Standing Rules

  1. The name of the Presbytery will be West Tennessee.
  2. Congregations within geographical regions are encouraged to continue fellowship/worship activities, such as Cumberland Presbyterian Women in Ministry, Men's Fellowship, youth events, clergy/spouse events, and denominational day observances.
  3. The Standing Rules of West Tennessee Presbytery are as follows, and all standing rules are referred to the Presbytery Council for continued study for recommended changes and adjustments.
    1. The Presbytery shall meet on the first Saturday of March and October at 9:00 a.m., and on the first Sunday afternoon in June at 4:00 p.m. The spring meeting shall begin with a worship service planned by a representative of the Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care and a representative of the Clergy Care Committee. The service shall include a sermon by a probationer and a memorial service for elders and ministers who have died, and churches that have been closed in the previous calendar year. The worship service for the June meeting shall be planned by the Presbytery Council, with the Moderator of the General Assembly being asked to preach the sermon and Holy Communion being celebrated. Following the worship service there will be a period of fellowship with refreshments, then a business session. The fall meeting shall begin with a worship service planned by the Clergy Care Committee. The service shall include a sermon by a probationer and special recognition of those ministers who have been granted "honorable retirement" status during the previous year (from October 1 to September 30).
    2. The Presbytery shall be guided by the "Presbyterial Manual of Operations" adopted by the General Assembly, except where a Standing Rule of West Tennessee Presbytery is in conflict with the manual.
    3. All ministers and all probationers who are under the care of presbytery, and all ministers and probationers from other Presbyteries serving as Stated Supplies in congregations in West Tennessee, shall be required to attend each session of Presbytery or ask to be excused by the Presbytery.
    4. Each Church Session shall send a representative(s) to each session of Presbytery or request to be excused.
    5. Each minister, licentiate, candidate, as well as Session representatives shall be in attendance for the full length of the meeting, unless excused by the Presbytery.
    6. A Moderator of the presbytery shall be elected at the beginning of each regular session - March, June, and October - and shall be eligible to succeed himself/herself until the following March meeting, alternating between ordained ministers and elders. A Vice-Moderator shall be elected at the beginning of each regular session and shall be eligible to succeed himself/herself until the following March meeting. [When an ordained minister is elected Moderator the Vice-Moderator shall be an Elder, and vice-versa.] The Nominating Committee shall present the name of a nominee, but this will not preclude nominations from the floor. The Moderator is authorized to make interim appointments to Presbyterial agencies when vacancies occur due to resignations and/or other circumstances between regular meetings in which the Nominating Committee reports.
    7. A parliamentarian and an alternate parliamentarian shall be elected for a three-year term and shall serve until a successor is elected.
    8. The Stated Clerk shall be elected to a three-year term and shall serve until a successor is elected. An Assistant Stated Clerk shall be elected for a three-year term, but shall function if the Stated Clerk is unable to do so. The Assistant Stated Clerk shall serve as Engrossing Clerk during all meetings of Presbytery. The Stated Clerk and Assistant Stated Clerk shall be paid an honorarium annually. The Stated Clerk and Assistant Stated Clerk shall be eligible for election to an indefinite number of terms.
    9. The Stated Clerk shall mail Preliminary Minutes of Presbytery to all ministers, licentiates, candidates, and Session Clerks thirty (30) days in advance of the March and October meetings. The Stated Clerk shall prepare Minutes for printing within thirty (30) days following the June and October meetings.
    10. The Treasurer shall be elected to a three-year term and shall serve until a successor is elected. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all monies given or earned in support of the Presbytery's budget and program, and shall be custodian of any other funds, designated or undesignated, in the Presbytery's possession. The Treasurer shall make regular reports to the Presbytery Council, and shall prepare a detailed financial report to be spread on the Minutes of the March and October sessions of Presbytery. The Treasurer shall be bonded in an amount not less than the total liquid assets of the Presbytery. The Stated Clerk shall function as Treasurer in case of emergency.
    11. The Presbytery shall have a budget, which will include the annual allocation from the Synod of Great Rivers and all Presbyterial programs. All congregations of West Tennessee Presbytery are expected to support the presbytery fully, sending monthly contributions to the treasurer if possible. Congregations are also expected to support the denominational program through direct contributions to Our United Outreach. With the exception of Camp Clark Williamson, all funds for boards and committees will be disbursed through the Treasurer.
    12. All boards and agencies requiring funds shall submit line item budgets and a request to the Board of Finance and Benefits by August 1, annually. Each board and committee that is to report to the March and October meetings of West Tennessee Presbytery will furnish twenty (20) copies of their report to the Presbytery Council at least forty-five (45) days prior to the meeting of Presbytery, except the Committee on Judicial Concerns and the Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care.
    13. The agencies of the Presbytery shall be as follows: All terms shall be for three years, except in the case of filling unexpired terms or in creating a new agency, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. Persons shall be eligible for election to another board upon expiration of a current term, or may be re-elected to the same board after a lapse of one year. No person shall serve on two boards or permanent committees at one time. All newly elected personnel of both presbytery agencies and individual representatives will begin their service at the close of the meeting of presbytery during which they were elected.

