Elders

In Presbyterian polity, elected ruling elders are lay members chosen by the congregation who assist in church governance, while the teaching elder (pastor) is ordained and responsible for ministering God’s Word and sacraments[1].

Both classes of elders are considered equal in authority[1], and all elders rule in parity[2]—meaning no single elder, including the pastor, holds superior governing power. The pastor’s authority is shared with all elders and exercised jointly through the Session[3], the local governing body. The teaching elder’s vote counts no more and no less than other installed elders[3].

However, there’s an important distinction between formal authority and practical influence. The pastor who preaches weekly inevitably shapes the church’s doctrinal and spiritual direction, and in healthy congregations, people typically follow the pastor’s leadership[3]. Additionally, the pastor moderates Session meetings and typically determines what occurs in weekly worship services[3].

The foundational principle underlying Presbyterian structure is that the church shares in Christ’s prophetic, kingly, and priestly ministry as a “priesthood of believers,” bearing witness through worship, governance, and service[4]. This suggests that gifted elders shouldn’t be arbitrarily excluded from preaching and teaching roles based solely on credentials.

[1] Aubrey Malphurs and Steve Stroope, Money Matters in Church: A Practical Guide for Leaders (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2007), 80.
[2] Sinclair B. Ferguson and J.I. Packer, in New Dictionary of Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 531.
[3] Matt O’Reilly, Kevin DeYoung, and Benjamin Merkle, “What Is the Nature of Pastoral Authority?: A Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist Perspective,” 9Marks Journal (2016), 44–45.
[4] T. Harvey, “Presbyterianism,” in New Dictionary of Theology: Historical and Systematic, ed. Martin Davie et al. (London; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press; InterVarsity Press, 2016), 703.