About Presbyterian Leadership
Presbyterian Leadership is Shared Leadership
Our leaders are called by God, are chosen and elected by the congregation.
Christ alone rules, calls, teaches, and uses the Church as he wills, exercising his authority by the ministry of women and men for the establishment and extension of God’s new creation. Christ’s ministry is the foundation and standard for all ministry, the pattern of the one who came “not to be served but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). The basic form of ministry is the ministry of the whole people of God, from whose midst some are called to ordered ministries (Elders, Deacons, Ministers of the Word and Sacrament), to fulfill particular functions. Members and those in ordered ministries serve together under the mandate of Christ.
Together the leaders Shepherd and care for the congregation and life within. Each member is given both an Elder and a Deacon that they can turn to for assistance.
Leadership Roles:
Pastor - Minister of the Word and Sacrament: Teaching elder, Pastoral care, and Session Moderator
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament (also called teaching elders and pastors) shall in all things be committed to teaching the faith in word and deed and equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). They may serve in a variety of ministries, as authorized by the presbytery. When they serve as preachers and teachers of the Word, they shall preach and teach the faith of the church, so that the people are shaped by the pattern of the gospel and strengthened for witness and service. When they serve at font and table, they shall interpret and “show forth” the mysteries of grace in word and action, lifting the people’s vision toward the hope of God’s new creation. When they serve as pastors, they shall support the people in the disciplines of the faith amid the struggles of daily life. When they serve as presbyters, they shall participate in the responsibilities of governance, seeking always to discern the mind of Christ and to build up Christ’s body through devotion, debate, and decision.
Session – Leadership in the life of the Congregation
Presbyterian churches are led by a “session” of elected ruling elders with a moderating teaching elder. (Indeed, the Greek word “presbuteros,” meaning elder, gives Presbyterians our name.). Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office. Elders are elected for three-year terms
Board of Deacons – Congregational Care
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress.
Presbyterian Leadership is Shared Leadership
Our leaders are called by God, are chosen and elected by the congregation.
Christ alone rules, calls, teaches, and uses the Church as he wills, exercising his authority by the ministry of women and men for the establishment and extension of God’s new creation. Christ’s ministry is the foundation and standard for all ministry, the pattern of the one who came “not to be served but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). The basic form of ministry is the ministry of the whole people of God, from whose midst some are called to ordered ministries (Elders, Deacons, Ministers of the Word and Sacrament), to fulfill particular functions. Members and those in ordered ministries serve together under the mandate of Christ.
Together the leaders Shepherd and care for the congregation and life within. Each member is given both an Elder and a Deacon that they can turn to for assistance.
Leadership Roles:
Pastor - Minister of the Word and Sacrament: Teaching elder, Pastoral care, and Session Moderator
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament (also called teaching elders and pastors) shall in all things be committed to teaching the faith in word and deed and equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). They may serve in a variety of ministries, as authorized by the presbytery. When they serve as preachers and teachers of the Word, they shall preach and teach the faith of the church, so that the people are shaped by the pattern of the gospel and strengthened for witness and service. When they serve at font and table, they shall interpret and “show forth” the mysteries of grace in word and action, lifting the people’s vision toward the hope of God’s new creation. When they serve as pastors, they shall support the people in the disciplines of the faith amid the struggles of daily life. When they serve as presbyters, they shall participate in the responsibilities of governance, seeking always to discern the mind of Christ and to build up Christ’s body through devotion, debate, and decision.
Session – Leadership in the life of the Congregation
Presbyterian churches are led by a “session” of elected ruling elders with a moderating teaching elder. (Indeed, the Greek word “presbuteros,” meaning elder, gives Presbyterians our name.). Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office. Elders are elected for three-year terms
Board of Deacons – Congregational Care
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress.