The OPC Local Church Governance

The OPC Local Church Governance

Source for all below is from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, its website including all dropdown sections, as well as it documents and reports available on the internet.

The Local Church in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is governed by a Session, which consists of the pastor(s) and ordained ruling elders. This body is responsible for the spiritual welfare, worship, discipline, and membership of the congregation. The Session is accountable to a regional Presbytery.

Key Aspects of OPC Local Church Governance:

The Session: The governing body consisting of the pastor(s) and ruling elders. The session elects its own moderator.
Ruling Elders: Men elected by the congregation and ordained to serve as elders, governing alongside the minister(s).
Deacons: Ordained officers responsible for mercy ministries and managing the church's temporal affairs.
Role of the Congregation: Members elect elders and deacons, but they do not rule the church directly, as governance is delegated to the Session.
Connectionalism: Local churches are not autonomous but are part of a Presbytery and the General Assembly, which provide oversight and handle appeals.
Authority: The session oversees public worship, the sacraments (Baptism/Lord's Supper), and membership records.

The OPC operates under a Presbyterian form of government defined in their Book of Church Order.

Session

In the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), the Session is the governing body of the local congregation, composed of its pastor(s) and ruling elders. Its primary role is to maintain the government and spiritual oversight of the congregation, ensuring all activities align with the Word of God.

Key Responsibilities of the Session

According to the OPC Form of Government Chapter 13, the Session's duties include:

Oversight of Public Worship: The Session is responsible for all matters regarding public worship, including ordering the liturgy and approving who may preach in the pulpit.
Administration of Sacraments: They determine the frequency and conduct of the Lord's Supper and oversee the administration of Baptism for both covenant children and adult believers.
Membership Management: The Session has the sole authority to receive new members (after examining their profession of faith), dismiss members to other congregations, and maintain the official church rolls.
Exercise of Discipline: They are charged with exercising both informal pastoral oversight and formal judicial discipline to preserve the purity and peace of the church.
Supervision of Church Organizations: The Session oversees the work of the Board of Deacons, the board of trustees, and all other congregational organizations.
Property and Finances: They have final authority over the use of church property and are responsible for the supervision of the church's financial accounts and offerings.
Record Keeping: The Session must keep accurate minutes of its meetings and congregational meetings, as well as membership rolls recording births, baptisms, and deaths.
Spiritual Growth and Outreach: They are tasked with planning the best measures for promoting the congregation's spiritual growth (discipleship) and evangelistic witness.
Higher Assembly Participation: The Session appoints ruling elder commissioners to represent the local church at Presbytery and General Assembly meetings.

Composition and Governance

Moderator: The Session elects a Moderator annually (usually the pastor) to chair meetings.
Clerk: A Clerk of Session is appointed to record minutes and maintain church ledgers.
Meetings: Meetings are typically held monthly and must have a quorum (usually a minister and at least one or two ruling elders, depending on the session's size) to conduct official business.

For more information on Ruling Elders click on the following:

Key Committees Involving Ruling Elders

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

OPC Ruling Elders Support Disciples to Evangelize

An Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) ruling elder supports disciples to evangelize by acting as a shepherd who equips, encourages, and guides church members to share the gospel as part of their daily lives, rather than treating evangelism as solely the work of ordained ministers. Ruling elders fulfill this duty by ensuring sound doctrine is maintained, personally visiting members, and leading them to see the church as a "God-appointed agent of evangelism".

Here is how an OPC ruling elder supports disciples in evangelism:

Equipping and Training Members

Instructing the Ignorant and Misinformed: Ruling elders are tasked with teaching, particularly helping disciples understand the faith and clarifying misunderstandings, which prepares them to articulate the gospel.
Nourishing Covenanted Youth: They guard and nourish the children of the church, preparing them to make a confession of faith and bear witness to Christ.
Teaching Sound Doctrine: By preventing the corruption of doctrine or morals in the flock, elders ensure that members know the truth well enough to share it accurately.

