UNION PRESBYTERIES:

PCUSA BOOK OF ORDER (FOG) SECTION G-5.04

G-5.04 UNION PRESBYTERIES:

A presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may unite to form a union presbytery with one or more comparable councils or governing bodies, each of which is a member of another Reformed body, with the approval of the synod or comparable council or governing body of which each is a part.

G-5.0401 Constitutional Authority

The union presbytery shall be subject to the constitution of each denomination represented in the union.  Wherever the constitutions of the denominations differ, any mandatory provisions of one shall apply in all cases where the others are permissive.  Where there are conflicting mandatory provisions, the union presbytery shall overture the highest council or governing body of the denominations involved to resolve the conflict either by authoritative interpretation or by constitutional amendment.

G-5.0402 Plan of Union

A union presbytery shall be created by the adoption of a plan of union by two-thirds vote of each presbytery or governing body that is part to the union.  The synod and/or governing body having jurisdiction over each of the uniting bodies shall approve the plan of union.

EVANGELICAL COVENANT ORDER OF PRESBYTERIANS:

POLITY AND DISCIPLINE Section 5.0203 Union Presbyteries:

A presbytery of the ECO may unite to form a union presbytery with one or more comparable councils or governing bodies, each of which is a member of another Reformed body, with the approval of the governing body of which each is a part.  Wherever the constitutions of the denominations differ, any mandatory provision of one shall apply in all cases where the other is permissive.  A union presbytery shall be created by the adoption of a plan of union by two-thirds vote of each presbytery or governing body that is party to the union.  The synod and/or governing body having jurisdiction over each of the uniting bodies shall approve the plan of union.

Comments:  For Presbyteries willing to fight this issue before the PCUSA PJC in a remedial action case, I have left this up on the website.  A few other items need to be added such as how a congregation's Per Capita contribution will be divided between the two denominations represented in the new Union Presbytery.  What is most important, is to add a provision stating that the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians is a reformed denomination in full communion with the PCUSA, for purposes of PCUSA Book of Order (FOG) section G-5.0401 and G-5.0402. 

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