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Monthly Leader Guide

Question e - Polity and Discipline

W-4.0404 e Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?

 

REVIEW

Coming alive in Christ Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?1.     (Slide 27) Polity is simply the form of government of a religious denomination. The polity of the PC(USA) is based on shared leadership. Clergy do not hold the reins of power, nor do members of any ruling board within the congregation. The language of this question highlights the mutuality of ministry and governance.


Congregational polity—the authority lies in the congregation—the congregation votes on all aspects of governance—each individual is granted 1 vote—Congregational and Baptist churches are examples of this form of government. Hierarchical polity (Episcopal)—authority is lodged in individuals, usually called bishops, whose authority is specific to their level in the hierarchy—Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches are examples of this form of government Representative (Presbyterian) —marked by shared authority—representative democracy—representatives from the congregation vote on primary aspects of governance—rooted in John Calvin’s understanding of effective governance, as practiced in Geneva—the Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have this form of government2.     Summarize the three types of polity (Slide 28) described in the resource material. Highlight the difference between a representative democracy and a pure democracy. Ask: If you did not grow up in a Presbyterian church, what kind of government structure did your church use?


3.     If you have not spent time previously outlining the Book of Order and its structure, take this opportunity to highlight the four sections and overview their content. It is worth noting that the Book of Order is not intended to be a rule book, but a guideline for the church to follow as it conducts its life together.


The structure of the councils underscores the foundation of our polity—shared leadership. Balance between clergy and laity is present at all levels. No one voice dominates over another.4.     Review the responsibilities of the various councils of the church as outlined in that section of the resource material and in F-3.0203 (Slide 29), noting that the structure of the councils underscores the foundation of our polity—shared leadership. Balance between clergy and laity is present at all levels. No one voice dominates over another.



What is the discipline of the church? The purpose of discipline is to honor God by making clear the significance of membership in the body of Christ; to preserve the purity of the church by nourishing the individual within the life of the believing community; to achieve justice and compassion for all participants involved; to correct or restrain wrongdoing in order to bring members to repentance and restoration; to uphold the dignity of those who have been harmed by disciplinary offenses; to restore the unity of the church by removing the causes of discord and division; and to secure the just, speedy, and economical determination of proceedings.5.     What is the discipline of the church? The fourth section of the Book of Order lays out a process for church discipline that focuses on restoration and repentance, rather than punishment. Read the following section from D-1.0101 of the Principles of Church Discipline within the Rules of Discipline: (Slide 30)

… The purpose of discipline is to honor God by making clear the significance of membership in the body of Christ; to preserve the purity of the church by nourishing the individual within the life of the believing community; to achieve justice and compassion for all participants involved; to correct or restrain wrongdoing in order to bring members to repentance and restoration; to uphold the dignity of those who have been harmed by disciplinary offenses; to restore the unity of the church by removing the causes of discord and division; and to secure the just, speedy, and economical determination of proceedings. …

Church discipline is always carried out by groups or councils of the church, from sessions to the General Assembly within a system of checks and balances, due process, and procedural safeguards.

6.     The phrase, a friend among your colleagues in ministry, may seem unnecessary, but it is there to emphasize the relational and connectional nature of the Presbyterian church. To be a friend among colleagues is to develop relationships and be in community with others in ordered ministry, not only in the congregation in which they serve, but in other congregations through fellowship and serving on higher councils. It is important to be in worship, prayer, and study together as well, for that is how our relationships are nurtured.

REFLECT

1.     How do you see the Book of Order as beneficial to your personal spiritual growth? To your growth as a spiritual leader?

2.     (Slide 31) Reflect on each of these phrases, taken from F-1.0301. Ask: How do you see this congregation embodying these words?

The Church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.

The Church is to be a community of hope, rejoicing in the sure and certain knowledge that, in Christ, God is making a new creation. …

The Church is to be a community of love, where sin is forgiven, reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down.

The Church is to be a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus its Lord. 

RESPOND

In an effort to strengthen relationships between elders or deacons, do one of the following:

      • Divide into small groups of no more than four people. Share prayer requests with one another and pray for one another.
      • Place the names of all the members of your group in a container and invite each person to draw the name of a colleague in ministry for whom they will pray until you meet again, encouraging them to reach out in support to one another.
      • Partner with another congregation in your presbytery and exchange names of elders or deacons with them, covenanting to pray for one another.