The Standing Rules of the Presbytery of the Midwest (SRPMW) limits men to service on any standing committee. The rule is currently found in Article V.K.4 and reads, “Service on each committee shall be limited to three consecutive terms. A presbyter may be elected again to the same committee following this time after at least one year off the committee.”

That rule was adopted at the Fall 2002 stated meeting. A year and a half after this rule was established, the question of who it applies to was brought up. Should it apply only to those elected to committee after the rule was adopted, or should it apply to all committeemen?

The following record was found in the Spring 2004 stated meeting minutes, “In response to a question, the moderator ruled that the new Standing Rule V.J.4 should be applied beginning with its date of adoption. The ruling was challenged. The moderator put the question to the body: ‘Shall we interpret the Standing Rule V.J.4 (the restriction of the number of consecutive terms) to be applied as starting when the rules were adopted, and not to be retroactive. (September, 2002)’ The ruling of the Moderator was sustained.”

Unless this interpretation of this standing rule is rescinded term limits will not affect standing committee elections until the Fall stated meeting of 2011.