[Form of Gov., chap. x., sec viii.—Digest of 1873, p. 163.]
The committee to whom an overture has been referred, questioning the right of ministers not acting as pastors, to sit in Church judicatories, reported against that right. Dr. Ely said, the adoption of the report would disfranchise ministers and destroy ministerial parity. Dr. Junkin said, it would take away half the ministers of New York. A president of a college was virtually the pastor of the college, and often performed the duties of a pastor. Mr. Dickey maintained, that it is a fundamental principle of Presbyterianism, that the Church should have the choice of their rulers. Reject this report and you leave some ministers, sitting to govern the Church, whom the Church never called; or others, whom having called, she, after trial, rejected. It contradicts first principles and the uniform practice of Presbyterians throughout the world, except in the United States. This subject after some further debate, was committed to Drs. Blythe and Hoge, and Messrs. Monfort and A. O. Patterson, to report to the next Assembly.
This is a difficult subject. When our constitution was revised there were some members of the committee of revision very anxious to introduce a provision declaring that no minister who was not a pastor should be allowed to sit in any Church judicatory as a member. It is certain that there are two principles of our system violated by our present practice on this subject. The one is that referred to by Mr. Dickey, and mentioned above; the other is, that there should be in all Church courts an equal representation of ministers and laymen. It is the theory of our constitution that each church has one pastor, and it has a right to send one ruling elder to presbytery and synod. And these bodies when constituted agreeably to the theory of Presbyterianism, are composed of an equal number of clergymen and laymen. Our present practice destroys entirely this equality. In many presbyteries, (as for example that of New Brunswick,) the number of ministers without charge is so great as to reduce the lay members to a very inconsiderable numerical part of these bodies; though there are other presbyteries where, from the number of their small vacant churches, the elders preponderate. There are also serious inconveniences resulting from the course now pursued, arising from the great multiplication of ministers of this class. We have so many presidents and professors of colleges, professors of theological seminaries, agents of benevolent societies, teachers of schools, besides supernumeraries of various kinds in the ministry, that we are not surprised that the pastors and elders are beginning to be alarmed. There are, however, both principles and inconveniences to be taken into account on the other side. When a man is ordained to the ministry he becomes a member of presbytery, and has all the rights and privileges of a presbyter. How can he be deprived of these rights? Besides, he is subject to the various judicatories of the Church, and bound by the laws which they may enact. Is he to have no voice in making these laws, either as a layman or minister? He cannot become a layman except by deposition. He is not a member of any Church, or subject to any session. Is he then to be subject to a presbytery of which he is not a member, and to be tried by men no longer his peers? As this matter, however, has been referred to a wise committee, we hope they may be able to discover some method of reconciling these and other difficulties, with the true principles of Presbyterianism, and the best interests of the Church.
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