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The Manual of Central Carolina Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America
Revised January 2007. Approved changes are shown in red; pending changes are shown in
blue.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The name of this body shall be "THE CENTRAL CAROLINA PRESBYTERY OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA," hereinafter called "Presbytery."
The object of this body is to fulfill the requirements for
Presbyteries as set forth in Chapter 13 of the Book
of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America (BCO). The doctrinal
and governmental standards of Presbytery shall be those stated in the Preface to
the BCO. This Manual is not to conflict with the BCO, and in any case of
conflict, the standards of the BCO shall take precedence.
Members of Presbytery shall be in two classes: ordained
Teaching Elders and particular churches. Standards for examination for
membership of Teaching Elders shall be as set forth in BCO 21-4 and 13-6.
Standards for examination for membership of churches shall be as set forth in
BCO 13-8 and 5-8, 5-9.
-
Moderator. Presbytery shall elect a Moderator at
the Winter Stated Meeting for a term of one year. Nominations for Moderator
shall come from the Nominations Committee at the conclusion of the Fall
Stated Meeting. The Moderator shall be elected in accord with BCO 10-3, and
his duties shall be as set forth therein also. The Moderator may appoint
members of Presbytery to assist him as a parliamentarian and as a
timekeeper. The Moderator shall have the authority to appoint Standing and
Ad Interim Committees, as needed. When vacancies occur on the permanent
Committees of Presbytery and replacements are needed before the next Stated
Meeting of Presbytery, the Moderator shall have the authority to make
interim appointments, subject to the final approval at the next Stated
Meeting of Presbytery. Also, the Moderator, along with the Stated Clerk, may
upon request of a Commission of Presbytery (except a Judicial Commission)
fill vacancies in that Commission in order to establish a quorum. Between
meetings, the Moderator does not have the authority to speak for the
Presbytery, but should be consulted in all matters affecting the Presbytery
as a whole.
-
Assistant Moderator.
Presbytery shall elect an Assistant Moderator at the Winter Stated Meeting for a
term of one year. Nominations for Assistant Moderator shall come from the
Nominations Committee at the conclusion of the Fall Stated Meeting. The
Assistant Moderator shall assist the Moderator in carrying out the duties of his
office. Normally, the Assistant Moderator shall be nominated to succeed the
Moderator.
-
Stated Clerk. Presbytery
shall elect a Stated Clerk at the Winter Stated Meeting for a term of one year.
His term of service shall begin and end on January 31. His duties shall be set
forth in BCO 10-4. The Stated Clerk shall have the authority to refer items of
business to the proper Committee, subject to the approval of the Administration
Committee. He shall be authorized to open meetings of Presbytery when the
Moderator is unable to do so, and to serve until a new Moderator is elected. The
Stated Clerk shall mail to each Teaching Elder and Clerk of Session a copy of
the proposed docket not less than ten days prior to each Stated Meeting,
together with copies of all reports to be presented at that meeting of
Presbytery. (The individual Clerks of Session are urged to make copies of the
docket for each Ruling Elder commissioner elected by their Session prior to the
meeting of Presbytery.) Presbytery shall provide or reimburse the Stated Clerk
for all costs required by the duties of his office, and may, upon approval of
its budget, provide appropriate remuneration for the labor involved. The office
of Stated Clerk is not a position of power and authority, but one of humility
and service.
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Assistant Clerk. Presbytery
shall elect an Assistant Stated Clerk at the Winter Stated Meeting for a term of
one year. His term of service shall begin and end on January 31. The Assistant
Clerk shall assist the Stated Clerk in carrying out the duties of his office.
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Treasurer. Presbytery shall elect a
Treasurer at the Fall Stated Meeting for a term of one year. His term of
service shall begin and end on January 1. He shall be entrusted with the
funds of Presbytery. He shall keep an accurate record of these funds and
disburse them according to the instruction of Presbytery. The Treasurer
shall present a written report at each Stated Meeting of Presbytery. This
report shall be in the hands of the Stated Clerk not less than two weeks
prior to each Stated Meeting. He shall also post on the presbytery’s web
page an itemized report each month of the receipts. The Treasurer’s books
shall be under a financial review annually either by a special committee or
by an outside auditor, at the discretion of Presbytery. Bonding of the
Treasurer shall be at the discretion of Presbytery. The Treasurer shall
attend the quarterly Stewardship Committee meetings and participate as
directed by the Committee. He is not a member of the Stewardship Committee
and has no vote. He shall present his records for review at each quarterly
meeting.
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Trustees. At the Fall
Stated Meeting, Presbytery shall elect three elders as Trustees to serve on
classes of three year terms, thus electing one new trustee each year. Trustees
shall handle all matters of Presbytery relating to civil law.
-
Stated Meetings. Presbytery
shall have four Stated Meetings per year according to the following schedule:
WINTER STATED MEETING: 9:00 AM,
fourth Saturday in January with the Lord’s Supper and worship.
SPRING STATED MEETING: 9:00 AM,
fourth Saturday in April
SUMMER STATED MEETING: 9:00 AM, fourth Saturday in July
FALL STATED MEETING: 9:00 AM,
fourth Saturday in October
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Called Meetings. Called
meetings shall be held as necessary in accord with BCO 13-12.
-
Place of Meetings. The
time and place of each Stated Meeting shall be determined by Presbytery at the
preceding Stated Meeting. Hosting the meeting of Presbytery is understood to be
a privilege and a service, and individual member churches are urged to invite
Presbytery to meet at their facilities. In
the absence of any such invitation from a member church, the Administration
Committee shall recommend to Presbytery a suitable location and host.
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Quorum. A quorum for all
meetings shall be established when 20% of member churches are represented by a
Ruling Elder and 20% of the Teaching Elders with call in bounds are present. If,
at any time during a meeting, attendance falls below the level required for a
quorum, the only business which may be conducted is to fix the time to adjourn,
adjourn, recess, or take measures to obtain a quorum.
- Calendar. The Stated Clerk
shall publish a yearly calendar to be distributed with the docket for the Winter
Stated Meeting. The calendar should include the dates for Presbytery meetings,
all Committee meetings, and the deadlines (two weeks prior to the meeting of
Presbytery) for submission of written church reports, pastor and non-pastor
reports, and Committee reports.
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Worship. Presbytery shall
convene the Winter Stated Meeting for worship, including the administration of
the Lord’s Supper, as described above in Section V, Paragraph A. The other
Stated Meetings of Presbytery shall convene for a one-hour worship service
planned and organized by the host Session with special attention given to
meaningful preparation, including a season of prayer and preaching by invited
guests or ordained members of
Presbytery. Normally, sermons by candidates in partial fulfillment of their
examinations for licensure and ordination shall be heard by the Candidates
Committee in accord with BCO 19-2d. With
the exception of the Winter Stated Meeting, the worship shall not include the
administration of the Lord’s Supper.
-
Docket. The normal docket
for Stated Meetings shall be as follows:
-
Call to Order and Opening Prayer
-
Worship
-
Brief recess
-
Determination of Roll and Quorum, including requests for excused absences
-
Approval of minutes of previous meeting
-
Election of Moderator and other officers (when necessary)
-
Introduction of guests and seating of visiting brethren
-
Arrangements of the host church
-
Approval of the docket
-
Appointment of Standing Committees (as needed)
-
Report of Commissions to install pastors and receive churches
-
Program presentation (To be rotated annually among the MTW Committee, the
MNA Committee, the Christian Education Committee, and the RUM Committee.) Normally, Presbytery
shall have one program presentation per Stated Meeting, and shall avoid multiple
special orders of the day and presentations scheduled during the lunch
recess.
-
Report of the Stated Clerk, including his report on correspondence
-
Report of the Bills and Overtures
Committee
-
Reports of Commissions and Ad-Interim Committees (exact placement on the
docket to be determined by the Administration Committee)
-
Reports of Administration Committee, Candidates Committee,
Credentials Committee, Christian Education Committee, MNA Committee, MTW
Committee, Shepherding Committee, Session Records Committee, Stewardship
Committee, and RUM Committee (exact placement on the docket to be rotated from meeting to meeting
as determined by the Administration Committee)
-
Reports of Treasurer and Trustees (as needed)
-
Report of Nominations Committee
-
Reports of Standing Committees
-
Time and location of next Stated Meeting
-
Adjournment and closing prayer
-
Docket Changes. Presbytery
shall not be allowed to change the approved docket without a two-thirds majority
vote of those present.