Pastoral Care and Motivation

Shepherding through Visitation: Ruling elders "visit the people, especially the sick" and troubled. This pastoral care builds trust, allowing elders to encourage shy believers and stir up passion for outreach.
Personal Application: They engage in private admonition, comforting the mourning, and encouraging the hesitant, which strengthens believers to stand firm and witness.
Praying for the Flock: Ruling elders pray with and for the people, recognizing that evangelism requires the working of the Holy Spirit.

Creating a Culture of Outreach (Session Work)

Supporting the Pastor: Ruling elders help the minister in his labors, including his evangelistic efforts, acting as "Aaron and Hur upholding Moses' arms".
Guiding Gospel Efforts: Under their auspices and session oversight, church members are prompted to bring the gospel to the unsaved.
Maintaining Church Purity: A healthy, doctrinally sound church attracts, and equips its members for, evangelism.

Setting an Example

Exemplary Life: Ruling elders are to be men of wisdom, discretion, and sound doctrine, setting a pattern of holy living that members are to emulate.
"Doing the Work": While they do not regularly preach in the pulpit, ruling elders act as shepherds by engaging in the same duties of charity and witness that all Christians are bound to perform, but doing so as an official vocation.

In essence, an OPC ruling elder helps the church "act as the body of Christ fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies," empowering every member to use their gifts to witness.

Deacons

In the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), deacons are ordained officers whose primary role is to lead the congregation in a "ministry of mercy". Their work is distinct from the "rule" of the church, which is the responsibility of elders, and is focused on showing Christ's compassion through practical service.

The specific duties of deacons in the OPC include:

Ministry of Mercy

Caring for the Needy: Deacons identify and assist those in distress, including the poor, the sick, and the "friendless". This assistance is extended to both church members (the "household of faith") and those outside the church.
Preventing Poverty: They work to identify potential financial issues within the congregation and take proactive steps, such as financial counseling or helping members find job opportunities, to prevent them from falling into poverty.
Disbursement of Funds: They collect and manage offerings designated for relief—often called the "Deacons' Fund"—and distribute these funds discreetly to those in need.

Management of Temporal Affairs

Financial Oversight: Under the supervision of the local Session (the body of elders), deacons often manage the church’s daily financial affairs, including budgeting and the maintenance of church property.
Stewardship of Assets: They are responsible for ensuring church assets, such as the building and its equipment, are used effectively to support the church's mission.
Serving as Trustees: In many OPC congregations, the board of deacons (along with the elders) serves as the legal board of trustees for the church corporation.

Spiritual and Liturgical Support

Spiritual Consolation: Deacons are called to pray with the distressed and provide comfort through the Holy Scriptures, rather than just offering material aid.
Assisting with Communion: Although not strictly a "ruling" duty, deacons in many churches prepare the elements for the Lord's Supper and may assist elders in distributing them to the congregation.
Fostering Stewardship: They encourage the congregation to be generous and faithful in their own stewardship of time, money, and talents.

Governance and Accountability

Board of Deacons: Deacons function corporately as a Board of Deacons, choosing their own officers (like a chairman and secretary) and keeping detailed records of their proceedings.
Accountability to the Session: The diaconate operates under the authority of the Session. They must submit their records for review every three months and meet with the elders at regular intervals to coordinate their work.

For more information on OPC Deacons: https://www.opccdm.org/

OPC Deacons Support the Ruling Elders to Care for Church Property

In the OPC, deacons support ruling elders by managing the church's physical property and financial resources, freeing elders to focus on spiritual oversight and teaching. Deacons handle building maintenance, repairs, and financial stewardship as a ministry of mercy and service, directly assisting in providing a suitable space for worship and ministry.

Property Management: Deacons take charge of the church’s temporal affairs, which includes inspecting, repairing, and overseeing the maintenance of the church building and grounds.
Facilitating Ministry: By maintaining the building, deacons ensure the church environment supports the elders' work of feeding the flock and the church’s mission.
Utilizing Talents: Deacons often organize in-kind help and mobilize members' skills to perform physical work needed on the church building.
Stewardship: Deacons act as stewards of the congregation’s funds, ensuring money is properly allocated for building care, repairs, and improvements.

This division of labor is based on Acts 6, where deacons handle the practical/diaconal duties (such as building care) so elders can focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer.