Presbyterian Church in America
Standing Rules
Gulfstream Presbytery PCA
Chapter 1: Name and Boundaries
1-1 The name of this body shall be the
Gulfstream Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America.
1-2 The boundaries of the Gulfstream Presbytery shall include Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River and St. Lucie counties of the state of Florida.
Chapter 2: Purpose
2-1 Our vision is to promote a Christ-centered Presbytery through our passion for extending the work of the Gospel, encouraging and strengthening our churches, and providing a worshiping and supportive community for our members and member churches, to the praise of God’s glory.
2-2 The Presbytery wholeheartedly confesses our commitment to the following core values:
1. A passion to Worship together and pursue personal spiritual growth.
2. A passion for evangelism and strategic church planting among all cultures within the bounds of our Presbytery.
3. A passion for greater fellowship for ourselves, our wives, our families and our congregations on the Presbytery level.
4. A passion for equipping God’s people to know, understand, enjoy, and apply His Word in their lives.
2-3 The doctrinal and governmental standards of this Presbytery shall be the Word of God as interpreted by the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order (BCO).
Chapter 3: Members
3-1 Members of this Presbytery shall be (1) ordained ministers of the Word and sacrament, Teaching Elders (TEs) and (2) particular congregations of the Presbytery.
3-2 Standards for examination for membership of both teaching elders and congregations shall be as set forth in the BCO.
3-3 Commissioners to meetings of the Presbytery shall be the teaching elders of the Presbytery and ruling elders representing their particular churches. Representation by ruling elder (RE) commissioners shall be in accordance with provisions of the BCO.
Chapter 4: Officers
4-1 The officers of the Presbytery shall be a Moderator, Stated Clerk and Treasurer. All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of commissioners.
4-2 Both teaching elders and ruling elders are eligible to serve as Moderator and Stated Clerk. In the case of churches using a rotation system for their Sessions, ruling elders not currently active on their Sessions remain eligible to serve in these offices, with the consent of their Sessions.
4-3 The Moderator shall function as the presiding officer of all meetings of Presbytery and otherwise serve as outlined in the BCO.
4-4 The Moderator shall serve for a term of one year. The Administration Committee will place in nomination a Ruling or Teaching Elder for the office of Moderator at the stated meeting that precedes the stated meeting in which the Moderator is to be elected for the coming calendar year. Nominations from the floor will be received at this meeting. Elections for Moderator shall be held at the last stated meeting of any calendar year, and the Moderator-elect shall assume office at the first stated meeting of the new year. No one may serve as Moderator for two consecutive terms.
4-5 The Stated Clerk shall serve for a term of three years. The Administration Committee will place in nomination a Ruling or Teaching Elder for the office of Stated Clerk at the stated meeting that precedes the stated meeting in which the Stated Clerk is to be elected for the three year term beginning with the next calendar year. Nominations from the floor will be received at this meeting. Elections for Stated Clerk shall be held at the last stated meeting of any calendar year in which the Stated Clerk’s term expires, and the Stated Clerk-elect shall assume office at the first stated meeting of the new year. No one may serve as Stated Clerk for more than two consecutive terms.
4-6 The Stated Clerk shall perform his duties as outlined in the BCO, in consultation with the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. The Stated Clerk is a member, and works under the supervision, of the Administration Committee of Presbytery. His duties shall include the following:
1. Keeping proper records of all meetings of Presbytery and its commissions;
2. Providing certified extracts of Presbytery meetings;
3. Maintaining orderly records of all correspondence to and from the Presbytery;
4. Preparing and transmitting all reports, overtures, or other information to and from the General Assembly;
5. Opening meetings when the Moderator is not available, and presiding until an acting moderator may be elected;
6. Refer communications to appropriate committees when practical;
7. Advise the Moderator on procedural questions;
8. serve as Presbytery’s parliamentarian.
4-7 When helpful in the performance of his duties, the Moderator may appoint temporary committees of Thanks to only be constituted during a specific Presbytery meeting.
4-8 The Treasurer of the Presbytery will be elected for a three year term (with eligibility for re-election for no more than two consecutive terms). His duties shall include:
1. Maintaining custody of the funds and securities belonging to the Presbytery;
2. Receiving, depositing, and disbursing such funds as directed by the Presbytery;
3. Keeping accurate accounts of the finances of the Presbytery, including the issuing of reports to the Presbytery not less than quarterly;
4. and reporting to the individual churches in the Presbytery on a yearly basis the amount given by them and the disbursements of those monies by the presbytery.
