b) ELDERS–elected by the Session of the local congregation, and in accordance with the Book of Order, G–11.0101 a,b,c.
c) Youth Advisory Delegates - Each Church of the Presbytery of Monmouth shall be entitled to send one Youth Advisory Delegate who shall have the privilege of the floor at each Stated and Called Presbytery meeting. Youth Advisory Delegates shall be 14-22 years of age and at least in ninth grade and shall be members of the churches they have been chosen to represent. Youth Advisory Delegates should be chosen by each Church using the same method by which Elder Commissioners are chosen. Furthermore, the Presbytery may poll the Youth Advisory Delegates before any vote of business on the floor, including but not limited to items from the Council report, the Reports of the Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. Youth Advisory Delegates are entitled to serve as full members, with vote and voice on any department, committee, unit, Task Force or other entity, including representation on the Presbytery’s Council, but shall not be entitled to serve on an Administrative Commission, a Special Disciplinary Committee, the Committee on Ministry or the Permanent Judicial Commission unless the Youth Advisory Delegates is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), nor as a Trustee of the Corporation unless the Youth Advisory Delegates is 18 years of age or older as required by state law. Appointments and elections to the entities of the Presbytery shall follow the same rules and practices already established in the Presbytery for that purpose. June 28, 1994
CHAPTER III. MEETINGS
Section 1. Stated Meeting of Presbytery shall normally be on the fourth Tuesday of the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, and November. At its January meeting, the Presbytery shall review actual dates of the Stated Meetings in the light of possible conflicting events and determine new dates if needed.
Section 2. If a special meeting is found necessary, the minister or church calling such a meeting shall pay the cost of the mailing the notice of the official call.
CHAPTER IV. OFFICERS
A. OFFICERS
The Officers elected by Presbytery shall be a Moderator, Vice Moderator, Stated Clerk, and Treasurer. The President of the Board of Trustees (when elected by that body) shall also be an officer of the Presbytery.
B. DUTIES
Section 1. The Moderator shall: preside at meetings of the Presbytery; with Council's approval, (5/28/91) appoint special committees or task forces; shall be responsible for worship at Presbytery meetings; shall preach at least once before retirement from office; and shall perform all duties prescribed in the Book of Order G–9.0202.
Section 2. The Vice Moderator shall perform the duties of the Moderator in his/her absence.
Section 3. The Stated Clerk shall perform those duties set forth in the Book of Order G-9.0203, together with such tasks prescribed by the Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly. The Stated Clerk and three persons, one elected each year for a three year term by the Presbytery, shall be a committee to review sessional records. 2/23/88 For these services, an annual salary, as approved by Presbytery, shall be paid.
Section 4. The Treasurer and the Associate Treasurer serve a term of three years. The incumbent is eligible for re-election.
Section 5. The Associate Treasurer 6/20/00 shall perform the duties of the Treasurer in case of his/her absence.
C. TERMS OF OFFICE
Section 1. The Moderator and the Vice Moderator shall each serve terms of one year.
Section 2. The Stated Clerk shall serve a term of three years or until a successor is elected. The incumbent is eligible for re-election.
Section 3. The Treasurer and Associate Treasurer shall serve a term of three years. The incumbent is eligible for reelection.
D. ELECTIONS
All officers of the Presbytery shall be elected at the May meeting of Presbytery and their respective terms commence at that time. The exception shall be the Treasurer and Associate Treasures shall be elected at the June meeting of Presbytery but their terms shall begin January 1st of the following year.
CHAPTER V. ORGANIZATION
A. STRUCTURE
The Presbytery of Monmouth shall be organized as follows: Presbytery Council; Committee on Ministry; Committee on Preparation for Ministry; Bills and Overtures Committee; Nominating Committee; Permanent Judicial Commission; Committee on Representation; and such Departments as defined in Chapter VIII of these Bylaws.
B. OTHER UNITS
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the right of the Presbytery to appoint commissions, special disciplinary committees, or task forces when circumstances warrant such action. All sub-committees of the Council and Units of Departments and Task Forces will be annual appointments which are renewable. (2/20/90).
C. UNITS CHANGING THEIR NAMES OR FUNCTIONS
Any Presbytery Committee or Task Force elected by the Presbytery which wishes to change its name, its specific function, or alter its responsibilities, shall be required to seek Presbytery's approval.
CHAPTER VI. PRESBYTERY COUNCIL
Section 1. The Presbytery Council shall perform all the general and specific functions of a Presbytery Council as set forth in the Book of Order G–11.0103v, exclusive of Book of Order G–14.0507.
Section 2. The Presbytery Council shall be composed of the following members: the Moderator (who shall serve as Chair); the immediate past Moderator; the Vice-Moderator; the permanent representatives of the Departments; a representative of the Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry; a representative of Presbyterian Women of Monmouth Presbytery [3/24/92] (nominated by that group and elected by the Presbytery to serve a one year term and be eligible to serve up to six consecutive years); one of the current Synod Commissioners, (that Commissioner to be proposed by the elected Synod Commissionrs from among their number, nominated by the Nominating Committee, and elected by the Presbytery) 2/22/00, and six members nominated by the Presbytery Nominating Committee and elected by Presbytery to serve three year terms, divided into three classes.
Section 3. The Stated Clerk, who shall serve as Secretary of the Council, the Treasurer, and the Executive Presbyter, and a representative of Council's Personnel Committee, the Council's Budget Committee, the Communications Committee 10/26/93 and/or other Council Committees as determined by the Moderator 5/28/91 shall serve on Council without a vote.
Section 4. In addition to the responsibilities listed in Section 1, the Council shall:
a. Maintain the planning, budgeting, and evaluating function of Presbytery mission.
b. Act as coordinator of the permanent departments, Committee on Ministry and Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
c. Encourage and develop communication and cooperation among neighboring congregations and provide a meaningful base for session involvement in the affairs of Presbytery.
d. Establish personnel policies and procedures.
e. Annually assist the Stated Clerk in dealing with any imbalance of minister and elder commissioners, Book of Order, G–11.0101b.
Section 5. The Presbytery Council shall meet the second Wednesday before each stated meeting of the Presbytery and shall report at each regular meeting of the Presbytery every item of completed business transacted by it. If additional meetings of the Council are required, they shall be convened at the call of the Moderator, or upon instructions of the Presbytery.
Section 6. At the June meeting of Presbytery, following elections of members to the Council to fill vacancies and new terms of service, the Presbytery shall, by casting a single ballot, annually elect all the voting members of Council to serve as the Board of Trustees to be responsible for the financial management and investment of Presbytery resources, providing financial indebtedness on church property, managing the properties of the Presbytery, in consultation with the appropriate unit of Presbytery reviewing building plans of congregations.
Section 7. The Board of Trustees shall meet at all regular and special meetings of the Council and as called by the President of the Board when necessary, and shall report at each regular meeting of Presbytery every item of completed business transacted by it in a joint report submitted by Council. The Stated Clerk of Presbytery shall serve as secretary of the Board of Trustees and the Treasurer of Presbytery shall serve as Treasurer of the Board, without a vote
CHAPTER VII. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMITTEES
A. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members, elected by the Presbytery to three-year terms and serving in three (3) classes of three members each, who shall have been nominated by the Presbytery's Council. No church shall have more than one (1) member on the Nominating Committee at the same time.
Section 2. No member of the Presbytery Nominating Committee shall be elected for a term of more than three years, nor shall a member of the Presbytery’s Nominating Committee serve for consecutive terms, either full or partial, aggregating more than six years. A member of the Presbytery Nominating Committee member having served a total of six years shall be ineligible for reelection to the Nominating Committee for a period of at least one year. 6/24/03. No member of the Nominating Committee may simultaneously serve as an officer as listed in Chapter IV, nor as chair of the Committee on Ministry, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, nor as an elected member of Council. In the event of a vacancy, the Council shall nominate a replacement at the next stated meeting of Presbytery. The Nominating Committee shall provide for its own officers.
Section 3. Responsibilities: to nominate the required number of persons to Council, to the Departments, to the Committee on Ministry, and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, and to any other committee that may be required by the Book of Order. It shall nominate annually the Chairs of the Departments, Units of the Departments (if such should be the case), Committee on Ministry, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Permanent Judicial Commission, Committee on Representation, and the Bills and Overtures Committee 3/24/92. The Chairs shall be either Elders or Ministers 10/26/93. It shall nominate all officers listed in Chapter IV. It shall nominate the commissioners to General Assembly and Synod following the procedure adopted by Presbytery.
B. BILLS AND OVERTURES
Section 1. The Bills and Overture Committee shall consist of three (3) permanent members elected in classes by the Presbytery, plus the commissioners to the most recent meeting of the General Assembly serving as co-opted members for a period of one (1) year. The Chair shall be one of the permanent members of the Committee. The Executive Presbyter shall be a member ex officio, without vote.
Section 2. They shall keep the Presbytery advised of bills and overtures and make recommendations for Presbytery action on overtures sent down by the General Assembly in accordance with the established deadlines for responses set by the General Assembly 3/24/92.
Section 3. The Bills and Overture Committee shall receive and recommend all overtures in our Presbytery going to the General Assembly.
Section 4. The Bills and Overture Committee shall receive any amendment or addition to the rules of Presbytery submitted in accordance with Chapter IX.
C. PERMANENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION
The Permanent Judicial Commission shall be composed of five (5) 4/25/00 ministers and four (4) 4/25/00 elders, of whom no more than one (1) shall be from the same church, and elected by the Presbytery to a term of six (6) years, serving in three classes of approximately equal size. One class to be elected every two years. Members shall be ineligible for reelection until at least one year has elapsed. The purpose and duties of the Permanent Judicial Commission shall be prescribed by the Rules of Discipline.
D. COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION
The Committee on Representation shall be composed of six (6) members and elected by the Presbytery to a term of three (3) years and serving in three classes. The membership and responsibilities of this Committee shall conform with the Book of Order G–9.0150.
E. COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY
Section 1. The Committee on Ministry shall function under the general supervision of the Council, performing such duties and enjoying such privileges as are assigned to it by the Book of Order. It shall be composed of no fewer than nine (9) and no more than (18) members (lay persons shall be Elders), elected by the Presbytery to three-year terms and serving in three classes approximately equal in size 9/27/88.
Section 2. The Committee on Ministry has authority to dissolve pastoral relations where the pastor and the congregation concur in this request.
Section 3. It shall be responsible for implementing denominational policies and for making recommendations to Presbytery in this regard.
F. COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY 2/23/88
The Committee on Preparation for Ministry shall function under the general supervision of Council, performing such duties and enjoying such privileges as are assigned to it by the Book of Order. It shall be composed of no fewer than nine (9) and no more than twelve (12) members (lay persons shall be Elders), elected by the Presbytery to serve three-year terms and serving in three classes approximately equal in size
CHAPTER VIII DEPARTMENTS
A. PURPOSE
Section 1. To coordinate the activities of the units of the department.
Section 2. To give occasion for units to report their activities to each other as well as exercise their accountability.
Section 3. To approve the budgets and goals of the units prior to presentation to Council's Planning, Budgeting and Evaluating
B. DEPARTMENTS DEFINED
Section 1. Educational Ministries–Assists and supports the local church's endeavor to provide for Christian Education in the local church. It provides consultants and similar resources to help train and equip local church leaders and educators.
Section 2. Mission and Stewardship Interpretation 3/23/93)–Assists and supports the local church in its own interpretation and stewardship function, as well as providing that function for Presbytery as it relates to the local church and to higher governing bodies. It provides consultants and similar resources to train and equip local church stewardship leaders
Section 3. Congregational Development and Strategy 3/24/92–Determines matters of strategy for redevelopment and new church development.
Section 4. Evangelism and Specialized Ministries–Directs ministries and strategy within the presbytery area that requires direction and oversight by the Presbytery 3/24/92; assists and supports the member congregations in developing programs as the church carries out its mission. It provides consultants and similar resources to train and equip the local church as it participates in the world of mission to the church.
Section 5: Worship and Spiritual Life Department–oversees worship at presbytery meetings in accordance with The Directory of Worship, with an eye toward encouraging creative use of the arts and the full participation of the worshipping body; facilitates worship at Presbytery events at the request of Departments/Committees responsible for the event; provides encouragement, guidance, and resources for the churches within the Presbytery in the development of their worship and spiritual life; and seeks and provides opportunities to enhance spiritual growth within the Presbytery 10/26/93.
Section 6: Department of Resources and Communication to be staffed by the Resource and Service Center Director and to include no fewer than six members.
C. MEMBERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENTS
Section 1. The membership of a department shall be the chair and normally at least six (6) but no more than eighteen (18) members, all of who shall be nominated by the Presbytery Nominating Committee. The Executive Presbyter and the staff person directly relating to a specific department shall be members of the department without vote.
Section 2. Chairs of the units of the departments shall come from within the membership of the department and shall be nominated annually by the Nominating Committee at the May meeting of the Presbytery.
Section 3. Each department shall inform the Nominating Committee of its personnel needs for the ensuing year no later than the January meeting of Presbytery. This shall apply to department members and chairs of units, should the department be divided into units.
D. Terms of Office 2/22/00
In all cases where terms of office are defined, no member serving in consecutive or partial terms shall serve more than seven (7) years in the aggregate until at least one year shall have elapsed.
E. MEETINGS
The departments shall meet a minimum of three (3) times per year at the call of the chair.
F. STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENTS
Departments have the authority to delegate their responsibilities to units. Each unit shall have a chair and as many members as needed to fulfill their responsibilities. Members of a unit shall come from the membership of the department.
CHAPTER IX. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Suspension of the Rules–The rules of Presbytery may be suspended at any meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
Section 2. Amendments and additions to the Bylaws–Any amendment or addition to the Bylaws shall be presented in writing, referred to the Bills and Overture Committee for working and arrangement, and consideration of the same postponed until the next Stated Meeting of Presbytery unless by unanimous vote the immediate consideration is ordered. In either case, a two thirds vote shall be required to effect the change.
Section 3. Amendments and additions to the Rules of Presbytery–Any amendment or addition to material contained in the Presbytery Handbook require a majority vote at any stated meeting of Presbytery, provided written notice is given.
THE BOUNDS
These are the geographical bounds of the Presbytery of Monmouth as approved by the Synod of New Jersey, June 1, 1964:
All of OCEAN COUNTY and MONMOUTH COUNTY; in MIDDLESEX COUNTY the townships of Madison*, East Brunswick and Monroe, the cities, boroughs and towns of Cranbury, Jamesburg, Helmetta, Spotswood, South River, Sayreville, and South Amboy; in MERCER COUNTY the townships of East Windsor and Washington, the city of Hightstown, and that portion of Hamilton Township lying south of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company; and in BURLINGTON COUNTY, the townships of Bordentown, Chesterfield, Mansfield, North Hanover, Springfield, Eastampton, Mount Holly, New Hanover, Pemberton, Southampton, Woodland, Tabernacle, Shamong, Washington, and Bass River, and the cites, boroughs and towns of Pemberton, Wrightstown, Roebling, Fieldsboro, and Bordentown–all in the state of New Jersey.
* renamed Old Bridge Township, 1975.
