Delegates Approve New Procedures for Commissioned Pastors

Synod 2017 took steps to define and regulate the office of Commissioned Pastor. Once limited to pastors in congregations that had not yet reached the stage of formal organization, the office of commissioned pastor has been expanded several times to provide ordination for pastors working in a variety of settings, including specialized ministries in local churches, church plants, and chaplaincy.

With the expansion of the office, however, new situations have arisen. This has led synods over the years to continue to shape the office. This year was no different. Synod 2017 took several actions with regard to Commissioned Pastors.

Some of these changes require changes in the Church Order, which will require ratification by a future synod.

One such proposal is to extend the office of Commissioned Pastor into retirement, giving the pastor the authority to continue to act in official pastoral roles like preaching and administration of the sacraments.

Another proposed Church Order change creates a procedure for Commissioned Pastors who are released from a ministry to receive assistance from the classis, the regional body of churches, in the hope of making it possible for the pastor to flourish in future ministry assignments.

Synod also approved language for the Church Order that would facilitate and regulate the use of the office of Commissioned Pastors as a stepping stone to ordination as a Minister of the Word.

Other changes approved by Synod 2017 are changes to the supplemental material of the Church Order. These changes can take effect immediately.

For example, synod clarified the steps to be taken if a commissioned pastor transfers from one church to another. This provision occasioned a lengthy discussion by delegates.

Rodney Hugen of Classis Arizona, called the restrictions on commissioned pastors “federalization.” 

Henry Perez, Classis Wisconsin, agreed. He said the new procedures are “too cumbersome for ministry.”

“We are not thinking progressively,” he added.

David Koll, director of the Office of Candidacy for the denomination, responded by saying that the new procedures are actually less restrictive than they had been previously. 

In a final action, synod expressed the need to reformat and perhaps rewrite the changes in the Church Order and supplements for the office of Commissioned Pastor that have accumulated over time to bring about more clarity and, perhaps, brevity in the regulations.

This proposal, like the other changes proposed for the church order, will be on the agenda for Synod 2018.

For continuous coverage of Synod 2017 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, reports, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.