By Maureen Wright

As many of you know, I have had the opportunity to serve the General Assembly (GA) several times as a parliamentarian or parliamentary assistant for GA committees. Each time, I have been asked to talk with the committee about parliamentary procedure, the Book of Order, and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. In my work with the Presbytery, first as Stated Clerk, and now as the Transitional General Presbyter and Stated Clerk, I am privileged to visit with the churches of the Presbytery. Sometimes my visits are focused on meeting the congregation, worshipping together, or attending an event of the church. At other times, I visit to resource the session or congregation as they seek to answer a question or solve a problem. Whether I am working with one of the Presbytery’s churches or with a GA committee, I often begin by sharing that the Book of Order reflects the way in which Presbyterians agree to be in community together. The principles and processes outlined in the Book of Order are tools to help discern, to deliberate, to be about the work of the church as followers of Jesus Christ – they help us get where we want to go.

There is often a disconnect between this understanding of being Presbyterian and how congregations and/or members experience both the Book of Order and the connectional structure of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). “The Presbytery” is an oft-heard refrain, sometimes said with long suffering resignation, sometimes said with resentment, sometimes said with humor, sometimes said with awe. Yet foundational to the PC(USA) is the belief that congregations are the basic building block of a connectional church where ruling elder representatives of the congregation gather with ministers of the Word and Sacrament to make decisions about the work of the church. “The Presbytery” is the place where commissioners from its churches and minister members gather to worship, make decisions, enjoy fellowship, and set policy – to “be church.”

The Leadership Team has called a meeting of the Presbytery on March 25 in order to consider the proposed amendments to the Constitution Part II, the Book of Order, sent to the Presbyteries by the 226th General Assembly. People like us – including our commissioners, Ruling Elder Susan Shelton Perry, the Rev. Chris Kilbert, and Young Adult Advisory Delegate Em Rau – gathered in Salt Lake City to consider the business of the denomination. While the General Assembly may make certain decisions, any changes to our community document, the Book of Order, require approval from a majority of the Presbyteries – including us! On March 25, the Presbytery of West Virginia will gather to consider 12 changes to the Book of Order and an Episcopal-Presbyterian Agreement on Local Sharing of Ministries.

Both ruling elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament answer a series of questions as part of their ordination or installation. Each are asked, “will you be a faithful ruling elder or minster?” For ruling elders, this is followed by “will you share in government and discipline?” For ministers, it is followed by “will you be active in government and discipline?” (See W-4.0404.) No one is ordained without responding, “I will.” The Called Meeting on March 25 is an opportunity to participate in the government of the church. There is no pope or bishop that makes declarations that Presbyterians must follow. Presbyterian governance is based on ruling elder commissioners and ministers gathering in Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods, and the General Assembly to listen for the direction of the Spirit, to discern God’s will.

All of our churches are invited to send a ruling elder commissioner to join with the minister of the Word and Sacrament members of the Presbytery to discern how the Spirit is leading this Presbytery – to respond to each of the 12 proposed amendments to the Book of Order as well as the agreement with the Episcopal Church. The Presbytery will hear a presentation of the amendments, have an opportunity to ask questions, and vote. The packet for the meeting will be available on Monday, March 17; it will include a docket, a summary of the amendments, and a link for the booklet that provides the full details of each item to be considered.

The meeting will take place using the Zoom platform, so the voting process will be conducted using Zoom polls. While there will be an option for voting commissioners to text their votes, it is important that plans be made for each participant to join the meeting on their own screen. There will be a Zoom orientation for anyone who wishes to refresh their Zoom skills and practice voting using the polling feature; it will be held at 7 PM on Sunday, March 23. A link for this event will be shared with the Presbytery on Saturday, March 22.

I encourage you to come to the Called Meeting. Fulfill your promise to engage in the government of the church. Join the Presbytery as we affirm our faith, declaring this is what we believe. I look forward to seeing you on March 25.