News from the GA Ordination Standards Task Force

Greetings Co-Workers in Christ

The Ordination Task Force has just released its report and recommendations for the 2026 General Assembly this Summer. The task force included representation from our very own Synod: Mary Lloyd (Ruling Elder, Detroit Presbytery) and Lance Wiesmann (Ruling Elder, Maumee Valley Presbytery)!

Here is the link to the full report, with a number of recommended changes for the ordination process for Ministers of Word and Sacrament, for example an alternative to Senior Ordination Exams with the Senior Ordination Portfolio potion. However, I wanted to focus on the proposed changes for Commissioned Ruling Elders.

First, the Task Force recommends becoming more consistent with the term “commissioned pastors” as opposed to “commissioned ruling elders” in order to “more accurately reflect their pastoral role, missional context, and public identity.” In one of my first newsletter, I advocated for changing our mindset around CRE/CPs as a call to serve in the role of pastor, not just a substitute for a Minister of Word and Sacrament.

Second, the Task Force recommends national standards for CRE/CP training by amending G-2.1002 with the following: “This shall include completion of study, not necessarily at a master’s level, and demonstration of competent understanding and application of Presbyterian polity, Reformed worship and sacraments, Reformed theology, biblical interpretation of the Old and New Testaments, preaching, Christian education, and pastoral care.” Presbyteries are still responsible for CRE/CP training but would need to ensure that these core areas of study would be completed. If this recommendation were to pass, then I would be available to assist presbyteries as they develop training programs to meet these proposed standards.

Third, the Task Force recommends a process in which a presbytery may “by supermajority vote” commission a ruling elder to “serve in a specific mission context demonstrably aligned with the presbytery’s strategy for mission.” The recommendation includes a number of conditions, but the sense is that a presbytery would have some flexibility, especially in the case of immigrant fellowships and new worshiping communities, commissioning ruling elders without the typical training process.

I will be reading more on the report and will watch closely for the final vote on this report at the 2026 General Assembly this summer, but I wanted to share the report and a summary of the recommendation that impact CRE/CPs. For a summary of the full report, I have included a helpful infographic at the bottom of this column.

“Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name”

3 John 15

Tim Pollock

CRE Coordinator of the Synod of the Covenant

tim@synodofthecovenant.org

740-624-2351 - cell