THE REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK

Transcription

1 2005 THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 27 THE REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK I. THE OFFICE OF THE STATED CLERK The Stated Clerk is e only executive officer elected by e General Assembly. All oer executive officers are employees of a particular board or agency. Alough e Stated Clerk has many responsibilities outlined in e General Regulations:, e Constitution, e Rules of Discipline and e Rules of Order of e Confession of Fai, one of e primary tasks is to be concerned wi e spiritual life of e Church. Alough e position of Stated Clerk has many administrative duties, e Stated Clerk views e position as pastoral in nature. The Stated Clerk is e official Church representative to various ecumenical events. The Stated Clerk is e official interpreter of e actions of e General Assembly, and provides resources for General Assembly agencies wiout any paid staff. The Stated Clerk submits budget requests to e General Assembly Council for e Permanent Committee on Judiciary, e Commission on Chaplains, and e Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns, and is e advocate for ese agencies on e General Assembly Council. The Stated Clerk provides interpretation for e Constitution of e Church and is often called upon to clarify civil law as it relates to e function of e Church. In e event of litigation it is e Stated Clerk s responsibility to employ legal counsel and to sign all necessary papers. The Stated Clerk makes arrangements for e meetings of e General Assembly. Invitations to host General Assembly come to e Office of e Stated Clerk. It is e duty of e Stated Clerk to research possible meeting sites, negotiate contracts for e facilities, prepare e preliminary minutes, advise e Moderator in e appointment of committees, refer items before e Assembly to e appropriate committees, and provide for printing and oer communication needs during e annual session of e General Assembly. During e time of meeting, it is e responsibility of e Stated Clerk to work wi e hotel/convention center to be sure at all meeting spaces are correctly set up each day. Following e meeting of e General Assembly, it is e task of e Stated Clerk to prepare a summary of actions to be mailed to each session clerk, minister, probationer, commissioners and you advisory delegates to e General Assembly, Stated Clerks of Presbyteries and Synods, and members of boards/agencies. The Stated Clerk supervises e preparation of e yearbook and e minutes of e General Assembly. The Cumberland Presbyterian Digest is updated after each General Assembly. Updates of e digest are automatically mailed to all persons who have sent in a card upon purchasing a digest. If a person has purchased a Digest, but has not received e updates, contact e Office of e General Assembly and e updates will be mailed immediately. The Stated Clerk refers items from e General Assembly to e presbyteries or to e proper board/agency of e Church. The Stated Clerk supervises e recording of accurate minutes of e General Assembly meetings, publishes e Minutes, and upon request distributes e Minutes of each meeting at no charge. The yearbook is mailed to every minister, probationer, session clerk, and presbyterial synodical clerks at no charge. The Stated Clerk is responsible for e contingency fund, and any oer General Assembly monies not entrusted to a particular Board or Agency. Expenditures from e contingency fund have to be approved by e General Assembly or e General Assembly Council. The Stated Clerk must visit presbyteries periodically; usually e Stated Clerk encourages e Moderator to determine what presbyteries he/she can visit during e tenure of office, en e Stated Clerk will visit oer presbyteries. The Stated Clerk serves e Office of Moderator by assisting wi his/her calendar and providing travel funds. General Regulation C. h. requires e Stated Clerk to provide training sessions for presbytery and synod Stated Clerks and to provide for orientation sessions for General Assembly Commissioners and You Advisory Delegates to e annual General Assembly. The Stated Clerk provides a handbook for Clerks of Presbyteries and Synods, and one for Session Clerks. The Handbook for Stated Clerks of presbyteries and synods was updated is year, and e one for session clerks will be revised during e year. The Stated Clerk provides for an annual conference for Stated Clerks of presbyteries and synods. In prior years e Stated Clerk has provided for several orientation sessions for commissioners and you advisory delegates in different areas of e Church. There will be only one Orientation Session for Commissioners and You Advisory Delegates to e 175 General Assembly. Some of e Stated Clerks of Presbyteries suggested at ere be only one orientation session, and in 2004 some of e area meetings were not well attended. If ere is a need for additional orientation sessions in future years, e Stated Clerk will arrange for ose. At e

