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Election of Elders, Deacons, and Trustees
Requirements of the Book of Order — The congregational nominating committee recommends nominees to the congregation to serve as elders, deacons, and trustees. The Book of Order requires that the committee be representative of church membership. The Book of Order also specifies that two members of the nominating committee shall be elders. One of whom shall be an active member of the session and serve as moderator of the committee. One member shall be an active member of the board of deacons. Other members, who shall constitute a majority of committee membership, shall either be elected by the congregation or be selected from church organizations as specified by the congregation. The pastor shall serve as an ex-officio without vote. The committee shall be chosen annually and no member may serve more than three consecutive years.
Local Nominating Procedures — In response to the above requirements, the congregation accepted the recommendations of the session that the nominating committee at Mossy Creek shall consist of seven voting members selected as follows:
- Two active elders, one of whom shall chair the committee.
- One active deacon selected by the board of deacons.
(The custom at Mossy Creek has been to elect two active elders and one deacon who are completing terms to serve on the committee.)
C - Four members of the congregation selected from/by each of the following groups:
- One member of the Presbyterian women,
- One member from the youth group,
- One member from the choir, and
- One member from the Sunday school staff.
Terms of Service of Elders and Deacons — The session and the board of deacons each consist of nine active members who are elected for three-year terms and are divided into three classes. While the Book of Order allows elders and deacons to serve two consecutive terms, it has been the custom for elders and deacons at Mossy Creek to serve only one three-year term and to be inactive for one year before being nominated for another term on the same board.
Also, it is customary at Mossy Creek that no more than one member from each immediate family may serve as active elders. This same custom has also been followed with the membership of the board of deacons and the trustees.
Trustees’ Terms of Service — The Book of Order (G-7.0401) indicates the terms of trustees will be the same as elders. Individuals are elected for three-year terms in three classes with no limit on the number of consecutive terms or any requirement for a period of inactivity.
Presenting Nominees to the Congregation — Each year, the nominating committee will present to the congregation the names of three members of the congregation whom it judges to be qualified to be elders and who have agreed to be nominated. It also presents three members of the congregation whom it judges to be qualified to be deacons and who have agreed to be nominated. In like manner, it presents the name of one member whom it judges to be qualified to be a trustee and who has agreed to be nominated.
Filling Vacancies Resulting from Resignations — When a vacancy occurs on the session, the board of deacons, or the trustees, the session will determine whether to fill that vacancy as soon as possible or to defer action until the next scheduled election. If action is deferred, the nominating committee shall present a nominee to the congregation for the unexpired term at the next election. This nominee shall be in addition to the usual nominees to fill expired classes. If the session decides to fill the unexpired term as soon as possible, the nominating committee will follow its usual procedures and secure a nominee. When the nominee is secured, the committee will inform the session, and a special congregational meeting will be called to receive and act on the recommendation.
The specific procedures to be followed by the nominating committee are described in the section entitled Nominating Committee under Committees of the Congregation.
Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church, 372 Kyles Mill Road, Mt. Solon, Virginia 22843 :: (540) 350-2372