This series of articles so far has described the nature of oversight within the church, the responsibilities of the three persisting offices in the church, the qualifications for office, and how elders govern the life and conduct of the church. This is the final article in the series, and closes with an overview of the…

Ministers Among those who minister the Word, Scripture distinguishes the evangelist, the pastor, and the teacher. (BCO FG Chapter VI:2). Ministers must be of sound faith, appropriate human learning and preparation for office, able to teach others, and must exhibit a walk of life that fits his calling. Ministers are called by a congregation with…

Regarding the Church The Elder’s Edition two weeks ago considered the Session and its function. Last week’s edition addressed the roles and responsibilities of the two key offices that function as the Session of the local church. This edition will look at the nature of the church and the officers who serve her. The Greek…

Last week’s Elder’s Edition article considered expectations that can arise out of common practices in the use of electronic communications as they might impact how a congregation can interact with the Session. Lastly, the article covered the role and function of the Session as set out in the OPC Book of Church Order (BCO). This…

This is the first of a series on Presbyterian polity and on our doctrine of the Church. A question that has come up time and again in many churches is this: “Why hasn’t the Session/Elder/Minister responded to my issue?” The situation and its circumstances vary, but the essence of the concern usually involves: a) How…