2 28 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005 st 171 General Assembly, e Stated Clerk began providing training for chair and co chair persons of all General Assembly committees. The selection of a eme for e annual meeting, e schedule of special events, and e designation of a worship director and e preachers for worship services is e responsibility of e program planning committee which meets in December of each year. The program planning committee consists of e Moderator as chairperson, a representative of various boards/permanent agencies, e hosting committee, and e Cumberland Presbyterian Women s Ministry, e Stated Clerk and e Assistant to e Stated Clerk. The Stated Clerk plans e agenda for e Program Planning Committee. It is e responsibility of e Stated Clerk to contact e worship leaders and preachers, to receive requests from various boards/agencies for special presentations, and to prepare a schedule which gives direction to e General Assembly. II. STAFF Mrs. Elizabe Vaughn, assistant to e Stated Clerk, is to be commended for her excellent work. Mrs. Vaughn is very conscientious about her work and is a good communicator for e church. Mrs. Vaughn manages e financial records of e Office of e General Assembly as well as maintaining current congregation records. In 1991 e Office of e General Assembly had ree full time persons and one part time person. Only e Stated Clerk and e Assistant to e Stated Clerk are currently employed in e Office of e General Assembly. Mr. Thomas Craig is to be commended for e excellent manner in which he records e minutes of e General Assembly. Prior to is year, Mr. Craig has led some of e orientation sessions for commissioners and you advisory delegates. III. ECUMENICAL RELATIONS A. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY The American Bible Society is one of e oldest ecumenical relationship in which e Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been involved. The Stated Clerk is a participant in e annual Church Leadership Conference. Cumberland Presbyterians have always emphasized e importance of e Holy Scriptures to win people to Christ, to nurture em in e fai and to challenge people for witness. When people unite wi a congregation e second question propounded is Do you believe e scriptures of e Old and New Testaments to be e inspired word of God, e source of auority for fai and practice, and will you read and study em for guidance in living e Christian life. When ministers, elders and deacons are ordained, e first question asked is, Do you believe e scriptures of e Old and New Testaments to be e inspired word of God, e auority for fai and practice? Since e Holy Scripture is supposed to be e guide for our lives, it is fitting and proper at we work cooperatively wi an organization dedicated to making e scriptures available to every person in his/her own language. The gift of e Word along wi e power of e Holy Spirit will change human lives. Last year e American Bible Society working wi e Ukrainian Bible society made hundreds of Bibles available in Ukraine. Some of e first persons to receive e Ukrainian Bible were formerly Communist leaders in e country. The American Bible Society will assist local congregations in developing web sites. For information contact cyberg@americanbible.org. In November e Cumberland Presbyterian Church observes Bible Sunday. Each congregation is encouraged to receive a special offering for e American Bible Society. It is appropriate for individuals or congregations to give donations to e American Bible Society for honorariums or memorials. Donations are one of e ways at we can partner in spreading e Bible to people around e globe. B. THE WORLD ALLIANCE OF REFORMED CHURCHES The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is anoer ecumenical opportunity. The general assembly of e World Alliance of Reformed Churches met in Ghana in July of The Reverend Makahiko Arase, Japan Presbytery, was a delegate to e Ghana Assembly. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches meets

3 2005 THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 29 in general session every seven years. In recent years due to budgetary restraints e Cumberland Presbyterian Church has not been very active in e general session, alough e delegates attend e area council meetings on a regular basis. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches calls upon its member churches to covenant to work for justice and peace in e world. The Caribbean and Nor American Council is one of two area councils rough which e World Alliance of Reformed Churches works between e general sessions of e World Alliance. The area council meets every eighteen mons. Currently e delegates to CANAAC are not necessarily e participants in e general session of e World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Wiin e next two years, e various denominations will be encouraged to elect e same persons to attend e area council and e general session of e World Alliance of Reformed Churches as a way of providing a more united witness in our world. The Caribbean area represents diverse cultures and economic status. The area provides an avenue for Nor American Churches to partner wi persons in our hemisphere to work for peace and economic justice. Partnerships in e area council often lead to oer opportunities for e churches. Memphis Theological Seminary conducted a class in e doctor of ministry program in Trinidad in January. C. COOPERATIVE COMMITTEE The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, e Presbyterian Church (USA) and e Cumberland Presbyterian Church have had a cooperative committee meeting annually since The purpose of e committee is to recognize e cooperative ministries in which e ree denominations are engaged, and ese programs will be lifted up during e concurrent General Assemblies in It is not e purpose of e concurrent General Assemblies to have any discussion about organic union, but simply to celebrate cooperative ministries in which e ree denominations are involved. The final meeting of e cooperative committee will be in July Throughout its history, e Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been a participant in cooperative ministries on e local level, as well as national and international opportunities. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and e Presbyterian Church (USA) jointly provide a ministry to migrant farm workers in Florida, sponsor e Presbyterian Appalachian Broadcasting Council which is housed in e Brenaven Church in Nashville, and Project Vida on e Texas Mexico border. There are seven union congregations among e Cumberland Presbyterians and Presbyterian Church (USA). The You Triennium is sponsored by e Cumberland Presbyterians in America, e Presbyterian Church (USA), and e Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Coalition for Appalachian Ministry is sponsored by five members of e Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. Chaplains for e military and Veteran s hospitals are endorsed and nurtured by e Presbyterian Council on Chaplains and Military Personnel, which is a cooperative ministry of e American Reformed Presbyterian Church, e Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, e Presbyterian Church (USA), and e Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Each issue of These Days has Cumberland Presbyterian writers. Project Hands Togeer is a cooperative opportunity provided by e United Meodists, e Roman Caolic and e Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has always been committed to a united witness, but not organic union. IV. ENDORSEMENTS FOR MODERATOR The Reverend Linda H. Glenn, West Tennessee Presbytery, and e Reverend Hugh L. Parsons, Trinity Presbytery, have been endorsed by eir respective presbyteries to Moderate e 175 General Assembly. V. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT A proposed Constitutional Amendment to 5.3 to remove e words, reciprocal agreement in two portions of 5.3 was referred to e presbyteries by e 174 General Assembly. In order for a Constitutional Amendment to be referred to e presbyteries ree fours of e General Assembly must approve e amendment; provided ere is present and voting not less an 75% of e full membership of e assembly based on e complete representation of all its presbyteries". (Constitution 11.2) Constitution 11.3, 11:4a, b affirms at an amendment is approved if ree fours of e presbyteries vote affirmatively. It is not necessary to record e number of affirmative and negative votes wiin a presbytery, as a simply majority vote eier approves or denies a constitutional amendment wiin a particular presbytery. Constitution 11:4c Presbyteries shall act upon an amendment referred by e General Assembly wiin e first year of e

