Respecting your elders.

Is it legal for duly ordained elders who are retired, on leave or who have transferred from another congregation to serve in the tasks of elders outside the session, such as overseeing an elder's district or serving at Communion?

First, a comment about the elder who has transferred from another congregation. Although it is true an elder is ordained for life, his or her membership in session is not automatically transferable from one congregation to another. Such a person needs to be elected by the congregation of which he or she is now a member and called to active duty on its session. Unless so called to service, I would think it illegal for that person to serve in tasks specifically assigned to members of the session. Overseeing an elder's district is one of them. After all, an elder who has a district and is accountable to session for the pastoral care of the membership may need to consult in camera with other members of session, and so forth.

Next, we should take retirement from the obligations and privileges of eldership seriously. When an elder retires from active duty, that person is no longer an active elder serving on session. Having second thoughts after retiring, the elder may allow his or her name to stand again for nomination and be elected once again to active service. But a retired elder is no longer on the session and cannot serve in tasks legally assigned to members of session. Overseeing an elder's district is one of them. We should allow those who are retired from active duty to enjoy their retirement. Mind you, there is always lots of other work such a person can do in the congregation.

Now, we look at the person who asks for a sabbatical or a leave of absence for a year or two. That is certainly possible; but, once again, we should take such decisions by individuals seriously and give them the true leave they have sought. Once off the active roll of session, even if only for a time, such a person should not be given tasks to do that are specifically assigned to members of session. Why grant leave to such a person and then use him or her by the "back door"? The elder who is on leave should not only be on leave from meetings (and who doesn't enjoy being on leave from meetings?) but from all the duties that fall to being an elder.

Can any of these people assist in serving Communion? My view may be somewhat controversial and may appear to contradict the above. Serving Communion is, traditionally, a task assigned to the session, but need not be exclusively so at all times and under all circumstances. After all, once the elders have placed the Communion plate or tray into the hands of the people in the pew, we serve each other. I recall one service where, for a number of reasons, we found ourselves without the requisite number of elders to serve Communion efficiently. We called upon a retired elder to help us out, as well as a professing member of the church who served in another leadership capacity in the congregation. It worked out fine, and no one complained. So, normally, session members assist in serving Communion. In my view, however, exceptions can be made in this matter.

Please send questions to Rev. Tony Plomp, 4020 Lancelot Dr., Richmond, B.C. V7C 4S3 or e-mail: [e-mail]. Include your name and address for information.