      When a person agrees to serve on a presbytery agency, he or she is expected to attend each meeting of the agency or file an acceptable reason for absence with either the chairperson or secretary of the agency. If an agency member misses two consecutive meetings of the agency without an acceptable reason for absence, he or she shall be contacted by the chairperson of the agency to ascertain willingness to serve and to attend meetings of the agency. Should the person decline to make such a commitment, the position on the agency shall be declared vacant and the Moderator requested to name a replacement who will serve until the next regular meeting of presbytery at which the Nominating Committee reports (see Standing Rule 6).

      1. The Presbytery Council shall be responsible for coordination of the total program of the Presbytery, and shall be the agency primarily responsible for long-range planning. (5.11) [Numbers in parenthesis refer to paragraphs in the Presbyterial Manual of Operation.]

        The Presbytery Council shall consist of seventeen (17) members, six (6) members to be elected at large according to the Standing Rules of the Presbytery, and one (1) representative from each of the following agencies of Presbytery: Board of Trustees, Board of Directors of Camp Clark Williamson, Board of Finance and Benefits, Board of Christian Education, Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care, Clergy Care Committee, Committee on Judicial Concerns, Committee on Theology and Social Concerns, Nominating Committee, Task Force on New Church Development, and the Cumberland Presbyterian Women of West Tennessee Presbytery. (5.12)

        Each agency named above will elect or appoint one of its members to be a member of the Council for a period of no less than two years, except that the four President of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women Ministries in West Tennessee Presbytery, or someone she designates, shall be a member of the Presbytery Council during the tenure of her office.

        The Moderator, Stated Clerk, and Treasurer of Presbytery and the General Presbyter, when one is elected, shall serve as advisory members of the Presbytery Council.

        The Presbytery Council will elect its officers annually.

        The authority of the Council is that of an executive board and not that of an ecclesiastical commission. Between meetings of Presbytery, it may interpret the Presbytery's policy decisions and make program and budget adjustments where necessary, but may not make judicial decisions for the Presbytery as an ecclesiastical commission is empowered to do. There shall be an executive committee consisting of the chairperson of the Council, one member elected at large, and one agency representative, to function between meetings of the Council, and to plan the agenda for the Council meetings. (5.13)

        The Council shall be directly accountable to the Presbytery. (5.14)

        The responsibilities of the Council include:

        • Cultivating and promoting the development and growth of the Presbytery, both spiritual and material;
        • Engaging in study and planning in order to recommend goals, objectives, programs, actions, and priorities to the Presbytery;
        • Receiving the written reports of all agencies and submitting them to the Presbytery with recommendation as necessary at the time the agency report is presented;
        • Receiving the proposed budgets of the various agencies, and submitting one budget to the Presbytery for consideration and adoption.
        • Planning the program and agenda for each meeting of Presbytery.
        • Developing job descriptions for the staff of the Presbytery and supervising the Presbyterial staff.
        • Recommending a place of meeting for Presbytery. (5.15)

      2. The Board of Missions shall consist of twelve (12) members in three staggered terms. It should include both ministers and laypersons in approximately equal numbers, and should reflect the male/female ratio in the presbytery. The Board of Missions shall fulfill the responsibilities of presbytery outlined in the Constitution of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Section 5.6) pertaining to oversight of churches within the bounds of the presbytery to include: Redevelopment of existing churches; assisting sessions and pastors in resolving conflicts; assisting churches in resolving conflicts within the church; assisting churches in the process of calling a pastor; recommending the establishment and the dissolving of pastoral relationships to the presbytery; giving special attention to churches without ministers; serving as a liaison between the General Assembly Board of Missions and the presbytery; and to aid the churches of the presbytery in the fulfillment of the Great Commission to share the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ with the world.
      3. The Board of Christian Education shall consist of twelve (12) members, in three staggered terms. It should include both ministers and laypersons in approximately equal numbers, and should reflect the male/female ratio in the Presbytery.
      4. The Board of Directors of Camp Clark Williamson shall consist of twelve (12) members in staggered terms. It should include both ministers and laypersons in approximately equal numbers and should also reflect the male/female ratio in the Presbytery.

