1. Cutting through the FOG
The new Form of Government and Sessions / congregations
C.O.L.E.
Markham Woods Presbyterian CHURCH
February 8, 2014

3. Form of Government basics
Part One
Introduction:
New CURRENT
Form of Government basics

4. GA: Specs for New FOG Leaner and more flexible
Preserve essential polity
More ‘missional’
Congregations: where mission begins
Presbytery: central governing unit
A constitution, not a regulatory manual

5. Major Change Philosophy, not specific section
Change from “Prescriptive” to “Permissive” polity
Prescriptive: constitution must specify power (regulatory)
Permissive: freedom to act within broad principles

6. Impact of Change
Old FOG: not many required structures for Sessions
Still, many “hoops” to jump through
Many of these no longer in Constitution
Not unimportant, just not constitutional
New FOG:
Details the “what” – what must be done
Does not prescribe the “who” or “how”
How you accomplish your responsibilities is up to you!

7. Foundations of Presbyterian Polity
Part Two
Foundations of Presbyterian Polity
(F Section)

8. New “F” Section Chapters 1-4 of old FOG, rearranged by theme
Beginning point: God’s sovereign mission (F-1.01)
Jesus Christ as Lord and Head of the Church (F-1.02)
The church’s calling – four sources:
Biblical: Church is the body of Christ (F )
Ancient Creed: Nicene ‘Marks’: (one, holy, catholic, apostolic) (F )
Reformation era: Scots Confession ‘Notes’ (Word, Sacraments, Discipline) (F )
American Presbyterianism: UPNA Six Great Ends (1910) (F )

9. F – The Body of Christ
The Church possesses all gifts necessary to be Christ’s body
In demonstrating these gifts, the Church becomes a community of …
Faith
Hope
Love
Witness

10. F – The Nicene ‘Marks’
The church is called to exercise these gifts of God:
Unity – priesthood of believers, inclusiveness, ecumenicity
Holiness – purity, righteousness, and truth
Catholicity – Christ’s embrace of all people/all times
Apostolicity – faithfully proclaiming the gospel as “Christ’s faithful evangelist”

11. F – Scots ‘Notes’
The presence of the true Church is marked wherever …
The Word of God is truly preached and heard
The Sacraments are rightly administered
Ecclesiastical discipline is uprightly ministered

12. Notes: 21st Century Interpretation
Proclaims and hears the Word of God,
responding to the promise of God’s new creation in Christ, and
inviting all people to participate in that new creation;
Administers and receives the Sacraments,
welcoming those who are being engrafted into Christ,
bearing witness to Christ’s saving death and resurrection,
anticipating the heavenly banquet that is to come, and
committing itself in the present to solidarity with the
marginalized and the hungry; and
Nurtures a covenant community of disciples of Christ,
living in the strength of God’s promise and
giving itself in service to God’s mission.

13. Importance of ‘Notes’
Framework for discussion of Council responsibilities
Appear twice: F and G
Implication: all being done should be measured against these Notes

14. Six Great Ends of the Church

15. G , 2nd §
The session shall have responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that the congregation is and becomes a community of faith, hope, love, and witness. As it leads and guides the witness of the congregation, the session shall keep before it the marks of the Church (F ), the notes by which Presbyterian and Reformed congregations have identified themselves throughout history (F ) and the six Great Ends of the Church (F ).

16. F-1.04 – Openness to the HS
Continuity and change within our form of government
Unity in diversity -- F sets stage for G
A new openness to God’s mission in the world …
More radical obedience and joyous celebration in worship and work
Becoming in fact and faith a community of all ages, races, ethnicities, and worldly conditions
The possibilities and perils of its institutional forms in order to ensure the faithfulness and usefulness of these forms to God’s activity in the world
God’s continuing reformation of the Church ecumenical F

