VIII: THE PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP
I Timothy 4:12-16
Out of the Protestant Reformation there emerged several denominations which held to the same basic Christian faith as that witnessed to by the apostles but which differed in form of government. One of these denominations is the Presbyterian. Our church holds to a system of government shared by more than 90 million people around the world.
The Presbyterian Church has always stood for the sovereignty of God, the supremacy of the Scriptures, the freedom and responsibility of every human being, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the necessity of works of compassion and justice, and the obligation to preach the Gospel to the whole world.
The Presbyterian Church has a representative form of government whose work is carried on by presbyters or elders elected by the people. There are four branches of government in the Presbyterian Church, all of which are made up of teaching and ruling elders.
The four elements of the Presbyterian system are: the session; the presbytery; the synod; and, the General Assembly.
The Session
Each local church is governed by the session composed of the pastor or minister, who is the “teaching elder”, and a group of lay people who have been elected by the members of the church and ordained to this office; these are called “ruling elders.” The number of ruling elders in each church is usually determined by the size of the church. The pastor is the moderator (convener) of session meetings. The session has charge of the spiritual oversight of the congregation. It is responsible for the five purposes of the church: worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and mission. This work is divided among various ministry teams or committees, consisting of both elders and members of the congregation. Generally, the session is a permission-giving body, deciding on general principles. Most of the work of the session actually takes place in the ministry teams. In every respect, these teams are responsible to the session.
Some churches still operate with a separate board of deacons, charged with the care of those in need and the administration of the finances of the church. Increasingly, these functions have been included in the responsibilities of the session.
The Presbytery
The presbytery is the governing agency of the Church through which individual churches in a particular area are united in ministry and mission. Pastors of local churches are members of the presbytery and not of the churches they serve. The presbytery consists of all of the pastors and representative elders from each church within its bounds. The presbytery oversees the process of ordination, which enables men and women to serve as pastors. It also plays a part in calling pastors to particular churches, and in dismissing them to serve elsewhere.
The presbytery has general oversight of the churches. Its chief duty is to unify and to make more effective the work of the individual churches, to make provision for evangelism and church growth, and to promote the work of the Church as a whole. Meetings of the presbytery take place three or four times a year; they are presided over by a moderator who has been elected by the body.
The Synod
The synod is made up of a group of presbyteries. Synod lines conform, roughly, to state lines with some having several states within their borders. Meetings of the synod are held on a regular basis, with representation from every presbytery. The moderator of synod is elected by commissioners.
In many respects, the functions of the synod are largely administrative. However, the synod does have the power to hear and judge all complaints and appeals from decisions of presbyteries. It examines the records of presbyteries and provides yet another check or balance to prevent abuse of any kind. It has no final authority on any matter that affects the doctrine and constitution of the Church.
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the highest court of the denomination. It meets every other year, and consists of commissioners from the presbyteries. These commissioners are elected by presbytery. In this way, every local church has the opportunity to say who will attend General Assembly. Meetings of the Assembly are presided over by a moderator elected by the commissioners. As in the case of the presbytery or synod, this person may be either a teaching elder (pastor) or a ruling elder.
The General Assembly is the highest court of the Church. It has the power, when cases are referred to it, to uphold or reverse the actions of synods or presbyteries. However, the General Assembly speaks to the Church, not for it. Any decision which requires a change in the constitution must be approved by a vote of the presbyteries.
Through the work of the General Assembly, and its agencies, the denomination seeks to advance the Great Ends of the Church. These have been identified as:
· the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;
· the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
· the maintenance of divine worship;
· the preservation of the truth;
· the promotion of social righteousness; and
· the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
Membership
Membership in the Church is open to all who will accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and, confessing their sins, will seek to follow Him. Members of the Church are expected to endeavor to live a Christian life, to attend worship regularly, to use their spiritual gifts for the building up of the body and to serve others, and to support the Church as the Lord enables them to do.
There are three ways by which an individual may be received into membership:
· By profession of faith (for those who have never confessed faith in Christ as Lord);
· By reaffirmation of faith (for those who have not been active members in any church for some time); and
· By transfer from another congregation.
Profession of Faith
The following questions are asked of those who wish to be received into membership by profession or reaffirmation of faith. The questions are normally asked during a meeting with members of the Session.
Pastor Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
Response I do.
Pastor Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in His grace and love?
Response I do.
Pastor Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His word and showing His love?
Response I will, with God’s help.
Pastor Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry through your prayers and gifts, your study and service and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Response I will, with God’s help.
Pastor Will you devote yourself to the church’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer?
Response I will, with God’s help.
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