ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
E1003527
Ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church (USA) are lay leaders elected by congregations to share in spiritual oversight, governance, and decision-making alongside ministers within the denomination’s connectional polity.
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
church leadership role
ⓘ
lay ecclesiastical office ⓘ ordained office in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ⓘ |
| ageRequirement | must meet minimum age set by the Book of Order or council ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
PC(USA) ruling elders
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
ruling elders ⓘ |
| canServeAs |
clerk of session
ⓘ
moderator of session when authorized ⓘ officers of higher councils when eligible ⓘ |
| continuingService | remain ordained for life unless removed, even after active term ends ⓘ |
| electedBy | congregation ⓘ |
| electionBody | meeting of the congregation ⓘ |
| genderEligibility | open to all genders ⓘ |
| governedBy | Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| governingBodyServed | session ⓘ |
| isLayOrClergy | lay ⓘ |
| isOrdained | true ⓘ |
| ordinationType | ordered ministry of ruling elder ⓘ |
| ordinationVowsInclude |
affirmation of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions
ⓘ
promise to abide by the church’s discipline ⓘ promise to be governed by the church’s polity ⓘ promise to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love ⓘ |
| polityCharacteristic | connectional representation of ruling elders at all councils ⓘ |
| primaryGoverningBodyOf | local congregation ⓘ |
| qualification |
must be active members of the congregation
ⓘ
must be persons of wisdom and maturity of faith ⓘ must demonstrate compassion and sound judgment ⓘ must demonstrate skills in leadership ⓘ |
| religiousDenomination | Presbyterian Church (USA) NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| responsibility |
discernment of God’s will for the congregation
ⓘ
oversight of mission and program ⓘ oversight of stewardship and property ⓘ oversight of worship and spiritual life ⓘ participation in discipline and church judicial processes ⓘ pastoral care and nurture of members ⓘ teaching and example in Christian living ⓘ |
| roleInPolity |
exercise leadership in connectional polity
ⓘ
participate in decision-making in the congregation ⓘ participate in governance of the congregation ⓘ serve alongside ministers of Word and Sacrament ⓘ share in spiritual oversight of the congregation ⓘ |
| sharesAuthorityWith | ministers of Word and Sacrament on the session ⓘ |
| sharesOrderWith |
deacons in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
ⓘ
ministers of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ⓘ |
| termOfService | usually a fixed term on the session ⓘ |
| trainingRequirement | normally receive preparation and training before ordination ⓘ |
| votingRights |
eligible to serve as commissioners to General Assembly
ⓘ
eligible to serve as commissioners to presbytery ⓘ eligible to serve as commissioners to synod ⓘ full vote on the session ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.