Bethpage Presbyterian Church Session
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, knew it. Jesus knew it. The early church in Acts knew it and the Presbyterian Church even named our denomination on the principle of the Presbuteros or elder in Greek. "What did we all know?" According to our Book of Order, appointed elders help to lead God's people, "That the world might know" about God's plan of salvation for the whole creation. The Book of Order continues:
"The session (of the church) is the council for the congregation. It shall be composed of those persons elected by the congregation to active service as ruling elders, together with all installed pastors and associate pastors."
"The session shall have responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that the congregation is and becomes community of faith, hope, love, and witness."
The session of Bethpage Presbyterian Church is therefore a representation of the church's congregation, in every aspect from size to personal makeup. In their March meeting, your session voted to better represent the current make up of Bethpage Presbyterian Church by reducing the number of ruling elders from 12 to 9. We feel confident that by reducing the number of ruling elders, the session will be better able to do two important things; first, to free three congregants for lay ministry and second, to insure each committee of the church has one elder to present their work to session each month. In so doing, we believe a higher percentage of BPC members will have more time to carry out the work and mission Bethpage has been called to do by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Naturally, these kinds of changes bring about questions? We will make time in the congregational meeting agenda to answer any of those questions. But let's answer one right now, "Why a congregational meeting?" As you know, elders are nominated from, and voted on by, the congregation of each church. Nominated and installed by you then, it is only appropriate for the session's final composition to be decided by the congregation.
Finally, the hope of the sitting BPC session is that you will be present this Sunday, April 17th, to vote on this important matter. Our prayer is that this new session makeup will not be viewed as a negative, but instead would be viewed like the institution of the first elders by Moses, or Jesus' response to fewer disciples in the sixth chapter of John. Our hope is that our response will be likened to that of the Apostle Peter when he said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." Then, now and tomorrow let our goal be like those who have gone before us; to know and make Christ known.
