2025 Week 19
Hello, Springers!
Today, three of us on the session are attending a meeting of the Northern California Presbytery.
If you don’t know what the session is read on…
The session is the name for our church’s board of elders.
Why don’t we just call it The Board?
Part of the reason is tradition to be sure, but there is also another reason.
When something is “in session,” it means that the members of the group are seated. When class is “in session,” the students are seated and ready to receive from the teacher. When court is “in session,” the judges are seated and ready to listen to the facts of the case.
When the elders are seated together as a court of the church, they are “in session” and that is different than being a board as we typically think of it. The board of a corporation is important, but it is usually passive. The board doesn’t get its hands dirty in the day-to-day business of the corporation. Usually, they provide oversight for the CEO. They may hire or fire that person.
But the board of elders in a Presbyterian church isn’t like the board of a corporation. Our most important business is worship. Our elders regularly lead in this. Besides that they lead, pray, and teach individuals and groups. They are not passive decision makers.
Our elders at Valley Springs are a great encouragement to me. It’s a privilege to serve with these men. Take the time to learn who our officers are (elder and deacons) at valleysprings.org/leadership. I hope you’ll take the time to meet them if you haven’t and to join me in saying thank you to them for their work in the church.
This summer, we will begin leadership training for men as we look for the future officers that God is calling to serve at Valley Springs. Pray for God to raise up more officers to serve our church.
Just as a session is different from a typical board. The qualifications are also different. You can find them in the Bible in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Godly character is the most important thing the officers give in service to the church. After that it is all the practical stuff.
1 Timothy 3:1 says: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
Of course, being able to aspire to this office without being arrogant in heart is the tricky part, isn’t it?
The only way someone can do that is by the grace of God revealed to us in Christ.
in Christ,
Pastor Tag