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Presbytery of Ohio Valley |
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1701 E. 2nd St., Suite 100, Bloomington, IN 47401 |
Office of the Stated ClerkRev. Lawrence Jackman 1701 E. 2nd St.
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What is a Stated Clerk?The Stated Clerk is one of two elected Constitutional officers of the presbytery, the other being the Moderator of the Presbytery Assembly. In the Presbyterian tradition, the Stated Clerk is the Presbytery's chief ecclesiastical administrator and relates to other governing bodies and Christian communions, interprets presbytery actions, represents the presbytery, staffs the Permanent Judicial Commission and Committee on Representation, and is the Presbytery's secretary and parliamentarian, and executive secretary of the Presbytery's Council. The Stated Clerk conducts reviews of session minutes annually and is a polity resource to Clerks and Moderators of Sessions and the constitutional and programmatic committees of presbytery. The duties of the Stated Clerk include: supporting and interpreting the church's Constitution and the Manual of Operations and policies of the presbytery in light of the Presbyterian Constitution; organizing and managing meetings of the Presbytery; publishing the minutes and policies of Presbytery; collecting annual membership statistics; reviewing the minutes of sessions annually; assisting the Moderator and Vice-Moderator of Presbytery; communicating through various media with our constituents; supporting the administrative commissions of presbytery; coordinating the ecclesiastical work of the Presbytery between meetings; preserving the archives of minutes and records; providing support and training to clerks of sessions; and ensuring fair and effective representation on presbytery committees and agencies.
(Notes: Ecclesiastical: 1. Of or pertaining to a church; 2. Relating to the organization or government of the church; 3. Appropriate for use in a church.)
Session Records ReviewAnnual reviews of congregations' minutes, rolls and registers are required by the Book of Order and are conducted by the Stated Clerk. The schedule for Session Records Review are listed to the below under dates and the review worksheets are located on the Documents & Forms page. All judicatories of the Presbyterian Church are required to deposit their records and minutes regularly at an approved temporary site or at the national archives in Philadelphia. For more information, contact: All judicatories of the Presbyterian Church are required to deposit their records and minutes regularly at an approved temporary site or at the national archives in Philadelphia. For more information, contact:
The Presbyterian Historical Society 425 Lombard Street,
Hanover College Library's Archives Agnes Brown Duggan Library http://library.hanover.edu/presby-church.html
Doug Denne
Annual ReportingOn behalf of the General Assembly and some presbytery entities, the Stated Clerk collects statistical information from all congregations annually. The Annual Reporting page of this site provides help with the process. Statistical reporting begins on January 1st and is based on the congregation's December 31st membership. Statistical reports are approved by the Session. Report changes in ministers' terms of call directly to the Board of Pensions anytime using an ENR-100 form. This system assures that the church's pensions dues statements are updated and that the Committee on Ministry approves the minister's terms of call.
Presbytery MeetingsDockets and supporting papers for upcoming meetings of Presbytery are located on the Presbytery Assembly page. The minutes of meetings are also posted there.
Constitutional ResourcesThe Book of Order and The Book of Confessions are available for purchase through the Clerk's office at the bulk rate. In addition, the Clerk recommends the book The Companion to the Constitution: Polity for the Local Church as a valuable resource for pastors and clerks. The Book or Order, Book of Confessions and Companion to the Constitution may be purchased from the Clerk's office or ordered through Presbyterian Distribution Services. Electronic versions of the Annotated Book of Order $10 PDA item #OGA-06-008; Print versions of the Annotated Book of Order $15 PDA item #OGA-06-009
Current Proposed Amendments, and Vote TalliesCurrent Amendments and tally of Votes by Presbyteries (click here).
Dates2009 Presbytery Assemblies Please check the Assembly page for dates and locations.
2009 Clerk's Training & Please check the Calendar page for dates and locations.
ResourcesBuild your Church's Website using the PC(USA) WebMedley
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
PC(USA) Constitutional Services
Today's Question from the Study Catechism
The Seal of the
Phone the
Order from Presbyterian Distribution Services (PDS) at: (800) 524-2612
News of the
Presbyterian Study Companions to the Book of Confessions & Book of OrderBook of Confessions: if able, select the study version.
