The Clerk of Session and Elder Commissioner
Eld. Gerald Farinas
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii as the grandson and great-grandson of sugarcane plantation laborers, Gerald Farinas attended Loyola University Chicago and Harper College. For over 20 years, he served as a continuing care retirement community resident services director—and a dementia and Alzheimer’s educator.
He is concurrently editor of an LGBTQ publication and president of the Evanston Nouveau Rotary Club. His passion is in issues of hunger and civil liberties. He is an avid reader of historical novels.
Gerry has been a part of the Edgewater Kirk family since 2004.
Gerry was ordained as a ruling elder by Executive Presbyter Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard of the Chicago Presbytery on February 13, 2022 and on the same day was elected Clerk of Session to help in a time of great transition for the community.
He was appointed Commissioner of the Presbytery with a portfolio on the Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM)—as a caretaker for seminarians, inquirers, and candidates for ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
He lives alone in the Edgewater Beach neighborhood of Chicago.
What does the Clerk do?
The Clerk of Session is one of the ecclesiastical offices of the Presbyterian tradition. In the Roman Catholic Church or The Episcopal Church, both pastor and clerk roles are in the person of the parish priest. In the Presbyterian tradition, these roles are separated into two equal offices working together.
The Pastor, as the Moderator, is an executive position whose main concern is the Word and Sacraments and is Head of Staff of the local church.
The Session is a legislative and judicial body. The Clerk of Session helps administer its duties. The Pastor reports to The Session—but also moderates The Session. The Session cannot conduct business without the Moderator present.
According to the Church, “The role [of Clerk of Session] is detailed and vital, encompassing recordkeeping, communication, administration, procedural guidance, and connectional reporting. It's both administrative and deeply rooted in ecclesiastical polity.”
Immediate past Clerks of Session for the Edgewater Kirk were the late Sharon Myaard and Elizabeth Stake.
"Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."
Mark 10:26-27 (NRSVue)
Gospel reading appointed by the Book of Common Worship for Sunday, February 13, 2022, the Clerk of Session’s first day administering his duties at Edgewater Kirk.