4-9 The Treasurer of the Presbytery may be a Teaching Elder, Ruling Elder or a Deacon in good standing in a PCA Church within the bounds of Presbytery.
4-10 The Treasurer shall have the Presbytery books audited on a yearly basis by an auditor approved by the Administration Committee. A copy of the Auditor’s Report will be given to the Presbytery for their review.
4-11 The Treasurer will be bonded in the amounts recommended by the Administration Committee and approved by Presbytery. The bonding premiums will be paid by Presbytery.
Chapter 5: Presbytery Meetings
5-1 The time and place of each stated presbytery meeting shall be determined by the Presbytery at the preceding stated meeting, or, should Presbytery fail to make this decision, by the Moderator, with the approval of the Administration Committee.
5-2 The regular times for stated presbytery meetings shall be as follows:
1. the third Tuesday in January (9:00 AM)
2. the third Friday in April (3:00 PM)
3. the third Tuesday in July (9:00 AM)
4. the third Friday in October (3:00 PM)
5-3 Called presbytery meetings shall be called in accordance with the provisions of the BCO. The Presbytery is limited to consider and act upon only those matters specified for that particular called meeting.
5-4 The quorum for all presbytery meetings shall be three Teaching Elders and three Ruling Elders as set forth in the Book of Church Order.
5-5 Meetings shall be conducted according to the provisions of the BCO. Stated meetings of this Presbytery shall ordinarily include the following elements:
1. a worship service, including a celebration of the Holy Communion;
2. extended time of prayer, with an emphasis on the churches and ministries of Presbytery;
3. a seminar and/or discussion on a theological or ministerial topic of interest to the Presbytery at each of its Stated Meetings; and
4. a regular meeting for the Presbytery business.
5-6 The first and third Stated Meetings of the year will ordinarily include time for Worship, for Prayer, and time for theological and /or ministry discussion or presentation deemed helpful for Teaching and Ruling Elders in particular. Topics to be discussed for the next presbytery meeting will ordinarily be determined before the close of the previous presbytery meeting with a person identified to either present material, develop a panel or get a speaker. This will ordinarily come through the Credentials Committee. Presbyters will come prepared to do the business portion of the docket in an effective and efficient manner so that time is not wasted in reading reports and sifting through materials that can be studied in advance. This will ensure time for the presbytery to focus on spiritual growth and fellowship together.
5-7 The second and fourth Stated Meetings of the year will be begin with a season of prayer and the business portion of the docket, so that an evening Presbytery wide worship service or seminar may be conducted for the mutual edification of our member churches. The Presbytery may, at its discretion focus its evening program for various interest groups within our churches (i.e. WIC; Deacons; Elders; Mercy Ministries; etc.). This time will be to promote the spiritual growth of our people and our connection together as a presbytery. The Presbytery may at its discretion through the facilitating committee adjust the beginning time of Presbytery, or continue its busness after the evening program.
5-8 The ordinary docket for the business portion of stated meetings shall be as follows:
1. formation of the roll, including dealing with requests for excuse;
2. introduction of visitors and seating of corresponding members;
3. the approval of minutes of previous meetings;
4. the adoption of the agenda for the business meeting;
5. reports of the Standing Committees of Presbytery;
6. time and place of next stated meeting;
7. adjournment with prayer.
5-9 All business shall ordinarily be brought before the Presbytery through one of its Standing Committees. In order to be considered, all business, including recommendations from the Standing Committees, shall be in the hands of the Administration Committee or the Stated Clerk no later than Twenty-one (21) days prior to a stated meeting. All materials will be posted on the Presbytery website (when developed) or e mailed 10 days prior to Presbytery. Presbyters will be expected to make and bring their own copies of the materials for Presbytery (this is to utilize modern technology and to keep unneccesary costs down). Presbyters will be expected to read through and prayerfully consider all materials to be discussed and come prepared to do the business of the Presbytery in an efficient and expeditious manner.
