Elders nomination by pastor

[Guest Iksung Chi]

Hi, I have a question that our congregation is seeking desperately. When selecting nominating committee members or ruling elders, can the Pastor influence or manipulate the floor nomination procedures. Our pastor ordered a member(s) nominate certain member for nominating committee position(s) and floor nominate a certain ruling elder(s). We believe the pastor is an employee of a presbytery and therefore must not be involved in the selection of any of these positions.  However, our paster insists he by all means can exercise his right to do so during a recent training session for newly selected elders. Thank you in advance!!

[Josh Martin]

On 11/14/2021 at 5:48 PM, Guest Iksung Chi said:

When selecting nominating committee members or ruling elders, can the Pastor influence or manipulate the floor nomination procedures. Our pastor ordered a member(s) nominate certain member for nominating committee position(s) and floor nominate a certain ruling elder(s). We believe the pastor is an employee of a presbytery and therefore must not be involved in the selection of any of these positions.  However, our paster insists he by all means can exercise his right to do so during a recent training session for newly selected elders.

No rule in RONR would provide that an employee of an organization "must not be involved in the selection of any of these positions," however, certainly nothing in RONR would grant an employee (or anyone) the authority to order that certain persons be nominated. It would be a request. RONR also does not grant a nonmember of the organization any rights in this regard.

The organization is free to adopt its own rules on these matters if it wishes.

Edited November 15, 2021 at 12:54 PM by Josh Martin

[Richard Brown]

I agree with the comments above by Josh Martin and have a couple of questions to help me understand the situation:

Is the pastor considered an official member of the church?

Does he have voting rights?

Is he’s serving  as the presiding officer at these meetings and is doing so one of his duties?

if the pastor is serving in the role or capacity of a president, RONR provides that he should have no role in the selection of nominating committee members.  I don’t know what your pastor’s  role is in that regard.

[J. J.]

Since you sound Presbyterian, there is a very good chance that the pastor is not a member of the congregation (he would then be a member of the presbytery).  It would be unlikely that he has the authority to make motions (though he could assume motions while chairing).

While he cannot order members, he can suggest to that member that certain individuals be nominated.  That individual is free to ignore him.