The Committee on Ministry’s primary responsibility is “to serve as pastor and counselor to the ministers and Certified Christian Educators of the presbytery, to facilitate the relations between congregations, ministers, and Certified Christian Educators, and the presbytery, and to settle difficulties on behalf of presbytery when possible and expedient.” (G-11.0501) The responsibilities of the COM are best fulfilled by fostering healthy ministries in the congregations of the presbytery.
Yet, health in congregational life is not so easily defined as health in a human body. The shape of congregational life varies from one place to another. Not every church can or should engage in precisely the same forms of worship, Christian education, congregational fellowship, or service to the world beyond the church building.
What is the COM?
The Committee on Ministry is that committee in each presbytery charged by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to
…serve as pastor and counselor to the ministers and Certified Christian Educators of the presbytery, to facilitate the relations between congregations, ministers, and Certified Christian Educators, and the presbytery, and to settle difficulties on behalf of presbytery when possible and expedient. (G-11.0501)
Presbytery may delegate to the committee the authority to
… find in order calls issued by churches, to approve and present calls for service of ministers, to approve the examinations of ministers transferring from other presbyteries (G-11.0402), to dissolve the pastoral relationship in cases where the congregation and pastor concur, and to dismiss ministers to other presbyteries, with the provision that all such actions be reported to the next stated meeting of the presbytery." (G-11.0502h)
The Committee on Ministry is responsible for the health of ministry in the presbytery, attending to the well-being of congregations and their faithfulness in responding to God’s call to them as well as the nurture, support and professional development of church professionals, including ministers of the Word and Sacrament, Certified Christian Educators, and, in some presbyteries, Commissioned Lay Pastors.
What are the responsibilities of the COM?
The Committee on Ministry is “to serve as pastor and counselor to ministers; to facilitate relations between congregations, ministers, and the presbytery; and to settle difficulties on behalf of presbytery.” (G-11.0501)
The Book of Order further defines these areas of responsibility in G-11.0502.
a. It shall visit regularly and consult with each minister in the presbytery; report to presbytery the type of work in which each minister of the presbytery is engaged; require an annual report of each minister performing work which is not under the jurisdiction of the presbytery or a higher governing body of the church.
b. Make recommendations to presbytery regarding calls for the services of its ministers.
c. Visit with each session of the presbytery at least once every three years.
d. Counsel with churches and their Pastor Nominating Committees regarding calls for permanent pastoral relations.
e. Counsel with churches regarding the advisability of calling a designated
pastor.
f. Counsel with churches regarding stated supplies, interim pastors, interim co-pastors, interim associate pastors, and temporary supplies, providing lists of available pastors, commissioned lay pastors, and qualified lay persons who have been trained and commissioned by presbytery to supply vacant pulpits.
g. Provide for the implementation of equal employment opportunity for ministers and candidates, and report to presbytery the steps taken by each calling group to implement equal employment opportunity.
h. If authorized by presbytery, find in order calls issued by churches, approve and present calls, approve examination of ministers transferring from other presbyteries, dissolve pastoral relationships in certain situations, grant permission to labor within or outside the bounds of presbytery, and dismiss ministers to other presbyteries.
i. Promote the peace and harmony of the churches.
j. Counsel with session regarding difficulties in the congregation, act as mediator in conflict situations, and/or act to correct difficulties in a conflict situation when asked to do so by the parties involved or when authorized by presbytery to do so.
Additional responsibilities of the Committee on Ministry identified by the Book of Order include work with ministers joining another denomination (G-11.0416) or ministers transferring to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from other denominations (G-11.0404, G-11.0405) or from other presbyteries (G-11.0402), work with ministers seeking release from the exercise of ordained office (G-6.0600), and dissolution of pastoral relationships (G-14.0600), if authorized to do so by presbytery.
In the Presbytery of West Virginia the Committee on Ministry and Committee on Preparation for Ministry work with the ALP/CLP Coordinating Team to oversee the work of authorized lay preachers and commissioned lay pastors.