LoginHome » Parish tools » Resources for Parishes » Book of Order » 2006 Book of Order » Chapter 6: Ministers and elders
Chapter 6: Ministers and elders
6.1 Background
1. Within the ministry of the whole Church, Jesus Christ calls men and women to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed through the ordained ministry of word and sacrament and through ordination to the office of elder.
2. Ordained ministers of word and sacrament have, following the Presbyterian tradition, been known as “ministers”, and as “ministers of word and sacrament” and as “teaching elders”. References to ordained ministers in this Book of Order are made only to the single term “minister”.
3. In the Presbyterian tradition the minister is responsible for preaching and teaching the Word and administering the sacraments. In this tradition, the minister is understood as the guardian of the Gospel and along with the elders is concerned with the spiritual rule and pastoral oversight of congregations, leadership in mission and the government of the Church through its courts.
4. Baptism invites us to share in God's mission through our own vocation and commitment to God's new and coming world. This vocation and commitment take shape in a range of occupations and activities in society. Within this framework the Church sets people apart to undertake specific ministries. These include the ministry of word and sacrament and that of eldership. Ordination to these offices is for life. However, election or induction to a church council or charge may be for a fixed period.
5. The Church recognises both men and women for ordination to the ministries of word and sacrament and eldership.
Defined terms: charge, Church, church council, congregation, court, elder, induction, minister, ministry of word and sacrament, ordination.
Office of minister
6.2 Nature of office of minister
A minister
a) exercises an independent office in the service of Jesus Christ for the safeguarding of Christ’s sovereignty over the Church, and
b) exercises this office in a collegial relationship with all the ministers of the Church.
Defined terms: Church, minister.
6.3 Functions of a minister
1. The calling of a minister includes
a) leadership in worship,
b) leadership in mission,
c) pastoral care, and
d) spiritual nurture.
2. A minister exercises his or her calling after
a) completing his or her training and preparation for ministry, as provided for in chapter 9 , and
b) being called or appointed to a ministry position, and
c) being ordained as a minister by a presbytery.
Defined terms: call, minister, ministry position, ordination, presbytery.
6.4 Leadership in worship
A minister exercises leadership in worship when he or she
a) preaches the Word,
b) ensures that the Scriptures are read,
c) presides at the sacraments,
d) conducts public worship,
e) oversees hymns and music for services of worship,
f) informs the church council if someone other than the incumbent minister is to preach on any particular Sunday,
g) ensures that associated administrative tasks are undertaken.
Defined terms: church council, minister.
6.5 Leadership in mission
A minister exercises leadership in mission when he or she
a) encourages the congregation to exercise its role in God’s mission, including teaching, guiding and assisting members in playing their part,
b) discerns and promotes contemporary ways of communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ,
c) serves God in collegial relationship with the ministers of the Church,
d) under the authority of the church council, proclaims salvation and new life in Christ, baptising and bringing applicants into membership,
e) under the authority of the church council, ordains elders and deacons,
f) under the authority of the presbytery, participates in the ordination of ministers,
g) observes the discipline and government of the Church,
h) participates in the courts of the Church,
i) ensures that associated administrative tasks are undertaken.
Defined terms: Church, church council, congregation, court, deacon, elder, member, minister, ordination, presbytery.
6.6 Pastoral care
A minister exercises pastoral care when he or she provides and assists in making provision for care and support for the congregation and wider community.
Defined terms: congregation, minister.
6.7 Spiritual nurture
A Minister exercises spiritual nurture when he or she
a) exercises spiritual leadership,
b) teaches and provides spiritual guidance,
c) nurtures applicants for baptism and membership,
d) ensures that associated administrative tasks are undertaken.
Defined terms: member, minister.
6.8 Responsibility of minister
1. A minister who has been appointed to a congregation has ultimate responsibility for the conduct of worship and sacraments.
2. A minister is responsible for nurturing and practising his or her own spiritual life and for undertaking continuing ministry formation and supervision in accordance with section 8 of Chapter 9.
3. Although a minister is appointed to work within a specific ministry, the minister is responsible to the presbytery.
4. Ordination to the office of minister does not automatically grant the minister full membership in the courts of presbytery or the General Assembly.
Defined terms: congregation, General Assembly, minister, ordination, presbytery, supervision.
Office of elder
6.9 Nature of office of elder
1. An elder
a) exercises a spiritual office in the Church,
b) exercises leadership in mission,
c) participates in the spiritual rule and pastoral oversight of a congregation, and
d) participates in the government of the Church through its courts.
2. The congregation of a co-operative venture may elect to its church council a person who is not an elder.
3. For the purposes of representation at presbytery and the General Assembly, a person who is not an elder but is a member of the church council of a co-operative venture is treated as an elder.
4. Nothing in subsections (2) and (3) prevents the congregation of a co-operative venture from electing an elder to its church council.
Defined terms: Church, church council, congregation, co-operative venture, court, elder, General Assembly, presbytery.
6.10 Functions of an elder
1. The calling of an elder includes
a) leadership in worship,
b) leadership in mission,
c) pastoral care and oversight of the congregation, and
d) spiritual nurture.
2. An elder exercises his or her calling only after
a) being ordained and inducted in accordance with section 42 of chapter 9, and
b) being elected to office by the congregation.
Defined terms: congregation, elder, induction, ordination.
6.11 Leadership in worship
An elder exercises leadership in worship when he or she
a) preaches the Word according to his or her gifts under the authority of the minister,
b) assists in the celebration of the sacraments under the authority of the minister,
c) presides at the celebration of communion if he or she is authorised to administer the sacraments,
d) baptises if he or she is authorised to administer the sacraments.
Defined terms: congregation, elder, minister.
6.12 Leadership in mission
An elder exercises leadership in mission when he or she
a) exercises leadership within the congregation,
b) observes the discipline and government of the Church, and
c) participates in the courts of the Church as required.
Defined terms: Church, congregation, court, elder.
6.13 Pastoral care and oversight of the congregation
An elder provides spiritual nurture, pastoral care and oversight of the congregation when he or she
a) provides pastoral care,
b) makes arrangements for baptism and membership.
Defined terms: associate member, congregation, elder, member
6.14 Spiritual nurture
If suitably qualified and under the direction of the minister, an elder may provide spiritual guidance including the nurture of applicants for baptism and membership.
Defined terms: elder, member, minister,
6.15 Responsibilities of elders
1. An elder is responsible to the church council for the performance of his or her duties.
2. An elder is responsible for nurturing and practising his or her own spiritual life and for undertaking such eldership formation as may be encouraged by the minister or church council.
Defined terms: church council, elder, eldership formation, minister
6.16 Alteration of this chapter
This chapter cannot be altered, amended or deleted in any way except in accordance with the special legislative procedure.
Defined term: special legislative procedure