“The Life and Times of a Stated Clerk, part 1”
Have you ever wondered what a Stated Clerk does all year long outside of the quarterly Presbytery Gatherings and their agendas? If so, you’ve come to the right place, because this month I focus on a topic a little closer to home for me. For the next two Spotlight on Polity editions, I’d like to share with you a little more about this unique ministry I’ve ventured into these past two years.
Getting started, we know the Stated Clerk is a requirement of the Book of Order (G-3.0104) for each council higher than the Session, and while the day to day duties may differ depending on the council in which they serve, at its most basic from, they are charged with the responsibility of keeping the rolls and registers of membership and preserving the records and minutes. According to an additional list of responsibilities provided by the Office of the General Assembly, a Stated Clerk, as a Mid Council Leader and ecclesial officer, also serves as the council’s parliamentarian and “go-to” authority regarding all things related to Polity and Church Governance within the life of the Church. They are charged as the office of all official
communication, reporting, and Judicial Process, support resource for the council’s commissions and committees, and provide for the orientation and training for Clerks of Session and Commissioners, to include General Assembly and Councils.
While that all sounds good and official, what I really wanted to focus this Spotlight on is not the technical description of the Stated Clerk, but more about the personal experience and joy of serving as one. Since starting back in 2023, when asked how things are going as the Stated Clerk, I often describe the work as a very Pauline ministry. I say this in jest, and humbly submit I am no Apostle Paul and any communication from me is unlikely to ever make it into canonical texts, yet I find it a comparable description as the bulk of my day to day is often spent responding to calls and emails from across the Presbytery regarding questions, clarifications, and advice relating to all things ecclesial and polity. Sounds like a lot I’m sure, but honestly not a bad way to spend a morning with a nice cup of coffee (or late evening as anyone who’s ever received a late-night response from me could attest). While some may rather enjoy a crossword or riddle problem, personally, I find working out a polity question as a fun way to exercise the brain!
Outside the weekly calls and emails there are, of course, the monthly commission and team meetings to attend, which I greatly enjoy the collegiality of attending to the life the Presbytery, both its joys and challenges, and working with our fellow ministers and ruling elders in this shared ministry of our churches. What I really wanted to share though, is the distinct flow of a year as a Stated Clerk.
As our Clerk of Sessions would tell you, a year as a clerk is shaped by two specific work cycles and all the work that leads up to each. The first is Statistic season, and more on that in part two of this Spotlight. The second I alluded to last month when I discussed the process of record retention. If you joined me in last month’s edition, you may recall my discussion on the Book of Order (G-3.0108), stating that each higher council is required to review all the proceedings and actions of all lower councils, etc, to ensure proper documentation of proceedings and to make sure councils are doing things in good order and in adherence to our constitution. So, what does that look like in action? While it may sound like a tedious annual task, and perhaps if you asked some of the clerks, they may agree. However, for me personally, this is actually one of my favorite things I get to do each year!
While Presbyteries may attend to this requirement with different approaches, here in Giddings-Lovejoy, the Stated Clerk is responsible for scheduling a series
of annual Minute Review dates and sites for our Clerks to attend. Similar to our Presbytery Gatherings, locations are often hosted by our Churches within different geographical sections of our Presbytery to make accessibility easier for our clerks, allowing them to choose a location closer to where they minister. These reviews are not without their scheduling challenges though, as trying to bring 60 something Clerks with all different schedules together can be a challenging task, and yet, when it finally all comes together, it is such a joy to visit, connect, fellowship, share a meal together, and talk about the various ongoings in the life of the churches they serve. Serving as a Clerk, similar to being a Pastor, can often feel like a lonely ministry, seeing that there is usually only one per any 
given council, but coming together each year in this way as colleagues in ministry, learning and sharing with one another in ministry is the highlight of my year! As I tell each of our Clerks, Minute Reviews are not a “gotcha” moment, but a way to check in and see where each of our Churches are in practice and find ways to resource and support one another in ministry.
So, a big thank you to all of our clerks for your ministry and dedication, and all those in ministry and our communities that support them! Having shared the joy of fellowship several times this particular year, the Minute Review season is not yet complete. In October, we have two more planned sessions, October 18 and 25th at First United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, IL, and Beouff Presbyterian Church, Gerald, MO, respectively. Looking forward to seeing more of our clerks moving forward. I would also add, Minute Reviews are not exclusive to just our Clerks, but open to anyone who wants to join us for fellowship and conversation, so come on out and join us! Until next time, stay decent and in good order! 
Rev. Dr. Brandan S Eddy, Stated Clerk
Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy
