The Derry Presbyterian Church is a member
of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA).
The PCUSA is governed by four
representative bodies composed of ministers
and elected elders.
From lowest level to highest, these bodies are:
♦ the Session
♦ the Presbytery
♦ the Synod
♦ the General Assembly
Session
The Session consists of the pastor or
co-pastors, the associate pastors, and the elders in active service of a church
(1 Cor. 5:4).
All members of the Session, including the pastor, co-pastors, and
associate pastors, are entitled to vote.
The Session is basically the head of the local church, and you can read about
the organization of the Derry Presbyterian Churchhere. One of our elected elders
and our pastor are members of the next highest body, the Presbytery.
The Presbytery is responsible for the mission and government
of the church throughout its geographical district. It has
many responsibilities and powers, but its two most basic duties are:
1.) to develop strategy for the mission of the church in its area
consistent with the mission of the church as described in the constitution, and
2.) to coordinate the work of its member churches, guiding
them and mobilizing their strength for the most effective witness
to the broader community for which it has responsibility.
The Synod is the unit of the church's life and mission which
consists of not fewer than three Presbyteries within a specific
geographic region. A Synod is composed of commissioners elected
by the Presbyteries and is the intermediate governmental unit
responsible for the mission of the church throughout its region. Its major responsibilities
are similar to that of a Presbytery except on a broader scale:
1.) to develop, in conjunction with its Presbyteries, a broad
strategy for the mission of the church within its boundaries according to the constitution, and
2.) to initiate mission through a variety of forms in light of the larger strategy of the
General Assembly.
It works closely with its Presbyteries to develop joint plans
and objectives for the fulfillment of mission, providing encouragement and guidance to
its Presbyteries and overseeing their work.
The General Assembly
is the highest governing body of the Presbyterian
church and is representative of the unity of the Synods,
Presbyteries,
Sessions and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
It consists of elders and ministers from each
Presbytery.
The General Assembly constitutes the bond of union, community,
and mission among all of its congregations and governing
bodies. It therefore has broad responsibilities and powers which are too numerous
and detailed to list in this summary. If you're interested, you can see the complete list
here.
Fitting it all together
These paragraphs are reprinted directly from our Book of Order:
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) orders its life as an institution with a constitution,
government, officers, finances, and administrative rules. These are instruments of mission,
not ends in themselves. Different orders have served the Gospel, and none can claim
exclusive validity. A presbyterian polity (policy) recognizes the responsibility of all members
for ministry and maintains the organic relation of all congregations in the
church.
All governing bodies of the Church are united by nature of the Church and share with one
another responsibilities, rights, and powers as provided in our Constitution. The governing
bodies are separate and independent, but have such mutual relations that the act of one of
them is the act of the whole Church performed by it through the appropriate governing body.
The jurisdiction of each governing body is limited by the express provisions of the
Constitution, with the acts of each subject to review by the next higher governing body.
