COMMITTEE ON LAY PASTORS

Committee on Lay Pastors (CLP)

Description (according to the Standing Rules)

DESCRIPTION: Established by Presbytery in 2005, this Committee has the responsibility to implement the requirements of G-14.0560, having to do with selecting and training elders who would be presented to Presbytery for commissioning as Commissioned Lay Pastors (CLPs).
If it is determined, through evaluation by the Committee on Ministry and the Congregational Planning and Mission Strategy Unit, that a particular church or place of service would be well-served pastorally by a Commissioned Lay Pastor, the Committee on Lay Pastors would:

Solicit, receive and review applications from elders and make recommendations as to whether or not they should continue with a training and mentoring program,
Determine an Individual Educational Plan (EIP) for each elder recommended for the program,
Assure that each elder engaged with the program receive a psychological and career assessment by an appropriate agency,
Recommend to Presbytery the duration of the commissioning (up to three years) and the scope of authorization as outlined in G-14.0560,
Determine when changes in authorization would be appropriate and make such recommendations to Presbytery for action,
Ensure that compensation for CLPs is based on the Presbytery’s minimum compensation, adjusted for the amount of service, educational level and other factors deemed significant by the Committee.

This Committee worked with Elder Guillermo Lopez-Acosta of First Presbyterian Church in Ridgefield Park, who was commissioned in 2007 by the Presbytery to minister with the Latino community in the Ridgefield Park area through the First Presbyterian Church.

MEMBERSHIP: This Committee is to have six (6) members. Currently, there are four members: two clergy and one elder in the Class of 2008, one clergyperson in the Class of 2009, with the Class of 2010 being vacant. The three members of the Class of 2008 are eligible for re-election to serve in the Class of 2011.

MEETINGS: This Committee has not met regularly during the last year.