a. The ministry of continuing members shall be in demonstrable conformity with the mission of God's people in the world as set forth in Holy Scripture, the Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order of this Church.
b. The ministry shall be one that serves others, aids others, and enables the ministry of others.
c. The ministry shall give evidence of theologically informed fidelity to God's Word. This will normally require the Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent and the completion of the requirements for ordination set forth in G-14.0402.
d. The ministry shall be carried on in accountability for its character and conduct to the presbytery and to organizations, agencies, and institutions.
e. The ministry shall include responsible participation in the deliberations and work of the presbytery and in the worship and service of a congregation.

Ministries that fulfill all five criteria are validated ministries. Validated ministries may be in any of four different settings:

a. congregations of this denomination;
b. other service of this denomination;
c. service beyond the jurisdiction of this denomination;
d. honorably retired (G-11.0408).

Categories of Clergy Membership in Presbytery include:

1. Active: a minister engaged in active service as defined above.
2. Member-at-Large: a minister who without intentional abandonment of the exercise of ministry, is no longer engaged in a ministry that complies with all five criteria in G-11.0403.

A. ministers between calls
b. ministers fulfilling family responsibilities

A member-at-large is instructed to comply with as many of the five criteria for validated ministry as possible. The important phrase here is "...without intentional abandonment of the exercise of ministry." The Book of Order is very clear that active members must fulfill all five criteria and that members-at-large must comply with as many of the five criteria as possible.

3. Inactive member: a minister who is "...now voluntarily engaged in an occupation that does not comply with the five criteria in G-11.0403." The Book of Order draws a clear distinction between clergy who have not intentionally abandoned the exercise of ministry and those who are voluntarily engaged in an occupation that does not comply with the five criteria of active ministry.

Inactive members do not have a right to:

a. take part in presbytery meetings;
b. speak at presbytery meetings except when presbytery is considering a matter concerning him or her (G-11.0406c);
c. vote at presbytery meetings
d. hold office in presbytery
e. serve on a presbytery committee.

The Standing Rules of the Presbytery of West Jersey as amended by this policy includes these provisions:

311 It is the duty of all active clergy, commissioned lay pastors, and at-large clergy members in residence to be present at all stated meetings of Presbytery. Excuses for absence from Stated Meetings shall be required from all members of the clergy, except those who have been honorably retired and those laboring outside the bounds of Presbytery. Excuses from members of clergy and churches not sending elder commissioners must be made in writing to the Stated Clerk no later than seven days after the meeting in question.

312 Members of the clergy and commissioned lay pastors shall be liable to censure of the Presbytery when they do not attend a minimum of two stated meetings in a calendar year without rendering satisfactory reasons.

Therefore, it is the policy of the Presbytery of West Jersey that if a member of the clergy or a commissioned lay pastor does not attend a minimum of two stated meetings in a calendar year without providing satisfactory reason:

1. a letter of censure will be sent by the Stated Clerk to the minister or commissioned lay pastor.
2. the name of the minister or commissioned lay pastor will be read during the January report of the Committee on Ministry.
3. if the minister or commissioned lay pastor is serving a church within the bounds of the presbytery, a letter will be sent to the session of the church noting the absences, the obligations of serving as an active member of the Presbytery of West Jersey, and a request that the session counsel with the pastor or commissioned lay pastor concerning his or her vows to be active in the life of the larger church.
4. if the minister is a member-at-large and does not attend a minimum of two stated meetings in a calendar year without satisfactory excuse, the Committee on Ministry through its appropriate subcommittee shall counsel with the minister to encourage a return to active participation. If the minister does not demonstrate a willingness to be actively involved in the life of the presbytery and does not provide adequate reason for not becoming actively involved, the Committee on Ministry shall recommend to presbytery that the minister be placed on the inactive roll of the presbytery (G-11.0415a).

CHURCHES

Serving in the governing bodies of the Church is part of the vows of ordination for elders. Each elder is asked: "Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the Church...?" (G-14.0207i)

The Presbyterian system of government is connectional in nature, depending on both clergy and elders to participate in equal number in the decision making of the church at all levels, working together for the good of the Church and for the proclamation of the gospel.

For that reason, the Stated Clerk of presbytery is required to make an annual parity report to presbytery at its January meeting and to suggest a method for redressing the imbalance of clergy and elder participation in presbytery meetings.

The Standing Rules of the Presbytery of West Jersey as amended by this policy includes these provisions:

313 It is the duty of each session to designate one or more elder commissioners to each stated meeting of Presbytery in accordance with the parity report of the Stated Clerk. Excuses for absence from Stated Meetings shall be required of duly elected commissioners and shall be made in writing to the Stated Clerk no later than seven days after the meeting in question.

314 When a church has not been represented in Presbytery by an elder at a minimum of two stated meetings in a calendar year without rendering satisfactory reasons, it shall be recorded in the minutes of Presbytery as delinquent and shall be notified of that fact by the Stated Clerk.

Therefore, it is the policy of the Presbytery of West Jersey that if a church is not represented by an elder commissioner at a minimum of two stated meetings in a calendar year without providing satisfactory reason:

1. the name of the church will be read during the January report of the Committee on Ministry.
2. a letter will be sent by the Stated Clerk to the session of the church noting the absences, the obligations of serving as elders of a church of the Presbytery of West Jersey, and offering the counsel of the Committee on Ministry with the session concerning its obligation to be active in the government of the whole church.

IMPLEMENTATION:
Following the September stated meeting, the Stated Clerk shall notify the Committee on Ministry and the Executive Presbyter of those clergy, commissioned lay pastors, and churches who have attended fewer than two Presbytery meetings in that calendar year to provide adequate time for pastoral follow-up with those who are in danger of being delinquent.

The Presbytery shall be careful to take into account special reasons for inability to attend its meetings, especially in cases of illness, financial hardship, continuing education, and family responsibilities. However, it remains the responsibility of clergy and churches to request from the office of the Stated Clerk excuses from stated meetings of Presbytery.