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COMMISSION ON MINISTERS & CONGREGATIONS (COMC)

WHO COMPRISES OUR MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS?

The New Castle Presbytery encompasses the entire state of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, consisting of the following Maryland counties:  Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester.  Within this jurisdiction lies:

  • 46 churches and 2 new worshiping communities (Church on Main and Riverfront Ministries)

  • Congregant membership of 5,392 (as of 2024 statistical reporting)

  • A little more than 100 pastors on our rolls

“TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, FOR BUILDING UP THE BODY OF CHRIST …” ~EPHESIANS 4:12

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WHAT DOES THE COMC DO?

The Commission on Ministers & Congregations (COMC) provides the link between our congregations, pastors and the Presbytery body.  The commission is accountable to the Presbytery, reporting directly to that body. The commission may utilize special f und(s) set aside for its use by the Trustees and the Presbytery.

 

We are here to assist with:

  • Support and oversight for the pastoral leaders and congregations of the Presbytery, in fulfillment of the mandates of the Book of Order, including pastoral transitions (Resources for COMC Liaisons and PNCs)

  • COMC Guidelines and Resources

  • When you need us!

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Check out the resources here

WHAT ARE ITS SPECIFIC ROLES?

Per the NCP Manual, the COMC responsibilities include:

  • Establish supportive and collegial relationships with the congregations, sessions, and pastoral leaders (Teaching Elders and Commissioned Ruling Elders) of the Presbytery

  • Facilitates relationships between congregations and pastoral leaders

  • Counsels with sessions as invited concerning reported or observed difficulties within a congregation, including:

    • Advising the session as to appropriate actions to be taken to resolve the reported difficulties

    • Offering to help as a mediator

    • Acting to correct the difficulties if requested to do so by the session or if the session is unable or unwilling to do so

    • Providing guidance and oversight to congregations without pastors, including appointing moderators

    • Organizing, receiving, merging, dismissing and dissolving congregations in consultation with their members

    • Nurturing New Worshipping Communities (currently Church on Main and Riverfront Ministries), including approving any annual funding provided by the Presbytery and the celebration of the sacraments

    • Following the procedural safeguards of the Rules of Discipline and recommends to the Presbytery the appointment of administrative commissions to assume original jurisdiction in any situation in which it determines that a session is not properly exercising its authority

    • Responding to requests for a pastoral inquiry according to G-3.0109b(6) with the authority to appoint an administrative commission for the purpose of such an inquiry

    • Proposing for Presbytery approval annually the minimum compensation standards for pastoral services, including review of the compensation for one-time services

  • Approving sabbaticals or any other extended absence of a pastoral leader serving a congregation

  • Administering the use of any special funds of the Presbytery assigned to COMC

  • Approving the terms of call, contracts, and covenants for pastoral leaders

  • Approving the renewal of commissions for Commissioned Ruling Elders (CREs)

  • Examining and receiving Teaching Elders by transfer from other presbyteries for the purpose of accepting valid calls to ministry and/or membership in the Presbytery and, when appropriate, approve the formation of administrative commissions for the purpose of installation (see Appendix F of the NCP Manual).

  • Reporting all approved pastoral leader changes to the next meeting of Presbytery

  • Introducing formally pastoral leaders new to the Presbytery at the first appropriate meeting of Presbytery

  • Approving and reviewing annually the work of all Teaching Elders and Commissioned Ruling Elders through the establishment of a ministry team acting as deacons:

    • The Deacon Ministry Team shall be 3-6 teaching elders not currently serving on COMC appointed to the ministry of caring and compassion for the pastoral leaders of the Presbytery

    • The members of the team may serve up to six years at a time, in three year terms that may be renewed once

    • The team will organize itself but shall provide a monthly report of activity to COMC and shall meet at least quarterly with one another

    • The members of the team are accountable to and shall function under the oversight of COMC

    • COMC shall allocate a portion of its annual budget to support the caring ministry of the Deacon Ministry Team

COMC LEADERSHIP

CURRENT COMC CHAIR:
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Rev. Randy Clayton – Retired Minister Member

Email Randy

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