Sam, after worship one Sunday: Pastor, I read something in the presbytery’s newsletter that mentioned a gathering for people in ordered ministries. At first, I thought, “Does the presbytery order people into ministry?” Can you explain this term?
Pastor: Sam, let’s get our coffee and sit down to talk.
In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), ordered ministries refers to those offices in the church into which people are ordained and set apart to provide ordered leadership and service, “so that the ministry of the whole people of God may flourish” (Book of Order, G-2.0102). “The Church’s ordered ministries described in the New Testament and maintained by this church are deacons and presbyters (ministers of the Word and Sacrament and ruling elders)” (G-2.0102).
People who are elected to these ordered ministries are ordained. “In ordination the church sets apart with prayer and the laying on of hands those who have been called by God through the voice of the church to serve as deacons, ruling elders, and ministers of the Word and Sacrament” (W-4.0401). Ordination is an act of a council of the church, such as a presbytery or session. The constitutional questions found in W-4.0404 are asked and answered at ordination and each time a person is installed for a new term of service, but the laying on of hands takes place only at ordination, once for each office (W-4.0403). The constitutional questions asked at ordination and installation are the same for all ordered ministries, except for the last question, which is specifically about the duties of the particular ministry.
We believe that people are called to these ministries. The call has three components: an individual’s sense that the Holy Spirit is moving him or her to such service; “the approval of a community of God’s people” (such as election by a congregation); “and the concurring judgment of a council of the Church” (G-2.0103).
For ruling elders and deacons, after election by the congregation, the session provides a “period of study and preparation, after which the session shall examine them as to their personal faith; knowledge of the doctrine, government, and discipline contained in the Constitution of the church; and the duties of the ministry” (G-2.0402). That may seem daunting, but many sessions conduct these examinations in a spirit of collegiality. When the examination is approved, then the candidate(s) are ordained and/or installed.
The process is lengthier for those seeking ordination as a teaching elder (minister of the Word and Sacrament) and usually includes achieving a seminary education, passing standard ordination exams and supervision of the presbytery of membership.
“Ministers of the Word and Sacrament (also called teaching elders and pastors) shall in all things be committed to teaching the faith in word and deed and equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). They may serve in a variety of ministries,” and are under the oversight of the presbytery of which they are a member” (G-2.0501).
Ruling elders are people “with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people.” Ruling elders are initially elected to serve on the session of their congregation. “Ruling” does not mean that these elders wield a crown and scepter but rather a measuring tape, as the session measures the spiritual health and growth and seeks to “strengthen and nurture [the] faith and life” of the congregation entrusted to its care (G-2.0301). Ruling elders may also participate in the life of the larger church as commissioners to other councils. Some are called and prepared to serve in limited pastoral service (G-2.1001).
“The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ …” (G-2.0201). The session maintains oversight of the deacons, who may be individuals commissioned to specific work or may be organized as a board. Not all congregations choose to have the ordered ministry of deacon but the function of this ministry is always preserved and falls to the ruling elders and the session (G-2.0202).
Deacons and ruling elders are elected for terms, usually three years, and may not serve an aggregate of terms equaling more than six years, unless an exemption has been granted by the presbytery upon request of the congregation (G-2.0404).
Ordinarily, when one enters an ordered ministry, it is for life, though not always in active service. If you have been ordained as a deacon or ruling elder, you are always one, though you may not currently be serving on the respective board, although there are provisions for leaving or being removed from ordered ministry. Whether in active service or not, ruling elders may be elected to serve as commissioners and may be elected by the more inclusive councils to serve on committees, commissions or as officers, and as such, “ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as teaching elders, and they are eligible for any office” (G-2.0401).
For Reflection:
- How have you experienced a sense of call to serve in the ministry of ruling elder?
- What decisions/oversight reflect the session’s duty to measure the health of the congregation and “strengthen and nurture [its] faith and life?”
- In what ways have you seen the work of deacons as a ministry of “compassion, witness and service” in your congregation?
Alyson Janke is a sixth-generation Presbyterian. A ruling elder, she has served as the Stated Clerk in John Knox Presbytery for 31 years and been commissioned to limited pastoral service at Wild Rose Presbyterian Church in Winnebago Presbytery for 25 years. She served on the PC(USA) Advisory Committee on the Constitution and taught Presbyterian Polity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. She and her husband have retired from dairy farming.
Throughout 2026, monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles will focus on some of the foundational aspects of ruling elder service and spiritual leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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