Clerk offers apologies to AC, presbytery, session and congregation
Edward Koster, stated clerk, Presbytery of Detroit, September 24, 2012
On September 20, The Layman posted a commentary by Carmen Fowler LaBerge entitled, “Members of Presbytery: ‘Is this what you had in mind?'” In it she describes an episode in an unnamed presbytery concerning the administrative commission (AC) appointed to work with a congregation seeking to leave the denomination. What she described was a meeting in which a motion was made in the session that the pastor not preach for three Sundays. At that point the session recessed, and the chair of the AC called the stated clerk of the presbytery to consult about the proposed motion. He returned with two opinions of the stated clerk: that the motion was in order and that the administrative commission could assume original jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to the authority given it by the presbytery.
LaBerge cited W-1.4004,5 and W-2.2007 to question the opinion given by the stated clerk.
I am the stated clerk that gave that opinion. The presbytery is the Presbytery of Detroit.
Elders on the session had made the motion concerning the pastor’s presence in the pulpit for the three Sundays preceding the scheduled meeting of the congregation to vote on seeking dismissal from the Presbyterian Church. After the motion was made and seconded, the AC asked for a recess. The opinion I provided when I received the call was that a session could do that under its responsibilities to provide that the Word is properly proclaimed, and that since the AC had been given the authority to assume original jurisdiction of the session, it could decide the matter if it assumed that jurisdiction.
As I read LaBerge’s commentary, I realized that in my consideration of the matter, I did not think of the provisions in the Directory of Worship that she cited. I should have and was negligent in my research for not doing so. If I had reviewed those provisions, I would have advised the administrative commission that the matter was not as clear as my opinion suggested.
By my negligence I embarrassed our administrative commission and the Presbytery of Detroit. This was particularly egregious because of the difficulties and complexities of the matter. I should have been more attentive and careful. I offer my apologies to the administrative commission, the Presbytery of Detroit, and the session and congregation of the church.
For the record, the AC wanted my opinion to assist the session in its consideration of the motion that had been made and seconded. When the meeting reconvened, the moderator ruled the motion out of order, and that is how the matter ended.
It turns out the AC was wiser than I. They were surprised at my opinion, and advised session not to pursue this matter any further and that while it would be possible to appeal the moderator’s/pastors’s ruling it would be unwise to do so.