        The Board shall supervise and direct the operation of Camp Clark Williamson, hire needed personnel, make budget requests annually, submits line item budgets, and work with the Board of Christian Education in promoting summer youth camps and retreats.

      5. The Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care shall consist of ten (10) members in staggered terms of three years each. The Committee should include both ordained ministers and laypersons and at least one layperson should be an active elder.
      6. The Clergy Care Committee shall consist of nine (9) members in staggered terms of three years each. The Committee shall consist of six ordained ministers and three members of congregations representing all men and women of the presbytery.
      7. The Board of Trustees shall consist of nine (9) members in three staggered terms. It should include both ministers and laypersons in approximately equal numbers, and should also reflect the male/female ratio of the Presbytery. The Board shall encourage full support of the Presbytery budget and Our United Outreach by the particular churches of the Presbytery.

        The Board and their successors in office shall serve as the Trustees of West Tennessee Presbytery, and that any two (2) board members shall be allowed to sign with approval of the board and/or presbytery as signatory for West Tennessee Presbytery.

      8. The Committee on Judicial Concerns shall consist of nine (9) members, in three staggered terms. The Committee should include both ministers and laypersons in approximately equal numbers and should reflect the male/female ratio in the Presbytery.

        The committee shall review, at least annually, the Session records of the churches and report its findings and recommendations to the presbytery. The Minutes of individual congregations shall be reviewed in an alphabetical order as follows: The Minutes of sessions of Antioch Union to Meridan shall be reviewed in the spring meetings of presbytery, and the Minutes of church sessions of Milan to Zion shall be reviewed in the fall meeting of presbytery. In the event a church misses sending Minutes to either of the presbyteries, the Minutes are to be in the hands of the Committee on Judicial Concerns ninety (90) days prior to the next meeting of presbytery.

        The Committee shall study all questions coming before the Presbytery by appeal, dissent, or protest and advise the Presbytery on the legal and constitutional aspects of the questions.

        The Committee shall make rulings on such judicial questions as are referred to it.

        The Committee shall name a subcommittee of its members to serve as a Credentials Committee and consider requests for excused absences at all regular and called meetings of Presbytery. The Credentials Committee shall report, with recommendations, to each meeting of Presbytery.

      9. The Board of Finance and Benefits shall consist of six (6) members in three staggered terms. The board shall include both ministers and laypersons and should reflect the male/female ratio of the Presbytery. The board will be responsible for the insurance programs and the annual budget.
      10. The Nominating Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, in three staggered terms. The members shall serve three-year terms and shall not be eligible to succeed themselves. The Committee should include at least two ministers and two laypersons, and at least two males and two females.

        The Committee shall nominate persons to serve on all permanent boards and agencies of the Presbytery, as well as the requisite number of delegates to the Synod and commissioners to General Assembly. It is the responsibility of the Committee to ascertain that elders will be on the Session when elected to represent the Presbytery in higher judicatories, and will still be a member of the Session when the court actually convenes.

        The Committee shall nominate a person to serve as Moderator, alternating between ordained ministers and elders. When an elder is being nominated, it is essential to determine that he/she will be on the Session for the entire term of office.

        Commissioners, alternates, and Youth Advisory Delegates to General Assembly, and delegates and alternates to Synod shall be elected in October.

        The minister commissioners to the General Assembly shall be selected from an alphabetical rotation roster. Any minister choosing not to accept her/his turn shall be bypassed until that name comes up again in rotation. The alternate commissioners shall be those ministers whose names follow those of the primary commissioners in the rotation roster. No minister shall be eligible to serve as a commissioner who is permanently excused or who has not attended at least two-thirds of the sessions of presbytery within the last three years.

        The Elder commissioners shall be selected from the various congregations according to the alphabetical listing of the churches. Churches unable to supply Elder commissioners shall be bypassed until that church's name comes up again in rotation. The alternate commissioners shall come from the churches whose names follow those of the churches of the primary commissioners in the alphabetical listing. No church shall be eligible to supply an elder commissioner which was not represented in at least two-thirds of the sessions of presbytery in the last three years, and which did not show financial support to the presbytery.

        The minister delegates to Synod shall be selected from an alphabetical rotation roster. Any minister choosing not to accept her/his turn shall be bypassed until that name comes up again in rotation. The alternate delegates shall be those ministers whose names follow those of the primary delegates in the rotation roster. No minister shall be eligible to serve as a delegate who is permanently excused or who has not attended at least two-thirds of the sessions of presbytery within the last three years.