4 30 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005 referral and report eir vote no later an e next meeting of e General Assembly after e amendment was transmitted to e presbyteries. As of May 20, e following presbyteries have voted in e affirmative on e proposed change to e Constitution 5.3: Choctaw, Columbia, Cullman, Cumberland, del Cristo, East Tennessee, Hong Kong, Japan, Missouri, Murfreesboro, Nor Central, Red River, Robert Donnell, Tennessee-Georgia, Trinity, West Tennessee. The following presbyteries have voted in e negative: Covenant, Hope, Nashville. The following presbyteries did not vote or did not report eir vote: Andes, Arkansas, Cauca Valley, Grace and Liberia. Wi five presbyteries failing to vote or to report e vote, and ree presbyteries voting against e proposed change to e Constitution 5.3, e affirmative votes will be less an e ree fours required by e Constitution. RECOMMENDATION 1: That e 175 General Assembly affirm at e proposed amendment to e Constitution 5.3 has not been approved. VI. CHANGES IN GENERAL REGULATIONS General Regulation A.4 reads, Official Forms Required. Unless an exception is granted by e General Assembly, only commissioners and you advisory delegates whose names are furnished by official forms shall be enrolled in e General Assembly. The majority of e Stated Clerks of e various presbyteries use e mail or faxes instead of e official forms provided by e General Assembly. For e past few years, e Office of e General Assembly have provided to e Credentials Committee official forms or s as provided by e Stated Clerks of e presbyteries, and e Credentials Committee has certified e Commissioners and You Advisory Delegates. Overseas presbyteries always use electronic mail to certify e Commissioners to e General Assembly. RECOMMENDATION 2: That e General Regulation A.4 be deleted, and at e following wording shall become General Regulation A.4 The Stated Clerks of e various presbyteries may certify commissioners and you advisory delegates to General Assembly eier by e form provided by e Office of e General Assembly, or via electronic meods. VII. WORKSHOPS FOR SESSION CLERKS The Stated Clerk will be happy to provide a workshop for session clerks if invited by a presbytery. Workshops have been conducted in five presbyteries in e past two years. VIII. NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Nominating Committee is in need of persons who would be willing to serve on a denominational board or agency to fill out a personnel blank and file it wi e Office of e General Assembly. Alough e committee is not limited to e names on file, it would be helpful to have more names on file. There are many capable people in e various congregations and presbyteries, however, many of em may not have e opportunity to contribute to e work of a board or agency simply because e names are not known. Persons who are nominated to boards/agencies must come from congregations who are supporting Our United Outreach. IX. THE BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Like all of e boards/agencies e Office of General Assembly struggles wi budget problems. Alough ere is some increase in Our United Outreach each year, many line items such as various types of insurance, are increasing much more rapidly an e grow of Our United Outreach. The majority of e boards/agencies have not had any increase in apportionment since Each year members of e coordinating committee are given a budget formula which allows for slight increases in most programs, and a large increase in e cost of insurance, however, wiout increased income, ere will be budget deficits. Alough e coordinating committee is supposed to be involved in e planning process, e committee is not involved in preparing e budget formula or e allocation of Our United Outreach. Each time a new item is added to e Our United Outreach budget, each board/agency will receive a reduction in apportionment. The Stated Clerk is of e opinion at e Coordinating Committee

