Commission on Ministry
Responsibilities:
The Commission on Ministry (COM) serves to support the presbytery in its responsibilities by performing the following:
- approve terms of call for installed and temporary pastors and commissioned pastoral covenants
- approve pastoral dissolutions
- appoint session moderators when a congregation is without a pastor or the pastor is unavailable
- approve Administrative Commissions for ordination and installation of pastors
- perform interviews of incoming and outgoing pastors within the presbytery
- approve of the formation of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) and approve Ministry Discernment Profiles (MDP’s)
- provide care for congregations without pastors and maintain close relationships with congregations and ministers.
This committee may also delegate authority to designated bodies within the presbytery. All actions carried out as a result of delegated authority must be reported to the presbytery at its next regular meeting.
Composition:
The committee is composed of eighteen (18) members in three (3) classes of six (6) persons, composed of a balanced representation of ministers of the Word and Sacrament and ruling elders. The Moderator of the commission and Vice Moderator of the commission are included in the total of eighteen members.
The voting members of COM will also comprise of members of specialized committees listed below, joined by additional non-voting, enlisted members in numbers sufficient to do their work. Moderators of the specialized committees shall be voting members of the Commission on Ministry. Enlisted members are not elected nor subject to typical terms of office.
- Church Liaisons – Enhances the relationship between the presbytery and congregations through regular communication with members and pastors
- Pastor to Pastor – Connects pastors, including members at large and retired, to one another and to the presbytery. Monitors covenants of commissioned pastors.
- Policy & Procedures – Revise or develop policies and procedures necessary for the work of COM and sets annual minimum compensation and ensures compliance.
- Transitions – Helps guide congregations during pastoral leadership changes, including options for their future
- Reconciliation – Mediates and assists in reconciliation of differences arising in interpersonal, Session and congregational relationships
- New Communities Committee – Plans, recommends and implements a Presbytery strategy for new church development
Meeting Schedule:
The commission as a whole meets monthly, except in July and December. They meet on zoom (primarily) on the fourth Thursday at 1:30 pm.
Contact:
Commissioned Pastor Laurie Walker, Moderator
(No Vice Moderator at this time)
Let us know if you’d like to have a Presbytery representative visit your church or new community! We’d love to connect by joining you in worship or other ministry efforts.
Committees of the COM
The responsibilities of the Commission on Ministry are met through six specialized committees. If you have a question and do not know who to call, please reach out to the COM Moderator, Vice-Moderator or General Presbyter who staffs the Commission on Ministry.
All of the members of the committees do not have to be part of the COM, with the exception of the committee moderator. Members from any of our congregations who have a calling, interest, or/and experience in these areas, who are willing to be trained and educated, and who can be called on when there is a need for their participation can serve on these committees.
