Leadership

Jesus Christ, from His throne of glory, rules, teaches, and sustains His Church through His Word and Spirit by the ministry of men (i.e., a parity and plurality of elders—presbuteroi). This group of elders is known as the “Session,” and they are elected to the office by the congregation to exercise governance and oversight in all matters concerning the ministry of the church. Scripture shows us it is good that the sheep have multiple shepherds “exercising oversight” instead one sole pastor who will surely get overburdened (1 Pet. 5:1-2); it is good for elders to have balance and hold one another accountable—“in an abundance of counselors is safety” (Prov. 11:14; 15:22); it is good for the flock to have many eyes “keeping watch over [their] souls” (Heb. 13:17). We are not a staff-led church, nor are we a congregation-led church; rather, we are a Session-led church because we are Presbyterian, which is Reformed, which is Biblical. 

The PCA holds to a two-office view of church government: elder and deacon (1 Tim. 3:1-7, 8-13). The Greek New Testament uses the term for bishop (episkopos) and elder (presbuteros) interchangeably (see Acts 20:17-28; Titus 1:5-7). Presbyterianism government is rooted in Scripture (Exod. 3:16; 18:12-27) and is modeled after the apostolic church (Acts 14:23).

The office of deacon was established in Acts 6 where godly men were chosen by the people to serve as ministers of mercy and care for God’s people. Qualifications to be ordained as a deacon is recorded in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.