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Brian,
1) you are thinking about the PCA, not the OPC. The OPC does not really carve up the ministry into rankings. Even associate pastors aren't called as such in the OPC.
2 ) PCA assistant pastors ARE called by the session, and not the congregation, and so serve at their call, but they are examined by presbytery same as all other true pastors and their call acknowledged, and they are full members of Presbytery. I was such an assistant pastor. And I was a member of Presbytery, following my ordination.
3) however some churches do take "staff" which are NOT presbytery members, and call them "pastors" they really aren't, and shouldn't take the designation. They have not been ordained.
__________________ Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI Made both Lord and Christ--Jesus, the Destroyer
Acts 2:36 - 1 Cor. 10:9-10 & 15:22-26 - Hebrews 2:9-15 - 1 John 3:8 - James 4:12
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