5-10 Every Teaching Elder should attend every meeting of the Presbytery and every Church Session should be represented by at least one Ruling Elder at every meeting of the Presbytery. When hindered from such attendance, the Teaching Elder and Ruling Elder will be expected to request in writing that Presbytery excuse him, stating his reason for non-attendance.
Chapter 6: Standing Committees
6-1 Most business of the Presbytery shall be delegated to a series of permanent committees. The Standing Committees of Presbytery are as follows:
Administration Committee
2. Credentials Committee
3. Missions Committee (MNA-MTW-RUF)
4. Pastoral Care Committee
6-2 These committees are entrusted with the responsibility of providing visionary leadership to the Presbytery in their given areas of ministry. It is the responsibility of the Presbytery to place a high degree of trust in the integrity of these committees. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the committees to ensure that their ministries are being conducted in conformity to the Presbytery’s theological vision, core values and guiding principles. Campus Ministers or Church planters are ineligible to serve on the committee that is funding their work.
6-3 Members of committees are elected by the Presbytery. Members of permanent committees of Presbytery shall be made up of both teaching and ruling elders. (In the case of churches following a rotation system for their Sessions, ruling elders not currently active on their Sessions remain eligible to serve on Permanent Committees of Presbytery, with the consent of their Sessions.)
6-4 Each Committee shall be led by a chairman, who shall be elected by that particular Committee. No one may serve as chairman of more than one Standing Committee at a time. The term of office for the chairman shall be one year, renewable each year at the discretion of the committee. Nominations and elections shall, as far as possible, be based on spiritual giftedness, Presbytery faithfulness, and willingness to serve.
6-5 Standing committees will be comprised of at least 6 members, except for the Credentials Committee which will have at least 9 members. These committees shall be composed of three classes of two men each (1 RE and 1 TE), except in the case of the Credentials Committee which shall be composed of three classes of three men (alternating year to year from 2 TEs, 1 RE then 1 TE and 2 REs). A Quorum shall consist of 3 men for each committee (except in the case of the Credentials Committee) including at least one TE and 1 RE and not all from the same church. A Quorum for the Credentials Committee shall consist of at least 4 men (either 3 TEs and 1 RE or 2 TEs and 2 REs not all from the same church). A committee must have a quorum for their meeting to be able to report at Presbytery. All standing committees should post meeting dates with times and places at least 7 days prior to their committee meetings.
6-6 Standing Committees may, by act of the Presbytery, be given the powers of a commission for carrying out specific ministries within their field. Any such action of Presbytery shall always be done in strict accordance with the provisions of the BCO.
6-7 The Purpose of the Administration Committee is to provide the organization, planning process, information services, meeting space, agenda preparation services, and record keeping that will enable the Presbytery effectively to accomplish its God-give vision. The Stated Clerk shall be a member of the Administration Committee, and the Committee shall assist the clerk in the operations of his ministry. The Committee shall oversee the administrative work of the Presbytery, generally ensuring the maintenance of the theological vision, core values and guiding principles of Presbytery. Specifically, the Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. to develop and maintain appropriate organizational structures;
2. to present nominations to the Presbytery for officers, for Standing Committees, and for various General Assembly committees and boards;
3. to coordinate and ensure the work of the Standing Committees;
4. to coordinate all correspondence with the Stated Clerk;
5. to prepare and propose Presbytery financial records with the Stated Clerk;
6. to make arrangements for Presbytery meetings;
7. to produce and distribute the agenda through a website posting or e mail prior to each meeting of Presbytery.
8. This committee will also present an annual budget for the Presbytery to vote on in the last Regular Stated Meeting of the year for the next year.
9. The Administration Committee will review Sessional Records.
6-8 The purpose of the Credentials Committee is to facilitate the process by which men are identified and prepared for the ministry of the gospel, and to help them assess their calling, gifts, skills, and knowledge for effective service for our Lord Jesus Christ in His Church. Specifically the Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. to conduct examinations of applicants for ministerial credentials and to ensure that such examinations are conducted in a timely and equitable way, in conformity with the BCO;
2. to work with the Missions Committee in identifying, recruiting, and nurturing potential new leaders and pastors within the bounds of the Presbytery;
3. to provide ministerial and theological training seminars;
4. to develop position papers that are acceptable to the Presbytery on issues which are important to the on-going work of the Presbytery;
5. to provide care for Ministerial Candidates under care of Presbytery
6. and to develop and oversee the internship requirements for candidates pursuing ordination in this Presbytery.
