The Two Synod Solution

Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments

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Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
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Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
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Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments
Miscellaneous Conforming Amendments

Proposed Amendments:

G-14.0100               (Unchanged)

G-14.0200               (Unchanged)

G-14.0202               (Unchanged)

G-14.0203               (Unchanged)

G-14.0204               (Unchanged)

G-14.0205               (Unchanged)

G-14.0206               (Unchanged)

G-14.0207               (Unchanged)

G-14.0208               (Unchanged)

G-14.0209               (Unchanged)

G-14.0210               (Unchanged)

G-14,0211               (Unchanged)

G-14.0301               (Unchanged)

G-14.0302               (Unchanged)

G-14.0303                The process and requirements for 
    Inquiry Phase        the inquiry phase shall be as follows:
                               a. A person desiring to become an
                                   inquirer shall indicate to the
                                   session of the particular church
                                   a desire to explore the personal
                                   implications of becoming a
                                   minister of the the Word and
                                   Sacrament.
                               b. The person shall have been an
                                   active member of that particular
                                   church for at least six months.
                               c.  The session shall contact the
                                   Committee on Preparation
                                   for Ministry for orientation to
                                   the process used in that 
                                   Presbytery, in accordance
                                   with the guidelines of their
                                   Primary Synod (Westminster
                                   or Auburn), with which they are
                                   aligned.
                               d. The session shall consult with
                                   the person and, if the individual
                                   requests to be enrolled as an 
                                   inquirer, shall make a 
                                   recommendation to their respective
                                   presbytery through the stated clerk 
                                   with respect to the request.
                               e. Upon receipt of the recommendation
                                   the Committee on Preparation for
                                   Ministry shall recommend to the
                                   Presbytery whether to enroll the
                                   person as an inquirer, in 
                                   accordance with the guidelines
                                   of the Primary Synod (Auburn or
                                   Westminster), with which
                                   the congregration and Presbytery
                                   are aligned.  The Committee on
                                   Preparation for Ministry shall 
                                   interview the person before 
                                   making its recommendation.  
                                   The date of the Presbytery's
                                   action to enroll shall be the
                                   beginning of the covenant
                                   relationship.  This period shall
                                   be at least two years, at least one
                                   year of which shall be as a 
                                   candidate.  A Presbytery may
                                   assign to its Committee on
                                   Preparation for Ministry the
                                   power to enroll inquirers, with 
                                   the provision that the action be
                                   reported to the next stated meeting
                                   of their respective Presbytery.
                               f.  The phase of inquiry shall be of 
                                   sufficient length for the inquirer,
                                   the session, and the Committee on
                                   Preparation for Ministry to decide 
                                   whether the inquirer should apply
                                   to become a candidate.  During
                                   this time, the Committee on 
                                   Preparation for Ministry shall
                                   make use of resources such as
                                   information provided by the 
                                   inquirer, personal references,
                                   and reports from counseling 
                                   services, the session, and the 
                                   inquirer's institution of learning,
                                   if the inquirer is a student.
                               g.  By the end of the inquiry phase,
                                    each inquirer shall demonstrate
                                    adequate promise for ministry
                                    by presenting, in accordance
                                    with the guidelines of their 
                                    Primary Synod (Westminster
                                    or Auburn) with which their
                                    respective Presbytery is aligned,
                                    the following:
                                      (1) a statement of his or her
                                           understanding of Christian
                                           vocation in the Reformed
                                           tradition and how it relates
                                           to his or her sense of call;
                                      (2) a statement of personal
                                           faith which incorporates
                                           an understanding of the
                                           Reformed tradition;
                                      (3) an analysis of at least
                                           one concept from the
                                           personal faith statement
                                           regarding what it suggests
                                           about God, humanity, and
                                           their interrelationships.
                                      (4) a statement of what it means
                                           to be Presbyterian, indicating
                                           how that awareness grows out
                                           of participation in the life of 
                                           a particular church;
                                      (5) a statement of self-under-
                                           standing which reflects the
                                           inquirer's personal and cultural
                                           background and includes a 
                                           concern for maintaining spiritual,
                                           physical, and mental health;
                                      (6) a statement of his or her
                                           understanding of the task 
                                           ministers of the Word and
                                           Sacrament perform, including
                                           an awareness of his or her
                                           specific gifts for ministry of 
                                           the Word and Sacrament and
                                           of areas in which growth is
                                           needed.

