Chapter XII
Sub-Synods
G-12.0112
The governing bodies below each of the two
Sub-Synods Primary Synods, (Auburn
and Westminster),
shall
be the Sub-Synods, the Presbyteries,
and the Sessions of the individual
congregations, that are aligned with
that
Primary Synod (Westminster or Auburn).
G-12.0113 Each Primary Synod (Westminster
and Auburn) shall each have eight
Sub-Synods.
The Sub-Synods of
both
Primary Synods shall have the
same
geographic boundaries. The
boundaries shall be based upon
the prior synods geographic
boundaries as follows:
First Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of the
the Pacific and the
Synod of Southern
California and Hawaii)
Second Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of Alaska
and
Northwest and the
Synod of the Rocky
Mountains)
Third
Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of the
Sounthwest
and the
Synod of the Sun)
Fourth Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of Mid-America
and
the Synod of Lakes
and Prairies)
Fifth
Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of Lincoln
Trails
and the Synod of
The Covenant)
Sixth Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior
Synod Living Waters
and
the Synod of the
South Atlantic)
Seventh Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of the Trinity
and
the Synod of the
Northeast)
Eighth
Sub-Synod: (boundaries of the
prior Synod of the
Mid-Atlantic
and the Synod
of
Puerto Rico)
G-12.0114 Each Primary Synod (Westminster
and
Cooperation
Auburn shall have eight Sub-Synods
between Auburn based upon the boundaries in
and Wesminster section G-12.0113. The boundaries
primary Synods of each Primary Synod's (Auburn and
Westminster)
Sub-Synod's shall
be identical. This will allow the Sub-
Synods of both Primary Synods to
cooperate in the administration
of
retreats and other PCUSA
PCUSA
conference properties within
their
boundaries. These properties
will be jointly administered
by
the two Sub-Synods representing
their
respective Primary Synod
(Auburn or Westminster) in that
geographic
region.
Each
Primay Synod's Sub-Synod shall
be
granted equal time and access
to
the properties.
G-12.0115
Membership At each General Session
of a Sub-Synod,
the
General Session shall be composed of
the
commissioners elected by the member
Presbyteries
aligned with the same Primary
Synod (either Westminster or Auburn),
that the Sub-Synod is aligned with.
The commissioners from
each Presbytery shall be
divided
equally between elders and
ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
Selection of commissioners shall
take into account the full participation
and
representation of all members of
the
Presbyteries aligned with their Primary
Synod (Westminster or Auburn).
Each person elected moderator
of a Sub-Synod, shall be enrolled
as
a member of that Sub-Synod
until
a successor is elected and installed.
The
former moderator shall be enrolled
as a corresponding member of the
Sub-Synod.
G-12.0116 Sub-Synods are the intermediate
Responsibilities governmental
unit between the
Primary Synods (Auburn and
Westminster)
and their Presbyteries.
The Sub-Synod is responsible for the
mission of their Primary Synod's
(Westminster
or Auburn) member
churches and Presbyteries
throughout its region.
It
therefore has the responsiblity
and power
a. to develop, in conjunction with
its presbyteries, a broad
strategy for the mission of the
church and its Primary Synod
(Auburn or Westminster)
within its geographic boundaries
b. to initiate missions through a variety
of forms in light of the larger
strategy
of their Primary Synod
(Westminster
or Auburn) and the
General Assembly
c. to develop, in conjunction with its
Primary Synod (Westminster or
or
Auburn) and its presbyteries,
joint plans
and objectives
for the fulfillment of mission,
providing encouragement and
guidance to it's Primary Synod's
(Auburn
or Westminster)
presbyteries within its geographic
boundaries and overseeing its
work.
d. to implement, the principles of
participation and inclusiveness
in
employing personnel and in
establishing the membership
of
its committees, councils,
boards, and other policy making
and policy recommending
bodies,
in order to ensure
fair representation in its
decision making.
e. to develop and provide resources
as needed to facilitate the mission
of its presbyteries, as well as
guidance and criteria for
evaluation;
f. to consult with its member presbyteries
with regard to their general mission
budgets,
the establishment of
administrative staff positions,
equitable
compensation,
personnel policies, and
fair employment practices.
