Our Session

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The Ministry of Discernment and Governance (G-2.0301, Book of Order)

As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people.  Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit.  Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation, but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life.  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 (Presbytery), ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as Ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.

Terms of Service (G-2.0404, Book of Order)

Ruling elders are elected to serve terms of no more than three years on the session, and may be eligible for reelection according to congregational rule.  No ruling elder is eligible to serve more than six consecutive years, and a ruling elder who has served six consecutive years shall be ineligible for election to the session for at least one year.