Monthly Leader Guide
This Monthly Leader Guide includes a design to be used at the beginning of meetings of the session and/or board of deacons. Use these as a way of presenting the content provided for each question and studying together the questions affirmed in ordination.
Question i (1) - Faithful Ruling Elder
W-4.0404 i (1)Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
REVIEW
1.
(Slide 44) There are four specific tasks of ruling elders highlighted by this
question:
a. Be faithful in your role as shepherd to the people.
b. Provide for the worship, nurture, and service of the people.
c. Share in responsibilities of government and discipline, serving in councils of the church.
d. Show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.
Ask ruling elders to turn to G-2.0301 in the Book of Order or provide a copy for them to use. Ask them to underline phrases that describe the functions, role, and qualities of ruling elders.
2.
(Slide 45) Remind ruling elders of the three points in the section “Will you be
a ruling elder,” emphasizing the parity or equality in our Presbyterian polity
and that they do not carry the responsibility alone. Those whom God calls, God
also empowers.
3. You may wish to copy the resource material for this question and distribute to the elders prior to the session. If so, use the reflection questions to engage in conversation about the material.
4.
Review the responsibilities of responsibility the session carries for
worship as presented in the resource material referencing the Directory for
Worship in the Book of Order. Highlight the difference in responsibilities
for worship between ruling elders and ministers of Word and Sacrament. (Slide
46)
5. Review the last part of the question, which focuses on shared responsibilities of governance, discipline, and participation in the wider church. If possible, share the structure of your presbytery with the ruling elders, showing opportunities for serving the larger church. In addition, point out the opportunity to serve in higher councils.
REFLECT
1. Ask participants to describe their understanding of faithfulness as it relates to their role as ruling elders. Be sure to point out that faithfulness is described as having a pastoral aspect in this context. “Those elected to be ruling elders and the pastor(s) of the congregation are to serve as a pastoral care team.” What are the reactions to this understanding?
2. Discuss the questions provided in the resource material. Fulfilling the responsibilities of ruling elder begins with individual practices and corporate practices as ruling elders gather together for worship and business. Being a ruling elder is about the spiritual health of the congregation, not primarily about the business of the church.
3. The last part of this question asks ruling elders if they will try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ. Ask elders to share how they seek to fulfill this promise in their personal lives, as well as through their service to the church.
RESPOND
As the final lesson, invite the participants to share their story about call and discernment with one another in pairs.
(Slide 47) Read Colossians 3:12–17. Close with prayer for the ruling elders, for the shared ministry, and for the members of the congregation.