Chapter Two - The Congregation

A charge is:

1. self-sustaining when it is able to meet the requirements laid down for the settlement of a minister by call and induction without a grant from the funds of the General Assembly; or
2. aid-receiving when any such grant is required and allowed.

A home mission station is a sphere of pastoral duty consisting of a mission field whose congregation has no immediate prospect of attaining the status of a charge (see rule 4:81).

Normally, the pastoral duties are provided by a home missionary appointed by the Ministry Development committee with the concurrence of the Presbytery. Such duties are carried out under the supervision of the Presbytery.

A Presbytery, either through dealing with a petition from a Session, or from any group of interested people, or acting under its own authority, may proceed to alter such parish bounds as are under its jurisdiction and declare the formation of a new congregation.

In taking such action the Presbytery ensures that the rights and privileges of any existing congregation, together with the rights and privileges of any inducted minister, are not infringed. Presbytery acts consistently with rule 4:89.

Admission to communicant membership of a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria is solely the right of the Session. Admission into communicant membership only takes place when:

1. Session receives a transfer certificate from the Session of another congregation within the Presbyterian Church of Australia; or
2. Session is satisfied that the person seeking communicant membership has been duly baptised, has made a credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and lives a life consistent with that profession.

Persons admitted into communicant membership of a congregation are admitted into the privileges of sharing in the Lord's Supper and of wider fellowship with other believers throughout the Presbyterian Church of Australia (see rules 3:36, 39).

Communicant members, unless under a process of discipline by the Session, have the right to:

1. vote and take full part in the business of any meeting of the congregation (if 16 years of age or over);
2. add their name to a call (if 16 years of age or over);
3. in proper circumstances, approach the appropriate courts of the church by petition. (see rules 6:35-44).

It is the duty of communicant members and adherents to:

1. give faithful attendance to public worship;
2. give their ministers due respect, encouragement and obedience in the Lord;
3. submit to the Session as over them in the Lord;
4. maintain an earnest desire to live a Christian life consistent with their profession of faith;
5. take a lively interest in the welfare of the wider work of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria;
6. contribute heartily, both financially and in other ways, as the Lord shall enable them, for the maintenance of the Christian ministry and the furtherance of the gospel at home and abroad.

Adherents, unless under a process of discipline by the Session, have the right to:

1. vote and take full part in the business of any meeting of the congregation (if 16 years of age or over);
2. sign their concurrence in a call (if 16 years of age or over);
3. in proper circumstances, approach the appropriate courts of the church by petition. (see rules 6:35-44).

Unless by Session invitation, adherents are not normally extended the privileges of the Lord’s Supper. Session encourages adherents, where appropriate, to take the further step of making a credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and seeking communicant membership of the church (see rules 2:13 and 3:39).

No person is entitled to have his or her name on the roll of communicant members or on the roll of adherents of more than one congregation at the same time; nor may he or she be enrolled at the same time as a communicant member in one congregation and an adherent of another.

Further, a person cannot become a communicant member of a congregation while maintaining membership of another denomination.