g. to coordinate the work of prebyteries'
committees on ministry and assist its
member presbyteries in matters related
to
the calling, ordaining,and placement
of ministers, consistent with their
Primary Synod's (Westminster or
Auburn)
theological standards
and guidelines;
h.
to facilitate communication among its
presbyteries
and their Primary Synod
(Westminster or Auburn)
i.
to facilitate joint action in mission with
other denominations and agencies in
its
region
j.
to provide services and programs for
Presbyteries, sessions, and members
within
its area, and within its Primary
Synod (Westminster or Auburn)
that can be performed more
effectively from a broad regional
base.
k.
to serve in Judicial Matters in
accordance with the
Rules
of Discipline
l.
to warn or bear witness against error
in
doctrine or immorality in practice
among
congregations and
Presbyteries aligned with the same
Primary Synod (Auburn or
Westminster) as the
Sub-Synod.
m
to review the records of the
Presbyteries aligned with
the same Primary
Synod
(Westminster or Auburn),
that the Sub-Synod is aligned
with, and to take care
that they observe the Constitution
of the church.
n. to
maintain regular and continuing
relationship
with their Primary
Synod
(Westminster or Auburn)
including:
(1) Seeing that the orders and
instructions of their Primary
Synod
(Westminster or
Auburn)
are observed and
carried out,
(2) Proposing to their Primary
Synod (Auburn or Westminster)
such measures as may be of
common concern to the mission
of the whole church
o. to establish and maintain those
ecumenical relationships which will
enlarge the life and mission of the
church in its region;
p. to provide a system of administrative
services
to fulfill its objectives and
programs
q. to maintain and superintend the
agencies
and task forces necessary
for
its work, including establishing
a
Sub-Synod council, when the
Sub-Synod
deems that one is
necessary
to provide for the
regular
review of the functional
relationship
between the Sub-Synod's
structure, its
mission, and its
relationship
to its specific Primary
Synod
(Auburn or Westminster),
and the
Presbyteries within its
geographic
region that are
aligned
with the same Primary
Synod
(Westminster or Auburn).
r.
to establish a nominating committee
composed
of equal members of
ministers,
laywomen, and laymen
s.
to establish and maintain Cross-
Over Committees between the
two Sub-Synods in the same region
(Auburn and Westminster)
(1) One Committee to establish
continuing maintenance of, and
dates of use of the retreats and
facilities within both Sub-Synods'
(Westminster and Auburn)
geographic area. Time of use
should be evenly divided
between the two
Sub-Synods;
(2) Another
Committee to address
critical needs of the poor
in the region, with an emphasis
on healthcare and homeless
families.
G-12.0117
Meetings Each Sub-Synod (of
the Westminster and
Auburn Primary Synods) shall hold a
stated
meeting at least biannually. The
The Moderator
of each Sub-Synod shall hold
a special meeting at the request of with
the
concurrance of three ministers and
three
elders representing three
Presbyteries aligned with the same
Primary
Synod (Westminster or
Auburn), as the Sub-Synod, all of whom
must have been commissioners
to
the last preceding stated
meeting of the Sub-Synod. The Sub-
Synod
may fix its own higher number.
Should the Moderator be unable to act,
the stated clerk of the Sub-Synod shall,
under the same conditions, issue
the call. If both the Moderator and
the Stated Clerk are unable to act,
the most recent Moderator, shall
under the same conditions, issue the
call.
The Primary Synod (Auburn or
Westminster) may direct
their Sub-Synod to convene a special
meeting for the transaction of
designated business. Commissioners
to the special meeting shall be the
commissioners elected to the last
preceding stated meeting of the
Sub-Synod or their alternates.
Presbyteries belonging to the same
Primary Synod (Auburn or Westminster),
as
the Sub-Synod, may elect a
commissioner or alternate to replace
one who has died or one who has
changed
Presbytery membership.
