WHAT NEEDS SESSION APPROVAL?

It is sometimes difficult to know what the Session must approve, and what can be done by an individual elder or team. What must have Session approval? Here are a few guidelines that might help, but when in doubt present your action as an “information item” so that the elders, if they desire, may take action to approve, disapprove or amend.

WHAT DOES NOT NEED APPROVAL…

• A slight change or modification of an existing program,
• or the establishing of a program very similar to existing programs (a minor change of an existing program)
• promoting a program of the Presbyterian Church, USA,
• promoting a program of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS THAT NEED APPROVAL…

• membership changes, including receiving new members, dismissing members, etc.
• the annual budget
• policy issues
• a completely new program unlike any we have been offering
• any program that will incur costs not included in the current budget
• any program of a Christian group outside the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, USA, or the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
• Special Offerings -- Except for those currently approved by our Session
• Positional statements – Any statement that will be understood as representing the beliefs or views of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church.
• Election of Clerk of Session
• Election of Treasurer or Presbytery Commissioners
• Election of elders who will represent the Session at Presbytery is appointed by the Session. (However, if the elected elder cannot serve, the pastors can usually appoint a replacement from among the elders).
• Approving candidates for and ordaining and installing members as elders onto the session
• Approval of celebration of Sacraments
• To call a congregational meeting
• Curriculum and material for use in church Bible Studies

If the Session has to approve special offerings, what are those offerings the session has already approved?

• (Helping Hands For Lilburn Co-Op Fund
• Weekly Missions Offering (designated by the Mission and Outreach Team)
• MOGS loan program for members
• One Great Hour of Sharing (Easter)
• Christmas Joy Gift (Advent)
• Presbyterian Homes (Mother’s Day)
• Thornwell Home for Children (Thanksgiving)
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance offerings that go to specific disaster relief programs. Session has given approval for the pastor and Mission and Outreach to highlight any of these PDA offerings that would appeal to our members in a special way.
• Support of any of the approved mission projects of our church, such as Haiti mission trips, Rivers of the World, Mission India, Hispanic Fellowship, etc. These are usually designated at the time of the approval of our annual budget.