7. This committee shall have the power of a commission to give permission to TEs already ordained in the PCA to move onto the field prior to the approval of Presbytery. The committee shall act in this manner only when a quorum of the committee is present for the exam, the motion is unanimous and there are no irregularities to the candidates views or with his exam.
6-9 The purpose of the Missions Committee is to facilitate and lead the Presbytery in the process of planting churches within the bounds of our Presbytery that are committed to the Presbytery’s theological vision, core values and guiding principles. This committee will also handle MTW & RUF concerns for the Presbytery. Specifically the Committee shall be responsible for the following:
1. to develop and present for approval a strategic plan for church planting within the Presbytery
2. to implement and coordinate this plan for the Presbytery;
3. to coordinate joint efforts with specific churches seeking to plant churches;
4. to provide supervision for mission churches and guide them through the process of particularization;
5. to recruit and identify potential church planters for our Presbytery in coordination with the Candidates, Credentials & Leadership Development Committee;
6. to communicate with Mission to North America and the Southeast Regional Coordinator for church planting in seeking appropriate candidates;
7. to bring before the Presbytery important MTW concerns, including potential Missionaries to support and to speak at churches and helping coordinate Presbytery wide short term missions trips;
8. to develop and present for approval a strategic plan for campus outreach (RUF) within our Presbytery and,
9. to oversee these ministries by providing oversight to the existing campus ministers and campus ministries; and initiating new campus ministries on the campuses within our bounds as the Lord provides.
6-10 The purpose of the Pastoral Care Committee is to aid the individual churches and the Presbytery as a whole in becoming gospel-driven and gospel-shaped communities in which people receive support, encouragement, and accountability from one another. Specifically the Committee shall be responsible for the following:
to serve as a standing judicial committee which advises the Presbytery on proactively handling formal judicial business in a timely manner, following the instructions of Matthew 18 and the provisions of the BCO;
2. to plan the Worship Services for Presbytery (working with the Credentials Committee);
3. to oversee the work of teaching elders serving outside the bounds of Presbytery;
4. to review changes in pastoral calls, encouraging congregations in their responsibilities for the care of their ministers and providing pastoral care as needed;
5. to review the reasons for absences from meetings of Presbytery and providing pastoral care where needed;
6. to serve as a resource for reconciliation and mediation, and encouraging mutual shepherding and mentoring throughout the Presbytery;
7. to develop and present for approval a strategic plan for ongoing shepherding care for the mutual edification and support of TEs, Sessions, and congregations within the Presbytery.
Chapter 7: Budget and Finances
7-1 The purpose of the budget of the Gulfstream Presbytery is to enable the Presbytery to fulfill its theological vision, to uphold its core values and guiding projects and campus ministries principles, chiefly through the support of church planting approved by the Presbytery.
7-2 Vacated
7-3 Administrative costs associated with the operation of the Presbytery shall be taken from the general budget of Presbytery and reported to the Presbytery.
Chapter 8: Parliamentary Procedure
8-1 It is the responsibility of the Moderator to preside over meetings equitably and efficiently, protecting the privileges of parliamentary minorities while refusing to allow the meeting to become mired in minutiae of procedural rules. Likewise, it is the responsibility of all commissioners to exercise proper humility and deference to one another, remembering their ordination vows to submit to one another in the Lord.
8-2 All parliamentary procedures shall be in accordance with the provisions of the BCO and these standing rules. The Moderator may appoint a commissioner of Presbytery to assist him in these matters, who shall serve as parliamentarian only for the term of the actual meeting in which he is appointed. It is the intention of Presbytery that meetings be conducted according to generally-accepted procedures of parliamentary bodies found in Roberts Rules of Order.
8-3 Discussion and debate of any main motion shall be limited to fifteen minutes. This time may be extended by majority vote for a period of no more than fifteen additional minutes at a time.
Chapter 9: Suspension and Amendment of Standing Rules
9-1 These standing rules may be temporarily suspended at any stated meeting of Presbytery by a two-thirds vote of enrolled commissioners.
9-2 These standing rules may be permanently amended or revoked only by a two-thirds vote
of enrolled commissioners at two consecutive stated meetings of Presbytery.