One year from the first business session of the stated meeting of Synod following his election until the first new business session of the subsequent stated meeting of the General Synod.
When the retiring Moderator is a ruling elder, he shall have the privilege of the floor and voting rights throughout the session of the stated meeting in which he becomes the retiring Moderator.

1. To preside over the meeting of the General Synod and to perform the duties of the presiding officer which shall include:

a. Open the Sessions at the hour appointed.
b. Announce the business before the court.
c. State and put all questions properly brought before the court.
d. Take the vote and announce the result.
e. Decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the house by any two members.
f. Appoint Moderator's Committees, subject to the approval of the Court.

2. To serve as Chairman of the Executive Board.
3. To represent the denomination at official functions he is requested to attend.
4. To serve as an advisory member of all boards, committees and the Ecclesiastical Commission.
5. To promote the work of the denomination in presbyteries and congregations and at special church gatherings.
6. To plan and arrange for the annual meeting of the General Synod and to encourage attendance with a pastoral letter from the Incoming Moderator to those churches that did not send a Ruling elder to the previous meeting. This letter should be sent no later than January each year. (2002 Minutes of Synod, p. 447)
7. To make a report of his work to the General Synod.
8. To chair an annual meeting of the executive employees of the General Synod to discuss areas of mutual concern. (1990 Minutes of Synod, p. 400)

At the annual meeting of the General Synod, one or more Teaching or Ruling Elders are nominated as Vice-Moderator Elect, and voting is by secret ballot. The Vice-Moderator Elect becomes Vice-Moderator at the first new business session at the next stated meeting of the General Synod. If the Moderator-Elect is unable to serve as the Moderator-Elect, the Vice-Moderator-Elect shall assume the office of Moderator-Elect and the most recent Past Moderator shall assume the office of Vice-Moderator-Elect. When an office has been filled by a Past Moderator, the first order of new business at the next meeting of the General Synod will be the election of an officer or officers to fill any office assumed by said Past Moderator. In the event of the Moderator's death or his inability to perform the duties of his office within the first 180 days of his term of service, the Vice Moderator shall automatically become Moderator and shall nominate a Vice Moderator to the Executive Board of Synod which shall, acting on behalf of the General Synod, elect a Vice Moderator to fill the unexpired term. The records of the Synod shall certify that the initially elected Moderator and his successor, the Vice Moderator, were both Moderators of Synod for the year they served.
(1998 Minutes of Synod, p. 70, 2002 Minutes of Synod, p. 330.)

One Year

1. To serve as a member of the Executive Board.
2. To assist the Moderator as requested to do so.
3. To assume the duties of the Moderator in the absence of the Moderator.

The Principal Clerk shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod. If the Principal Clerk is unable to serve, his duties shall be assumed by the Assistant Clerk until such time as the General Synod elects a successor. (1998 Minutes of Synod, p. 70)

Four years. He may succeed himself.

1. With respect to meetings of the General Synod:

a. To keep a roll of the members and call it whenever required by the Court.
b. To record the proceedings.
c. To receive and record documents acted upon by the court.
d. To make record of all unfinished business to come before the Court.
e. To sign all orders and official reports.
f. To publish the minutes of the proceedings.
g. To update the Manual of Authorities and Duties at the close of each General Synod meeting so as to reflect the current status of authorities as directed by actions of the General Synod.

2. To receive and send all official communications on behalf of the General Synod.
3. In keeping with the 'procedure for the circulation of study reports' of member churches of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council:

a. To report annually to the Secretary of NAPARC the subject and place available of any study report(s) adopted by our General Synod.
b. To send one copy of such study report(s) to the Stated Clerk of each NAPARC member church.
c. To receive and disseminate to each session and minister a list of all study reports of NAPARC member churches.

