Process Overview

CONTEXT

In the Presbyterian church, “Session” is a body of elected ruling elders. Knox elders serve for a renewable term of 6 years.

Normally, a third of our Session elders complete a 6-year term, every 2 years. A nomination and selection process takes place to fill any vacated positions plus any vacancies that have arisen for other reasons.

We currently have 9 active elders, and our goal is to have 12.

Of our current elders, 7 are continuing in their 6-year terms:

  • Ray Chin

  • Sabrina Simmons

  • Greg Summers

  • Jim Williams

  • Eva Aboagye

  • Norine Love

  • Martha Brown

This Spring we seek to select 3-5 new elders. 

Current elders Patrick Twaddle and Karen Williams have completed their terms and will be rotating off Session. We are grateful for their service since 2018 and want especially to acknowledge Karen’s 18 years of faithful service on Session. 

The process and procedures of elder elections are followed in accordance with our church’s governance guide, The Book of Forms. Relevant sections are included in this package. As per the Book of Forms:

  • Session has the authority to discern the suitability of any member to serve as elder and to determine the number of elders to add to its number;

  • Session will established a Nominating Committee who will oversee the nomination process.

In our discernment process of selecting new elders, Session also keeps in mind the strengths and gaps within our current group of elders. We want our team to have a balance of gifts, experience, as well as represent the diversity of our community.