What It Means To Be

Presbyterian
Government
 Where Is There Information
About Government?
• Book of Order
• Divided into Three Parts
• Government
• Worship
• Discipline
 Historic Principles of
Presbyterian Church Order
• Separation of church and state—state not tell
believers what to believe
• Make decisions corporately
• Seek Truth
• There are differences of opinion in the body
• People should be elected to office
• Authority is based on scripture
• The body has the right to discipline.
 Historic Principles cont.
• In the Presbyterian Church, there are
different levels of government including the
Session, the Presbytery, the Synod, and
General Assembly
• Each level has the right and responsibility to
supervise the lower level
• In other words, Presbyteries supervise
Sessions, Synods supervise Presbyteries etc.
Different Levels
General Assembly
Synod
Presbytery
Session
Different Levels
General Assembly
Synod
Presbytery
Session
 Session
• Session is made up of the pastor (s) and elders.
• Receive members
• Provide for worship
• Provide growth of members
• Supervise different programs in the church
• Establish budget
• Instruct, examine, ordain, and welcome new elders and deacons
• Supervise all ministries in the church including Deacons and Trustees
• Nominate elders to go to Presbytery Meetings
• Keep accurate roll of membership
• Send statistical and other information to Presbytery if needed
 Deacons
• Minster to those who are sick or in distress
• Minster to the friendless
• Do duties that are delegated to them by the
Session
• In some cases, the Deacons handle the
property matters of the church
Go Deacs!!!!!
 Trustees
• Not ordained
• Officers of the Corporation
• Receive, hold, and manage property
• Handle investment funds
• Supervise finances
• Insurance/Legal aspects
Different Levels
General Assembly
Synod
Presbytery
Session
Presbytery of Long Island
 Presbytery of Long Island
• Is comprised of all of the churches on LI
• Ministers are members of this Presbytery
• Coordinate work of the churches
• Encourage, guide, and resource individual congregations
• Organize new churches
• Close churches
• Supervise and examine individuals who are preparing for ordination
• Serve in judicial matters
• Work with congregations in conflict
• Review Session records
• Vote on Book of Order Amendments
Different Levels
General Assembly
Synod
Presbytery
Session
Synod of the NorthEast
 Synods
• Comprised of Presbyteries in the NE
• Develop broad strategies for mission of church
• Resource Presbyteries
• Review Presbytery Records
• Judicial matters
• Ecumenical relationships
• Proposal to get rid of this level
Different Levels
General Assembly
Synod
Presbytery
Session
 General Assembly
• Meets every two years
• Develop overall objectives and mission for church
• Oversee an administrative service to assist in ministry
• Establish agencies and task forces to oversee its work
• Establish budget
• Review records of synods
• Serve in judicial matters
• Vote in matters pertaining to change in Book of Order
• Provide an authoritative interpretation of Book of Order
• Ecumenical relationships
• Mission
Property
 Is owned
• By the Presbyterian Church (USA)
• Judicial nightmare today
Questions?
 How do we change the Book of
Order
• It’s a challenge!!!
• Presbytery proposes an amendment to GA
• Goes to the Advisory Committee on Constitution
• Advisory Committee reports its findings to the
GA, and a recommendation to accept or decline
• GA votes
• Goes back to Presbytery—Presbyteries must vote
within one year of GA—majority rules.