Rules

NORTH CENTRAL PRESBYTERY STANDING RULES

I. The name of the body shall be North Central Presbytery of the Synod of the Midwest of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
II. The presbytery shall meet at a place to which it is adjourned, on the first Friday and following Saturday in April (except when it coincides with Good Friday, then it shall meet on the second Friday and following Saturday in April), and on the second Friday and following Saturday in October, at 1:30 P. M. local time.
III. The officers of the presbytery shall be the Moderator, Vice-moderator, Stated Clerk, Recording Clerk, and Treasurer.
A. The Moderator shall be elected at each regular meeting of the presbytery and serve until a successor is elected. The Moderator shall conduct the business of the meeting and any subsequent called meeting(s).
B. The Vice-moderator shall be the person who receives the second highest number of votes in the election of moderator. If only one person is nominated for moderator, candidates for vice-moderator shall be nominated from the floor. The Vice-moderator shall serve in the place of the Moderator when the Moderator is unable to serve, or at the request of the Moderator.
C. The Stated Clerk shall be elected for a three-year term and may succeed himself/herself indefinitely. The Stated Clerk shall receive an annual salary as determined by the Board of Finance and Trustees which shall be reviewed annually. The responsibilities of the Stated Clerk are outlined in the NCP Digest of Policies.
D. The Recording Clerk shall be elected for a three-year term and may succeed himself/herself indefinitely. The Recording Clerk shall receive an annual salary as determined by the Board of Finance and Trustees which shall be reviewed annually. The Recording Clerk shall record the minutes of the meetings of presbytery.
E. The Treasurer shall be elected for a three year term and may succeed himself/herself indefinitely. The Treasurer shall receive an annual salary as determined by the Board of Finance and Trustees which shall be reviewed annually. The responsibilities of the Treasurer are outlined in the NCP Digest of Policies.
IV. The presbytery shall have the following boards with the stated number of members: a Board of Finance and Trustees (7)(plus the Treasurer), a Board of Pastoral and Congregational Care (7), a Board of Christian Education (7)(plus the adult advisor and the NCPYF Moderator), a Board of Ministry (7), a Board of Heritage and Witness (5), a Board of Judiciary and Session Records (6), and a Board of Nominations (3). All elected members of boards and the NCPYF Adult Advisor shall be on regular three-year rotation. No member shall be re-elected to the same board more than twice without rotating off that board for a minimum of one year. A quorum shall consist of three for any board, with the exception of the Board of Judiciary and Session Records and Board of Nominations which shall require two for a quorum. Any member who has two (2) consecutive unexcused absences shall be removed. No person shall serve on two boards at the same time. The responsibilities of the boards are outlined in the NCP Digest of Policies.
V. The boards shall meet at a time in common before each semi-annual meeting on the fourth Saturday in February and August at 9:00 am local time. The meeting place shall be the Willow Creek Church, Martinsville, Illinois. All boards shall submit their report to the Stated Clerk within ten (10) days following their meeting. The Stated Clerk shall not be responsible for distribution of reports received after the ten day period. The Stated Clerk shall make copies of the program and each board report and shall mail them to each ordained minister, each probationer, and one to each session clerk for each duly elected delegate at least ten days prior to the meeting of presbytery.
VI. The session records of each congregation shall be presented to presbytery for examination annually. Congregations whose name begins with the letters "A" through "K" shall submit their session records at the August meeting of the Board of Judiciary and Session Records, and congregations whose name begins with the letters "L" through "Z" shall submit their session records at the February meeting of the Board of Judiciary and Session Records. Records may be brought or delivered to the designated board meeting or a photo copy delivered or mailed to the Stated Clerk at least ten days prior to the date of the board meeting.
VII. Each ordained minister (except retired ministers at their own request) is required to attend each meeting of presbytery unless excused. Each congregation shall send its quota of duly elected elders to each meeting of presbytery or give reason in writing for failure to do so. Each candidate and licentiate is required to attend each meeting of presbytery. Two consecutive absences from a stated meeting by a candidate or licentiate, excused or unexcused, may result in his/her being dropped from the roll of probationers.
VIII. A Memorial Committee shall be appointed each spring meeting to report and conduct a memorial service at the fall meeting of presbytery.
IX. Members of the boards and committees and others performing presbyterial business shall receive reasonable compensation for travel, meals, and lodging. Rates will be reviewed annually by the Board of Finance.
X. The minutes of presbytery shall be printed. The minutes shall be forwarded to the printer within thirty days following the meeting of presbytery.
XI. Any new business to come before the presbytery must be presented before adjournment on Friday.