-
Procedural Guidelines.
-
The only motions to be entertained on the floor of Presbytery shall be
those contained in written Committee reports delivered prior to Presbytery, or pertaining to the motions from the report currently on the floor. Any
miscellaneous motions, motions pertaining to new business, or personal
resolutions shall be referred to the appropriate Committee.
-
Except for simple parliamentary motions, all motions shall be required to be written on a standard form developed by the Administration
Committee.
-
In debating a question, no commissioner may speak on the same question
more than once until all desiring to speak have done so. The Committee Chairman
or his designate shall have opportunity to make the final statement in debate.
-
Debate on the main motion shall be limited to ten (10) minutes unless
extended. When a main motion has been debated for ten (10) minutes, the
Moderator shall put the question to the Presbytery: "Does Presbytery desire to
extend the time an additional five (5) minutes?" A simple majority will decide the question. If the majority
decides not to extend debate, the Moderator will call the question. If an amendment or substitution is on the floor, the question of
extending time on the main motion shall be repeated after the vote on the
amendment or substitute. If time is extended, the question of extension will
again be put every succeeding five (5) minutes until the motion is concluded.
Each Commissioner shall be limited to three (3) minutes on the same question
unless the Court by a simple majority grants additional time.
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Debate shall be free and open, with equal time being given to proponents
and opponents insofar as possible. Commissioners are encouraged to distinguish
between debate and division, not hesitating to debate issues upon which there is
disagreement yet not becoming defensive or quickly offended when another
Commissioner disagrees.
-
The Moderator shall not allow any inappropriate statements or personal
attacks which impugn the integrity, motive, or character of a fellow
commissioner.
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Teaching Elders. All Teaching Elders who are members of Presbytery shall be required to
attend all the meetings of Presbytery. Honorably
retired Teaching Elders and foreign missionaries shall be granted an automatic
exception to this requirement.
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Ruling Elders. The Session
of each Church which is a member of Presbytery shall be required to send at
least one Ruling Elder as
representative to each meeting of Presbytery, in accord with BCO 13-1.
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Excuses. Requests for excuse for Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders shall be
submitted in writing on a standard form to the Stated Clerk prior to the meeting
of Presbytery. In order that Presbytery emphasize the need for Teaching Elders
and Session representatives to come to all meetings of Presbytery and to stay
for the whole meeting, all requests for excuse shall be approved or disapproved
by action of Presbytery and
reported in the minutes. Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders absent without excuse
shall be noted in the minutes. Excuses shall be approved only for
personal/family illnesses or emergencies, pastoral emergencies (such as a
funeral, crisis situation, etc.), unexpected or extraordinary employment
demands, or other providential circumstances hindering attendance.
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Early Excuses. Requests to
be excused from Presbytery prior to adjournment are to be handled in the same
manner as other excuses. A request for early must be approved by Presbytery
prior to leaving the meeting.
SECTION VIII: REPORT OF TEACHING
ELDERS AND CHURCHES
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Report of Pastors. Each
pastor, assistant pastor, and associate pastor laboring within the bounds and in
a church under the jurisdiction of Presbytery shall report annually on his
ministry, activities, church relations, and any problems. This report need not
be lengthy, and shall be submitted in writing to the Shepherding Committee on a
standard form at least two three weeks
before a Stated Meeting of Presbytery, on a schedule determined by the Stated Clerk.
Reports of Pastors shall be presented to Presbytery only if the Shepherding
Committee finds that to be necessary.
-
Report of Non-Pastors.
Each non-Pastor Teaching Elder (and each pastor of a church not under the
jurisdiction of Presbytery) shall report annually on his activities,
opportunities for ministry, pursuit of his call, and any problems he may face.
This report need not be lengthy, and shall be submitted in writing to the
Shepherding Committee on a standard form at least
two three weeks before a Stated Meeting of Presbytery, on a
schedule determined by the Stated Clerk. Reports of
men laboring under the direct jurisdiction of the PCA (GA Agency, Committee
staff, Presbytery evangelists, MTW missionaries, etc.) shall be presented to
Presbytery only if the Shepherding Committee finds that to be necessary. Reports
of Teaching Elders without call, laboring outside the bounds of Presbytery, or
laboring in works not under the jurisdiction of Presbytery (chaplains, teachers,
etc.) shall be presented to Presbytery by the Shepherding Committee or by the
Teaching Elder himself.
