The Presbytery Council shall pursue the more-specific purposes stated below each with attendant particular responsibilities as noted:
To engage in strategic planning for the life and work of the Presbytery;
a. to approach the Presbytery as a system of inter-connected parts;
b. to hold regular meetings devoted solely to visioning, strategic planning, and assessment;
c. to encourage each part of the Presbytery structure to think and plan in strategic terms.
To strengthen and enhance the connectional system of our Church;
a. to serve as a conduit for communication among congregations and between congregations and higher councils,
b. to present to the churches the unified budget of the mission and benevolent causes and agencies as adopted by the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly, and
c. to provide a means for each part of the Presbytery structure to have access to each and every other part of the structure.
To coordinate and oversee the Presbytery program and mission;
a. to conduct a regular, ongoing review of the work of the Presbytery,
b. to develop and refine the mood, style and spirit of the Presbytery meetings,
c. to prepare the docket of business for the meetings of the Presbytery,
d. to nominate members of the Nominating Committee/Committee on Representation,
e. to fill vacancies on committees, teams and other bodies between meetings of the Presbytery,
f. to approve or disapprove changes in Presbytery Personnel Policies recommended by the Personnel Committee and approve or disapprove or refer to the Presbytery for action personnel actions recommended by the Personnel Committee, and
g. to serve as the ongoing committee on rules, reviewing the Bylaws & Standing Rules and the Manual of Operations and to recommend any changes that may be needed.
Regular and Special Meetings:
The Presbytery Council shall meet at least five times each year. The meetings shall be in concert with the Stated Meetings of Presbytery and Annual Meeting. The number and meeting dates will be determined by Council one year in advance. The Presbytery Council may meet at other times as necessary.
Reports to Presbytery:
The Presbytery Council shall report at each Stated Meeting of the Presbytery every item of business transacted by it. Its decisions shall be effective immediately wherever specific authority has been conferred to Presbytery Council by the Presbytery but may be reviewed and reversed or amended by the Presbytery.
Membership of Council:
See Presbytery Bylaws for the members of Presbytery Council. In addition, a representative of Presbytery Women is traditionally invited to attend the Presbytery Council meetings.
Council Officers
Chairperson, Chairperson Elect, and Immediate Past Chair:
The Presbytery Council shall elect a Chairperson from among its own members or from those with previous Presbytery Council experience. The Chairperson shall preside at Council meetings and provide leadership in helping the Council fulfill its purpose and responsibilities. The term of the Chairperson shall ordinarily be two years, commencing following the Annual Meeting. The Chairperson shall be a voting member of the Presbytery Council for the full term of office as Chairperson, regardless of term limitations on the position from which the Chairperson may have come to Council.
Service in the office of Chairperson shall follow a four-year cycle. Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Presbytery Council shall elect a Chairperson Elect, who shall serve one year in that role before assuming the office of Chairperson. Upon completion of the two-year term as Chairperson, the individual shall serve one additional year as Immediate Past Chair.
The Chairperson Elect and the Immediate Past Chair may preside at meetings in the absence of the Chairperson or when requested and shall carry out other duties as assigned by the Council. Upon completion of service as Immediate Past Chair, the cycle shall repeat with the election of a new Chairperson Elect.
Nominations Process:
The Presbytery Council shall form a nominating committee of no less than three persons from the At Large Members, the outgoing Presbytery moderator and the outgoing Council Chairperson to nominate the Chairperson Elect of the Presbytery Council.
Council Leadership Team (CLT):
To give leadership and direction to Presbytery Council activities in periods between the Council’s meetings, a leadership team will convene as necessary. The team will consist of the Presbytery Council Chairperson, Chairperson Elect, the Presbytery Moderator and Vice Moderator. The Presbytery Stated Clerk will serve ex officio.
