226:(347–420) "In Epistle Titus", vol. iv, said, "Elder is identical with bishop; and before the urging of the devil gave rise to factionalism in religion, so much that it was being said among the people, 'I am of Paul, I of Apollos, I of Cephas', the churches were governed by a joint council of elders. After it was... decreed throughout the world that one chosen from among the presbyters should be placed over the others." This observation was also made by
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Ruling Elders — and
Deacons. The first to "minister in the Word and Doctrine", and to dispense the sacraments; — the second to assist in the inspection and government of the Church; — and the third to "serve tables"; that is, to take care of the Church's funds destined for the support of the poor, and sometimes to manage whatever relates to the temporal support of the gospel and its ministers.
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827:, who is usually elected to a single term. He or she is addressed as moderator during meetings, but like the other moderators, their position has no bearing outside of the assembly meeting and affords him/her no special place in other courts. He or she presides over meetings of the assembly, and may be called on in a representative function for the remainder of the year.
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responsibility, including responsibility for conduct of worship should a minister suddenly not be available. Although it is the responsibility of the
Moderator (minister), Session Clerks often have the ability to assist in keeping meetings on track due to skills which are received from experience and the Holy Spirit.
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elders on a rotation from among willing members in good standing in the church. However, in many churches, ruling elders retain their ordination for life, even though they serve fixed terms. Even after the end of their terms, they may be active in presbyteries or other bodies, and may serve communion.
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The stated or principal clerk takes minutes and deals with the correspondence of the presbytery, and is often appointed for an indefinite term. Presbytery Clerks are the ecclesiastical administrators and generally regarded as substantially influential due to their greater experience of the governance
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Until the 20th century, only men had been eligible for ordination as elders or ministers of the word and sacrament. This is widely not the case any longer, although it is usually considered a demarcation issue, distinguishing "liberal" from "conservative" Presbyterian denominations. In North
America,
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The stated clerk and deputy clerk of the general assembly administer the minutes, correspondence, and business of the assembly. In some cases a separate business convenor is appointed to deal with the agenda. General assemblies meet less regularly than their subordinate courts, often annually, or in
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has different meanings among different presbyterian churches. In some churches, deacons exercise responsibility for practical matters of finance and fabric, either separately or together with the elders. In some cases deacons administer the welfare matters of the congregation, while a separate board
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are sometimes called "Presbyterian" if they are governed by a council of elders; but the difference is that every local congregation is independent, and its elders are accountable to its members, and congregationalism's wider assemblies are not ordinarily empowered to enforce discipline. Thus, these
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Often all members of the constituent presbyteries are members of the synod. Like the commissioners to presbyteries, the commissioners to synods do not act on instruction from their congregations or presbyteries, but exercise their own judgement. A synod also has a moderator and clerk, and generally
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The elders are persons chosen from among the congregation and ordained for this service. Beyond that, practices vary: sometimes elders are elected by the congregation, sometimes appointed by the session, in some denominations elders serve for life, others have fixed terms, and some churches appoint
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Ministers may be considered equal in status with the other elders, but they have a distinct ordination and distinct function. They are the primary preachers and teachers, celebrants of sacraments. There are sometimes further distinctions between the minister and the other elders. Some
Presbyterian
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position appointed by the presbytery itself. The moderator is addressed as "moderator" during meetings, but their position has no bearing outside of the presbytery meeting and affords him/her no special place in other courts, although typically the moderator (especially if a member of the clergy)
745:, which comes from the Latin word for "fleet". Presbyteries are made up of all the teaching and ruling elders in a particular geographic region. In some Dutch Reformed bodies, a classis serves as a delegated body, which ceases to exist in between meetings, whereas a presbytery exists perpetually.
