Congregation

Scope Note: A congregation is a company of people, including children, organised and formed by a presbytery for Christian worship, instruction, fellowship, work and witness.

The types of congregations are: a) one congregation organised within a parish or mission field under one session; or b) a linked congregation, being one of multiple congregations within a parish or mission field linked by a presbytery under one session; or c) a special interest congregation.

Fixing of parish and mission field boundaries A presbytery must divide the whole area within its bounds into parishes and mission fields.

Formation of new congregations 1. After receipt of a petition from a session, or from any group of interested people, or acting on its own initiative, a presbytery may alter parish or mission field bounds to form a new parish or mission field and declare the formation of a new congregation. 2. In doing this the presbytery ensures that the rights and privileges of any existing congregation and of any inducted minister are not infringed. 3. Presbytery acts consistently with rule 4.68.

Special interest congregations 1. Where it considers that Christian worship, instruction, fellowship, work and witness would be enhanced, a presbytery may form a congregation, termed a special interest congregation, to meet the needs of an ethnic group or of persons associated by special interest. 2 A special interest congregation established within the bounds of an existing parish or mission field must not affect the parish bounds and work of the existing congregation. 3 Membership of a special interest congregation may be drawn from areas served by other congregations but canvassing for new members from among them must be avoided. 4 Any arrangement proposed for use by a special interest congregation of the property of an existing congregation must be approved by the existing congregation and the presbytery.

Appointment of a session 1 When a presbytery declares a congregation to be formed it must place it under the oversight of: a) a session comprising ministerial members of the presbytery and members of sessions within its bounds, with one ministerial member as moderator; or b) a neighbouring session; until an election and induction of elders from the communicants of the congregation. 2 When a presbytery links congregations, it must place them under the oversight of: a) a session as stated in (a) or (b) of the previous rule; or b) a session consisting of the elders of the linked congregations. 3 When a presbytery severs the links between congregations it must place each congregation under the oversight of a session as in (a) or (b) of rule 4.60.1 or under the oversight of a session consisting of elders from the congregation.

Found in 957 Collections and/or Records: