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A Note from the Stated Clerk's desk:
Many times we get asked "What is the difference between an elder and a ruling elder" or "what is the difference between an elder and a CRE"? I'm here to answer those questions for you!
The difference between an elder and a ruling elder is nothing. The Book of Order jumps back and forth about what exactly to call elders. When Ministers of the Word and Sacrament are called Teaching Elders by the Book of Order, that is when we find the "ruling elder" most used. Once an elder, always an elder. Even if that particular person is not serving actively on the Session, that doesn't remove their elder status.
So what about CREs? CREs are Commissioned Ruling Elders and sometimes by the Book of Order they are called Commissioned Lay Pastor. A CRE is ONLY a CRE when they have a church they have been commissioned to. If they are not serving in a commission, they are a ruling elder. Yes, they may have still be trained to be a CRE but that title only stands while they are serving a commission. It is also important to note that a CRE's commission only extends to the permissions given to them by the COM and thus Presbytery. For example, a CRE who has been commissioned to church First, cannot go to Second to administer the Sacraments.
Sometimes the Presbytery is asked to remove elders who are no longer serving on Session. Elders are not removed from any list when they are not serving at the Presbytery level. Elders are only removed from the roles if a disciplinary case has found them guilty and this is the censure. If this is the case, or the question that is being asked, please contact me, the Stated Clerk!
Blessings to you all!
Stay tuned for more notes from the Stated Clerk's desk to come in future editions of the Good News!
Rev. Elissa Bailey
Many times we get asked "What is the difference between an elder and a ruling elder" or "what is the difference between an elder and a CRE"? I'm here to answer those questions for you!
The difference between an elder and a ruling elder is nothing. The Book of Order jumps back and forth about what exactly to call elders. When Ministers of the Word and Sacrament are called Teaching Elders by the Book of Order, that is when we find the "ruling elder" most used. Once an elder, always an elder. Even if that particular person is not serving actively on the Session, that doesn't remove their elder status.
So what about CREs? CREs are Commissioned Ruling Elders and sometimes by the Book of Order they are called Commissioned Lay Pastor. A CRE is ONLY a CRE when they have a church they have been commissioned to. If they are not serving in a commission, they are a ruling elder. Yes, they may have still be trained to be a CRE but that title only stands while they are serving a commission. It is also important to note that a CRE's commission only extends to the permissions given to them by the COM and thus Presbytery. For example, a CRE who has been commissioned to church First, cannot go to Second to administer the Sacraments.
Sometimes the Presbytery is asked to remove elders who are no longer serving on Session. Elders are not removed from any list when they are not serving at the Presbytery level. Elders are only removed from the roles if a disciplinary case has found them guilty and this is the censure. If this is the case, or the question that is being asked, please contact me, the Stated Clerk!
Blessings to you all!
Stay tuned for more notes from the Stated Clerk's desk to come in future editions of the Good News!
Rev. Elissa Bailey
