wfn.org | Commissioned Lay Pastors

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Date: 13-Jun-96 
 
96223            General Assembly Backgrounder:  
                     Commissioned Lay Pastors 
 
                         by John Sniffen 
 
     The National Ministries Division (NMD) of the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) is proposing to the 208th General Assembly revisions to the "Book 
of Order" that would expand the role of commissioned lay pastors.  
 
     The commissioned lay pastor, as currently defined, has the authority 
to lead worship and preach, and to administer communion (if so authorized 
by the presbytery). 
 
     The NMD proposes that commissioned lay pastors also: 
 
          be allowed to baptize, counsel, moderate session (the governing 
board of the 
          congregation), provide pastoral care and perform weddings (where 
allowed by civil 
          law); and 
          have voice and vote in presbytery meetings. 
 
     Also, presbyteries would have the authority to waive the requirement 
that commissioned lay pastors be elders. The presbyteries would be 
responsible for both training commissioned lay pastors and monitoring their 
work. 
 
     Presbyteries would be able to specify which roles each commissioned 
lay preacher may perform and would have to specify the period to time for 
which each CLP would serve. The CLPs' role in one church would not 
automatically transferable to another church or to another presbytery. 
 
     Supporters say the changes would provide much-needed ministers to 
small congregations which are unable to find or afford ordained ministers 
of the Word and Sacrament, and to racial ethnic congregations which need a 
leader who knows their language and/or culture. 
 
     Proponents say this would enable the PC(USA) to make progress in 
approaching new immigrant populations, some of which are experiencing much 
growth, while strengthening its presence in rural areas. 
 
     Those opposed to enlarging the roles of CLPs say it would create a 
second class of ministers and lower overall standards for Presbyterian 
ministry. They say that there are almost twice as many ordained 
Presbyterian ministers as there are churches. Also, there are other "Book 
of Order" provisions to take care of situations where ministers are not 
available. 
 
     Opposition to CLPs also comes from presbyteries where lay ministers 
have allegedly exceeded their authority or the presbyteries have had 
problems controlling their activities. Thus, the question of accountability 
will probably be a part of the discussion regarding the proposal. 
 
     The issue of ministry qualifications is not a new one to 
Presbyterians; it has been debated for more than 200 years. The 
denomination's Calvinistic emphasis on the word of God resulted in a need 
for highly educated ministers. Presbyterians were pacesetters in the 
establishment of educational institutions in Colonial America, but even 
then the church had trouble supplying ministers to the numerous Scots-Irish 
settlements along the Appalachian frontier.  
 
     The latest proposal comes as the result of overtures, requests and 
recommendations received by the 1989 through 1995 assemblies. These were 
referred to the National Ministries Division, which worked with the 
Congregational Ministries Division in preparing its response. 
 
     Any proposed revision of the "Book of Order" will go to the 171 
PC(USA) presbyteries for ratification, which requires a simple majority. 
The proposal as prepared by NMD would allow the presbyteries to vote on 
each proposed role change instead of just one vote on the whole package. 
 
(John Sniffen is director of communication for the Synod of the 
Mid-Atlantic.  He will be covering commissioned lay pastors for the General 
Assembly Newsroom.) 

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