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Report of Churches.
Each church Session shall report annually to Presbytery in writing on
a standard form at least two weeks before a Stated Meeting of Presbytery, on a
schedule determined by the Stated Clerk. This
report need not be lengthy, and shall be attached to the mailed docket but not
read at Presbytery. Specific prayer requests for the churches shall be compiled
by the Stated Clerk and distributed with the docket.
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Report of Deceased.
Presbytery shall make a record each January of Teaching Elders and Ruling
Elders who have passed away during the prior year, along with a brief summary of
their ministry. This record shall be attached to the minutes for the Winter
Stated Meeting.
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Membership.
Permanent Committee members, with the exception of the Administration
Committee and Bills and Overtures Committee, shall be elected by Presbytery at
the Fall Stated Meeting and begin serving at the close of that meeting for a term of four years, arranged in four classes so
that the terms of one fourth of the members expire each year. Committees shall
elect their own Chairman, who shall serve for a term of one year but is eligible
to succeed himself as long as he remains on the Committee. If
a committee member becomes inactive, the Moderator may name a replacement at
the recommendation of the Committee.
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Quorum. A
quorum for all meetings shall be one-half of the Committee membership.
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Eligibility. A Teaching Elder or Ruling Elder whose
compensation is provided by a particular Committee, or whose ministry is
immediately subject to review and
direction of a particular Committee (such as an organizing or aid-receiving
pastor to the Mission to North America Committee), shall be ineligible for
election as a member of that Committee.
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Reports. Each Permanent
Committee shall normally meet three to four weeks prior to the Stated Meetings
of Presbytery. Committees shall submit their written report to the Stated Clerk
on a standard form at least two weeks before the meeting of Presbytery at which
the report is to be made, in order that the report may be mailed with the
docket. Reports shall be summarized on the floor of Presbytery but not read in
their entirety. Committee recommendations shall be followed by the recorded vote
of the Committee and the rationale of the Committee, in order to expedite the
meeting of Presbytery. Presbytery shall not hear reports which have not been
submitted in writing and mailed with the docket. If this rule is suspended by
2/3 vote, any such report will be placed at the end of the docket. Presbytery shall admonish
Committees who are negligent in fulfilling their charter.
-
Minutes. A copy of the minutes of the Permanent Committees shall be submitted to
the Stated Clerk at the Winter Stated Meeting for historical preservation.
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Committee Structure.
-
Administration
Committee. This Committee shall be composed of the Stated Clerk, Assistant Clerk,
Moderator, and Assistant Moderator. The Stated Clerk, by virtue of his office,
shall serve as Chairman. The Administration Committee shall prepare the docket
prior to each Stated Meeting of Presbytery, discuss questions of procedure,
assign correspondence to Committees, and coordinate the ongoing work of
Presbytery.
-
Bills and Overtures Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of the Stated Clerk, Assistant Clerk,
Moderator, and Assistant Moderator. All
overtures, miscellaneous motions, and personal resolutions of a general nature
(not specifically related to the work of another permanent Committee) shall be
referred to this Committee, which shall bring appropriate recommendations to
Presbytery. All references, appeals, and complaints shall be referred to this
Committee. When a complaint is received, this Committee shall advise the
Moderator in his determination of whether or not the complaint is in order, but
shall not make recommendations to Presbytery regarding the disposition of the
complaint. When a reference or appeal is received, this Committee shall make
recommendations to Presbytery regarding the disposition of the reference or
appeal.
