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Appendix E-6: Guidelines on Membership of Courts, Committees, Groups and Bodies

(Adopted by General Assembly 1984)

Preamble

Since God has distributed gifts and graces throughout the membership of his Church that can enrich its courts, committees, groups and bodies, it is desirable that the membership of its courts, committees, groups and bodies should generally reflect the various age, sex and cultural groupings found within the Church. In recognition of this the following Guidelines have been adopted:

2) That, if in the election of elders it has proven impossible or impracticable to meet the principle of Clause (1) above, Sessions/Parish Councils should consider adding appropriate associate members in terms of Regulation 55 (Sessions) or Appendix E-l, (b)(i) (Parish Councils).

3) That, in the election of deacons and managers, congregations shall bear in mind the principle of (1) above.

4) That when Presbyteries are able to appoint additional elders under Regulation 124(e) or associate members under Regulation 124(f)(5) they should take into account the principle of (1) above.

5) That in the appointment of committees, groups and bodies, courts should take into account the principle of Clause (1) above, together with the following:

a) That in Assembly committees, groups and bodies and Presbytery Committees the numbers of ministerial and lay members should usually be comparable;
b) That people can be appointed to committees, groups and bodies who are not members of the appointing court and, in some cases, such appointments could help achieve the principle of (1) above. (see also Regulation 464)