Resolution To Elect Additional Deacons


by FPC Leadership on March 5, 2014

BE IT RESOLVED by the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, that:

The Congregation elect twenty (20) additional Deacons, the election to be held in the sanctuary of the church after the regular 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. worship services on Sunday, September 14, 2014, and each Sunday thereafter, after the regular 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. worship services, until such additional Deacons are elected in accordance with the procedure hereinafter outlined. For the purpose of this election only, the 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. services shall be considered as one Congregational Meeting, with the presence of a quorum to be determined after the 11:00 a.m. service, and with the ballots cast after the 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. services to be preserved and counted with those ballots cast after the 11:00 a.m. service.

Section 24-1, The Book of Church Order, Presbyterian Church in America provides:

Every church shall elect persons to the offices of Ruling Elder and Deacon in the following manner: Public notice shall be given of the time, place, and purpose of this meeting at least one month prior to the appointed time, during which time the Congregation is asked to submit names to the Session, keeping in mind that each prospective officer should be an active male member who meets the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The prospective officer shall be examined in:

a. his Christian experience,

b. his knowledge of the system of doctrine, government, discipline contained in the Standards,

c. the duties of the office to which he has been nominated, and

d.  his willingness to give assent to the questions required for ordination.
(BCO 24-6)

The Session shall examine and approve those nominated and then report to the Congregation before election day those eligible for election.

This plan will be followed, and each communing member of the Congregation in good and regular standing will have from March 9, 2014, until 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2014, to submit up to, but not exceeding twenty (20) written nominations to the Diaconate. Only those men who have been members of First Presbyterian Church for at least three years, who meet the qualifications of Scripture, whose reputation and character are known, who are committed to the doctrines of our church, and who show the gifts for the specific office being considered are eligible for nomination.
 

Each full communing member is allowed to nominate as many men as have been approved to be elected. By submitting and signing an officer nomination form, church members are attesting that they have spoken with the person being nominated and have gained his permission to do so.
 

For a male member of the congregation to be considered for nomination for either Elder/Deacon, he shall be required to receive at least three nominations. All nominations for either office shall be handed or mailed to the Executive Minister’s office on the provided form. 
 

For multiple nominations, a separate form for each nominee should be provided.
 

The Moderator will appoint at once nine (9) managers to conduct the election and count the votes until twenty (20) Deacons shall have been elected. The voting will be by secret written ballot which will be prepared by the committee of managers, and on election day one (1) ballot will be furnished each communing member of the Congregation present. The names of the nominees will be alphabetically listed on the ballot and the nominee or nominees receiving a majority of the votes cast by the communing members present shall be elected.
 

If twenty (20) Deacons are not elected at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, September 14,  2014, a similar ballot shall be prepared by the committee of managers, which ballot shall contain the names of twice the number of Deacons yet to be elected, the nominees on that ballot to be those with the highest number of votes next after those who were elected, and the voting to take place at a reconvened meeting of the Congregation after the regular 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. worship services on Sunday, September 21, 2014.. If the election is not completed on September 21, 2014, then the election will be continued from Sunday to Sunday after the 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m.worship services until twenty (20) additional Deacons have been elected by a majority vote of the communing members present and voting.
 

A member may vote for up to the full number of officers to be elected for each ballot to be valid (in other words, a member may vote for less than the number of officers and it still be a valid ballot).

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