Notice of a special meeting shall be
sent not less than fifteen days in
advance, to
each commissioner
elected
to the last preceding stated
meeting of the Sub-Synod, and to the
stated clerk of each Presbytery
aligned with the same Primary Synod
(Westminster or Auburn), within that
Sub-Synod
region. The notice shall
set
out the purpose of the meeting
and no other business than that
listed
in the notice shall be
transacted.
G-12-0118 A quorum of the Sub-Synod. The
quorum
shall include an equal number of elders
and ministers representing the larger of:
at least three Presbyteries or one-third
of the total number of Presbyteries,
that
are aligned with the
with the
same Primary Synod (Westminster
or
Auburn) as the Sub-Synod, in that Sub-
Synod region.
G-12-0119 Presbyters in good standing in other
Corresponding governing
bodies of the same
Members Primary Synod
(Westminster or Auburn),
who are present at any meeting of the
Sub-Synod, may be invited by the Sub-
Synod to sit as corresponding members
with voice but without vote.
G-12-0120 Each Presbytery within
the same Primary
Participation Synod (Westminster or Auburn) shall
participate in the Sub-Synod's
responsiblities and service through its
elected commissioners to the Sub-
Synod.
Each Presbytery within the
same Primary Synod
(Auburn or Westminster) shall elect
at least five elders and five ministers
to serve as commissioners to their
Sub-Synod. The Sub-Synod council,
shall be elected by the commissioners
and non-commissioner ministers and
elders
from the Presbyterties within
that geographic Sub-Synod which are
aligned with the same Primary Synod
(Westminster or Auburn),
as the Sub-Synod. The Sub-Synod shall
devise a process of rotation of members
on the Sub-Synod council from among
the
Presbyteries within the same
Primary
Synod (Auburn or
Westminster), in that geographic
region. The Sub-Synod shall
provide a process for assuring
balance on all committees so that
all Presbyteries are fairly
represented.
G-12.0121
Committee on Each Sub-Synod shall establish a
Representation Committee
on Representation,
which shall advise the Sub-
Synod's nominating committee
of any need for nominations in
particular catagories needing
increased representation.
The committee on
representation shall report
at
least biannually to the
Sub-Synod
of progress toward
fair representation.
G-12.0122 The Sub-Synod may authorize
Staff the administrative
staff services
of
a Sub-Synod executive and may
establish
other staff positions as
needed. The executive shall be
nominated to the Sub-Synod
by its council or by a special
representative nominating
committee elected for that
purpose. In the employment
of all personnel, including
administrative
staff, the
Sub-Synod shall observe
the principles of fair
representation taking into
account
equal employment
opportunity and affirmative
action. The Sub-Synod may
authorize the use of Sub-Synod
administrative staff services
for a Presbytery within their
Primary Synod (Auburn or
Westminster), at the request
of the Presbytery.
G-12.0122 Each Sub-Synod of a Primary Synod
General Auburn or Westminster) shall
Mission
establish a Sub-Synod general mission
Budget budget
to support the Primary
Synod's mission within its region.
As the Sub-Synod raises and expends
funds, it shall do so in the light of the
priorities of their Primary Synod and of
the whole church. The Sub-Synod shall
make its plans and determine its general
mission budget after receiving
recommendations from their
Primary Synod (Westminster or Auburn)
in light of the comprehensive strategy of
their Primary Synod (Auburn or
Westminster) and of the whole church
G-12.0123 The Sub-Synod shall
keep a full and
Records accurate
record of its proceedings
which shall be submitted at the
next succeeding meeting of their
Primary Synod (Westminster or
Auburn) for its general review and
comment. It shall report to their
Primary Synod the number of
Presbyteries and, in general, all
important changes that have
occurred within its bounds.
G-12.0124 The Sub-Synod shall have a
full financial
Audit
review of all books and records relating
to
finances, once a year, by a public
accountant
or public accounting firm.
Such auditors should not be related to
the treasurer (or treasurers). Terminology
in this section is meant to provide
general
guidance and is not intended to
require or not require specific audit
procedures
or practices as understood
within
the professional accounting
community.
G-12.0125 The Sub-Synod shall obtain property
Insurance
and liability insurance to protect its
facilities, programs, staff, and
elected and appointed officers.
