Church Officers

G-2.03 RULING ELDERS: THE MINISTRY OF DISCERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE
G-2.0301 Ruling Elder Defined
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to shareg in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to dis- cern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise lead- ership, government, spiritual discernment, and disciplineh and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relation- ships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session. When elected as commissioners to higher councils, ruling elders participate and vote with the same authority as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, and they are eligi- ble for any office.

G-2.02 DEACONS: THE MINISTRY OF COMPASSION AND SERVICE
G-2.0201 Deacon Defined
The ministry of deacon as set forth in Scripturee is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distressf. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.