Congregational Responsibilities

Covenant partners in the Kirk of the Keys have responsibilities with regard to the called pastor. When the called pastor is ordained to serve the Kirk of the Keys, the congregation will be asked the following questions:

• Do we, the covenant partners of this congregation, accept (name) as our pastor, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God and the Constitution of ECO? 
• Do we agree to pray for him (her), to encourage him (her), to respect his (her) decisions and to follow as he (she) guides us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? 
• Do we agree to pay him (her) fairly and provide for his (her) welfare as he (she) works among us? 
• Will we listen to the word he (she) preaches, welcome his (her) pastoral care, and honor his (her) servant leadership and authority as he (she) seeks to honor Jesus Christ?

As the PNC works to submit qualified pastoral candidates to the congregation, think and pray about these questions you will be asked to honor not only as the called pastor is ordained, but throughout his or her tenure at the Kirk.

2.04 The Ministry of Pastors 

Pastors are to use their spiritual gifts for ministry, with a particular emphasis on the gifts of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, shepherding, and teaching (Ephesians 4:11-12). A pastor is to nurture the spiritual health and maturity of the body of Christ in order that the body may be equipped to partner with God in His redemptive work in the world. In addition to adherence to the Essential Tenets, presbyteries shall ensure that candidates for ministry are adequately trained for their task. Training shall include a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and ordinarily a master’s degree from an accredited theological seminary in biblical or theological studies, as well as appropriate hands-on ministry experience and mentoring. Candidates for ministry must demonstrate significant theological and biblical competence as well as the necessary skills for pastoral ministry. All pastors serving an ECO congregation must hold their ordination in ECO or be received as affiliate pastors by the presbytery of jurisdiction. 

2.0401 Categories and responsibilities of pastors 

Pastors are members of the presbytery. Thus, their ministry and calling is approved by the presbytery or its authorized team that is responsible for examining and credentialing pastors. All members of the presbytery have voice in its deliberations; and the right to vote is given to those serving in a pastoral capacity in a congregation. In order to ensure maximum deployment for the kingdom of God, as well as ensuring the core integrity of theology and ministry, categories and responsibilities of pastors are as follows: 

1. Pastor/Head of Staff – Pastors/Heads of Staff or Co-Pastors/Heads of Staff are called by the congregation and installed by the presbytery and shall have the responsibility to moderate session and congregational meetings. They are members of presbytery with voice and vote.
2. Associate Pastor – Associate pastors are called by the congregation and installed by the presbytery upon recommendation of the session. They are members of presbytery with voice and vote.
3. Assistant Pastor – Assistant pastors are called by the session or pastor/head of staff according to rule (sic) of the session. The session, acting as a pastor nominating committee, may propose to the congregation that an assistant pastor be called as an associate pastor. Assistant pastors are members of presbytery with voice and vote, and may, upon election by the congregation, serve on the session with voice and vote in accordance with the congregation’s own rule.  
4. Transitional Pastor – Transitional pastors are called by the session and may be used in times of transition when a congregation is without a pastor/head of staff. Transitional pastors shall have the same responsibilities and privileges in presbytery as pastors/heads of staff.
5. Pastor in a Validated Ministry – Pastors may be authorized to serve in validated ministries outside a local congregation. Validated ministries might include service in a presbytery, educational institution, hospital, or a variety of mission fields. The presbytery shall validate and annually review the pastor’s ministry. Ordinarily, pastors in validated ministry will also be expected to take part in the life and ministry of a local ECO congregation. Pastors in validated ministries have voice and may be granted the right to vote if serving as a parttime (sic) assistant pastor. 
6. Affiliate Pastor – A pastor may be ordained in a different body and become an affiliate member of ECO. Affiliate pastors shall adhere to the Essential Tenets of ECO. The presbytery shall determine the suitability of an affiliate pastor. If an affiliate pastor serves as pastor/head of staff of a non-union ECO congregation, then the affiliate pastor shall have voice and vote in presbytery; otherwise the affiliate pastor shall just have voice. Affiliate membership ends when the pastor completes their call in the local ECO church.
7. Honorably Retired Pastor – Pastors may request the status of honorably retired. Honorably retired pastors shall have voice but no vote in presbytery unless they are serving as an assistant or transitional pastor. Each honorably retired pastor is encouraged to become active in the life of congregation (sic). A church session may commission an honorably retired pastor to administer the sacraments within that session’s congregation. Such commission shall be for a defined period not to exceed twelve months and may be renewed indefinitely in increments of twelve month (sic) or less.

Want to dive deeper into the ECO Constitution and Essential Tenets?