Form of Government Chapter 16
Resigning a Pastoral Charge
When any minister shall desire leave to resign his pastoral charge, the presbytery shall cite the congregation to appear, by its commissioners, at its next meeting, to show cause why the presbytery should not accept the resignation. If the congregation fail to appear, or if its reasons for retaining its pastor be deemed by the presbytery insufficient, he shall have leave granted to resign his pastoral charge, of which due record shall be made; and that church shall be held to be vacant, till supplied again, in an orderly manner, with another minister; and if any congregation shall desire to be released from its pastor, a similar process, mutatis mutandis, shall be observed.