The elders are not only elected by the congregation, they are ordained through the laying on of hands by other elder members of the congregation.  Ordination to this office is for life.  Even when not in active service on the Session, they may serve in other governing bodies (also called "courts") of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and fulfill other functions requiring an elder.  Elders are sometimes referred to as "ruling elders," to distinguish them from "teaching elders" - a common early name for our ministers.

Each local church selects a pastor by a vote its members at a congregational meeting.  This "call" must be approved by a vote of the entire Presbytery.  Pastors are ordained  "Ministers of Word and Sacrament" by a Presbytery, and remain members of a Presbytery, not of a local congregation.  The "call" is actually a mutual contact between the local church and its pastor which spells out the financial and other conditions of their relationship.  A "call" is usually without time limit, but it's terms are revisited annually by the local congregation and Presbytery.

Another elected board of Old South Haven Church is the Board of Deacons.  The deacons have, as their first concern, ministering to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress.  Deacons are elected and ordained to office similar to elders, and their ordination is also for life.  The Board of Deacons is responsible to the Session.

Many Presbyterian Churches have an elected Board of Trustees who have as their principal responsibilities managing the corporate and financial affairs of the local church in accordance with civil law.  But many local Presbyterian churches do not have trustees; instead these responsibilities reside with the Session.  In congregations with trustees, they are responsible to the Session.  Old South Haven Church does not have a Board of Trustees.

Meaning of Ordination

The ordained offices of "Minister of the Word and Sacrament," "Elder," and "Deacon" are not hierarchal.   It is our understanding of ordination that a person is called by God through election by the people of God to a specific function and role within the church -- corporately  providing shared leadership and pastoral care, equipping of the people of God, and ordering of the work of the church.  Ordination is the act by which the church sets apart these persons to be presbyters ("ministers of the Word and Sacrament" or "elders") or deacons, and is accompanied with prayer and the laying on of hands.   The constitutional questions asked for each office are essentially the same, except as they relate to the specific function and role of the office.  The most commonly used prologue to the ordination service for each office is:

"There are different gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.  There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.  God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.  Each one is given a gift by the Spirit, to use for the common good."

From I Corinthians 12:4-11

Presbytery of Long Island

The Presbytery of Long Island is an assembly consisting of all its minister members, and elder commissioners appointed by the Sessions of the local churches in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  At this level of organization, and at all higher levels, there are always an equal number of ministers and elders constituting the church's assemblies, councils, commissions, and committees.  The Presbytery is responsible for the mission, government and discipline of the church throughout the two counties.  It has broad responsibilities over the affairs of local churches, including establishing and dissolving the pastoral relationship, disposition of its property, and their adherence to the standards of the Presbyterian Church (USA) .   The Presbytery also has authority over its ministers, including the power to ordain, receive, dismiss, install, remove, and discipline ministers.

The Presbytery of Long Island was formed in 1717, and is one of the oldest presbyteries within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The Presbytery meets six to eight times a year at various churches within the two counties.  It elects its own Moderator, who may be either a minister or an elder.  It also selects a Stated Clerk to record its proceedings, and employs an Executive Presbyter to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Presbytery and other staff.  Most of the work of the Presbytery is carried out by Councils and Committees.  Click here for more information about the Presbytery of Long Island.

Synod of the Northeast

The Synod of the Northeast is an assembly of minister and elder commissioners elected by the Presbyteries in the northeastern United States -- all the New England states, and New Jersey and New York.  The Synod is an intermediate governmental unit responsible for the mission of the church throughout the region.   Most of its work is done in cooperation with the individual presbyteries.   Its offices are in Syracuse, NY.  A Synod Executive  manages the day-to-day affairs of the Synod and other staff.  Click here for more information about the Synod of the Northeast.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is representative of the unity of the synods, presbyteries, sessions, and congregations of the church. The General Assembly consists of equal numbers of elder and minister commissioners elected by each presbytery in the United States.  Until very recently, the General Assembly met annually, but has recently decided to meet biannually.  The headquarters for the General Assembly is in Louisville, KY.  Click here for more information about the General Assembly.

World Alliance of Reformed Churches

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.  The Alliance is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli and many others, and the earlier reforming movements of Jan Hus and Peter Valdes.  It links more than 75 million Christians in over 100 countries around the world, and its member churches are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United.  Most live and witness in the southern hemisphere; many are religious minorities in their countries.  It has no ecclesiastical authority over the Presbyterian Church (USA) or any of its other member churches.  Click here for more information about the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.