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Leadership

How are we organized

Committee System

The work of our church is divided the following standing committees: Church Life, Financial Affairs, Nominating, Outreach, Personnel, Physical Plant, and Stewardship. The vast bulk of church business falls under the responsibility of one of these heads. This paper is offered in the hope that it may help all Elders understand the organization of the committees beyond the broad outline set forth in the By-Laws by outlining their practical functioning.

  1. Committees are working arms of the Session in their respective areas of responsibility. They are not, however, independent of Session, but subject at all times to inquiry by any active ruling Elder on any aspect of their work.
  2. Generally speaking, the routine work of each committee is carried out without referral to Session, but any new departure or change of policy must be approved by the Session as a whole.
  3. Each committee chairperson is appointed by the Moderator.
  4. It should be clearly understood by all committee chairpersons and by all vice-chairpersons that there is no regular succession suggested or implied, much less indicated or determined, to the chairmanship. Being the vice-chairperson has no direct bearing on the Succession to the chairmanship. This needs to be clearly understood by every ruling Elder.
  5. In this regard, all officers on Session except the eldership itself cease with the Ordination and/or installation of the newest class of Elders. All Session officers, including committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, are newly appointed at the first meeting of each Session. There is no automatic succession even to the same office.
  6. By the same token, all appointments to committee chairmanships and to membership on any committee ceases with the inauguration of the new Session. It is highly important that each chairman make it plain to all his or her appointees (in consultation with the Moderator) that they are invited to serve for one year only.
  7. Each committee chairman is expected to set up his or her own operating procedures and should provide Session with an organizational chart with the names and responsibilities of persons who have agreed to serve on his or her committee. This is to be done, however, in consultation with the Moderator subject to the approval of the Session. Probably the best way of doing this is to divide the work of the committee as it is set forth in the By-Laws into its several component parts. These parts may be designated as sub-committees, always maintaining direct personal responsibility for the entire work.
  8. One of the finest features of the committee system is that it can reach out into the congregation and involve many people who otherwise would not have an opportunity to exercise their talents on behalf of the church.
  9. In case of any question or doubt as to whether a matter needs to be brought before Session as a whole, the chairman should discuss it with the Moderator. In this way it is hoped to bring only necessary business before the Session and thus to keep the Session meetings short. When a committee chairperson has a matter of policy to bring before the Session, it should be well thought out in advance, written in the form of a recommendation for the minutes of Session, and backed up by clear and cogent reasons.
  10. The Moderator, in accordance with Presbyterian law, is an ex-officio member of all committees. This is because he is Moderator of the parent body, the Session, because he is teaching Elder and may need to interpret the teaching of the church on some matter, and finally, because he is needed to coordinate the work of the whole. The Moderator may elect to attend any committee meetings.