| 2 years ago :: Sep 20, 2011 - 4:59PM #1 | |
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My daughter (living in another town) belongs to a Presbyterian church where she lives. Six months ago, the church released its pastor and hired a new one. The former pastor moved to a new church a few towns away. Early this month, the former pastor contacted my daughter and suggested she stop by for a sermon at his new church.
There were ( and are ) no sexual overtones involved and I'm not worried about that. But I am curious if it is acceptable according to Presbyterian rules or polity, written or unwritten, for a pastor to contact congregants from a former church in what seems to be a recruitment effort. Many thanks for any feedback. Jim |
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| 2 years ago :: Sep 23, 2011 - 2:01PM #2 | |
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It should be considered unethical for a pastor to intentionally seek to persuade a member of another congregation, especially of his own denomination, to change their membership without some good reason, such as a difference in theological belief or worship practice. Such should be reported to the new pastor, and possibly to the presbytery. |
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| 2 years ago :: Sep 23, 2011 - 2:11PM #3 | |
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Thank your for the information. Is this documented in the Presbyterian Book of Order, or any other place? |
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| 2 years ago :: Oct 20, 2011 - 2:54PM #4 | |
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At present, I don't have time to search the PCUSA Book of Church Order; if indeed, this is the denomination to whcih this congregation belongs (there being a number of Presbyterian and Reformed denominations in North America). I myself am a minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian denomination. |
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| 2 years ago :: Oct 26, 2011 - 8:45PM #5 | |
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There is a code of ethical conduct which can be found at www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/_resolutions.... In this PDF document there is an introduction, then the code of conduct for members, then for employees, then for ordained officers, then an expanded one for ordained officers with examples and references. On what is page 9 of the PDF but is marked as page 3 is the briefer Ordained Officer part. I would direct you to Part II, paragraphs 15 and 16. "I will ... "15. Participate in the life of a ministry setting I left or from which I have retired only as directed by presbytery; "16. Provide pastoral services for a congregation I previously served only as directed by the presbytery and provide pastoral services to members of other congregations only with the consent of their pastors;" That said, I think you should express your concerns to the former pastor rather than going first to the presbytery or other authority. If you don't get a satisfactory response from him, then you can procede otherwise. |
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