What is CORN?
The Committee on Nominations and Representation (CORN) shall annually nominate to the presbytery at the last stated meeting of a calendar year persons to fill new classes on the presbytery mandated committees and commissions, any necessary representative search committees for presbytery’s staff, and candidates for the offices of Moderator and Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery. Email the Presbytery office with suggested nominations, which will be shared with the CORN Chair. **View committee descriptions below
225th General Assembly Nominations
The 225th PC(USA) General Assembly was held June 18, 2022 – July 9, 2022, both virtually and in-person in Louisville, KY.
At its September 2021 meeting, New Castle Presbytery elected one Minister of Word and Sacrament Commissioner, one Ruling Elder Commissioner, one Young Adult Advisory Delegate, and one alternate for each position.
The Committee on Representation and Nominations (CORN) is responsible for presenting the slate of nominees for these positions to the Presbytery. CORN requests that the Session of each congregation and worshiping community of New Castle Presbytery prayerfully identify a Ruling Elder and/or Young Adult in their congregation who would be faithful representatives of New Castle Presbytery as a Commissioner or Delegate to the General Assembly.
View the helpful resource document regarding commissioner expectations here. Nominees for Commissioners and Alternates are selected from the nominations received by a specified date and submitted to CORN through the appropriate nomination form.
The Committee on Nominations Process for Selecting GA Commissioners
The Nominating Committee will provide a slate of nominees for Commissioners and alternates to the PC(U.S.A.) General Assembly. This slate should be posted on the presbytery website and available to all no later than early fall stated meeting of the presbytery in the year before General Assembly.
The Presbytery meeting in November prior to the General Assembly will include a docket item for the purpose of electing Commissioners and Alternates.
In considering the slate of Commissioners, the Nominating Committee must be cognizant of inclusivity, diversity, and demographics of New Castle Presbytery. The committee will seek inclusivity by considering the geographic dispersion of the presbytery, prior commissioners from a particular church and a variety of theological constructs. The committee will seek to present a diverse slate of candidates to the presbytery that reflects the racial, ethnic, age and gender of the body.
The Nominating Committee will be open to receive recommendations and suggestions from all congregations, committees, units, and individuals in the presbytery.
In making the final selection of nominees, the Nominating Committee must seek to reflect not just the majority position or sense of the presbytery, but also those voices and groups that have been marginalized in prior years. The committee must be intentional in their deliberations, prayerfully considering all candidates and attempting to serve the church with the best-qualified nominees.
The election at the December presbytery meeting will use paper ballots. Commissioners and alternates are elected by majority vote.
Committee Descriptions (view the Presbytery Manual for full details)
- Committee on Leadership – Develop and administer the personnel policies of the Presbytery in addition to proposing position descriptions/compensation for Presbytery staff and employees in coordination with annual reviews and evaluations.
- Committee on Ministers & Congregations – Serve as pastor and counselor to all ministers and commissioned ruling elders; counsel with sessions; provide minimum compensation standards for pastoral calls; approve sabbaticals/mini-sabbaticals; provide periodic rounding visits with congregations; approve terms of call/contracts for ministers and CREs; and examine and receive minister member.
- Committee on Preparation for Missional Ministry – Assure evaluation and nurture of persons preparing for ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament are observed in accordance with the Book of Order; care for/supervise candidates and inquirers for ordination as Ministers; propose/administer the Presbytery’s financial support for preparation for ministry, including the Candidates Reserve Fund; care for/supervise Ruling Elders preparing for commissioning; and transfer/receive inquirers and candidates to/from other Presbyteries.
- Ignite – Develop and support ways in which the Presbytery, its congregations and pastors, its members engaged in validated ministries, and its new congregations, new worshiping communities, fellowship groups, and other non-congregational entities can fulfill the mission of God in Christ; encourage ministry partnerships among congregations and ecumenical/interfaith organizations, including new worshipping communities; offer workshops and coaches to facilitate ways for congregations to tell their stories and collaborate with one another. Additionally, the Presbytery entrusts Ignite to allocate the Presbytery’s funds for developing missional identity and ministries in and through its congregations.
- Permanent Judicial Commission – Duties and jurisdiction as described in the Rules of Discipline of the Book of Order (D-4.0000 and D-5.0000 as well as the complete Rules of Discipline) shall be strictly observed.
- Trustees and Financial Resources – Duties and powers include preparing a budget for annual operating expenses including communicating with Ignite on the level of funding available for mission and proposing to Presbytery the means for funding the annual budget; conducting a full annual review of all financial books and records; presenting a financial report to Presbytery at each business meeting; monitoring the investment performance of all investments; overseeing general business matters of buildings and insurance; assisting congregations in developing plans for care and maintenance of building; and acquiring title to, holding and managing the property of dissolved congregations.