Understandingeldership


Elders Association		Presbyterian Church of Australia in the State of NSW
PO Box 2196 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012		www.elders.pcnsw.org.au

Understanding the Functions of the Eldership.

The information on the nature of the eldership that is accessible from the hyperlinks below can be made available in two ways.
By clicking on the question you are interested in, you will be presented with a page containing the appropriate answer as a page on the internet. The page will be very compact and the lettering relatively small. It is intended simply for reading on-screen.
Alternatively by clicking on the appropriate PDF link you will be presented with the same information in a PDF file in a three panel brochure format more suitable for printing for use in group study or leadership training for elders. You will need to have Acrobat Reader installed to view the file.

	The Individual Elder Click here to download a PDF File What duties are required of an elder? What qualities should an elder possess? Who may be elected as an elder? How is an elder elected to office in a congregation? What vows does an elder make at the time of his or her ordination? How much freedom of conscience does an elder have? What authority is vested with each individual elder? What are the circumstances in which an elder can be removed from office? What happens when an elder becomes too old or infirm to perform his or her office? To which body is an elder accountable? The Elders in Session Click here to download a PDF File What is the Session? What are the powers of a session? (Code II 4.02) What is an interim Session? What happens when an elder comes into conflict with the views of the minister? What role does the Session Clerk perform in the church? What happens when assessors are appointed to a session? Why does a session meet in private? What happens when a session has to act on a matter of moral delinquency? The Commissioned Elder on Presbytery and Assembly Click here to download a PDF File How are elders commissioned to higher courts? Does the role of an elder on higher church courts differ from that of a minister? What duties do commissioned elders exercise in higher courts? Does a elder on a Presbytery or Assembly have to vote in a pre-determined way? What roles do elders play in other areas of the wider church? What authority does a presbytery or assembly have over commissioned elders? Background to the Eldership What are the historical origins of the eldership and the Session? What is the difference between an elder and a minister? Christian Leadership and the Elder Click here to download a PDF File What is leadership? What is the difference between leadership and authority? What is the difference between leadership and management? How does the concept of ‘power’ fit into these relationships? What qualities are shown by leaders generally? What are the personal qualities of effective leaders? What are the inter-personal qualities of effective leaders? What are the visionary qualities of effective leaders? What are the motivational qualities of effective leaders? Click here to download a PDF File What qualities distinguish Christian leadership? How is the idea of personal freedom important to Christian leaders? What are the spiritual assumptions surrounding Church leadership? The Pastoral Responsibilities of The Elder Click here to download a PDF File What was involved in pastoral oversight in earlier centuries? What is involved in pastoral oversight today? What is involved in “purging the roll”? How does a Session promote Christian Education within the parish? How does a Session initiate change and development within the congregation? How can the Session assist the work of other groups in the congregation? The Elder and the Sacraments Click here to download a PDF File What is the significance of the sacraments? What duties are required of elders in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism? What duties are required of elders in the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper?What is the significance of the sacraments? The Judicial Responsibilities of Elders Click here to download a PDF File What are the judicial processes in church courts? What part do elders play when church courts exercise a judicial role? What is involved in a dissent, complaint and appeal? What are the procedures for hearing an appeal or complaint? Click here to download a PDF File What is involved in a petition? What are the procedures for hearing petitions? What is involved in a reference? What is involved in an overture? What are the procedures for hearing overtures?