The General Synod is the highest court of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, representing in one body all of its particular presbyteries. Its primary responsibility is the initiation, planning, organization, and administration of programs designed to enable it to carry on the mission of God in Christ's Church by word and deed in the General Synod, the congregation, the presbytery, and the whole world.

To carry out its responsibilities, the General Synod has power to elect officers and to institute and supervise the agencies (used to refer to boards, committees, and ecclesiastical commission) necessary in the general work of the church and to make appointments to such labors. In its deliberations, the General Synod has provided for the election of seven officers and has determined to institute and make appointments to eleven boards, one ecclesiastical commission, and eight standing committees. Drawing their authorities and responsibilities from the Form or Government of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, these officers, boards, ecclesiastical commission, and committees implement the work approved by the General Synod.

In addition to the specific requirements included in our Form of Government, the General Synod has established other guidelines pertinent to all agencies:

1. All agencies will seek to comply with local, state, and federal laws, and those agencies which incorporate will do so under the laws of the state in which their respective headquarters are situated.

2. Terms of service for all appointees shall begin on July 1 of the year in which appointment is made.

3. Persons who have served for more than a half term on a board or committee are ineligible to succeed themselves, except as specifically authorized in the Manual of Authorities and Duties. (1990 Minutes of Synod, p. 429)

4. Employees are ineligible for nomination to a Board or Committee under whose jurisdiction that person is employed. This includes Mission Developers. Any employee of an agency of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church who serves another Board or Committee of the General Synod or Presbytery must make it a first priority of his or her service to avoid even the appearance of the impropriety of conflict of interest due to his or her service.

5. Ex-officio members, including those defined herein as "Presbytery Representatives," have the same privileges as those members appointed by name. Advisory members have all privileges except the privilege of making motions, attendance in executive sessions convened by the board, committee, or commission, and the privilege of vote. (2000 Minutes of Synod, p. 807)

6. All chairmen of Synod's Boards and Committees with the exception of the Erskine Board must be a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The element necessary for the effective discharge of the responsibilities of the agencies of our denomination is dedicated Christians who will submit themselves to the leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit and persons who are informed of the authority and responsibilities to which they are called. It is the purpose of this Manual to provide a description of the authorities and duties of the office and agency to which persons have been called to serve, and to show their work as it relates to Synod's work as a whole.

This Manual reflects the existing directives of the General Synod and the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The Manual of Authorities and Duties shall be updated at the close of each General Synod meeting as needed so as to reflect the current status of authorities and duties as directed by the action of the General Synod. No material shall be included in the Manual which is contrary to the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

In compliance with the directive of the 1985 General Synod, the Rules of Order for the General Synod are included herein.