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With the
Session there is one person, usually an elder but not always, who will be given the title, "Clerk of Session". This person is more or less the secretary for Session. They take notes on each meeting and are responsible for records of the congregation. In addition they find a wide area of
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The
General Assembly also has members serve as Advisory Delegates. There are four different types of advisory delegates, each with a focus on a different area in the Presbyterian Church like young adult, theological student, missionary and ecumenical. The role of an advisory delegate is to speak
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In every Church completely organized, that is, furnished with all the officers which Christ has instituted and which are necessary for carrying into full effect the laws of his kingdom, there ought to be three classes of officers, viz: at least one
Teaching Elder, Bishop, or Pastor — a bench of
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in which each congregation is independent. In contrast to the other two forms, authority in the presbyterian polity flows both from the top down (as higher assemblies exercise limited but important authority over individual congregations, e.g., only the presbytery can ordain ministers, install
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uses a conciliar method of church government (that is, leadership by the group or council). Thus, the ministers and "elders" govern together as a group, and at all times the office is for the service of the congregation, to pray for them and to encourage them in the faith. The elders together
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In the Polity of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the pastor and associate pastor(s), if elected by the congregation and "installed" to a permanent pastorate by the presbytery, have votes as members of the session on any and all matters; however, often they refrain from voting except in tie
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in other denominations. (Because ruling elders are often ordained in a fashion nearly identical to teaching elders, the distinction between lay and clergy is not as clear under the
Presbyterian system as in others). The terms 'lay' and 'clergy' are not properly used in presbyterian polity.
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The general assembly of a denomination often decides on what grounds a person may be ordained, but the ordination of ministers is the right of the presbytery or classis, and the right to extend a call to a minister is the privilege of the members of the parish or congregation.
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pastors, and start up, close, and approve relocating a congregation) and from the bottom up (e.g., the moderator and officers are not appointed from above but are rather elected by and from among the members of the assembly). This theory of governance developed in
382:, in that individual congregations are not independent, but are answerable to the wider church, through its governing bodies (presbyteries, synods and assemblies). Moreover, the ordained ministry possesses a distinct responsibility for preaching and sacraments.
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There may be issues arising between annual
General Assemblies which require urgent attention. In these cases some presbyterian churches have a 'commission of assembly' who will deal with the issue and refer it to the next General Assembly for homologation.
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Presbyterian Publications Office, London, 1884, "The Qualifications and Duties of Elders", in Matthews, George D. ed "Alliance of the Reformed Church Holding the Presbyterian System, Minutes and Proceedings of the Third General Council, Belfast,
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It is their duty to have an eye of inspection and care over all the members of the congregation; and, for this purpose, to cultivate a universal and intimate acquaintance, as far as may be, with every family in the flock of which they are made
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denominations enroll ministers as members of their respective congregations, while others enroll the minister as a member of the regional presbytery. The presbyteries are responsible for the ordination of the ministers.
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about issues or topics that commissioners would usually not worry about or care to speak about during a General Assembly meeting. Advisory Delegates may not present motions or vote in meetings of the General Assembly.
1275:(ASSEMBLY AT EDINBURGH, February 10, 1645, Sess. 16. ACT of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the KIRK of SCOTLAND, approving the Propositions concerning Kirk-government, and Ordination of Ministers). Online at
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1072:, which subscribes to a body of religious doctrines that are quite distinct from those of most properly named Presbyterian denominations (and which instead descends historically from the Wesleyan
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adopted Calvinist theology during the Reformation and became the Italian branch of the Reformed churches. In 1975 the Waldensian Church joined with the Italian Methodist Church to form the
823:) is the highest court of presbyterian polity. Each presbytery selects a number of its members to be commissioners to the general assembly. The general assembly is chaired by its own
788:, this is referred to as "conferences" and "General Council". However, the United Church of Canada does not bear the formal ecclesiastical structure of classic Presbyterianism.
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of the church and their ordering of the business of the presbytery. They are thus very much more than secretaries and often in fact are the lynch pin of the organisation.
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Preaching (the ministry of the Word) and the administration of the sacraments is ordinarily entrusted to specially trained elders (known as ministers of the Word and
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will conduct worship and oversee ordinations and installations of ministers as a "liturgical" bishop, and other ordinances which are seen as acts of the presbytery.
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In denominations too large for all the work of the denomination to be done by a single presbytery, the parishes may be divided into several presbyteries under
353:, leadership and legislation are committed to the care of ruling assemblies of presbyters among whom the ministers and "ruling elders" are equal participants.
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The powers of the general assembly are usually wide-ranging. However, they may be limited by some form of external review. For example, the rules of the
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846:, which requires that certain major changes to the polity of the church be referred to the presbyteries, before being enacted by the general assembly.
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1152:"Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311-600 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library"
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exercise oversight (episcopacy) over the local congregation, with superior groups of elders gathered on a regional basis exercising wider oversight.
