500);
- matters related to the permissive powers of a congregation, such as the desire to lodge all administrative responsibility in the session, or the request to presbytery for exemption from one or more requirements because of limited size.
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| Limitations |
- Business at congregational meetings shall be limited to the foregoing matters (1) through (5). Whenever permitted by civil law, both ecclesiastical and corporate business may be conducted at the same congregational meeting.
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G-7.0305 Quorum |
The quorum of a meeting of the congregation shall be not less than one tenth of the members unless the particular church upon application to the presbytery shall obtain the consent of the presbytery to a provision for a smaller quorum. A congregation by its own vote may fix a higher quorum. No meeting of fewer than three members shall be considered a congregational meeting. |
G-7.0306 Moderator |
The pastor shall be the moderator of all meetings of the congregation. In congregations where there are co-pastors, they shall, when present, alternately preside at meetings. When the church is without a pastor, the moderator of the session appointed by the presbytery shall preside at all congregational meetings. If it is impractical for the pastor or the moderator of session appointed by presbytery to preside, he or she shall invite, with the concurrence of the session, another minister of the presbytery to preside. A presbytery may appoint a lay pastor as moderator of session to the church to which she or he is commissioned. The person assigned to the commissioned lay pastor as mentor and supervisor shall also supervise his or her work as moderator. In addition, the moderator of the session of a church with a vacant pulpit may request an elder who is, or has been, a member of that presbytery’s committee on ministry, the stated clerk, executive presbyter, or associate executive presbyter, to preside; such elder may not moderate the meeting of a congregation of which that elder is a member. When this is not expedient, and when both the pastor or the moderator of the session and the session concur, a member of the session may be invited to preside. |
G-7.0307 Secretary |
The clerk of the session shall be secretary of meetings of the congregation. If the congregation does not approve the minutes of a congregational meeting before adjournment, the session shall read, correct, and approve the minutes of that congregational meeting at its next scheduled meeting and shall enter them into the permanent record. At the next meeting of the congregation, the clerk shall have the minutes available and shall report the session’s action. The congregation may ask to have them read and may make additions or corrections by vote. If the clerk is unable to serve, the congregation shall elect a secretary. The minutes of each meeting of the congregation shall be attested by the moderator and the secretary and shall be entered in the minute book of the session. |
G-7.0308
In Case of a Tie |
Since a minister is not a member of the congregation, she or he may not vote in the meeting of the congregation. When there is a tie vote, a minister presiding shall put the question a second time. If there is a tie vote again, the motion is lost. |
| G-7.0400 |
4. Incorporation and Trustees
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G-7.0401
Incorporation and Trustees |
Whenever permitted by civil law, each particular church shall cause a corporation to be formed and maintained. Only members on the active roll of the particular church shall be members of the corporation and eligible for election as trustees. The elders in active service in a church who are eligible under the civil law shall, by reason of their office, be the trustees of such corporation, unless the corporation shall determine another method for electing its trustees. Any such alternate method shall provide for a nominating committee elected by the corporation, and for terms for trustees the same as are provided for elders. Any particular church which is not incorporated may select trustees from the members on the active roll of the church. The power and duties of such trustees shall not infringe upon the powers and duties of the session or of the board of deacons. (G-10.0102, G-6.0402) |
G-7.0402 Powers |
The corporation so formed, or the individual trustees, shall have the following powers: to receive, hold, encumber, manage, and transfer property, real or personal, for the church; to accept and execute deeds of title to such property; to hold and defend title to such property; to manage any permanent special funds for the furtherance of the purposes of the church, all subject to the authority of the session and under the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), provided further that in buying, selling, and mortgaging real property, the trustees shall act only after the approval of the congregation granted in a duly constituted meeting. (G-8.0500) |
| G-7.0403 Separate Corporate Meetings |
Where civil law requires that corporate business be conducted in a separate corporate meeting of the congregation, the provisions of G-7.0300 shall apply, except:
- Such a meeting shall be called by the trustees attheir discretion, or when directed by the session or by the presbytery.
- Unless the civil law provides otherwise, the trustees shall designate from among members on the active roll of the particular church a presiding officer and a secretary for such meeting.
- The minutes of each such meeting shall be attested by the presiding officer and the secretary and shall be entered in the minute book of the trustees.
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G-7.0404
Vote by
Proxy
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Voting by proxy shall be permitted with respect to a corporate matter only where civil law specifically requires that voting by proxy shall be permitted as to that particular corporate matter. |
