PCUSA Ordination Task Force

A conversation about the recommendations of the Task Force

Sean Chow Conversation With Rev. Dr. Juan Sarmiento and Rev. Dr. Deborah Boucher-Payne

Here is a summary of our recommendations:

A. Require annual training for the presbytery body responsible for preparation for ministry, including those serving as liaisons for inquirers and candidates.

B. Require background checks and psychosocial and vocational evaluations for inquirers.

C. Make changes to the section on final assessment in the process of preparation for ministry: (i) remove the accredited college or university requirement for the undergraduate degree and (ii) in addition to Standard Ordination Exams, add an option for a Senior Ordination Portfolio, including the process for evaluation.

D. Reaffirm the non-hierarchical nature of ordered ministries, recognizing distinctions of function without distinctions of dignity or worth.

E. Be consistent in using the term “commissioned pastors,” rather than “commissioned ruling elders,” to more accurately reflect their pastoral role, missional context, and public identity.

F. Grant commissioned pastors voice and vote in their presbyteries while serving their commission.

G. Provide standards for evaluating the training of commissioned ruling elders.

H. Authorize presbyteries, by supermajority vote, to ordain ruling elders for service in designated mission contexts aligned with presbytery strategy.

I. Fully incorporate immigrant fellowships and new worshiping communities into the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including representation with voice and vote at meetings of presbyteries
J. Recognize that Certified Christian Educators who are ruling elders have already satisfied certain educational and formational requirements relevant to commissioning as commissioned pastors, avoiding unnecessary duplication of preparation.

The full report is available at https://rebrand.ly/Ordination

Follow this link to access a PDF with the results of the survey produced by Research Services https://drive.google.com/file/d/1neqZxyHHhTsa1f8jbCF5T6HpL0HzORV1/view?usp=sharing

Follow this link to access a pdf withthe results report produced by Research Services https://drive.google.com/file/d/1neqZxyHHhTsa1f8jbCF5T6HpL0HzORV1/view?usp=sharing

Send a message to learn more

We had an excellent opportunity to hear from around 30 Mid-Council leaders regarding the recommendations the Task Force is working on. We are grateful for the very helpful questions, comments, and suggestions.

Co-chairs Deborah Boucher-Payne and Juan Sarmiento will facilitate a workshop at the Mid-Council Leaders Gathering in Louisville. Prayers for them and everyone traveling to be there are appreciated.

The 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement has motivated the work of the task force. It reveals both the vibrancy and the tension in our current ordination system—where Spirit-led leaders are emerging from the margins but often lack clear, faithful, and equitable paths to ordination.

The task force is responding by asking:
How can the church recognize, prepare, and ordain those leaders?
What needs to change in our polity and theology to support the ministry of the as it is and as it continues to unfold? (Post 3 of 6)

Commissioned Ruling Elders are a growing part of the ministry of the . Consider this set of slides regarding the responses that Mid-Coulcil Leaders provided in the recently conducted survey (Post 2 of 6)

PC(USA) Ordination Task Force (Post 1 of 6)

No words.

Richard Mitchell (@mitchell6182) on Threads • Cruelty isn’t just the result, it’s the objective. .

https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2025/7/7/ordination-task-force-has-number-book-order-amendments-it-will-propose?fbclid=IwY2xjawLaJg5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFRRHNhaTBHcHM4RXQ4V3lFAR6f1PAk5f_S7Z_ptO8wbyjuhVC9w7nZT0MHSBNR9tmytOOBOshIGUkhEV_OJA_aem_OLJVBAwRGwRBLPA6Ca4fAw

Ordination Task Force has a number of Book of Order amendments it will propose LOUISVILLE — Meeting last week at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the Ordination Task Force moved ever closer to completing the list of recommendations it will bring to the 227th General Assembly next summer.