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Among the early church fathers, it was noted that the offices of elder and bishop were identical, and were not differentiated until later, and that
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As an example of qualifications for office as teaching elder, many denominations require a period of theological education at university level.
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In addition to sitting on the session and other church courts, ruling elders have duties as individuals. Again, Miller (1831) explains,
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Depending upon the specific denomination, teaching elders may also be referred to with terms such as "Minister of Word and Sacrament".
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In addition to these ministers, there are also "others … with gifts for government … commonly call "elders" or "ruling elders".
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The church of Christ : a treatise on the nature, powers, ordinances, discipline, and government of the Christian church
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Historical theology : a review of the principal doctrinal discussions in the Christian church since the apostolic age
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are ruled by elders only at the level of the congregations, which are united with one another by covenants of trust.
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Presbyterian polity is constructed on specific assumptions about the form of the government intended by the
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published a brief irreverent poem, "On A Celebrated Ruling Elder", as an elegy for a Scottish Presbyterian.
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An Essay, on the Warrant, Nature and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder, in the Presbyterian Church
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An essay on the warrant, nature, and duties of the office of the ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church
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Presbyterian polity was developed as a rejection of governance by hierarchies of single bishops (
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In presbyterianism, congregations are united in accountability to a regional body called the
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holds the highest office of the church (there is no Patriarch, Prelate or Pope over bishops).
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A session is a corporate body of teaching and ruling elders elected by a particular church.
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Burns, Robert. "On A Celebrated Ruling Elder" available online in English translation from
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Presbyterians typically have viewed this method of government as approximating that of the
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In the early days of the Scottish Reformation there were Superintendents. There were also
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In most denominations the pastor serves as Moderator and presides over the session (
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are denominations with presbyterian polity which allow for the ordination of women.
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and describes the function of the elder, rather than the maturity of the officer. A
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Presbyteries meet at a regularity between monthly and quarterly, some half-yearly.
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The story of the Scottish church : from the Reformation to the Disruption
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in the Nazarene Church has a different use entirely, referring to an ordained
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Christian Reformed Church of North America Church Order Article 35 a-b(2015)
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have no intermediate court between the presbytery and the general assembly.
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after his period of exile in Geneva. It is strongly associated with
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situations. The Pastor is not a voting member of the congregation.
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lie in the medieval Waldensian movement for religious reform. The
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Christ's Churches Purely Reformed: A Social History of Calvinism
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of the session counted they can break a tie by a casting vote.
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the case of the Presbyterian Church (USA), every other year.
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and the nation itself is bound up with the relation between
1707:, audio version of William Cunningham's Historical Theology
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Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
905:. There are also Lutherans and Evangelicals. The logo is a
478:. Ministers called to a particular congregation are called
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favoured, and the Presbyterianism of the reformers. In the
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also attacked the episcopal polity in the 4th century.
1581:. Vol. 2. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. pp.
1561:. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. pp.
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All Christian people together are the priesthood (see
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784:, the synod being the lower court of the two. In the
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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2007. "Book of Order"
1611:. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
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511:ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
243:Presbyterianism was first described in detail by
1039:For a full list of individual denominations see
1045:List of Christian denominations#Presbyterianism
1018:Moderators and clerks in the Church of Scotland
452:
436:
434:. An excerpt from Miller (1831) expands this.
222:of elders was the norm for church government.
741:or, in Continental Reformed terminology, the
234:(393–457) in "Interpret ad. Phil. iii", 445.
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8:
1696:"The Form of Presbyterial Church-Government"
1545:(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
262:and Archbishops. Much of the history of the
230:(349–407) in "Homilia i, in Phil. i, 1" and
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1271:The Form of Presbyterial Church-Government
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931:Union of Waldensian and Methodist Churches
879:and their derivatives in other countries.
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503:Christian Reformed Church in North America
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72:
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901:, presbyterianism was represented by the
648:Learn how and when to remove this message
546:administers the other material business (
117:") typified by the rule of assemblies of
27:Church government by assemblies of elders
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1041:List of Christian denominations#Reformed
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466:Holy Orders § Presbyterian churches
320:") are (in this view) synonymous terms.
1555:"VIII - The Constitution of the Church"
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1501:. Vol. 2. Edinburgh: T. T. Clark.
1487:. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T. T. Clark.
