A basic principle of the Presbyterian government provides church members with the right to choose those who govern. New officers for all boards of the Memorial Presbyterian Church will be elected at a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 26, 2025. The Nominating committee is seeking your recommendations for the individuals you feel have particular gifts to share in the ministry and governing of our church. Be guided prayerfully by the gifts and responsibilities shown below. Please return all recommendations by Sunday, September 8, 2025.
Completed/Signed nominating forms may be placed in one of the following: Box in Church Narthex/Lobby on Babylon Turnpike, or Church Administration Building Drop box (back door mail slot)
or submit to any member of the Nominating Committee listed:
Susan Christian, Michael Desir, Calvin Hinds, Valerie O'Connor, Carol Ransom, Inez Reid, Nancy Samms and Betty Williams
Memorial Presbyterian Church Officer Criteria
Candidates being considered must be an active member for two years and should have one year of continued service and stewardship (as indicated in the Marks of Membership below).
- Proclaiming the good news in word and deed
- Taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation
- Lifting one another up in prayer, mutual concern, and active support
- Studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life
- Supporting the ministry of the church through the giving of money, time, and talents
- Demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church
- Responding to God’s activity in the world through service to others
- Living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life
- Working in the world for peace, justice, freedom, and human fulfillment
- Caring for God’s creation
- Participating in the governing responsibilities of the church
- And reviewing and evaluation regularly the integrity of one’s membership and considering ways in which one's participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful
GIFTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OFFICERS
The full term for all officers is three years. Incumbents may be elected to a second three-year term. However, no officer may serve on any board for more than six (6) consecutive years. Members of the nominating committee are elected to a one-year term.
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.
The Book of Order, G-2.0301
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.
The Book of Order, G-2.0201
A committee elected by the congregation, drawn from and representative of its membership, for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. *Congregations may provide by their own rule for a congregational nominating committee. The rule shall meet the following criteria: (1) the minimum size of the committee as specified in the rule shall be at least three persons; (2) at least one member of the committee shall be an elder currently serving on session; and (3) a majority of those persons on the committee who are eligible to vote shall consist of persons not currently serving on session. The pastor shall serve ex officio and without vote. MPC Bylaws (Article VI) prescribe that there shall be at least seven (7) active members on the nominating committee. At least two members of the committee shall be ruling elders, one of whom is currently serving on the session. A third member shall be a deacon currently serving on the Board of Deacons. Active ruling elders/deacon shall be designated by the session.
The Book of Order, G-2.0241
*MPC Bylaws (Article VI) prescribe that there shall be at least seven (7) active members on the nominating committee. The committee shall consist of at least two ruling elders, one of whom is currently serving on the Session, and one deacon currently serving on the Board of Deacons. Ruling elders/deacon shall be designated by the Session.
