Commission on Ministry

Commission on Ministry Orientation

Rev. Jeanne Radak

Presbytery Leader

On January 31, the Commission on Ministry (COM) gathered at the Long Valley Presbyterian Church to review and reflect upon the Commission’s work in light of the Presbytery’s recent Discernment Report. Given its responsibility to care for all of the churches and pastors in Highlands Presbytery, and other matters besides, there was no opportunity for baking bread or playing with Legos. But while so much of COM’s oversight is quite serious, its members did not take themselves too seriously..

As is typical of these orientations, COM’s gathering began with Dwelling in the Word, in this case Ephesians 4:11-16, about equipping, leading, training, and teaching the church. Observations included the variety of gifts and callings, all meant to build up the body of Christ, words well-heard by this, the largest of Presbytery commissions. Others focused on the need to speak the truth in love, even if what that means is not always clear or well-received by hearers. Many stressed Paul’s admonition that “[w]e must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine.”

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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From this scripture sharing, a theme emerged that ran throughout the day, that of “walking a fine line.” Churches and pastors must tread carefully in today’s political climate, and COM has to be authoritative sometimes, and caring always, often at the same time. While this Commission is frequently asked, “What should we do?” its response must always be a careful one, as its charge is to walk alongside leaders and congregations, meaning more fine lines like not leading but guiding, resourcing without looking over shoulders, being caring without being heavy-handed. In her training, Presbytery Leader
Jeanne Radak stressed how much of COM’s work is art rather than science.

Reminiscent of the Ephesian’s passage, that “that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” the Commission on Ministry is charged to “sustain the vitality of ministry,” “embody the love of Christ,” “strengthen the
witness of the church,” “equip the Presbytery for faithful service,” and nurture and care for all church leaders and congregations, and for the relationship between congregations and pastors.

Group Activity

As its status as a “commission” is a relatively recent development, members were reminded that this means that the Presbytery has granted COM powers to act on its behalf, for example receiving, dismissing, and transferring Ministers of Word and Sacrament, oversight of terms of call, and appointing moderators when a church is without a pastor. Because they act on behalf of the Presbytery in certain areas, commission members have to be ruling elders and teaching elders just like presbytery commissioners, unlike other presbytery entities like committees and teams, which can have a different composition, and do not have the Presbytery’s approval to act on its behalf. Without commissions, presbyteries might have to meet monthly, to address the many matters for which they are responsible.

Given its particular role within the Presbytery, COM has its own Code of Ethics, emphasizing trust and confidentiality while treating all fairly and equally. Members are to instructed to avoid conflicts of interest and any use of undue influence, that is, using relationships to affect outcomes.

The Book of Order once mandated that churches be visited by presbytery representatives every three years, otherwise known as the “Triennial Visit.” COM “liaisons” played a vital role in our life together, connecting churches and pastors, COM and the Presbytery. While that is no longer required, COM is committed to ongoing communication with churches and ministers of Word and Sacrament.

In addition to their work on the committee as a whole, each member is on one of three work teams. The Clergy Care Team does everything from examining those ordained teaching elders who wish to join the Presbytery, to exit interviews when they leave a pastorate, and everything in between, from oversight, pension, and medical. Members of this team are also responsible for commissioned ruling elders (CRE) and Christian educators, as many of their requirements are identical to those for ministers of Word and Sacrament.

The Congregational Care Team works on many of the same things the Clergy Care Team does, but from the congregation’s perspective. In addition to the Board of Pensions, educational opportunities, and clergy assistance grants, this means assisting Pastor Nominating Committees, including the Church Leadership Connection (CLC) process, reviewing the Discernment Report (“Turn the Page”), and the development of position descriptions.

Finally, the Pastor/Parish Relationship Team reviews terms of call and agreements in temporary pastoral relationships, oversees ordinations and installations, and keeps everyone informed on Board of Pensions matters.

It was a full day, and yet there is so much more, so COM will continue its practice of regular and ongoing education on its responsibilities. For those of us under COM’s care, however, which is essentially all of Highlands Presbytery in one way or another, there is reason to be confident not only in the head knowledge of its members, but even more in the heart and soul they bring to their ministry.

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