Ask the Clerk
Below is a list of FAQs that may help you in your service as the Clerk of Session for the congregation.
At least once a week, I receive emails and phone calls asking me some question about our Presbyterian Church polity and constitution. Here are a few which might interest you. If you have any questions, you can email them to me or call me at 312-488-3000, extension 4.
Or you can fill out our online form for further questions.
Q & As
The pastor and clerk of session received a resignation letter from an active ruling elder, which was accepted and approved by session. According to the Book of Order (G-2.0406, Release from Ministry as a Ruling Elder or Deacon), it appears the resigning elder loses their title and becomes a regular church member. However, some on the session believe the resigning elder retains the title (elder). Could you please clarify?
Resigning from membership on a session is simply that – this ruling elder, for various reasons, does not or cannot continue to serve their term / class on the session.
The individual would remain a ruling elder and, of course, a member of the congregation.
Ordination stays / remains with the individual. Once a ruling elder, always an elder. (And the same applies to deacons and teaching elders.)
Now, if a ruling elder wants “to be released from the ordered ministry of ruling elder” (and uses that exact language) – or if a person wants to “renounce the jurisdiction of the church” (and uses that exact language) — then there are other steps to be taken (which we can discuss as needed) as stipulated in G-2.0406 or G-2.0407.
Is it still necessary for the Session to hold a meeting once a year with the Deacons?
No, this is no longer a requirement in our Form of Government. However, Sessions may hold such a meeting. And if there is a meeting, be sure to take the minutes for that meeting, and have them approved by the Session and the Deacons.
Who holds title to the property and building of a Presbyterian Church?
All church property is held in trust for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a tool for mission.
Chapter 4 of the Form of Government in the Book of Order (G-4.01 through G-4.02) contains the provisions for church property and church incorporation. Most church property decisions require the support of the Session, the Congregation, and the Presbytery.
Who has the authority to approve celebrations of Baptism and Communion?
The Session of a congregation has the authority to authorize the celebrations of Baptism and Communion.
Requests for Baptism often come from the Pastor — to the Session for their approval. A yearly schedule for the celebration of Communion / The Lord’s Supper is ordinarily approved by the Session before the start of the new year.
Do commissioners from a congregation have a term limit as a commissioner to the Presbytery?
Ruling Elder Commissioners to the meetings of the Presbytery of Chicago Assembly are elected by the Session, and such Commissioners can serve as the Session determines. Some Sessions elect them to serve for a year at a time. Other Sessions elect them to serve for a particular upcoming Assembly meeting. It is all up to the Session to determine.
Ruling Elders who rotate off active service on the Session can also serve as Ruling Elders Commissioners to the POC Assembly, again – as elected by the Session.
There is no provision in our Book of Order for how long or how many years a Ruling Elder can serve as a Commissioner to Presbytery Assembly meetings. Session could decide. And in general, we seem as a whole church to like the 3-year, max of 6-year term limits.