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Candidates Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling
Elders. This Committee shall provide the means whereby men sensing a call to the
gospel ministry may receive direction and nurture in the pursuit of that call,
and be provided with appropriate opportunities for theological training and
practical service, to include the specific internship training and examinations
leading up to their ordination. This Committee shall examine men requesting to
come under the care of Presbytery, compile the necessary testimonials, make
recommendations to Presbytery regarding the reception of the candidate, and
provide personal oversight for all candidates under care of Presbytery. This
Committee shall make recommendations to Presbytery to initiate and approve
specific internship assignments for candidates, and shall oversee those
internships for each candidate. This Committee shall provide a comprehensive
written examination for each candidate requesting to be licensed or ordained by
Presbytery, review the exegesis and theological papers required for ordination,
examine each candidate orally before the Committee, make recommendations to
Presbytery regarding the approval of that examination, and conduct a pointedly
representative oral examination before the Presbytery. Normally, sermons which are a part of a candidate’s licensure or
ordination examination shall be heard by this Committee or a sub-committee
thereof in lieu of a sermon preached before Presbytery. When a candidate takes
exception to the Confession or has a disputable interpretation of the
Confession, yet it is an issue where diverse opinions are held within the
Presbytery, let the Committee note the issue and let the Presbytery decide. Each man seeking licensure, ordination, and transfer who takes an exception to the Standards shall summarize his views in writing, interacting with Scripture. This summary shall be no more than 5 pages and shall be included in the reports of the Committee and mailed with the docket. Prior to the floor exam, the Committee shall remind the Presbyters that the purpose of the exam is to discover a man's views not to debate them.
This Committee shall review all calls issued to men being ordained in
this Presbytery (which calls shall ordinarily be in the hands of this Committee
prior to the stated meeting of the Committee) and recommend to Presbytery that
the call either be found in order and be approved; or, if not found in order,
recommend the necessary changes which need to be made before it be approved. When
the total compensation package in a call falls below the minimum
established by the Presbytery, the Shepherding Committee shall be
notified and the matter shall be referred to it by the Candidates or
Credentials Committee.
-
Christian Education Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling Elders.
This Committee shall promote the work of Christian Education and nurture
throughout the Presbytery, including the areas of school, Christian day schools,
leadership training, Christian family education, men’s work, women's work,
youth work and camps. This
Committee shall be Presbytery’s liaison with the General Assembly Committee on
Christian Education.
-
Credentials Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling
Elders. In accord with BCO 13-6, this Committee shall examine the views of
Teaching Elders requesting to be received by Presbytery from other Presbyteries
of the Presbyterian Church in America and ministers seeking to be received from
other denominations. This Committee shall make recommendations to Presbytery
regarding the approval of that examination, and shall conduct a pointedly
representative oral examination before the Presbytery. When a man takes
exception to the Confession, yet it is an issue where diverse opinions are held
within the Presbytery, let the Committee note the issue and let the Presbytery
decide. Each man seeking licensure, ordination, and transfer who takes an exception to the Standards shall summarize his views in writing, interacting with Scripture. This summary shall be no more than 5 pages and shall be included in the reports of the Committee and mailed with the docket. Prior to the floor exam, the Committee shall remind the Presbyters that the purpose of the exam is to discover a man's views not to debate them.
This Committee shall review all calls of ordained Teaching Elders
requesting to be received by Presbytery and ministers seeking to be received
from other denominations (which calls shall ordinarily be in the hands of this
Committee prior to the stated meeting of the Committee) and recommend to
Presbytery that the call either be found in order and be approved; or, if not
found in order, recommend the necessary changes which need to be made before it
be approved. When the total compensation package in a call
falls below the minimum established by the Presbytery, the Shepherding
Committee shall be notified and the matter shall be referred to it by
the Candidates or Credentials Committee.
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Mission to North America
Committee. This Committee shall
be composed of eight Teaching Elders and eight Ruling Elders. This Committee
shall promote the work of evangelism and church growth throughout the
Presbytery, oversee the establishment of new churches, direct the mission stage
of new churches, oversee organizing pastors and Sessions of aid-receiving
churches, direct the ministry of any evangelists commissioned by Presbytery, and
encourage ministries of mercy through the Deacons of the local churches of
Presbytery. This Committee shall
serve in conjunction with the General Assembly Committee of Mission to North
America. Calls to church planters issued through the MNA Committee shall
identify anticipated sources and amounts of funding, including Presbytery’s
contribution.
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Mission to the World
Committee. This Committee shall
be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling Elders. This Committee shall
promote world missions throughout Presbytery, locate and appoint "mission
contact” representatives from each church to serve as advisory personnel,
assist in recruiting missionary candidates from within local congregations, and
recommend to Presbytery any matter that should come before it concerning the
world-wide mission of the Church. This Committee shall serve in conjunction with
the General Assembly Committee of Mission to the World.
