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Church Government and Offices

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  1. Presbyterian and Reformed polity compared · Article
    Side-by-side comparison of Presbyterian and continental Reformed church government.
  2. Presbyterian church government: a church of courts · Article
    How a Presbyterian church is governed: courts, the call and ordination.
  3. Reformed church government: consistory, classis and synod · Article
    How a continental Reformed church is governed: consistory, classis and synod.

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All 18 resources in Church Government and Offices

Educational Resources1
OPC Committee on Christian EducationOrganization · Orthodox Presbyterian Church OPC committee producing New Horizons, Ordained Servant, ministerial training and children's and family materials.
Church Officer Education13
Westminster StandardsElder Details pending OPC Ruling Elder Podcast and trainingElder Monthly podcast for elders from the OPC Committee on Christian Education. PCA Officer Training Kit for EldersElder Selection of recommended resources for those considered for ruling elder, offered through the PCA Bookstore. RPCNA officer resourcesElder Details pending ARP resourcesElder Details pending Presbyterian polityElder Details pending Reformed Deacon PodcastDeacon OPC-linked podcast for deacons. Mercy ministryDeacon Details pending StewardshipDeacon Details pending Church administrationDeacon Details pending OPC Ministerial Training (MTIOPC and internship)Pastor Ministerial Training Institute, internship, Candidates and Credentials Conference and Timothy Conference. Presbytery requirementsPastor Details pending Church polityPastor Details pending
Articles4
Presbyterian church government: a church of courtsreformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30 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. Reformed church government: consistory, classis and synodreformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30 Continental Reformed churches also rule by elders, but they arrange their assemblies differently. This article explains the Church Order of Dort tradition and how it works today. Presbyterian and Reformed polity comparedreformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30 Both are governed by elders, both call ministers through the congregation and both guard the church with confessions. The differences are in the status of the wider assemblies, the minister’s membership and the way ordination works. How a minister is called and ordained: Presbyterian and Reformed comparedreformededucation.org · Written 2026-09-30 Step by step, how a pastor comes to serve a congregation in a Presbyterian church and in a continental Reformed church.