Topic outline

  • Regarding: Ruling Elders

    Regarding Ruling Elders logo

    A Resource for Serving Faithfully

    Ruling elders are elected by congregations as “persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit” (G-2.0301). They are called to ministry in partnership with teaching elders. Within this calling, ruling elders have responsibilities in several areas of the life of the church including exercise in leadership, governance, spiritual discernment, and discipline.

    This resource seeks to lift up the specific responsibilities of ruling elders while also providing an opportunity to reflect upon how they are lived out. It also seeks to nurture the spiritual life of those serving in this role through devotional pieces, descriptions of spiritual practices, and other resources for growing as spiritual leaders.

  • These pages provide links to resources and training materials relevant to the ministry of ruling elders.

    • Resources for church governance, including the roles and responsibilities of ruling elders, can be found within our Constitution.

    • Training for ruling elders typically occurs through the local congregation or mid council. Modules to assist in designing this training and a congregational sample are available.

    • Training and education for ruling elders may also occur through shorter segments, focusing on specific topics.

    • Several books and workbooks focusing on the ministry of ruling elders and their roles and responsibilities, including several that have been translated into a variety of languages.

    • A variety of resources that may supplement ministry with ruling elders including materials for orienting first-time presbytery attendees, charts, and articles.