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Nominations Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling
Elders. This Committee shall, at
the Fall Stated Meeting of Presbytery, nominate suitable Teaching Elders, Ruling
Elders and Deacons to serve on the other permanent Committees. It shall present nominations to fill unexpired terms whenever such vacancies occur on
permanent Committees. This Committee shall, at the Fall Stated Meeting of
Presbytery, nominate a qualified Teaching Elder or Ruling Elder to the offices
of Moderator and Assistant Moderator. This Committee shall suggest to the
Presbytery suitable Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders for the Presbytery’s
nominations to the Committees of General Assembly. Neither this Committee, nor
any member of Presbytery, when nominations are reported out, shall make
nominating speeches for or against a particular nominee. The Committee shall report only his fitness, willingness, and
qualifications to serve. Vacancies on this Committee shall be filled by
Presbytery, without nominations from this Committee. Persons who have served a
full term or at least two years of a partial term shall not be eligible to
succeed themselves on this Committee until a period of one year has elapsed.
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Session Records Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling
Elders. The Stated Clerk shall serve as an ex-officio
member of the Committee.
-
Normally, members of this Committee shall chair regional sub-committees
consisting of the clerk or representative from each assigned Session, which
sub-committees shall examine each church’s minutes.
-
These sub-committee meetings shall be held in a convenient place in March
of each year.
-
The permanent Committee shall report to Presbytery at the Spring Stated
Meeting.
-
The Session Records Committee shall meet in the month of February to
arrange the sub-committees.
-
The Sessions of each sub-committee will each be duly notified in a timely
manner of the day, time and place of their sub-committee meeting.
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The Session Records Committee shall meet in the month of March to prepare
their report to the Spring Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
-
Session records not examined in the March sub-committee meetings shall be
brought to the Spring Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
-
The clerk or representative from each Session having records not examined
in March shall be required to participate with the examination of session
records during the Spring Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
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Within thirty days of the Spring Stated Meeting of Presbytery the
chairman of the Session Records shall submit a list of non-compliant sessions to
the Stated Clerk of Presbytery and the chairman of the Shepherding Committee.
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Within thirty days of the Spring Stated Meeting of Presbytery the
chairman of Session Records Committee shall send each non-compliant Session
written notification of its status of non-compliance.
-
A non-compliant Session shall have thirty days to provide the Session
Records Committee, in writing, an explanation.
-
Non-compliant Sessions shall be
admonished to remedy the situation and in extreme cases may be
removed from the roll of Presbytery.
-
In the Summer Stated Meeting of Presbytery, if the non-compliant Session
is found guilty of contumacy, the Presbytery shall take one of two actions
toward the non-compliant Session. The non-compliant Session shall be admonished
to remedy the situation and/or removed from the roll of Presbytery.
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Shepherding Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling
Elders. This Committee shall:
-
Care for the spiritual, emotional, and mental needs of the Teaching
Elders within Presbytery through a sensitive and caring shepherding ministry
-
Advise and communicate with Teaching Elders in their relations to the
Session and congregation they serve, paying particular notice to significant
problems or unresolved issues which have become known
-
Make recommendations to Presbytery for appropriate actions with regard to
churches affected with disorder
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Receive annual reports from Pastors and non-pastor Teaching Elders, and
report to Presbytery as required, as defined in Section VIII
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Contact personally any Teaching Elder with two consecutive unexcused
absences from Presbytery
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Counsel with Sessions of churches without pastors and offer assistance in
securing pastors at the request of the Session or local nominating committee
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Advise Teaching Elders without call and offer assistance in securing
calls for them
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Examine changes in pastoral calls and recommend them to Presbytery for
approval
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Offer general oversight to Teaching Elders without call and/or laboring
outside the bounds or jurisdiction of Presbytery
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Act as a Commission to dissolve the pastoral relation between a pastor
and a church when both parties concur in the request
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Review the severance package offered when either a pastor or a church
requests the dissolution of the pastoral relation, and make appropriate
recommendations to Presbytery regarding the approval of that severance package
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Act as a Commission to transfer the membership of a Teaching Elder to
another Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America, to a NAPARC
presbytery, or to another denomination with which the General Assembly has
fraternal relations
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Counsel with Sessions at their request in any such matters as are
presented by them
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Perform other duties which Presbytery shall deem wise
-
Report to Presbytery whenever necessary or when requested by Presbytery
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Review annually the established minimum
compensation package for pastors.
