Elders
In accordance with the Presbyterian system of governance, Northminster elders are chosen by the congregation. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of Northminister as well as the church at large, including ecumenical relationships.
They serve faithfully as members of the session for a three-year term. When elected commissioners to higher governing bodies, elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligible for any office.
The body of elders elected to govern is called a session. They are elected by the congregation and in one sense are representatives of the other members of the congregation.
On the other hand, their primary charge is to seek to discover and represent the will of Christ as they govern. Presbyterian elders are both elected and ordained. Through ordination elders are officially set apart for service. They retain their ordination beyond their term in office.
Ministers who serve the congregation are also part of the session. The session is the smallest, most local governing body of our church. The other governing bodies are presbyteries, which are composed of several churches; synods, which are composed of several presbyteries; and the General Assembly, which represents the entire denomination. Elders and ministers who serve on these governing bodies are also called presbyters.
Current NPC Elders |
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Class of 2013 |
Class of 2014 |
Class of 2015 |
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2010 NPC Presbytery Commissioners:
- Greg Boyer
- Gordon Guth
- Bill Raspe
- Ruth Uchtman
- Carol Wooldridge
- Gordon Zerkel