4. With respect to other NAPARC denominations participating in studies of doctrinal or ethical matters:

a. To make the determination as to studies of doctrinal or ethical matters;
b. To extend written notification of the initial meeting date, time, and place of study committees; and
c. To extend an invitation for participation, with those participating to bear their own expenses. (1986 Minutes of Synod, p. 109)

5. To represent and promote the work of the General Synod as opportunities permit.
6. To conduct an annual special orientation for new ministers with emphasis placed upon the work of the boards and agencies of the General Synod and with emphasis on the procedures outlined for the General Synod meeting.
7. To serve as a member and Secretary of the Executive Board of the General Synod.
8. To serve as chairman of the Executive Board's Committee on Administration. (1990 Minutes of Synod, p. 477)
9. To supervise the collection and reporting of denominational statistical data. (1990 Minutes of Synod, p. 477)
10. To review the records of Presbyteries and

a. provide such counsel and advice as is necessary to the Presbytery Clerks, and
b. report annually to the Executive Board. (General Synod, 1995)

11. To serve as an Advisory member of Committee on Inter-Church Relations. [Synod, 2005]

The Reading Clerk shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod.

Four years. He may succeed himself.

With respect to meetings of the General Synod:

a. To present the business to the Court in the order determined by the Moderator and/or the agenda.
b. In the absence of any directives from the Moderator or an order of the day, to determine the order in which business is to be taken from the table.
c. To read the reports to the Court except when a representative of the particular board or committee wishes to present the report.

The Bill Clerk shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod.

Four years. He may succeed himself.

With respect to meetings of the General Synod:

a. To receive, record, and distribute matters to come before the Court.
b. To see that reports referred are placed in the hands of the proper committees and properly returned by such committees.

The Assistant Clerk shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod.

Four years. He may succeed himself.

At the meeting of the General Synod, and in the absence of any clerk, the Assistant Clerk will perform the duties of the absent clerk.

TREASURER OF SYNOD'S FUNDS

The Treasurer of Synod's Funds shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod. The Committee on Nominations shall secure the endorsement of the Board of Stewardship prior to placing a name in nomination.

Four years. He may succeed himself.

1. The Treasurer is elected by the General Synod to be the custodian of the funds committed to the General Synod. In performing this function he shall:

a. Provide general oversight of an acceptable accounting system which maintains up-to-date and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements. (2006 Minutes of Synod, p. 117)
b. Assist the Board of Stewardship in the development and supervision of an annual budget for the General Synod.
c. Assist as requested the agencies of the General Synod in financial matters.
d. Promote the work of the General Synod as opportunity and time permit.

2. To serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board of Synod. (1992 Minutes of Synod, p. 80)
3. To serve as ex-officio member of the Board of Stewardship.
4. To Serve as ex-officio member of Investment Committee.

HISTORIAN

The Historian shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod.

Four years. He may succeed himself.

1. To actively pursue the development of an Historical Society within the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
2. To be open and responsive to opportunities to develop the Historical Concerns Endowment.
3. To serve as an advisory member of the Executive Board of Synod (1990 Minutes of Synod, p. 477)
4. To encourage congregations to collect historical materials of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination and its congregations; to preserve permanently items connected with our history and the writing of it; to encourage the availability for research the materials at the Department of History, Montreat, NC, and at the McCain Library, Erskine College, Due West, SC. (2004 Minutes of Synod, p. 395)
5. To cooperate with the Department of History, Montreat, NC, in securing and protecting historical records connected with our church. To serve as liaison to the Department of History and to receive and review its annual report. (2004 Minutes of Synod, p. 396)
6. To encourage at Erskine College Library the maintaining of a file on congregations, ministers, and other historical information of the General Synod. To cooperate with the Curator of ARP Materials at McCain Library, Erskine College. (2004 Minutes of Synod, p. 396)
7. To solicit, secure, and edit historical material and to recommend to the General Synod the publishing of specific historical information. (2004 Minutes of Synod, p. 396)
8. To report to the Executive Board of General Synod. (2004 Minutes of Synod, p. 396)

The Parliamentarian shall be nominated to the General Synod by the Committee on Nominations and shall be elected by the General Synod.

Three years. He may succeed himself.

1. At the meeting of the General Synod, the Parliamentarian shall call attention to procedures which are not in accord with the Rules of Order of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. On request he shall advise the Moderator on procedural matters. However, all questions of order shall be decided by the Moderator, subject only to the appeal of two or more members of the Court.
2. To serve as an advisory member of the Executive Board of Synod (Synod, 1997).

Revised 2006