PRESBYTERIAN GOVERNMENT

Each local PCEA congregation has a body of elders called the Session. The teaching elder is called a minister. To the local Session belongs the responsibility of admitting new members, as well as the exercise of pastoral care and discipline. Elders are to lead as under-shepherds of the flock who must give account to the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) in whose name they serve (1 Peter 5:1-4). The deacons and elders act together for financial and administrative purposes at a meeting called the Deacons' Court. It is worth noting that in the PCEA every member of the congregation has the right to raise concerns with, and make suggestions to, their local Session.

The minister and an elder from a number of congregations come together to form a Presbytery. Presbyteries oversee the ordination of ministers and have general pastoral oversight of the congregations within their bounds (1 Timothy 4:14). It is the body to which ministers are immediately responsible for the discharge of their duties. When all Presbyteries meet together it is called a Synod. This meets annually to review matters from lower courts and determine national policy.

Different matters are dealt with and decisions made at each of these courts of the Church according to the constitution. These bodies are called ‘courts of the church’ because they administer and apply the law of God in Scripture to particular situations. Appeals can be made through the courts of the Church with regard to a decision or action. The system of graded courts (session, presbytery, synod), provides a system of checks and balances, and helps to ensure that Church leaders remember that their calling is not to dominate nor oppress the Lord's people, but to serve (l Peter 3:5).

Ours is an age of individualism and of the rejection of traditional institutions. It is not surprising therefore, to find some Christians maintaining that the Bible has little to say about the institutional aspects of Church life. It is very easy for someone with a strong personality to dominate in a so-called ‘independent’ church. We must also be aware of preaching what itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). The Bible commands that ‘all things be done decently and in order’, because God is not the author of confusion (1Corinthians 14:33, 40). We must remember that the Church is Christ's permanent institution (Matthew 16:18) and that Christ is the head of the church- not the Pope or Archbishop or any self appointed man (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22).

The denominational term, Presbyterian, arose because of our historic testimony for the Biblical role of the corporate eldership as over and against the claims, on the one hand, of Roman Catholic and Anglican hierarchy and, on the other, of Congregational independency.

Elders.  These are men (not women) who are appropriately qualified, gifted spiritually and chosen by the people (1 Timothy 3:1-7; cf. Acts 1:15-26). In the New Testament these rulers are sometimes called ‘bishops’, or ‘overseers’ (Greek, episkopos), and sometimes ‘elders’ (Greek, presbuteros). The same office is meant by both terms. Some elders are chosen and trained to focus on preaching and teaching. We call these ‘teaching elders’ or ‘ministers’. All elders are equal in authority and operate corporately at both the local and broader levels (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 14:23).

Deacons. In the Bible we read of those who were set apart to a ministry of administration and mercy (Acts 6:1-6, cf. Philippians 1:1). These officers are called 'deacons' and, as for the eldership, their qualifications and functions are outlined in the Pastoral Epistles (for elders see: 1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; for deacons see: 1Timothy 3:8-13). In line with Scripture, the PCEA admits only qualified men into this office.