G-14.0304                The purpose of the candidacy phase
Candidacy                 is to provide for the full preparation
Defined                    of persons to serve the church as
                               ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
                               This shall be accomplished through
                               the guidance and evaluation of
                               candidates, using learning contacts
                               within a context of supportive
                               relationships.
                               The process for the candidacy phase
                               is as follows:
                               a.  An inquirer shall apply to the
                                    Presbytery aligned with their
                                    Primary Synod (Auburn or 
                                    Westminster) through the
                                    stated clerk to become a
                                    candidate for the office of 
                                    minister of the Word and
                                    Sacrament through the session
                                    of his or her church.
                               b.  The session shall confer with the
                                    inquirer, review the evidence of
                                    the inquiry phase, and make
                                    recommendations to the
                                    Presbytery through the stated
                                    clerk with respect to the 
                                    application.
                               c.   The Committee on Preparation
                                    for Ministry shall confer with the
                                    inquirer and review the evidence
                                    which indicates whether the
                                    inquirer is ready to proceed to
                                    candidacy.
                               d.  The Committee on Preparation
                                    for Ministry shall make a 
                                    definite recommendation to
                                    the Presbytery of the Primary
                                    Synod (Westminster or Auburn) 
                                    with which the inquirer is aligned, with
                                    respect to whether the inquirer
                                    should be received as a candidate.
                                    The respective Presbytery shall
                                    act on every committee 
                                    recommendation regarding 
                                    application for candidacy.     
                               e.  The respective Presbytery
                                    shall receive the report and
                                    recommendation of its 
                                    committee and shall examine
                                    the inquirer in person with 
                                    respect to his or her Christian
                                    faith, forms of Christian
                                    service undertaken, and motives
                                    for seeking the ministry.
                               f.   If the examination is approved,
                                    the respective Presbytery shall
                                    receive the inquirer as a candidate
                                    after the following manner.  The
                                    Moderator shall propose the following
                                    questions to the inquirer:
                                       (1) Do you believe yourself to be
                                            called by God to the ministry
                                            of the Word and Sacrament?
                                       (2) Do you promise in reliance 
                                            upon the grace of God to
                                            maintain a Christian 
                                            character and conduct, and
                                            to be diligent and faithful in
                                            making full preparation for
                                            this ministry?
                                       (3) Do you accept the proper
                                            supervision of your 
                                            respective Presbytery
                                            that is aligned with the
                                            Primary Synod (Auburn
                                            or Westminster) that you
                                            have chosen, in matters 
                                            that concern your 
                                            preparation for this 
                                            ministry?
                                       (4) Do you desire now to be
                                            received by your respective
                                            Presbytery as a candidate
                                            for the ministry of the Word
                                            and Sacrament in the 
                                            Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
                                            and of your chosen Primary
                                            Synod (Westminster or 
                                            Auburn)?
                               g.  If these questions are answered
                                    in the affirmative, a brief charge 
                                    shall be given, the candidate's
                                    name shall be recorded on the
                                    Presbytery's roll of candidates,
                                    and the proceedings shall close 
                                    with prayer.
                               h.  A Presbytery may provide, at the
                                    request of the candidate and her
                                    or his session, for the service of
                                    reception to be conducted by a 
                                    commission of the Presbyery in
                                    the presence of the candidate's
                                    congregation.
                               i.   The phase of candidacy lasts
                                    until the candidate receives 
                                    an approved call and is 
                                    examined and ordained, 
                                    or until the candidate's name
                                    is removed from the roll of
                                    candidates.
                               j.   By the end of the candidacy phase,
                                    each candidate to be ordained 
                                    shall demonstrate readiness to
                                    begin ministry of the Word and
                                    Sacrament by:
                                       (1)  presenting evidence of 
                                             competence in the fields
                                             of theology, Bible, polity,
                                             and worship and Sacraments,
                                             in accordance with the 
                                             requirements and guidelines
                                             of their Primary Synod 
                                             (Auburn or Westminster),
                                             and evidence of ministerial
                                             skill attested in the supervised
                                             practice of ministry.
                                       (2)  presenting evidence of readiness
                                             to participate in a calling Presbytery's
                                             plan for transition and of plans 
                                             for continuing study and growth.
                                       (3)  expressing theological views 
                                             compatible with the confessional
                                             documents used and required
                                             by their Primary Synod (Westminster
                                             or Auburn).
                                       (4)  expressing understanding of the 
                                             meaning of the questions 
                                             required for ordination
                                       (5)  revealing commitment to
                                             the ministry of the Word and
                                             Sacrament within the discipline
                                             of the Presbyerian Church (U.S.A.)
                                             and of their specific Primary
                                             Synod (Auburn or Westminster)
                                             with personal maturity, spiritual depth,
                                             and a capacity to respond to the
                                             needs of others, including 
                                             colleagues in ministry;
                                       (6)  presenting a written sermon together
                                             with a description of the contemporary
                                             need to which it was addressed and an
                                             exegetical interpretation of the biblical
                                             material out of which the sermon arose.
                                             This sermon shall be preached before 
                                             the calling Presbytery or a committee
                                             thereof as a part of the appearance 
                                             of the candidate.

                                                                    

Proposed Amendments