Presbyterian churches are led by men and women who serve in one of three ordained offices: Pastor, Elder or Deacon. Each of these is a unique calling and requires unique giftedness to serve the Church. It is when the Church operates from this position of calling and giftedness that the Church thrives as the Body of Christ.

The Apostle Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

The offices of Pastor, Elder, and Deacon derive from the Bible and have been given as a means of collaborative ministry between clergy (pastors) and laity (elders and deacons). At First Pres, the Session (Elder Board) consists of 21 elders in three equal annual classes of seven. Elders are principally charged with providing spiritual leadership to guide the Church in the ministry and mission of the church for Jesus Christ. The Diaconate (Deacon Board) consists of 75 deacons in three equal annual classes of 25. Deacons are principally charged with providing pastoral and compassionate care to the members of the congregation.

One of the abiding and historic principles of the Presbyterian Church is the right and responsibility of the congregation to nominate and elect its officers to provide leadership. This is why the congregation votes to call pastors and to elect elders and deacons.

The election of elders and deacons occurs at First Pres each January at the Annual Meeting. Each officer will be asked to normally serve a three-year term and invest themselves in the sacred trust of helping Christ’s Church be faithful to its calling and mission.

Before the Annual Meeting, however, the congregationally-elected Nominating Committee begins the important work of requesting and receiving nominations for elders and deacons, praying over and discussing those names, and discerning who might be called and gifted to serve. All candidates are considered carefully for maturity of Christian faith, examples of leadership and involvement in the church’s ministries, and a commitment to stewardship of time, talent, and resources.

In addition to elders and deacons, each year the Nominating Committee prays and discerns over who might be called to join in its own work of prayer and discernment on behalf of the congregation, and presents those candidtes for election at the congregational meeting. The Nominating Committee currently consists of 7 members divided into three classes of 2,2, and 3. At the next congregational meeting, the Nominating Committee will be bringing a slate of 3 candidates for election to the congregation. This year, the Nominating Committee will like to include the congregational nominations in these deliberations, and is there fore adding a call for nominations to the Nominating Committee.

Serving in one of the three ordained offices must be understood as a spiritual calling. The call to ministry is a deeply personal and spiritual leading where God, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the voice of a congregation, invites gifted men and women to share in joyful service of the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and service to the church. Because no all those who are nominated are called, the Nominating Committee greatly appreciates your prayer for their process of discernment and their ability to hear God's voice clearly.