Ordination Examinations
on a Case by Case Basis Affirmed

In June of 2006, the 217th General Assembly affirmed, as an Authoritative Interpretation, church wide standards for ordination and at the same time lifted up an examination process that considers each candidate for church office on a case by case basis.

In an important decision, the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Pacific has just reaffirmed that requirement

After the end of the General Assembly, several presbyteries rushed to set up a super standard to be applied categorically rather than individually. Members within some of these presbyteries have challenged these actions through the Presbyterian judicial process.The most significant for both the comprehensive sweep of the resolutions and the Synod Permanent Judicial Commission’s ruling is Davis et al. vs. Sacramento Presbytery, decided last week

The Covenant Network has assisted member congregations in several presbyteries in challenging restrictive new rules. We invite you to read the Sacramento Complainants’ brief and the Synod PJC's ruling, linked below. We also list resources for sessions and presbyteries as they consider how to best engage in the discernment of calling leaders to serve on Session and in the pulpit

Judicial Documents

• Sacramento Complaint (PDF)
• Sacramento Complainants' Brief (PDF)
• Synod of the Pacific PJC Ruling (PDF)
• Synod of the Pacific Report (HTML)

Resources for Examination of Officers

The Covenant Network's popular Guidelines for Examination of Church Officers, has been updated through November, 2006 and greatly expanded.

The booklet is designed to serve as a resource for Presbyterian sessions and presbyteries as they consider candidates for the church offices of Ruling Elder, Deacon, and Minister of the Word and Sacrament.

The publication, Guidelines, is available online as a downloadable file (PDF)

Attention low-speed internet connection viewers - this is a 2.6 mg file. Please consider ordering a hard copy through our e-store