ELDERS

A Presbyterian church is governed according to the pattern of elders seen in the Old and New Testaments. The word "presbyter" is Greek for elder.

The office of elder is a distinctive mark of Presbyterianism: ordained non-clergy (non-pastors) who take part in local pastoral care and decision making at all levels. These Biblically-qualified elders are elected from the church family and, along with ministers, lead the church corporately.

At First Pres, elders make up our governing body, called the Session. Each elder serves a three-year term, with one third of the Session rotating out of service at the end of each year – also known as their “class.”