Exercising Your Right As Members of A Presbyterian Church

Exercising Your Right As Members
of A Presbyterian Church

Today members will be called to attend the church’s Annual Congregation Meeting, in which they will exercise their right to vote for church leaders, approve the revised Constitution of the church, and the annual budget. I pray that they will exercise this right with diligence and understanding.

It may thus be appropriate for me to say a few words to you on Presbyterianism (our denominational structure) and what is the basis for it. This I hope will provide the background to what you are called to do today. I’ll be as brief and simple as possible.

There are three basic types of church government: Episcopalian (e.g. Anglicans), Presbyterian (Rule by Ministers and Elders), and Congregational (Independent, rule by members). They all agree that Jesus Christ is the King and Head of the Church, but they differ on how Christ, who is now in heaven, administers His headship.

Episcopalians hold that authority comes from Christ, through the Bible, and is administered by a hierarchy of Archbishops, Bishops, and lesser subordinate officers, and finally governs the laity (members of the churches). Presbyterians hold the view that, under Christ the Head and King of the Church, there is but one class of rulers – Elders and Ministers (who are also the ordained teachers of the church). “Presbyterian” comes from the Greek “presbuteros” which is translated “elder” in English.

Obviously, we hold the view that Presbyterianism is closer than the others to the biblical model. Here is one reason why.

Rule by elders alone is found in the Bible. Of course, after Christ’s resurrection and His ascension shortly after Pentecost (Acts chapters 1 and 2), the Apostles ruled. The Apostle Paul took it upon himself to declare what the will of Christ was for the church. In Ephesians 4:11& 12 he says, He (Christ) gave (to the church) some as apostles, some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. These were the gifted men that Jesus raised up to build the New Testament Church.

In true Presbyterian churches, all rule is by elders (including ministers or “teaching elders” and non-teaching elders). The only higher office in the church is that of Head of the Church, held by Jesus Christ. And under the teachers and elders (the “Sessions” of the church) are the members, including teachers and elders.

So it goes without saying, all elders need to be well qualified and to know the Bible in order to honour Christ in their office. They must know the Scriptures so as to rule righteously. Some elders, however, are called to teach or preach the Word. The distinction is clearly set forth in 1 Tim. 5:17.

Therefore, this is the part you play in exercising your right in our church: you choose, support, vote for, and more importantly, pray for people who give their lives and time to serve you.


In Christ,
Rev Robert Chew