HOME PREACHING WORSHIP WE BELIEVE LEADERSHIP THE CHURCH SERMONS LINKS
LEADERSHIP
Church Government
As the Church belongs to Jesus Chris alone, her life is regulated by his command found in God’s word. This includes the form of government, or polity, of the Church.
The church of the Bible was governed by elders, mutually accountable to each other, with ascending assemblies or courts of elders collectively responsible for the larger church. The word for elders in the Greek New Testament is "presbyter." We follow Presbyterian polity not because of our preference, our tradition, or because it works well; but because it is taught by the word of God.
Local congregations have teaching and ruling elders. Teaching elders may be designated as Pastors or Teachers. Teaching and ruling elders oversee the spiritual life, ministry and health of the congregation. They are mutually accountable to and responsible to one another.
Deacons are also called and ordained servants of God who assist the elders in the material and financial affairs of the church. Deacons lead in the ministry of mercy and compassion to those in physical and material need.
Local elders are not the final authority. They participate in a Presbytery (regional church court) which oversees local congregations, examines ministers for ordination, approves calls to a pastor or pastors moving from one call to another, and hear complaints or appeals from local churches.
Commissioners from presbyters (both teaching and ruling elders) participate in a general assembly of the national church. This body oversees presbyteries, hears complaints and appeals from presbyteries, purses relationships with other like minded denominations, and coordinates the national ministry and missions of the entire church.
All ordained servants (teaching elders, ruling elders, deacons) in this denomination take vows affirming their understanding, belief and adherence to the biblical doctrines as summarized in the Westminster Standards. Any exceptions they may have must be stated to their ordaining court. One may expect the teaching of Presbyterian officers to conform to what the church says she believes.
God specifies the qualifications for church office. Only men are called to the offices of elder and deacon. The Bible forbids women to preach, teach, or lead in corporate worship. This is a matter of God ordained role and qualification, not one of equality before God.
Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church currently has a teaching elder (called as Pastor), three serving ruling elders, and one deacon:
Teaching Elder: Glenn Ferrell
Ruling Elders: John Jambura, James Roberts, Robert Watrous
Deacon: Larry Roberts
Our congregation is part of the Presbytery of the Northwest [PNW] of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church [OPC].