17. Chapter 2: Confessions Virtually the same as Chapter 2 in the old FOG
Two additions:
F-2.01, second paragraph: confessions articulate the truths of the gospel imperiled by their times
F-2.02, amplification of phrase: “’the Church reformed, always being reformed according to God’s Word’ in the power of the Spirit”

18. Chapter 3: Historic Declarations
Essential Presbyterian polity
F Historic Principles Of Church Order (1789)
F Principles of Presbyterian Government (1797)
F The Nature of Foundational Statements
F Contents of the Constitution

19. Historic Principles of Church Order (1788)
God alone is Lord of the conscience
Churches entitled to declare terms of admission, qualifications of ministers and members
Officers preserve truth and duty, cast out erroneous and scandalous
Truth is in order to goodness; inseparable connection between faith and practice
Truth and forms with which people of good characters and principles may differ – mutual forbearance

20. Historic Principles [Cont’d]
Election of officers done by the people (“in that society”)
Church power is ministerial and declarative … synods and councils may err
Ecclesiastical discipline is purely moral or spiritual in its object, and is not attended with any civil effects

21. Principles of Presbyterian Government (1797)
Congregations of PC(USA) constitute one church
Governed by presbyters (ruling and teaching elders)
Gathered in 4 councils (session, pby, synod, GA)
Presbyters seek and represent the will of Christ
Decisions by majority vote (after discussion/discernment)
Higher councils review and control lower councils
Presbyters ordained only by the authority of a council
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction is a shared power (councils)
Councils possess administrative authority to give effect to the duties/responsibilities assigned by Constitution

22. Part Three
The Form of Government
(G Section)

23. Terminology Changes NEW TERM: REPLACES OLD TERM: Council
Governing Body
Ordered Ministry
Office or Officer
Ruling Elder
Elder
Teaching Elder
Minister of the Word and Sacrament
Commissioned Ruling Elder
Commissioned Lay Pastor

24. Ordered Ministries
All members are called to follow Christ in some form of ministry
Some ministries (functions) are ordered by Councils for the benefit of all
Deacons: The Ministry of Compassion and Service
Ruling Elders: The Ministry of Discernment and Governance
Teaching Elders: The Ministry of the Word and Sacrament

25. A Matter of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience … F a; quotes Westminster Confession, 6.109
Persons who serve in ordered ministries must adhere to the essentials of the Reformed faith and polity – G
Exercise freedom of conscience within certain bounds – G
G footnote (1758)

26. G footnote
That when any matter is determined by a majority vote, every member shall either actively concur with or passively submit to such determination; or if his conscience permit him to do neither, he shall, after sufficient liberty modestly to reason and remonstrate, peaceably withdraw from our communion without attempting to make any schism. Provided always that this shall be understood to extend only to such determination as the body shall judge indispensable in doctrine or Presbyterian government.

28. Deacons Ministry of compassion, witness, service
Sharing the redeeming love of Jesus Christ
Individually commissioned or part of a board
Under supervision of session
UPCUSA vs. PCUS Deacons

29. Ruling Elders Not lord it over the congregation (Mt. 20:25)
Measure or discern
Fidelity to the Word of God; strengthen and nurture faith and life
A “presbyter” first!

30. Teaching Elders
Teach the faith and equipping the saints for the work of ministry
The ministry of the Word and Sacraments
Validated ministry, member-at-large, or honorably retired
Service in congregations, in other service to the church, or beyond the jurisdiction of the church
Ideal Teaching Elder?

31. Where to find things Congregation – meetings: G-1.05 Session:
Membership matters: G-1.03
Ordered Ministries – Deacons/Ruling Elders: G
General procedures for Councils: G-3.01
Specific items for Session: G-3.02
Trustees; Church Property: G
Joint congregational witness: G-5.05 (formerly, ‘union’ or ‘federated’ churches)
Amending the Constitution: G-6.00

32. Closing Note: G
The polity of the PC(U.S.A.) presupposes the fellowship of women and men with their children united in covenant relationship with one another and with God. The organization rests on the fellowship and is not designed to work without trust and love.