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The KIRK SESSION

Elders

Before offering explanations on the structure and operational methods of the Session, it is important to recap an earlier piece, found it the chapter entitled "Government within the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in CANADA". Mr. Ross states, "The Session is not responsible to the congregation, but to God, and under Him, to the Presbytery and higher Church courts. Elders are ordained to their offices by the minister."

This is what distinguishes Presbyterian government from most other elected bodies and where many folks believe the church is, or should be 'democratic' it is not. Instead, it is 'theocratic' XXXX

The General Assembly and meetings of Synods and Presbyteries are open to all who choose to attend them; although only commissioners to or members of these courts may participate in the decision making process. However, in the interests of discretion, these three levels of government may elect to conduct some parts of their proceedings 'in camera'. Kirk Sessions, on the other hand, are 'closed' courts, where no one, except the elected members may be present, unless the court chooses to invite certain individuals, or to hold an open meeting.

This does not make it a 'sacred secret society' for, truth to tell, much of the regular business can be quite mundane and could be on public view. Then there are those occasions, for some reason or other, when specific individuals come under discussion. Remember, sessions are responsible for discipline, who may or may not become members, or be allowed to occupy some leadership positions. On occasions such as those, the closed court preserves confidentiality and prevents hurt or embarrassment.

Also, as will be shown shortly, Session as a corporate entity is responsible for creating the 'macro-policy' of a congregation's ministry and mission. That is, for broad policy-making, long-term planning and also for empowering the congregational leadership and members to the privilege of participating that ministry and mission. In this case, the 'closed court' eliminates potential lobbyists and external politicking from the congregation at large, when the Session is finding God's will in the decision-making process.

Therein lies yet another reason why congregations should be careful when nominating candidates to the 'eldership'. In that regard, this is what the Church believes and requires of candidates: "Election to the eldership is the call of God, through the congregation, for service to Christ's Church. Since the eldership is a spiritual office concerned with the rule and pastoral oversight of the congregation, only suitable men and women should be considered. They should be committed Christians, in regular attendance at public worship, persons of sound judgement and upright character, and either knowledgeable or prepared to learn of the government of the Church." [BoF 132]

Based on the preceding criteria, it is the Session that decides who may be an Elder and who may not, regardless of whither a candidate has been elected by the congregation or not. But this does not happen on a whim.

First of all, it is the Session that decides if more Elders are needed or not, depending on attrition rates or work loads, etc. Having resolved to do so, it then seeks nominations from the congregation, through one of several authorized processes. Dependent on the process, following either nomination or election, the Session "deals with the candidates as to their acceptance of office and satisfies itself in regard to their piety, prudence and knowledge of Divine truth, of the government and discipline of the Church and of the duties of eldership." [BoF 132.4]

Once the process is completed, and Session is satisfied with the elders-elect meet the foregoing criteria, it then calls upon its Moderator to 'ordain' them, during worship on a specific Sunday. Ordination, means being 'set apart' for a specific task or duty. In the case of an Elder, it is to be Ruling Elder, which is differentiated for the Minister, or Moderator, who is also an Elder.

Ministers are often referred to as 'Teaching Elders' although this is not strictly correct, or at least the term does not present the complete picture, for they are ordained as Ministers of the Word and Sacraments. For most, except under special circumstances, part of the pre-qualifications for their ordination is an appropriate degree from a recognized university, after which the must obtain an appropriate theological degree. This qualifies them to teach within the Church and is why many ministers chose to wear their 'teaching hood' as part of their clerical attire.

In the chapter entitled A brief HISTORY of TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH YORK MILLS mention was made of the Elders forming the first Kirk Session being from Glenview P.C. This was an 'Accessor Session', placed there by Presbytery. In addition to conducting the regular business, their function was to access the new Congregation's viability and eventually, its ability to conduct its own affairs. When the Congregation was 'accessed' as being ready, the process of forming a Session from Trinity's own members was begun. With the completion of this process, the 'Acessor Elders' bowed out, leaving Trinity with its own Kirk Session.

Kirk Session

The Session holds 'regular' meetings one per month [July and August usually excepted] and has 'special' meetings as required by the business brought before it. At its 'regular' meetings, which meet from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. [but often longer] on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, a typical agenda would include the following:

1. Opening Devotions and Constitution
2. Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from Previous Meeting
4. Correspondence
5. Reports:
   • Moderator
   • Roll Clerk
   • Other Reports [Standing & Ad Hoc Committees, Task Forces, etc.]
   • Board of Managers
6. Other Business
7. Adjournment and Benediction

These are often arranged differently, depending on the volume of business anticipated from each area covered. Also, the actual agenda sometimes looks different, but the same basic items constitute the actual business of the meetings.

Beginning with item 1, it should be noted that all church meetings open and close with prayer and often with a brief time of worship. At Session, this might conducted by the Moderator, but just as often, it could be one or more of the Elders. The 'constitution' is a declaration, made by the Moderator, confirming the meeting to be a "court of Christ's Church" and that it is competent to deal with the business that will come before it.
Item 2 although something of a formality, is necessary for keeping what all of the Elders present believe to be a true record of the previous meeting. Although only one official minute exists, as dictated by the Book of Forms, for some yeas the Trinity Session had adopted the practice of having a summary of the minutes circulated to each member. This is reduced to the 'essentials' and has the names of people removed, including the attendance record, plus anything else that is considered inappropriate.