Recently we've been doing our best to gather information required to be submitted to OSCR with our annual accounts and return. Lots of questions have been asked about why the information is needed and what membership of Presbytery really means. I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of the different categories of membership within Presbytery.
But before we get into the detail, please note that Presbytery is a separate charity. Therefore, even if you have provided your trustee details to your own congregation's Treasurer or Session Clerk, you still have to provide them to the Presbytery Office. We appreciate that this is duplication, but it is necessary.
Ministers/Deacons
Every minister and deacon who lives or serves within the bounds of the Presbytery is entitled to be a full member of Presbytery. This includes all those who are ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament, or as an Ordained Local Minister or as an Auxiliary Minister. It includes those who are in a parish, those serving in another capacity e.g. a healthcare or university chaplain, and those who are not in a charge. As a full member they are entitled to vote on the matters that are considered by Presbytery and there is an expectation that they will serve within the life of the Presbytery e.g. as a member of a committee or as an interim moderator.
When a minister or deacon retires, they can ask to remain a full member of Presbytery. Alternatively, they can choose to become a corresponding member, which means they still receive information from and about Presbytery, can attend the meetings, but cannot vote. Or they can also choose to give up their seat in Presbytery, but would still be under the supervision of Presbytery in terms of their status as a minister or deacon.
Only FULL members of Presbytery are considered to be TRUSTEES.
Elders
- Commissioned Elders
Each Kirk Session within the boundaries of a Presbytery elects one of its own members (or, with permission of
the Presbytery, a member of another Kirk Session within the relevant Presbytery) to represent it in the
Presbytery during the year, which runs from 1st July to 30th June. The elder needs to be commissioned every year, even if it's the same person. As a commissioned elder, they are a full member of Presbytery and as such have full voting rights.
In a Team Ministry Charge, the Kirk Session elects a number of representative elders equal to the number of Team Ministers. For example, the parish of Shetland can have three representative elders.
Commissioned elders are also expected to serve on Presbytery committees as well as feed back to their Kirk Session on a regular basis about the decisions/workings of Presbytery. We rely on them passing on information and keeping their congregation informed about what is happening at a regional level. (If you've never reported back to your Kirk Session, speak to your Session Clerk about how you might do that in the coming months.)
Commissioned elders can never be corresponding members of Presbytery.
- Balancing Elders
At both General Assembly and Presbytery level there is a principle whereby the number of elders should balance the number of ministers. This means each Presbytery needs to appoint Balancing Elders. They can serve for longer than a year without being reappointed. They are always full members of Presbytery and contribute to the life of the Presbytery in the same way as other full members.
The Presbytery can also appoint Additional Elders but we have not done so yet.
Corresponding Members
In this category we have:
- Readers
- MDS appointed to serve in our Presbytery
- Presbytery Staff
- Ministers/Deacons who have chosen this option
- Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Safeguarding Trainers
- Convener and Secretary of Guilds Together
- Graduate Candidates and sustained Familiarisation Placement Candidates
- Representatives from other denominations
Ministry Candidates in the earlier years of training or Familiarisation Placement Candidates may apply for Corresponding Membership.
Corresponding Members may attend all meetings of Presbytery and speak (except when Presbytery is exercising judicial functions) but cannot vote or propose a motion. They can be co-opted to serve on Presbytery committees. They are not NOT TRUSTEES from a charity perspective.
Hopefully this helps, but if you have questions about your membership of Presbytery please do get in touch.
Rev Stella