Ted V. Foote Jr and P. Alex Thornburg. Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide for Youth, Parents, and Other Confused Presbyterians (Louisville: Geneva Press, 2000). 91 pages. ISBN 0664501095. Good for confirmation classes of all ages, easy read, and helps distinguish at least nine unique doctrines held by Presbyterian Christians. Reading Level: 6-8thgrade.
John M. Mulder. Sealed in Christ. (Louisville: Geneva Press, 1991). 77 pages. ISBN 0664500048. Looking at the seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mulder argues that one can discern at least 8 doctrines the Presbyterians hold as essential and formative for their Christian witness. Good for confirmation classes of all ages, easy read. Reading Level: 6-8th grade.
Donald K. McKim. Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers: Exploring Christian Faith. (Louisville: Geneva Press, 2003). 113 pages. ISBN 0664502504. Probably the best introduction book to Presbyterian history and beliefs out on the market. Easy to read and covers history, doctrine, polity, and Christian witness (piety). Cites scripture and its clear one of his primary sources is the Confessions. Reading Level: 6– 8th grade.
Jack Rogers. Presbyterian Creeds: A Guide to the Book of Confessions. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1985). 292 Pages. ISBN: 0664254969. This book provides Presbyterian clergy, laity, and students with a thorough introduction to their faith as set forth in the Confessions. Rogers explains the technical terms and places current issues in perspective by examining the meaning of creeds, confessions, and declarations. He examines their role in history, their full meaning, and their continuing relevance to the Christian community. Good for discussion groups. Reading Level: 9 – 12th grade.
Shirley Guthrie. Christian Doctrine (Revised Edition). (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994). 434 pages. ISBN 0664253687. Well indexed and keyed to Confessions and Scripture, provides study questions. Reading Level: 9-12th grade.
Christopher Elwood. Calvin for Armchair Theologians (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002). 182 pages. ISBN 0664223036. Good companion to Calvin’s Institutes edited by McKim. Reading Level: 9 – 12th grade.
Donald K. McKim. Presbyterian Beliefs: A Brief Introduction. (Louisville: Geneva Press, 2003). 126 pages. ISBN 0664502539. Good follow up to Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers. References scripture and Confessions, and provides study questions at the end of each chapter. Reading Level: 9-12th
Earl S. Johnson, Jr. Selected to Serve: A Guide for Church Officers. (Louisville: Geneva Press, 2000). 200 pages. ISBN 0664501656. An ideal handbook for church officers and text for the mandated officer training. Includes scripture and Constitution citations, and study questions. Reading Level: 9-12th grade.
John H Leith. Basic Christian Doctrine. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993). 350 pages. ISBN 0664251927. For those who seek a deep study of catholic, evangelic, and reformed theology. Reading Level: 12th – College.
John Calvin. Calvin’s Institutes: Abridged Edition. Donald K. McKim, ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001). 189 pages. ISBN 0664222986. Good introduction to Calvin’s Institutes, and lifts up major sections which have influenced our historic Presbyterian beliefs and polity. Reading Level: 12th – College.
Joan S. Gray and Joyce C. Tucker. Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers (3rd Ed.). (Louisville: Geneva Press, 1999). 204 pages. ISBN 0664500188. Good introduction to historic Presbyterian polity. Includes scriptural and Constitutional citations.
Theological Observations of Church OrderThe Original Westminster Standards of 1646 (Link to the James Begg Society in Scotland, which not only offer the original Confession and Catechism, but also the original Form of Government and Directory for Worship in electronic format.)
1789 Constitution of the PC(U.S.A.) (Form of Government & Discipline)
The Lord's Day and Holy Communion (looking at the original Westminster Standards of the PC(USA)
The Church as a Missionary Society (General Assembly in 1837 declared that the church, by its very nature, is a missionary society.)
Constitutional Advisory Opinions & Thoughts
Discernment in Examining Bodies
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© 2010 Presbytery of Ohio Valley. All Rights Reserved. |