-
Review all calls to a particular work,
including those referred by the Candidates and/or Credentials
Committees, which contain a compensation package that is below the
minimum established by the Presbytery. The committee shall consult
with the parties involved to determine how best to meet the
financial need. This should be done before a call is presented on the
floor of Presbytery. The committee shall report to Presbytery and
include recommendations. An explanation must be provided for any
call containing a compensation package that is below the minimum.
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Stewardship Committee.
This Committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling Elders
or Deacons, with no more than two deacons. This Committee shall keep the churches of Presbytery abreast of the
financial status of Presbytery and shall promote the financial support of the
work of the General Assembly and Presbytery such that member churches are
strongly urged to provide non-designated giving at the level of Askings. At the
fall Stated Meeting of Presbytery, the final budget will be adopted.
With regard to financial and budgetary issues, this Committee shall make
any recommendations to Presbytery as necessary to promote the monetary
stability of Presbytery. This committee shall review the Treasurer’s
records and report the results annually to Presbytery.
In addition, an
annual financial review will be performed by an independent accountant.
The Treasurer shall serve as an Advisory member only of this committee.
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Reformed University
Ministries Committee. This committee shall be composed of four Teaching Elders and four Ruling Elders. This
committee shall serve Central Carolina Presbytery by promoting Reformed
University Ministries within our bounds, and by supporting the work of a
North Carolina Joint Committee on Reformed University Ministries. All
agreements governing the work of the North Carolina Joint Committee
shall be subject to approval by Central Carolina Presbytery. The duties
of the RUM Committee of Central Carolina Presbytery shall be:
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To promote the
work of evangelism and discipleship on college and university
campuses throughout the boundaries of Presbytery, and under the
terms of a Joint Committee agreement, throughout the state of North
Carolina,
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To facilitate the
establishment of RUM chapters by Presbytery, determining the needs
and priorities of new ministries,
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To initiate the
call for campus ministers by Presbytery,
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To advise and
supervise the RUM ministries that are established within our
bounds,
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To prepare the
local campus ministries' budgets and the overall budget for
Presbytery approval,
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To maintain
liaison with General Assembly's Committee on RUM,
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To inform the
churches and the people of Presbytery of the campus ministries
available, including their purpose, progress and needs,
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To participate in
a NC Joint Committee on RUM by electing from committee members the
required number of representatives, and
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To report
directly to Presbytery concerning the work of the committee AND
joint committee, and to present any appropriate matters to
Presbytery for its approval.
SECTION X: SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND
COMMISSIONS
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Standing Committees.
The
Moderator may appoint Standing (temporary) Committees as needed to function for
a particular meeting of Presbytery, such as a Resolution of Thanks Committee to
draft an appropriate resolution to
a host church. The quorum shall be
not less than one Teaching Elder and one Ruling Elder.
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Ad-Interim Committees.
Presbytery
may establish, by appointment or election, Ad-Interim Committees to function for
a particular purpose and specified time, normally until the next Stated Meeting
of Presbytery. The quorum shall be not less than two Teaching Elders and two
Ruling Elders.
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Commissions.
In accord
with BCO Chapter 15, Presbytery may elect Commissions which shall be authorized to deliberate upon and
conclude the business referred to them. Among
the matters that may be properly executed by Commissions are the taking of the
testimony in judicial cases, the ordination of ministers, the installation of
ministers, the visitation of portions of the church affected with disorder, and
the organization of new churches. If Presbytery approves the actions of a Commission, they
shall become the actions of Presbytery. The
quorum for all Commissions shall be not less than two Teaching Elders and two
Ruling Elders. However, the quorum for a Commission
appointed as an Interim Session shall be as specified in BCO 12-1.
SECTION XI: AMENDMENTS AND SUSPENSION OF MANUAL RULES
The provisions of this Manual may be temporarily suspended at any Stated
or Called Meeting of Presbytery by a two-thirds majority vote of those present, unless such suspension would
violate any part of the BCO. Any permanent amendment, revision, or repeal of this Manual must be proposed
in writing at a Stated Meeting, approved by a two-thirds vote of that Stated Meeting, and ratified by a
two-thirds vote of the following Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
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