Session




	Prestongrange Kirk Session Standing Orders 1. Introduction This document defines the duties of the elders in Prestongrange Church, and the organisational structure of the Kirk Session. This document does not over-ride the normal practices of the Church of Scotland. 2. Duties of the Elder Unless specifically exempted by the Kirk Session, the elder has duties in at least the three areas 2.1 to 2.3. Certain other special duties may also be required. Beyond these and in every context, the elder must be an active participant in the activities of the church, and a loyal member of the Kirk Session, supporting its members and its decisions. 2.1 Within the church Except on grounds of disability, all elders participate in:- serving communion; being on duty at the door; creating a warm welcoming church. Elders must make themselves aware of the duty rotas, and if unable to be present, provide a substitute. 2.2 In the elder’s district The parish and its immediate environs is divided into districts and each elder, excepting a few with other significant duties, is attached to a particular district. The district elders are the primary pastors for the members residing there. Where a district is served by a number of elders, they may divide the work as they see fit, eg each visiting their own sub-district, varying the households each visits, or visiting together. Of course, within the group, elders support, help and cover for each other. The aims of the pastoral visit include (not in order of importance):- to communicate information about the church to the members to communicate concerns of members about the church to the Kirk Session or Minister as appropriate. to support members at times of stress or crisis. to relay any significant pastoral concerns to the Minister. to encourage active participation of members in the life of the church. to encourage members in their Christian life. 2.3 Meetings Ordinarily, the Kirk Session meets six times a year. The nature of the meeting may be a full meeting or separate team meetings. Full meetings are held on the first Monday of April, September and December. Team meetings are held on the first Monday of February, May and October. (Congregational Board meetings are held on the first Monday of March and November, and the last Monday of June) Additional meetings are announced in accordance with normal procedure. Kirk Session Elders have a duty to attend Kirk Session meetings. If unable to do so they must send an apology to the Session Clerk. If the Kirk Session organises additional meetings, for study, or wider discussion, elders have a duty to attend these also. Business for the Kirk Session should normally either be introduced by the Kirk Session Teams, or be notified to the Clerk at least a week prior to the meeting. Congregational Board The following elders are members of the Congregational Board by virtue of their office: the Session Clerk, Clerk to the Board, Treasurer and Fabric Convenor. Other elders are members of the Congregational Board by rotation. Kirk Session Teams Organisationally, the Kirk Session operates through 5 teams:- Worship Outreach Pastoral Care Fellowship and Learning Youth Each team has responsibility under the Kirk Session for work in its special field, as defined in the remits below. The teams report at least twice a year to the full Kirk Session. Each elder is a member of one of the teams. As such the elder: attends meetings of the team. participates in the work area of the team encourages other elders and members also to participate. The Minister, Session Clerk and Treasurer (if an elder) are available to each team as required. Team Leaders The convenor of each team, with the Minster and the Session Clerk, make up the Team Leaders. The Team Leaders will meet one week prior to each ordinary Kirk Session meeting. 3. Remits of the Kirk Session Teams 3.1 General The purpose of each team is to explore and develop those aspects of the church within the team’s remit; to keep the requirements of the remit before the Kirk Session and members; to guide the Kirk Session and congregation in fulfilling the aims of the team; to keep its own remit under review, subject to the agreement of the Kirk Session. 3.2 The Convenor Each team appoints a Convenor, with the Kirk Session’ approval. The Convenor chairs the meetings of the team, ensuring that the team works within and towards its remit; ensures that reports are available to the Team Leaders’ meeting and to full meetings of the Kirk Session; the reports are appended to the minutes of Kirk Session; co-ordinates the team’s activities, directly with other teams and by attendance at the Team Leaders’ meeting; ensures that the activities of the team are communicated to the congregation and the wider community. 3.3 Meetings and Reports The teams meet simultaneously, as scheduled in 2.3, in separate locations in the Hall or the Church building. This is intended to ease communication between the teams and enable mutual decisions on areas of overlapping interest. If a team feels that additional meetings are desirable, they are free to arrange them at a suitable time and place. Because of its structure, the Youth Team is a special case (see 3.6). Each team submits a written report to the full Kirk Session at least twice a year. The report should outline the work undertaken by the Team and propose new areas of work, with appropriate deliverances. A long verbal report is therefore not required. The full Kirk Session then discusses the report and may vote on the deliverances. A deliverance once accepted becomes the decision of the Kirk Session and all Elders must give it their support. If the activities of the team have financial implications, these should be submitted to the Congregational Board in writing before reporting to the Kirk Session. 3.4 Co-Opted Members The teams have the power to co-opt other members of the church to their membership, or to invite visitors to contribute to a particular matter. Co-opted members may attend full meetings of the Kirk Session, but only elders may vote at full meetings. 3.5 Team Remits 3.5.1 Worship Team The remit of the Worship Team is:- to assist the Minster in planning and implementing normal services and special worship events; to provide discussion and feedback on all aspects of worship; to encourage varied styles of worship and especially worship likely to appeal to those beyond the congregation; to encourage the involvement of lay people and church groups in all aspects of worship; to encourage, in association with the Youth Team, the participation of young people in worship. to co-ordinate duties associated with worship (eg communion duty, door duty) 3.5.2 Outreach Team The remit of the Outreach Team is:- to develop ways of bringing new people and lapsed members into active church life; to develop ways in which the congregation may serve the community; to promote the life of the church within the congregation and in the community through recordings, magazine, web-site, press, etc; to keep the wider work of the Church of Scotland before the congregation; to promote understanding and co-operation between congregations, denominations and faiths. 3.5.3 Pastoral Care Team The remit of the Pastoral Care Team is:- to identify and provide for pastoral need in congregation and parish; to maintain links to members who are in residential care, or housebound; to develop methods of caring for groups with particular needs or opportunities (eg bereaved people, families of baptised and dedicated children, couples married in the church, etc); to maintain the church roll; to equip and encourage elders in their pastoral duties. 3.5.4 Fellowship and Learning Team The remit of the Fellowship and Learning Team is:- to foster Christian growth; to promote and encourage participation in small groups within the congregation; to organise and promote learning events for the church, including the Alpha Course and special events; to promote such opportunities as they occur beyond the congregation; to encourage events which promote fellowship, co-operating with other teams as appropriate. 3.5.5 Youth Team Unlike the other teams, the Youth Team may be comprised mostly of young people involved in youth work as leaders or participants. The convenor of the Youth Team is the Youth Elder appointed by the Kirk Session, but the number of elders appointed to the Team by the Kirk Session is limited. The meetings of the team need not be simultaneous with the other team meetings, but the convenor still submits a report at least twice a year. The remit of the Youth Team is:- to ensure compliance with the Child Protection policy. to oversee and develop the church’s work with children, young people and their leaders; to reach out to young people in the community in co-ordination with the Outreach Team; to resource and encourage existing groups (eg the Sunday Club, Eye-Opener, Focus, X-Mark, Holiday Clubs); to promote opportunities beyond the congregation for children and young people to worship, learn and serve together; to work with the Worship Team to promote the involvement of young people in worship, and to develop styles of worship accessible to young people.


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