Elders & Local Leaders
ministry of the whole people of God
The Elders Meeting
The Elders’ Meeting of the Local Church shall consist of the minister(s) and the elders elected by the Church Meeting.
The Elders’ Meeting shall exercise oversight of the spiritual life of the Local Church.
The elders’ meeting serve its Local Church and represent the whole United Reformed Church to the Local Church.
The Ordination of Elders
For a copy of the promises made at Ordination, see The Manual: Section A – The Basis of Union, Schedule B – affirmations to be made by Elders at ordination and induction.
The functions of the Elders Meeting
There are 12 responsibilities for the Elders of a church, listed in the United Reformed Church Manual.
1. Witness and Service
To foster in the congregation concern for witness and service to the community, evangelism at home and abroad, Christian education, ecumenical action, local inter-church relations and the wider responsibilities of the whole Church.
2. Public Worship
To see that public worship is regularly offered and the sacraments are duly administered, and generally to promote the welfare of the congregation.
3. Pastoral Care
To ensure pastoral care of the congregation, in which the minister is joined by elders having particular responsibility for groups of members
4. Church Secretary
To nominate from among its members a church secretary (or secretaries), to be elected by the church meeting, to serve both the church meeting and the elders’ meeting;
5. Pulpit Supply
To arrange for pulpit supply in a vacancy
6. Roll of Members
To keep the roll of members and (as an aid to the discharge of the congregation’s pastoral and evangelistic responsibility) lists of names of adherents and children attached to the congregation, and in consultation with the church meeting to maintain standards of membership and to advise on the admission of members on profession of faith and by transfer, on the suspension of members, and on the removal of names from the roll.
7. Children and Young People
To be responsible for the institution and oversight of work among children and young people and of all organisations within the congregation.
8. Election of Elders
To call for the election of elders and advise on the number required.
9. Candidates for the Ministry
To consider the suitability of any applicant for recognition as a candidate for the ministry or for service as a CRCW and to advise the church meeting about its recommendation to the synod.
10. Fabric and Finance
To recommend to the church meeting arrangements for the proper maintenance of buildings and the general oversight of all the financial responsibilities of the local church.
11. Wider Church Links
To act on behalf of the church meeting and bring concerns to the wider councils of the United Reformed Church
12. Common Life
To do such other things as may be necessary in pursuance of its responsibility for the common life of the Church.
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