By Passing the Committee on Ministry

My denomination is a part of the Presbyterian and Reformed branches of Christianity. As such we are guided by a Confession of Faith and a Constitution. The Constitution spells out what each judicatory from the congregation, presbytery, synod, and General Assembly are to do. It has served us well for nearly 200 years [we celebrate our 200th anniversary in 2010].

That is until here lately when a congregation within our presbytery is becoming more and more independent by having a flagrant disregard for the Constitution. For example, it is the Presbytery's right to give oversight to those desiring to be ordained and, in fact is the body which ordains persons to ministry for service within the entire denomination. The Presbytery gives this responsibility to the Committee on Ministry with it reporting the progress of each individual to the Presbytery and recommendation for ordination. The Presbytery then in turn has the right to accept our reports and recommendations or not.

Part of the Committee's duties is to determine the educational needs of the person and to suggest the best course of action for him or her to take as they prepare for ordination. This is spelled out in the denominational Confession of Faith. There is also an alternative option for persons who for some reason [deemed reasonable by the Committee] are not able to attend a seminary.

I have said all of this to say this. The congregation referred to above has taken it upon its own to act as the presbyterial Committee on Ministry. This summer two persons from its congregation were enrolled in the Program of Alternate Studies and told what courses they needed to be ordained. Then the session of the congregation notified the Committee on Ministry that these two persons would present themselves before us at our semi-annual meeting.

One was surprised to learn he needed to go through the process of becoming a Candidate, Licentiate, and then Ordination. He expected to be received by the Committee and approved for ordination at the September meeting of Presbytery.

It is my suspicion the pastor mislead this person into believing this way. The other person is an ordained Korean Presbyterian Minister. Which in itself is an entirely different situation. If things check out then, the Committee might recommend the transfer of his ordination into our denomination. Here again, the pastor told him what courses he needed to take at PAS.

In my book, it is wrong for a pastor and local session to act as the presbyterial Committee on Ministry.

I've stated my views. What's yours?