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470:In some denominations they are called
378:Presbyterianism is also distinct from
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795:Some presbyterian churches, like the
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143:; presbyteries can be grouped into a
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1705:audio version of Historical Theology
1200:participating institution membership
1088:or simply "board members"; the term
939:World Communion of Reformed Churches
586:adding citations to reliable sources
484:, and serve a function analogous to
1652:World Alliance of Reformed Churches
748:The officers of a presbytery are a
505:(both of Dutch Reformed heritage),
157:minister of the word and sacrament.
420:There are two types of elder; the
25:
1605:". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
1593:Treasury of the Scottish covenant
1286:, retrieved on September 6, 2006.
1721:Presbyterian Church organisation
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278:there remain bishops who have a
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515:Evangelical Presbyterian Church
472:Ministers of Word and Sacrament
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1601:McHugh, John Ambrose (1911). "
860:Presbyterianism § Regions
805:Presbyterian Church in America
732:Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu
507:Cumberland Presbyterian Church
404:The Ordination of Elders in a
131:, though other terms, such as
1:
1405:PCUSA Book of Order G-10.0101
923:Waldensian Evangelical Church
519:Presbyterian Church in Canada
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165:), but also differs from the
1625:. London: Blackie & Son.
1414:PCUSA Book of Order G-7.0308
1267:Westminster Assembly, 1645A
976:Reformed Christianity portal
801:Orthodox Presbyterian Church
523:Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
414:National Gallery of Scotland
1596:. Edinburgh: Andrew Elliot.
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1575:"XXVI - Church Government"
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1639:. Edinburgh: Robert Ogle.
1590:Johnston, John C (1887).
1187:Oxford English Dictionary
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913:) with the burning bush.
903:Église réformée de France
754:stated or principal clerk
679:"to sit"), sometimes the
276:Hungarian Reformed Church
1676:(New York). Book in the
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730:Presbytery flags of the
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1736:Ecclesiastical polities
1542:Encyclopædia Britannica
1192:Oxford University Press
943:World Methodist Council
786:United Church of Canada
384:Congregational churches
375:and earliest churches.
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998:Christian federalism
689:Continental Reformed
582:improve this article
200:Scottish Reformation
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1571:Cunningham, William
1551:Cunningham, William
1190:(Online ed.).
990:Christianity portal
949:Cultural references
921:The origins of the
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1585:-556 & passim.
1565:-266 & passim.
1425:"General Assembly"
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580:Please help
575:verification
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1375:McHugh 1911
1351:Miller 1842
1328:M'Crie 1875
1213:M'Crie 1875
1161:21 December
927:Waldensians
844:Barrier Act
318:presbyteros
306:Koine Greek
253:John Calvin
176:John Calvin
103:presbyteral
50:Connexional
1715:Categories
1698:online at
1202:required.)
1051:References
941:, and the
858:See also:
722:Presbytery
693:consistory
608:newspapers
464:See also:
249:Strasbourg
228:Chrysostom
224:St. Jerome
137:presbytery
128:consistory
119:presbyters
1573:(1863b).
1553:(1863a).
1495:(1868b).
1481:(1868a).
1113:Citations
1082:episcopal
869:The word
825:moderator
750:moderator
337:Sacrament
322:Episcopos
310:episcopos
255:in 1541.
232:Theodoret
220:plurality
184:John Knox
45:Episcopal
1672:, 1831.
1633:(1842).
1619:(1875).
1509:(2002).
1457:Archived
1280:Archived
1156:ccel.org
1094:minister
962:See also
907:Huguenot
544:trustees
460:Minister
427:Minister
412:, 1891.
326:overseer
312:") and "
272:monarchs
204:Reformed
180:Scotland
1694:, 1645
1471:Sources
1302:passim.
909:Cross (
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743:classis
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687:or (in
661:Session
622:scholar
481:pastors
391:Offices
214:History
155:, or a
141:classis
123:session
1659:1914,
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1233:pp260-
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677:sedere
673:sessio
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539:deacon
533:Deacon
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486:clergy
330:bishop
301:Bishop
282:role.
188:French
174:under
172:Geneva
107:polity
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1387:1884"
1332:pp203
1300:pp433
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1130:pp201
1090:elder
1056:Notes
917:Italy
772:Synod
675:from
629:JSTOR
615:books
424:(see
408:, by
396:Elder
314:elder
292:Bible
286:Basis
196:Swiss
192:Dutch
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1686:CRTA
1684:and
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