Commission on Ministry

The Commission on Ministry (COM) is governed by the Book of Order (G-3.0307) and shall serve as pastor and counselor to ministers, ruling elders commissioned to pastoral service, and to certified Christian educators of the Presbytery; to facilitate the relations between the Presbytery and its congregations; and to settle difficulties on behalf of the Presbytery where possible and expedient; to ensure the annual certification of the Sexual Misconduct Policy; and to annually develop the Compensation Guidelines; with specific authority:

• To dissolve pastoral relationships and dismiss ministers to other Presbyteries when both ministers and congregation agree
• To examine and receive ministers into Presbytery without further examination on the floor of Presbytery unless an examinee declares a scruple concerning a tenet, and if COM concludes that the examinee is otherwise ordainable, commissionable, or transferable. COM shall then refer the issue of ordination, commissioning, or transfer to the next convened PEVA meeting without recommendation
• To validate the work of its ministers
• To approve calls and covenants of ministers
• To approve temporary relationship agreements
• To approve ruling elders for commissioning to pastoral service
• To grant permission to labor within and outside Presbytery bounds
• To approve moderators for congregations in transition
• To approve persons requesting to be added to the pulpit supply list

To learn more about the COM, please see page 12 of the PEVA Manual of Administrative Operations.