SECTION

BASIC TENETS

G-1.0000

PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES

G-1.0100(a)

God has put all things under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and has made Christ Head of the Church, which is his body.

G-1.0100(c)

Christ gives to his Church its faith and life, its unity and mission, its officers and ordinances.

G-9.0000

GOVERNING BODIES

G-9.0101

The Presbyterian Church (USA) shall be governed by representative bodies composed of presbyters, both elder and ministers of the Word and Sacrament.  These bodies shall be called session, presbytery, synod and General Assembly.

G-9.0102

They have only ecclesiastical jurisdiction for the purpose of serving Jesus Christ and declaring and obeying his will in relation to truth and service, order and discipline.

G-9.0400

PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATION

G-9.0401

Administration is the process by which a governing body implements decisions.  It involves working with and through persons to accomplish goals and includes developing leadership, planning, communicating, organizing, budgeting, supervising, and evaluating.

G-9.0402(a)

Mission determines the form of structure and administration.  All structures should enable the church to give effective witness to the Lordship of Christ in the contemporary world.

G-9.0403

A governing body may delegate particular aspects of its task to councils, boards, agencies, commissions and committees, but always on the basis of accountability to the governing body.

G-9.0405

Each governing body above session shall develop a manual of administrative operations.

G-9.0501(a)

A committee is appointed either to study and recommend appropriate action or to carry out directions or decisions already made by a governing body.  It shall make a full report to the governing body that created it, and its recommendations shall require action by this governing body.

G-10.000

THE SESSION

G-10.0100
MEMBERS

The session of a particular church consists of the pastor or co-pastors, the associate pastors, and the elders in active service.   All members of the session, including the pastor, co-pastors, and associate pastors, are entitled to vote.

G-10.0102
RESPONSIBILITIES

The session is responsible for the mission and government of the particular church.  It therefore has the responsibility and power

a.	to provide opportunities for evangelism to be learned and practiced in and by the church, that members may be better equipped to articulate their faith, to witness in word and deed to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and to invite persons into a new life in Christ, in accordance with G-3.0300;
b.	to receive members into the church upon profession of faith, upon reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ, or upon satisfactory certification of transfer of church membership, provided that membership shall not be denied any person because of race, economic or social circumstances, or any other reason not related to profession of faith;
c.	to lead the congregation in participation in the mission of the whole Church in the world, in accordance with G-3.0000;
d.	to provide for the worship of the people of God, including the preaching of the Word, the sharing of the Sacraments, and for the music program, in keeping with the principles in the Directory for Worship, and to appeal to the presbytery for a duly trained and authorized elder under the provisions of G-11.01103 in those extenuating   circumstances where an ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament is not available to meet the needs for the administration of the Lord's Supper;
e.	to provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs including the church school, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service in the world;
f.	to develop and supervise the church school and the educational program of the church;
g.	to lead the congregation in ministries of personal and social healing and reconciliation in the communities in which the church lives and bears its witness;
h.	to challenge the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money and time and talents, developing effective ways for encouraging and gathering the offerings of the people and assuring that all offerings are distributed to the objects toward which they were contributed;
i.	to establish the annual budget, determine the distribution of the church's benevolences, and order offerings for Christian purposes, providing full information to the congregation of its decisions in such matters;
j.	to lead the congregation continually to discover what God is doing in the world and to plan for change, renewal, and reformation under the Word of God;
k.	to engage in a process for education and mutual growth of the members of the session;
l.	to instruct, examine, ordain, install, and welcome into common ministry elders and deacons on their election by the congregation and to inquire into their faithfulness in fulfilling their responsibilities;
m.	to delegate and to supervise the work of the board of deacons and the board of trustees and all other organizations and task forces within the congregation, providing for support, report, review, and control;
n.	to provide for the administration of the program of the church, including employment of non-ordained staff, with concern for equal employment opportunity, fair employment practices, personnel policies, and the annual review of the adequacy of compensation for all staff, including all employees;
o.	to provide for the management of the property of the church, including determination of the appropriate use of church buildings and facilities, and to obtain property and liability insurance coverage to protect the facilities, programs, and officers, including members of the session, staff, board of trustees, and deacons;
p.	to maintain regular and continuing relationship to the higher governing bodies of the church, including (1) electing commissioners to presbytery and receiving their reports; sessions are encouraged to elect commissioners to the presbytery for at least one year, preferably two or three; (2) nominating to presbytery elders who may be considered for election to synod or General Assembly; (3) in both the above responsibilities, implementing the principles of participation and inclusiveness to ensure fair representation in the decision making of the church; (4) observing and carrying out the instructions of the higher governing bodies consistent with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); (5) welcoming representatives of the presbytery on the occasions of their visits; (6) proposing to the presbytery and, through it, to the synod and the General Assembly such measures as may be of common concern to the mission of the whole church; (7) sending annually to the stated clerk of the presbytery statistical and other information according to the requirements of the presbytery.
q.	to establish and maintain those ecumenical relationships necessary for the life and mission of the church in its locality;
r.	to serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline;
s.	to keep an accurate roll of the membership of the church, in accordance with G-10.0302, and to grant certificates of transfer to other churches, which when issued for parents shall include the names of their children specifying whether they have been baptized, and which when issued for an elder or deacon shall include the record of ordination.

In summary, it has been the practice of the Session of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church to be exclusively responsible for the following:

• Receiving members into the church
• Approving baptisms
• Granting letters of transfer
• Approving changes in worship
• Examining and ordaining elders and deacons
• Establishing the annual budget

The session appoints committees in the areas of worship, discipleship, mission, fellowship and administration.   The session empowers these committees with the authority to complete their tasks as described in the Administrative Operations Manual under the budget guidance of the Finance Committee.  All committees shall report regularly to the Session and Diaconate about their work.

The session reserves the responsibilities for full discussion and approval of any new, costly or controversial initiatives resulting from, or in addition to, existing programs.

THE CHURCH AND ITS OFFICERS

G-6.0300

ELDERS

G-6.0301
Scriptural
Practice

As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament Church provided persons with particular gifts to share in governing and ministry.

G-6.0302
Governmental
Responsibilities

Elders are chosen by the people. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large, including ecumenical relationships. They shall serve faithfully as members of the session. (G-10.0102) When elected commissioners to higher governing bodies, elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.

G-6.0303
Gifts and
Requirements

Elders should be persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel, both within the church and in the world. (G-6.0106)

G-6.0304
Specific
Responsibilities

It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world, visit and comfort and care for the people, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed. They should inform the pastor and session of those persons and structures which may need special attention. They should assist in worship. (See W-1.4003, W-2.3011-.3012, W-3.1003, W-3.3616, and W-4.4003.)  They should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible and may be authorized to supply places which are without the regular ministry of the Word and Sacrament. In specific circumstances and with proper instruction, specific elders may be authorized by the presbytery to administer the Lord's Supper in accord with G-11.0103z. Those duties which all Christians are bound to perform by the law of love are especially incumbent upon elders because of their calling to office and are to be fulfilled by them as official responsibilities.

G-6.0400

DEACONS

G-6.0401
The Ministry and
Gifts of Deacons

The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should be chosen for this office.

G-6.0402
Responsibilities

It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. They shall assume such other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the session, such as leading the people in worship through prayers of intercession, reading the Scriptures, presenting the gifts of the people, and assisting with the Lord's Supper. (See W-3.3616.)

G-6.0403
Organization

The deacons of a particular church shall be organized in one or both of the following ways:

G-6.0404
Supervised by
Session

As the whole church is under the jurisdiction of the session, the board of deacons shall be under its supervision and authority. The records of the board of deacons shall be submitted to the session at least annually and at other times upon the request of the session. The session may void or amend any action of the board of deacons, or direct the board to reconsider such action.

G-6.0405
Meetingss

The board shall meet regularly, or upon the call of its moderator, or when directed to meet by the session, but it shall meet at least quarterly. The board shall determine Its own quorum. A joint meeting of the session and board of deacons shall be held at least annually to confer on matters of common interest, with the moderator of the session presiding. No binding decision may be reached in such joint meeting, but the session and the board may act separately on matters committed to their care.

G-6.0406
Related Service

Deacons may be appointed by governing bodies to serve on committees or as trustees. The session may select and appoint other members of the congregation to assist the deacons in their ministry of compassion.

G-6.0407
Decision Not to
Use Deacons

A congregation by a majority vote may elect not to use the office of deacon. In such a case, or in the case where deacons cannot be secured, the function of the office shall always be preserved and shall devolve upon the elders and the session.