The Role of Session in the Presbyterian Church (USA)

In the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Session is the group of ruling elders, elected by the congregation, who make decisions for the administration of the local church and who serve as spiritual leaders of the congregation. They have the responsibility and power to: provide that the Word of God be preached and heard, primarily through worship; authorize the celebration of the sacraments; receive and dismiss members; provide for the education, ordination, mission, and care of members; oversee financial stewardship and church property; and maintain discipline. The Session is the council for the congregation. All members of the Session are entitled to vote. The pastor is the moderator of the Session, and the Session shall not meet without the pastor or designated moderator; however, the moderator is not ordinarily a voting member of the Session. The Session has the responsibility of governing and guiding the congregation, so that the congregation is, and becomes, a community of faith, hope, love, and witness. Keeping their very specific task in mind, the Session also has the responsibility and power to:

• Review the roll of active members at least annually;
• Train, examine, ordain, and install those elected by the congregation as ruling elders and deacons;
• Direct the ministry of deacons, trustees, and all organizations of the congregation;
• Employ the administrative staff of the congregation;
• Maintain minutes of Session meetings, accurate and current Membership Rolls, registers of baptisms, ruling elders and deacons, installed pastors with dates of service, and other relevant registers; and finally,
• Prepare and adopt a budget and determine the distribution of the congregation’s benevolences with full transparency to the congregation concerning its decisions, and ensuring faithful stewardship of financial resources.

If you are wondering who the session members are at GBPC, you can find their pictures, names, and terms on the website under “About” and “Elders and Deacons.”