Church Of Scotland
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 46
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... III.--PRESBYTERY. l.--ITS CONSTITUTION AND DUTIES. Composition Of A Presbytery. A Presbytery is composed of the ministers of a certain number of contiguous parishes; of the professors of divinity, being ministers, in any university within the bounds; and of a representative elder from the kirk-session of each parish within the Presbytery. Meetings. The Presbyteries of the Church, which at present are eighty-four in number, meet, in general, once a-month, for the transaction of ordinary business. In outlying districts, such as Orkney and Shetland, the meetings are at more distant intervals. Moderator. The Moderator must be one of the ministers, and the appointment is made by the Presbytery, in general at the first meeting after the meeting of the provincial Synod. The selection is usually regulated by the order of dates of ordination, so that the several ministerial members occupy the chair in succession. When the Moderator for the time happens to be absent, his place is taken by his predecessor in office, and, failing him, by the oldest minister. Okdinary Business. The business of a Presbytery is of a twofold nature--ecclesiastical and civil. Under the first are included the examinations of students in divinity, and, after they have completed their course of study, the granting of licence to them as preachers of the Gospel; the trial of the qualifications of presentees to parishes, and their ordination and induction; the exercise of a-general supervision of the manner in which the duties of the ministry within the bounds are discharged; the investigation and determination of complaints and reports affecting the character and ministerial usefulness of any of its members, and the consideration and disposal of dissents and complaints, ...