Regarding Ruling Elders: The foundations of Presbyterian polity — basic operating principles, part three

The third and final chapter of the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity section of the PC(USA) Book of Order sets forth principles that have guided the order of this denomination since the late 18th century. It does so by quoting and rephrasing two documents from early in the history of Presbyterians in the United States — the “Historic Principles of Church Order” (F-3.01) and the “Principles of Presbyterian Government” (F-3.02).

The first of these documents is put directly into the text of our current Book of Order. It sets forth principles that are valid for all churches, summarized in the titles of the eight points of this section of the chapter: God Is Lord of the Conscience, Corporate Judgment, Officers, Truth and Goodness, Mutual Forbearance, Election by the People, Church Power, and The Value of Ecclesiastical Discipline.

The second section of the chapter, the “Principles of Presbyterian Government,” (F-3.02) also draws on a key historic document: the “Historic Principles of Church Government,” which was adopted by the new General Assembly in 1797. In this part of the chapter, the historic document is not quoted directly but is “restated” — it takes the points made in the historic document and states them separately. The principles named in this section are specific to the Presbyterian church. There are nine: One Church; Governed by Presbyters; Gathered in Councils; Seek and Represent the Will of Christ; Decision by Majority Vote; Review and Control; Ordination by Council; Shared Power, Exercised Jointly; and General Authority of Councils. The flow from one to the next is like the flow of the paragraph that is its source.

Six of the nine principles named in F-3.02 are described in a single sentence. Three of the nine principles are given a longer treatment: Governed by Presbyters (F-3.0202), Gathered in Councils (F-3.0203), and the final principle, General Authority of Councils (F-3.0209). “Governed by Presbyters” includes an explanation of “ruling elder,” seeking to ward off unhelpful images connected to “ruling.” “Gathered in Councils” provides an explanation of the relationship between the various levels of council: session, presbytery, synod and General Assembly. It includes the important point that “The Councils [sessions, presbyteries, synods, General Assembly] are distinct, but have such relations that the act of one of them is the act of the whole church …” (F-3.0203). “General Authority of Councils” concerns which powers are assigned to which council.

The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity section of the Book of Order works to name and affirm a particular identity for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The section and the documents it draws on insist that the PC(USA) does have a distinct and shared identity, one that can be named. It is an identity that has deep historical roots. Those roots are found in the confessional documents in our Book of Confessions, as they are found in the historic documents that name the basic principles of Presbyterian government. It is an identity that has flexibility for faithful living in the present moment, with its effort to balance impulses that may be prone to conflict — like the insistence on finding, naming and advancing the truth, while also showing mutual forbearance.

This section of the Book of Order navigates deep waters of theology and of the history of our shared life. It is not simple. It offers insights that are easy to underestimate. They are worthy of our continual reflection and review. We could develop a pattern for reading this section, a discipline: to read through the Foundation of Presbyterian Polity section during the days around the anniversary of our ordination. We might set a discipline of reading the section during the time when the General Assembly is meeting. Other possibilities abound. Whatever specific form it takes, the opportunity is to engage with, and alongside, one another in being what we affirm God has made the church to be — participants in and agents of God’s work; God’s mission in Creation.

For Reflection

1. Looking back over the whole Foundations of Presbyterian Polity section, what do you find most helpful within it?
2. What practice would work best for you to be regularly engaging this section and what it says about the church in general and the Presbyterian church in particular?

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Barry Ensign-George is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has served as a pastor in Iowa and at the denominational level in the Office of Theology & Worship.

Throughout 2025, monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles will focus on the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity as included in our Book of Order. Ruling elders can benefit from these reflections as they consider their own ministries and call to serve as leaders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

© 2025 Barry Ensign-George

Work licensed for publication in “Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully.” Congregations and mid councils may print copies for educational use. Permission is needed for any other use, including copying and reprinting.

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