Article

Presbyterian church government: a church of courts

Presbyterian churches are governed by elders who meet in a series of connected courts. Here is how that works, and how it shapes the way ministers are called and ordained.

By reformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30

Government by elders

The word ‘Presbyterian’ comes from the Greek presbyteros, ‘elder’. A Presbyterian church is ruled neither by one bishop nor by the vote of the whole congregation, but by elders whom the congregation elects.

The Orthodox Presbyterian Church states the principle this way: “Government by presbyters or elders is a New Testament ordinance; their joint exercise of jurisdiction in presbyterial assemblies is set forth in the New Testament” (Form of Government III.2). Two features are in that sentence: rule by elders, and the elders acting together in assemblies.

1. It is a church of courts

Presbyterians do not picture each congregation as a separate island. They picture one church, governed at several levels by courts. In the OPC there are three: the session (the elders of a local congregation), the presbytery (the elders and ministers of a region), and the general assembly, “the governing body of the whole church” (Form of Government XV.2). Some Presbyterian bodies add a synod between the presbytery and the assembly.

Each court has its own members and its own authority, and a matter can be taken from a lower court to a higher one. That is why Presbyterians often call their system connectional: the local church is a part of a larger church, and the larger church can act.

Teaching and ruling elders

In the OPC the permanent offices are teaching elder (the minister), ruling elder and deacon (Form of Government V.3). Ministers and ruling elders sit together in the courts and share in governing: “teaching elders and ruling elders” exercise jurisdiction jointly. Deacons care for the church’s mercy ministry and practical needs and do not rule.

2. The congregation calls its minister

A Presbyterian minister is not assigned to a congregation by the denomination. The congregation chooses him. In the OPC a special committee presents a candidate and the congregation votes to issue a call (Form of Government XXII.6).

The call is not final on the congregation’s word alone. It must be approved by the presbytery before it is placed in the minister’s hands (XXII.10). The congregation chooses, and the wider church checks.

3. The presbytery ordains the minister

Examination and ordination belong to the presbytery. The OPC says the presbytery examines candidates (Form of Government XXI.4) and that “ordination shall be performed by the body which examines the candidate” (XX.5).

A minister’s church membership reflects this. A minister belongs to the presbytery, the regional church, rather than to the congregation he serves (VI.4). The presbytery, not the local session, oversees his doctrine and conduct.

In short

A church of courts: session, presbytery and general assembly, each with authority.
The congregation calls its minister; the presbytery approves the call.
The presbytery examines and ordains him, and he is a member of the presbytery.

A caution

These details come from the OPC’s Form of Government. Other Presbyterian churches, such as the PCA, the ARP and the PC(USA), have their own books of order with their own wording, and some have an extra level such as a synod. Read the book of order of the church you are considering.

Sources

www.opc.org/BCO/FG.html

Written for this site. It describes the two systems as their own governing documents state them and does not settle debates between churches. Always read your own church’s book of order.