        The elder delegates shall be selected from the various congregations according to the alphabetical listing of the churches beginning with the letter N. Churches unable to supply an elder delegate shall be bypassed until that church's name comes up again in rotation. The alternate delegates shall come from the churches whose names follow those of the churches of the primary delegates in the alphabetical listing. No church shall be eligible to supply an elder delegate which was not represented in at least two-thirds of the sessions of presbytery in the last three years, and which did not show financial support to the presbytery.

        Commissioners are required to attend the orientation of Commissioners, every session of General Assembly, and to participate on assigned committees at General Assembly. They will make the required reports of expenses and attendance.

      11. The Task Force on New Church Development shall consist of nine (9) members in staggering terms composed of persons in the presbytery interested in starting new churches. Members of the Task Force may serve on other boards and agencies of the presbytery.
    14. All persons required to perform duties on the order of Presbytery shall be allowed reimbursement of cost of necessary meals, lodging and plane (coach rate), bus or train, or private automobile. The reimbursement rate for use of private automobile shall be keyed to the rate approved annually by the Internal Revenue Service, and may be changed automatically at the beginning of any calendar year. The Treasurer is authorized to advance funds for Commissioners to General Assembly and make adjustments upon the submission of an itemized report of expenditures.
    15. No agency of West Tennessee Presbytery shall exceed the approved budget figure by practicing deficit spending during the calendar year, without the consent of the Presbytery Council. Each Agency is encouraged to follow good stewardship practices in utilizing its resources. In case of a shortfall of anticipated income, each agency will be responsible for revising it's spending downward, in keeping with available funds. No agency shall request additional funding from West Tennessee Presbytery without meeting with the Presbytery Council with its request.
    16. Pastors/Employees Health Insurance: All pastoral relations after January 1, 1993, will be approved only upon documentation that the Presbytery is providing health insurance for the pastor through the Cumberland Presbyterian Health Insurance Program, providing (1) that such pastor is employed by the church for thirty (30) or more hours per week; (2) that the pastor does not have other insurance that [a] can be considered permanent, [b] is not based on continued employment, [c] is based on his/her status as a retired government, military and/or business employee (e.g., those on Medicare, Champus, etc.). West Tennessee Presbytery shall assume the health insurance premium (up to the amount of the denominational plan) of those pastors employed by the church for thirty (30) hours or more per week who qualify for an exemption from the denominational policy due to having insurance that is considered permanent. Pastors of union churches shall be covered by provisions applicable to ministers of their own denomination in accordance with previous inter-denominational agreements on union churches.

      The Board of Missions shall keep current and accurate records regarding such health insurance along with the Board of Trustees.

      The Board of Missions and the Board of Finance and Benefits shall share information in order to assure no coverage lapses and that there is no failure to enroll.

    17. All probationers who are under the care of another presbytery, and who serve a church or churches in West Tennessee Presbytery, and who meet eligibility requirements for health insurance, will be enrolled in the denominational health insurance program as a single person when the presbytery under whose care they are agrees to pay eighty (80) percent of the cost, with West Tennessee Presbytery paying twenty (20) percent of the cost.
    18. When an ordained minister is asked to administer the sacraments for a church without the services of an ordained minister the church will pay his/her travel expense and if the church is unable to pay the Presbyterial treasurer shall be authorized to pay the travel expense.
    19. Delegates to the Synod of Great Rivers and Commissioners to General Assembly shall make a report to Presbytery as a unit. Commissioners to General Assembly shall decide on the Commissioner to write the report at the orientation session. The report shall include a report of who served on what committee, and a copy of the summary of actions prepared annually by the Office of the General Assembly.
    20. Any piece of unpublished business to be acted on by presbytery must be presented as the first order of business and acted on at the end of the meeting.
    21. The chair of the Board of Missions is to be informed, prior to action, regarding a change in the pastor, stated supply or interim pastor and church. This applies to both the call and the dissolution of the relationship. It is the responsibility of one or both of the parties to notify the board of the pending change.
    22. No candidate or licentiate from another presbytery shall assume the duties of Pastor, Stated Supply, or Interim Pastor in any church in West Tennessee Presbytery until the call has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Missions in conjunction with the Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care.
    23. Each church will provide the Stated Clerk of the presbytery with a copy of the pastoral contract before the relationship is approved.
    24. West Tennessee Presbytery shall pay eighty per cent (80%) of the premium of the denominational health insurance for eligible ministers (who are members of West Tennessee Presbytery) and the church the minister serves will pay the remaining twenty per cent (20%).
    25. West Tennessee Presbytery shall pay through the Committee on the Ministry for Probationer Care the health insurance premium for eligible probationers (those who are full-time students in college or seminary) through the denominational health insurance program.