A6 Presidency at the Sacraments

Presidency at the Sacraments 

The Basis of Union says that:

The worship of the local church is an expression of the worship of the whole people of God. In order that this may be clearly seen, the United Reformed Church shall . . .

(c) make provision through Area Pastoral Committees, in full consultation with the local churches concerned, for the recognition of certain members of the United Reformed Church, normally deaconesses, elders or accredited lay preachers, who may be invited by local churches to preside at baptismal and communion services where pastoral necessity so requires.

The pastoral needs of each situation shall be reviewed periodically by the district or area council in consultation with the local church.

Apart from ordained ministers of the United Reformed Church and of other churches, only such recognised persons may be invited.

See Manual Section A24 

The Synod acknowledges that because of the limited availability of ministers of word and sacrament there will be cases of pastoral necessity requiring presidency at the sacraments by certain recognised members of the United Reformed Church, and agrees the following procedure for such recognition: 

1. each year [normally in the summer for the following calendar year] churches or combinations of churches will be invited to nominate elders, serving or non-serving, or Synod approved or nationally accredited lay preachers who have a pastoral relationship with the congregation, for recognition by the Synod, acting on the advice of Area Pastoral Committee (APC), as those to be authorised to preside at the sacraments in cases of pastoral necessity. Nominations will be made to the secretary of the pastoral committee. The APC (or its officers as agreed) have authority to add during the year to the list of those authorised and report;
2. churches should state the pastoral needs which give rise to the submission of the nomination(s), and whether these needs have changed during the past 12 months;
3. churches should give details of those nominated which indicate why they would be suitable people to preside at the sacraments in cases of pastoral necessity;
4. churches should state that those nominated are prepared to participate in occasional training and refresher sessions and, if appropriate, the date of the last training or refresher session attended;
5. churches should undertake that, prior to inviting a recognised lay person to preside at the sacraments, every effort will be made to engage the services of a minister of word and sacraments who has a pastoral relationship with the congregation;
6. in cases of emergency the elders of a local church have authority to appoint one of their number on the day;
7. out of pastoral necessity it is appropriate for ordinands to preside at the sacraments as part of their training with congregations with which they have a pastoral relationship [i.e. during a major or internship placement]. The APC will authorise such ordinands on placement, subject to the agreement of the ordinand, theological college and placement churches. 

Note: Authorisation of lay presidency at the Windermere Centre lies within the remit of the Cumbria Area Pastoral Committee. 

See also the Manual Section A25 and Section F (advice offered to Assembly on various occasions).   Function (vii) of District Council in this matter will be transferred to Synod.