To serve on the Session, one must be elected by the congregation and ordained to serve as a Ruling Elder (or, if already ordained at the time of elect, installed onto the Session).
Ruling Elders are ministers in our church.
Ruling Elders serve as partners with the Teaching Elders, or pastors.
A Ruling Elders must:
be persons of faith, professing Christ as Savior
have dedication and devotion to the Church
show good judgment
live a manner of life that demonstrates the Christian Gospel to all
The duties of the teaching elders are to:
- pray daily for the pastor, church staff, other elders, and the ministries of the church
- attend the weekly worship in the Chapel sanctuary on Sundays
- build spiritual friendships in the congregation, and help others at Chapel to build their own friendships within our congregation
- serve in one or more missions or ministries in the Chapel by the Sea
- read and study the Bible
- share the Good News, inviting people to attend worship at Chapel by the Sea and encouraging visitors to become members
- be generous with time, talent and treasures
- serve as mentors in Christian discipleship by word and example
- visit and comfort and care for the people
- give specific attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed
- inform the pastor of those people needing visits, attention, or care
- inform the pastor of those structures in the church needing attention
The Book of Order indicates that a ruling elder may also serve the Session by
serving as a Clerk of Session
serving as a voting Commissioner to the Presbytery
assisting in serving Communion, in visiting, or in any manner of leadership the Session may request.
An elder is ordained for life, but installed onto the Session for a specific term of up to three years. An elder who is no longer serving on the Session is still an elder, and is properly referred to as “an elder in reserve.” Whether on the Session or not, every elder remains responsible to serving as a spiritual leader of the church.
