Session Clerks make Presbyterian Churches work.
John Howell wrote a Job Description which may be adapted to suit your circumstances:
Title:
Session Clerk
Purpose:
The purpose of the Session Clerk is to ensure an effective administrative functioning for the Session to govern the Parish.
Key Task:
To provide an effective administrative framework for the work of Session to be done.
Reporting relationships and Term of appointment:
- The Session Clerk is appointed by and accountable to the Session. The Session Clerk may attend any parish Committee or parish meeting as of right.
- The term is for five years with a review after one year.
Resources:
The Parish Secretary and parish office will provide secretarial services. All expenses incurred with the office will be met by the parish.
Person Specification:
- The Session Clerk is a motivator, leader and coordinator of the Session.
- The Session Clerk is expected to support the minister(s), and work pastorally in appropriate ways.
- The Session Clerk would be expected to attend worship regularly, and support parish activities.
- There will be times when the Session Clerk acts as a representative of the parish at Parish, Presbytery and Community activities.
Duties:
- Chairs the Steering Committee that prepares an agenda with recommendations for Session meetings.
- Responsible for taking the minutes of meetings, and actioning work arising from the meeting.
- Maintains the Session's records.
- Writes and receives correspondence for the business of Session, and any pastoral matters arising from that within the parish.
- Ensures that the Parish Secretary maintains membership rolls on the computer.
- Maintains a directory of Session and Committees and establishes rosters for worship duties.
- Acts as the Communication Liaison Contact with the national Church.
- Prepares the annual Statistics.
- Drafts the Session's Annual Report from Session to the AGM, and circulates the agenda and minutes of the AGM.
- Supervises the calling of any congregational meetings for the election of officers or any other business.
- Acts as Session leader in the absence of the Moderator making alternative arrangements.
- Ensures that the church is prepared for Communion, and for special events, such as the Christmas Eve Service, Ordinations and inductions, and with the Minister organises the elders to assist in the service.
- In association with the Ministers and the pastoral committee, ensures that the pastoral districts are organised and allocated visitors.
- Ensures that there is adequate liaison between Session and the Board of Managers.
- Meets with the Minister(s) as necessary, to discuss any parish concerns and to act as a sounding board as appropriate.
- Acts as a confidant or advisor to Session Members.