5 2005 THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 31 should be involved when new items are added to Our United Outreach as each budget is directly affected. Alough e General Assembly approves e budget allocations annually, only two line items have guaranteed amounts and bo of ese are a result of loans. In 2004 all e boards/agencies received e full share of e allocation; however, in most years e actual receipts are less an e allocation. In 2004 e Office of e General Assembly had a deficit budget until e final distribution of Our United Outreach. The expenditures for e first eight mons of each year are large due to e production of e yearbook, preliminary minutes of e General Assembly, e meeting of e General Assembly and e printing of e Minutes. The Office of e General Assembly has some reserves, however, if e reserves are spent, e income is lowered due to e loss of interest. X. REVIEW OF THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH BETHEL COLLEGE st The 171 General Assembly adopted a covenant relationship wi Beel College. The relationship requires at e General Assembly and e Trustees of Beel College are to name a committee to review e relationship every five years. In order to reaffirm e relationship and to make any desirable changes, it will be necessary for e General Assembly to name persons to work wi e persons designed by e Board of Trustees of Beel College and to report to e 176 General Assembly rough e Office of e Stated Clerk. RECOMMENDATION 3: That e General Assembly and e Board of Trustees of Beel College each name five persons to review e covenant relationship and to report to e 176 General Assembly. XI. CORRECTION TO THE MINUTES OF TH THE 174 GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Stated Clerk has discovered at ere is an error on page 340 of e 2004 Minutes of e General Assembly. In line 3, Recommendation 13 of e Committee of Judiciary, has e wrong constitutional number listed for e statement which reads at recommendation 9 of e Report of e Board of Missions at e General Assembly, in its responsibility to create, divide or dissolve synods (Constitution 8.4.i). The proper constitutional reference is 9.4.i. RECOMMENDATION 4: That e Minutes of e 174 General Assembly, page 340, be corrected by inserting e proper constitutional reference 9.4.i instead of 8.4.i. XII. STATISTICAL INFORMATION Number of churches/fellowships Total Membership 90,125 83,742 83,007 Active Membership 52,516 52,285 48,538 Professions of Fai 1,496 1,798 2,142 Members Added 4,159 4,740 3,940 Members Lost 5,523 5,415 4,668 Church School Enrollment 40,479 34,545 31,505 Given to Our United Outreach 1,920,755 2,509,187 2,611,416 Total Outreach Giving 4,864,472 7,218,214 7,368,979 Total Expenditures 36,596,593 41,950,671 42,431,192 Total Income Received 36,000,726 48,598,778 49,872,200 Value of Church Property (1 = 1000) 226, , ,169

6 32 MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005 XIII. CONTINGENCY FUND SUMMARY OF 2004 ACTIVITY Balance Forward 1/1/04 $ 32, Income: Our United Outreach $ 13, Interest 1, , $ 47, Expenditures: General Assembly Office - Catechism Expense $ General Assembly Office - General Assembly Meeting 1, General Assembly Office - Catechism Expense 1.00 General Assembly Office - Cooperative Committee $ 2, Balance 12/31/04 **$ 45, **Restricted $17, Priority Goals Programming (Approved in Beg. Bal. $59, less $7,500 used by BCE for curriculum introductory events, $1,000 used by BCE for camp directors conference, and $15,000 used by Board of Missions for Church Planter Training Program Curriculum rough Alban Institute, $3,500 used by BCE for miniversities. $10,200 used by BCE for miniversities and $4, used by Commission on Ministry to do workshops for presbyterial committees on ministry.) 9, Catechism Revision Committee (Approved 6/99 - $4,500 less $ spent in 2000, and $ spent in 2002, and $ spent in 2003, and $ spent in An additional $7,500 was approved in 08/03 for $7,500 for next 5 years) 15, Commission on Ministry (Approved 1/03) 7, Cooperative Committee (Approved 1/01 - $2,500 per year rough In expense of $4,103.78, in expense of $1,567.15, in expense of $375.34) $49, **Unrestricted: ( -4,601.72) 12/31/04 (Deficit Balance) $45, Respectfully submitted: Reverend Robert D. Rush, Stated Clerk