governance
Basic Principles of Church Government
Christ is the supreme head of his body, the Church. As such, he governs the whole by his Holy Spirit according to the Word, through the ordained offices of pastor, elder, and deacon (more below). Congregations ought not content themselves to be isolated, but “seek the unity of the faith” by participating, so far as possible, in federations of like-minded churches for purposes of advice, accountability, fellowship, and mission (Acts 15).
Roles & Requirements of Church Officers
Elders
Roles — The duties belonging to the office of elder consist of continuing in prayer and ruling the church of Christ according to the principles taught in Scripture, in order that purity of doctrine and holiness of life may be practiced. They shall see to it that their fellow-elders, the minister(s) and the deacons faithfully discharge their offices. They are to maintain the purity of the Word and Sacraments, assist in catechizing the youth, promote God-centered schooling, visit the members of the congregation according to their needs, engage in family visiting, exercise discipline in the congregation, actively promote the work of evangelism and missions, and ensure that everything is done decently and in good order.
Requirements — The qualifications of the elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
The apostle Paul repeats these qualifications in his letter to Titus. “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:6–9).
PURC ELDER FACTS
We currently have six lay elders.
Their combined experience in office is over 100 years.
Pastor
Rev. Michael Spotts
(M.Div., Westminster Seminary in California, 2016)
Roles — Pastors are equal in authority with other elders, but shoulder the vocational burdens of ministry. Their duties consist of continuing in prayer and in the ministry of the Word, administering the sacraments, catechizing the youth, and assisting the elders in the shepherding and discipline of the congregation. They also evangelize, disciple, and counsel.
Requirements — As Elders, Pastors must possess the same character attributes as ruling elders described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Additionally, prior to ordination, the URCNA requires candidates to pass an extensive public examination that shows their competence in biblical languages, homiletics, theology, history, counseling, and other areas.
PURC PASTOR FACTS
Previously, Rev. Spotts participated in foreign missions in Australia and worked in commercial photography.
Deacons
Roles — The duties belonging to the office of deacon consist of continuing in prayer and supervising the works of Christian mercy among the congregation; acquainting themselves with congregational needs; exhorting members of the congregation to show mercy; gathering and managing the offerings of God's people in Christ's name, and distributing these offerings according to need; and encouraging and comforting with the Word of God those who receive the gifts of Christ's mercy. Needs of those outside the congregation, especially of other believers, should also be considered as resources permit. The deacons shall ordinarily meet every month to transact the business pertaining to their office, and they shall render an account of their work to the Consistory
Requirements — The qualifications of a deacon are comparable to those of a elders and pastors. In 1 Tim 3:8-13, the Apostle writes, “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
PURC DEACON FACTS
We currently have six lay elders assisting two ordained pastors.
Their combined experience in office is over 100 years.
Broader Federations & Associations
The “united” in our name refers to our close relationship with more than 120 other congregations who compose the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA). These churches participate in regional assemblies to assist and advise one another, as well as examine candidates for pastoral ministry.
The URCNA are part of an even larger association of theologically conservative churches, the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Churches (NAPARC), which includes the Presbyterian Churches in America (PCA) and Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), among others.