The CLT will have no powers that its officers do not already have by virtue of their offices and will communicate about its work and proposals for Presbytery Council action to each bimonthly meeting of the Presbytery Council. The CLT will prepare the docket for Presbytery Council meetings and will propose Presbytery meeting dockets to the Presbytery Council for its action.
The Council Leadership Team for 2025-2026:
Presbytery Council Chairperson
Lisa Giacomazza, CRE, Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church
Chairperson Elect
Rev. Robert Hagel, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown
Presbytery Moderator
Rev. Katelyn Nutter Dowling, Associate Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Presbytery Vice Moderator
Rev. Wylie Hughes, Pastor, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church
Executive Presbyter, Stated Clerk (ex officio)
Rev. Abigail Trautmann, Presbytery of WNY
Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee has responsibility for the welfare of the employed staff of the Presbytery. It shall prepare proposed Personnel Policies for action by the Presbytery Council. It shall recommend hiring, termination, pay levels and other personnel actions to the Presbytery Council, either for its action or recommendation to Presbytery. When the Council refers personnel actions to the Presbytery, the Committee shall take the lead in presenting them.
Stewardship & Development Committee
Through education and resources, the Stewardship & Development Committee shall assist every church in the Presbytery to meet their own stewardship needs as well as fulfilling their constitutional responsibility as part of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly.
Budget & Finance Committee
The Budget & Finance Committee shall review periodic financial reports and the annual audit conducted by the Presbytery’s accountants. The Committee shall also consider and report upon all proposals and appeals for monies. The Committee shall be responsible for the investment of the Presbytery’s trust funds and capital funds and will approve or disapprove requests for loans or grants from those funds, subject to approval by Council.
Property Committee
Property Committee shall be responsible for the maintenance, supervision and sale, purchase or lease of any real property owned or leased by the Presbytery. The Committee shall review all requests for Presbytery approval of those real estate transactions which are listed in the Book of Order as requiring such approval (G-4.0206). The Committee shall promptly report such requests along with its recommendations to the Council for action.
Discipleship and Nurture Resource Team
Responsibilities include:
Offer and/or promote discipleship and training events, either to the whole presbytery, branch gatherings, or particular churches.
Gather and promote information about educational/faith formation class/events, training opportunities, wider church events (i.e. Triennium, Montreat, PBWNY events), plus Christian camping opportunities specifically for children, youth and young adults and disseminate it throughout the Presbytery.
Receive financial assistance applications for activities (see #2) and make decisions regarding distribution of available funding. Annually submit a Scholarship/Grant Funding Report to Presbytery Council.
Antiracism Task Group
The Antiracism Task Group believes it is called by Jesus to recognize, acknowledge and root out racism, be it interpersonal, structural or systemic, in our communities, churches, state and country. We admit our own complicity in racism and commit to this work as an essential expression of our faith. Our focus is to work with the people of the Presbytery to challenge and support each other in this Antiracism work. Our intent is to do this through encouraging education, discussion, partnership and action.
The Standing Committees create clear support for the operation of the Presbytery. They are:
Committee on Preparation for Ministry
To oversee and care for Inquirers and Candidates for the ministry of Word and Sacrament and to carry out all the constitutional responsibilities set forth in G-2.06. To oversee and care for Commissioned Ruling Elders as set forth in G-2.10. The membership should consist of approximately an equal number of ruling elders and ministers.
Committee on Ministry
To oversee the relationships between ministers and congregations, to help churches seeking pastors, to resolve conflicts, to provide guidance on compensation for clergy and others and to carry out all the constitutional responsibilities set forth in G-3.03. The membership should consist of approximately an equal number of ruling elders and ministers.
Nominating Committee/Committee on Representation
The Nominating Committee works toward equal representation of elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament on committees, teams, and the Presbytery Council. Efforts should also be made to have representatives from the various geographical areas of the Presbytery. The committee shall also carry out the constitutional responsibilities set forth in G-3.0103, G-3.0111 and F-1.0403.