New Form of Government
(nFOG)
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New Form of Government
(nFOG)
Approved by the 219th General
(2010) Assembly and sent to
Presbyteries for ratification.
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Introduction
What is nFoG?
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Part One
Part Two
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Form of Government
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Form of Government
Directory for Worship
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Form of Government
Directory for Worship
Rules of Discipline
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Directory for Worship
Rules of Discipline
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The PC(USA) Constitution
Foundations of
Presbyterian Polity
Form of Government
Directory for Worship
Rules of Discipline
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Form of Government
14
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10
Foundations of Presbyterian Polity
• Nearly all of the current first four
chapters preserved
• Similar themes grouped together
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Chapters
1: Congregations and
Membership
2: Ordered Ministries,
Commissioning, and
Certification
3: Councils
4: Church and Civil Authorities
5: Ecumenicity and Union
6: Interpreting and Amending
the Constitution
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Effect of nFOG
On Presbyteries
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Nomenclature Changes
Governing Body
Council (G-3.0101)
Minister of Word and
Sacrament
Elder
Teaching Elder (G-2.0501)
Commissioned Lay
Pastor (CLP)
Ordained
Commissioned Ruling
Elder (G-2.1001)
Ordered Ministry (G-
Ruling Elder (G-2.0301)
2.0102)
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What Didn’t Change?
nFOG Committee had mandate from GA
not to change the ordination standards or
property trust rules.
Ordination Standards G-6.0106b  G2.0104b
Property Trust G-8.0201  G-4.0203
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Membership Categories
(G-2.0503)
Installed pastor, co-pastor or associate
pastor
Validated Ministry
Member at Large
Honorably Retired
Note that there is no longer an “inactive
member”
Failure to work in a validated ministry for 3
years results in loss of membership. (G-2.0508)
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Installed Pastor
(G-2.0504a)
Categories
Pastor
Co-pastor
Associate Pastor
Now they may be installed for definite or
indefinite time.
What we now call a designated pastor is
just one of the above installed for a
definite period of time.
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Temporary Pastors
(G-2.0504b)
 Title is decided by the Presbytery
No required names, such as “stated supply”, “temporary
supply”, “interim”, etc.
 Terms are decided by the Presbytery
Must not exceed 12 months, but may be renewed
indefinitely.
 No formal call or installation.
 May serve as next installed pastor, associate
pastor or co-pastor with ¾ vote of Presbytery. (G2.0504c)
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Associate Pastor
(G-2.0504c)
Generally, an associate pastor cannot
become the next installed pastor or copastor.
Exception: An installed associate pastor
may become the next installed pastor or
co-pastor with a ¾ vote of Presbytery.
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Committee on Ministry
(G-3.0106)
Only the core responsibilities and
authorities are given.
All else must be stated in an operating
manual.
The name “Committee on Ministry” doesn’t
have to exist, only the functions.
Might cause some confusion trying to
contact who we now call the COM chair.
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Preparation for Ministry
(G-2.06)
 Only a broad statement of responsibilities and purposes
is given.
 Similar to COM, only the core requirements are
specified.
 Details must be developed by the Presbytery in a
manual of operations. Current process in G-14 may be
used as that manual.
 Nearly all details of the preparation process is left to the
presbytery.
 No requirement for a group named Committee on
Preparation for Ministry (CPM).
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Council
(G-3.0109)
What we used to know as “Governing
Bodies,” “Adjudicatories,” “Courts,”
“Holders of Very Long Meetings”
We can create a groups like our current
Councils, CWSW, CM&N, CASS, GC and
name it and give it whatever functions we
desire.
Need to change the name since “Council”
is now used in another way.
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Committee on Representation (G-3.0103)
Required for Councils above the session.
May use whatever name we wish.
Empowers Councils to implement polices
for diversity that are effective for that
council.
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Certified Church Service
(G-2.11)
Certified Christian Educator
Certified Associate Christian Educator
Other certified service as approved by
presbytery.
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Officers
(G-3.0104)
Constitutional Officers
Moderator for a set term (no longer limited to 1
yr)
Stated Clerk for a set term
Such other officers as the Council
(Presbytery) determines, such as:
Vice Moderator
Treasurer
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Administration
(G-3.0106)
Council (Presbytery) must develop an
administrative manual to define details no
longer in the FOG.
A Council (Presbytery) may delegate
authorities and responsibilities to other
entities as long as that entity is
responsible to the Council.
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Synod
(G-3.0404)
A Council (Synod) may decide to reduce
it’s functions to as little as
judicial process
administrative review.
Must be approved by 2/3 of its Councils
(Presbyteries).
Functions abandoned are given to the Councils
(Presbyteries) by mutual agreement.
Must meet at least once every two years.
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What is different about nFOG?
Fewer chapters
Less detailed
More of a constitution than a manual of
operations
Allows much more flexibility rather than
the “one size fits all” current FoG.
Seeks to focus on mission rather than
regulation.
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What is different about nFOG?
A lot of work during the transition to write
manual of operations.
Introduces some confusion in relating
functions of a Council (presbytery) (e.g.
who to call to get in touch with COM?)
Will all teaching ministers, elders and
deacons be ordained to same
“standards”?
Ambiguity as we get used to nFOG.
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