The Council of Presbytery

The Council of Presbytery (Council)

Description (According to the Standing Rules)

1. The general purpose of the Presbytery Council is to promote the growth, work and health of the Presbytery as an instance of the body of Christ. It is to have special concern for the relationship of the Presbytery to its congregations and the coordination and effectiveness of the work of its Ministry Units.

a) It has Presbytery-wide responsibility to support the Churches in the specific areas of: Ministry and Mission Vision and Planning; Finance and Property Administration; Spiritual Transformation; and Lay Leadership Development

b) At least annually,

It is to review the functional relationship between the Presbytery\'s structure and its Mission Statement,
It is to review and evaluate the goals and accomplishments of Presbytery\'s Ministry Units.

2. The Council is to maintain and promote communication and cooperation between the Presbytery and higher governing bodies and ecumenical partners.

3. It’s committees are: a) Finance, b) Property, c) Committee on Nominations of the Council (consisting of the Moderator, Vice-Moderator and the Chair of the Council).

4. The Council’s Committee on Nominations is to:

Nominate to the Presbytery members of Administrative Commissions established by Presbytery (except commissions to ordain or install a pastor, which are nominated to the Presbytery by the COM).
Appoint, together with the Stated Clerk, when necessary, an Investigating Committee in accordance with the Rules of Discipline.

5. The Council acts as the Board of Trustees of the Presbytery, constituting itself for this purpose in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey. It has such power and authority as is given to trustees of religious corporations by Title 16 of the Statutes of the State of New Jersey, subject to the authority of the Presbytery.

These Trustees are to elect at its annual meeting from among its members a president, vice president and a secretary, who shall each hold office until his or her successor is elected, and the Treasurer of trustees shall be the same as the treasurer of the Presbytery.

6. The Council is to report at each stated meeting of Presbytery every item of business it transacted. Its decisions are immediately operative, wherever power has been conferred, but may be reviewed and reversed by Presbytery.

7. The Council proposes an annual administrative budget, raised by a per capita apportionment and other assets; and a mission budget, raised through voluntary contributions and other assets (but not per capita apportionment funds). The Council recommends to Presbytery annually the several sums to be paid by each church to meet the administrative budget.

MEMBERSHIP: The Council is to be composed of three (3) classes of up to five (5) persons each and Chaired by the immediate Past Moderator of the Presbytery (whose term begins January 1st). It is to include the Moderator and Vice Moderator of Presbytery; twelve (12) members-at-large, divided as equally as possible between ministers and elders; and up to three (3) otherwise qualified, non-ordained persons (who may participate in the Council’s proceedings with voice but not vote); widely representative of the Presbytery. Ex-officio members, without vote, include the Stated Clerk, who shall be the secretary of the Council, members of the Presbytery staff, and the Treasurer.

Currently, there are ten (10) members of the Council, including the specified officers. The members-at-large include four (4) clergy and three (3) elders, leaving five vacancies among them. There is also one unordained layperson on the Council, leaving two vacancies for unordained laypersons.

MEETINGS: The Presbytery Council meets the first Tuesday of the month, except during the summer, at 7:00 PM at the Presbytery office. Meetings usually conclude at 9:15 PM.