NORTH CENTRAL PRESBYTERY DIGEST OF POLICIES
(Italicized information lists predecessor board(s) and number of elected members.)

The BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION shall be responsible for the following:

1. To plan and conduct a camping program, including CPYC/PYT

2. To promote youth ministries and events including NCPYF and Urbana Conference

3. To facilitate leadership development

4. To monitor Bethel College scholarships and requirements

5. To act as liaison with the denominational Board of Christian Education

(former Board of Christian Education (7 members)

The BOARD OF FINANCE AND TRUSTEES shall be responsible for the following:

1. To propose a budget and congregational apportionments

2. To serve as trustees of presbyterial property

3. To administer the insurance programs

4. To manage presbyterial assets

5. To serve as the presbyterial auditors

6. To promote stewardship education

7. To administer the scholarship program in conjunction with the Boards of Christian Education and Ministry

8. To act as liaison with the denominational Board of Stewardship

(former Board of Finance and Trustees (7 members)

The BOARD OF HERITAGE AND WITNESS shall be responsible for the following:

1. To maintain the presbyterial archives

2. To coordinate historical presentations

3. To develop and maintain the presbyterial web site

4. To address social concerns and theological perspectives

5. To act as liaison with the denominational Historical Foundation

6. To act as liaison with the denominational Committee on Theology and Social Concerns

(former Heritage Committee and Committee on Theology and Social Concerns (5 members)

The BOARD OF JUDICIARY AND SESSION RECORDS shall be responsible for the following:

1. To examine session records

2. To consider judicial matters

(former Session Records Committee (5 members)

The BOARD OF MINISTRY shall be responsible for the following:

1. To interview and counsel prospective candidates

2. To monitor the progress of probationers

3. To train elders serving communion

4. To monitor probationer Scholarships and requirements

5. To maintain relationships with ministers of other denominations and to screen transfers of ministers from other denominations

6. To act as liaison with the denominational Commission on Ministry

(former Committee on Ministry (7 members)

The BOARD OF NOMINATIONS shall be responsible for the following:

1. To nominate presbyterial and board personnel

2. To inform nominees of duties

3. To nominate synod and General Assembly commissioners and Youth Advisory Delegates to GA

4. To recommend meeting places for presbytery

5. To promote NCP representation on denominational board and agencies

(former Nominating Committee (3 members)

The BOARD OF PASTORAL AND CONGREGATIONAL CARE shall be responsible for the following:

1. To supervise and support the ordained clergy

2. To oversee congregations without CP ordained ministers and to appoint moderators of such sessions

3. To oversee pastoral relationships

4. To nurture ecumenical relationships such as CAM

5. To promote mission education (without financing)

6. To promote New Church Development

7. To act as liaison with the denominational Board of Missions

(former Board of Missions and Committee on Pastoral Care (7 members)

The STATED CLERK shall be responsible for the following:

1. To be the principal officer coordinating the work of the presbytery;

2. To receive and preserve all correspondence for the action of the presbytery in its meetings;

3. To respond to all correspondence in accordance with the instructions of the presbytery;

4. To send out notices for regular meetings, called meetings, and board meetings, etc.

5. To assemble preliminary minutes of the regular meetings and mail to all churches and ministers in accordance with presbyterial instructions;

6. To assist boards in such research as may be needful in their work;

7. To maintain a continuing relationship with the denomination;

8. To research information from the minutes as requested by the judicatory and agencies of the judicatory;

9. To take the lead in making plans for the meeting of presbytery and board meetings;

10. To compile annual reports of congregations and forward to the denomination;

11. To keep the presbytery’s official membership roll;

12. To notify officers, board members, and delegates of their election or appointment;

13. To certify delegates or commissioners;

14. To sign the minutes of all meetings.

15. To print and distribute the minutes of meetings of presbytery;

16. To keep minutes in permanent form and to file copies with the Cumberland Presbyterian Historical Foundation;

17. To file copies for review with the Synod of the Midwest.

The TREASURER shall be responsible for the following:

1. To receive and disburse all funds in accordance with the instructions of the presbytery and the adopted budget of the presbytery;

2. To keep records and pay premiums for the Cumberland Presbyterian Health Insurance Program in keeping with the instructions of presbytery;

3. To supply appropriate information to each board with a current status report of the progress of funds;

4. To be an ex officio member of the Board of Finance and Trustees;

MISCELLANEOUS POLICIES

A. Presbytery shall give to congregations hosting presbytery an expense check of $250 plus $6 per enrolled member of presbytery for meals. Congregations may also receive donations from visitors to defray the cost of their meal.

B. Presbytery shall reimburse travel expense at the rate of 40¢ per mile, $8 maximum per meal and $80 maximum per night’s lodging. (Oct. 04 and April '06) [This policy does not apply to the expenses of General Assembly commissioners and YAD’s.]

C. Presbytery shall provide scholarships for active members of presbytery to attend Bethel College, Memphis Theological Seminary or the Program of Alternate Studies. Applications are due to the Stated Clerk by August 15. Scholarship recipients shall maintain a 2.0 [C] average to remain eligible for the scholarship. In the case of PAS students completed assignments on an annual basis keep them eligible. The scholarship amount shall be $1000 per semester for BC and MTS with a maximum of $2000 per scholastic year; and $1500 per year for PAS. Probationers attending schools other than Bethel, MTS or PAS will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine their eligibility.

D. All eligible clergy and their dependents shall be enrolled in the denominational health insurance program except when dependents have existing insurance coverage. Churches calling eligible clergy shall pay 65% of the premium through the presbyterial treasurer; presbytery shall pay the remaining 35%.(Oct. ’92, Oct. ’96, Oct. ’03, Apr. ’08)

E. Presbytery, through its Board of Pastoral and Congregational Care, has monies available to assist struggling churches and pastors re-establishing churches in the presbytery by subsidizing the salaries of those pastors. Sessions may request such subsidies by sending the BPCC the following information: 1. Offering amount for eight weeks; 2. Current expenses, utility bills, etc.; 3. Current salary provided the pastor; 4. Current need for the pastor. (Such distribution of funds shall be reported to the next meeting of presbytery.)

F. Presbytery, through the Pastoral Care subcommittee of its Board of Pastoral and Congregational Care, has monies available to assist its ordained clergy in case of emergency. (Such distribution of funds shall be reported to the next meeting of presbytery.)

G. The following guidelines have been established for camp leaders:

1. An RN shall be on staff at all camps.

2. Camp staff is there to minister to the campers.

3. All staff must participate in the training on Saturday preceding camp.

4. Campers are to be supervised by staff at all times.

5. All staff is to remain in their cabins/rooms after "lights out" to be available to the campers.

6. All bills must be submitted for payment within thirty days following an event.

H. The death of an ordained minister of the presbytery shall be memorialized by a donation of $100 in his/her name to Memphis Theological Seminary.

I. Requests for excused absences from presbytery should be specific as to the reason for the absence in order for the request to be considered.

J. GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION - MISSION TRIP ASSISTANCE

1. Applicant must be a member of a C P Church located within the boundaries of NCP.

2. Applicant must be going on a NCP group mission trip, or working on a project led by a NCP minister or youth minister, or working on a project sponsored by the C. P. Denomination.

3. To ask for funds, applicant must contact the chairperson or secretary of the Board of Pastoral and Congregational Care and apply at least six weeks prior to the event. The chairperson of the BPCC will poll the board members and reply to the applicant within three weeks.

4. Funding will be limited to $300 per person, be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and each persona’s request will be considered individually.

5. A recipient can re-apply for assistance every two years.

K. Presbyterially appointed Session Moderators are required to send a semi-annual report to the NCP Board of Pastoral and Congregational Care