A proposal for a change to the CC Constitution

 

Election of Elders and Deacons

Parish Elders

Parishes will nominate potential Parish elder candidates. The elders will examine the candidate with regard to his doctrine and manner of life. If the candidate has any disagreement or mental reservation about any portion of the church’s Confession of Faith or this constitution, he must inform the elders of it. All candidates must meet the qualifications for the office set down in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:2-4; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). Nominations are approved with unanimous consent of the elders.

Once nominated, the candidate for elder will work through a short course of training on eldership under the oversight of the minister. His name will then be placed on a ballot given to the electors in each parish at a specified parish Heads’ of Household meeting. Each ballot will provide the option of voting yes, no or abstain. If the candidate receives a two thirds majority support of the parish, the elders will ordain him through laying on hands and prayer for a two year term.

At the end of two years, the parish elder will be reaffirmed by a two thirds majority vote of the entire congregation. If elected, the elders will ordain him for an additional five year term.

After the subsequent five year term, another church wide election will occur. If the candidate receives a three quarters majority of the vote, the elders will ordain him through laying on hands and prayer. This term will be for life, unless he resigns or is removed.

 

Teaching Elders

The elders will examine any potential candidate for the role of teaching elder with regard to his doctrine and manner of life. If the candidate has any disagreement or mental reservation about any portion of the church’s Confession of Faith or this constitution, he must inform the elders of it. All candidates must meet the qualifications for the office set down in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:2-4; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). Nominations are approved with unanimous consent of the elders.

Once nominated, the candidate for teaching elder will work through a short course of training on eldership under the oversight of the minister. His name will then be placed on a ballot sent to all electors. Each ballot will provide the option of voting yes, no or abstain. If the candidate receives three quarters support of the church, the unanimous support of the church (Phil. 2:1-4), the elders will ordain him through laying on hands and prayer. The requirement for congregational unanimity may only be set aside by the unanimous consent of the elders, and only if they have determined that the objections are unscriptural or unwarranted.

Once ordained, the teaching elder will serve for life, unless he resigns or is removed.

 

Deacons

Once nominated, the candidate for deacon will be included by the deacons in their work in order to prove his fitness for office (1 Tim. 3:10). When in their unanimous judgment, the candidate has shown this, the deacons will make a recommendation to the elders to place his name on the ballot. If, in the unanimous judgment of the elders, the candidate receives the clear and obvious support of the church as represented, the elders will ordain him through laying on of hands and prayer (Acts 6:6).

When ordained, the elder or deacon will vow:

“As God is my witness, I solemnly vow that I will serve this church faithfully as a servant of Christ, and will maintain godly order in my life and my household as the Word of God requires.”

Once ordained, the deacon will serve for life, unless he resigns or is removed.

Duties of Elders

Under Christ, the authority of the local church is the board of elders or presbyters in session. The elders are collectively responsible for ruling/shepherding (1 Pet. 5:1-2); equipping (Eph. 4:11-12); prayer/fasting (Acts 6:4; 13:1-3); teaching/preaching (1 Tim. 5:17); administering baptism and the Lord’s Table (Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26); administering church discipline and restoration (1 Cor. 5:1-5), and visiting the sick (Jas. 5:14-15).

The elders are responsible to delegate responsibilities to the deacons, hire and fire church staff, define responsibilities for church staff, delegate responsibilities to the staff of subordinate ministries, and approve the annual budget. The elders also commission or license ministerial students, and oversee the course of their training for the eldership. Under the guidance and oversight of the elders, such men may perform all the various ministerial functions of elders, participation in the rule of the church excepted.

Elder business will be conducted at the weekly meeting or at special meetings called for the purpose. The elders will rotate the responsibility of chairing meetings, and will appoint a secretary to record minutes. Individual elders are responsible for those duties delegated to them by the elders in session, as recorded in the minutes, with due regard to their gifts, abilities, and desires.

The session contains three distinct callings or offices. The first is called to a pastoral ministry of the Word, and called by us a minister or pastor (Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 5:2-4; 1 Tim. 5:17). A second is called to a didactic ministry of the Word, called by us a teacher or doctor (1 Cor. 12:28; James 3:1). A third is called to government and rule according to the Word, called by us a parish or lay ruler or ruling elder (1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7,17; Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28), which function is shared by all elders. Each elder will have his calling and office acknowledged by the elders in session. In all meetings of the session of presbyters, each elder has one vote.

Elders whose assigned duties preclude them from providing for their families in the ordinary way will be compensated by the church (1 Tim. 5:17-18).