One, could say, I suppose, that a Presbytery is one of the governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (USA).  Technically that would be true.  One could also say that a Presbytery is made up of Ministers of the Word and Sacrament and elders from a specific region of churches.  That also would be true.  But in spirit a Presbytery is so much more.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is known as a "connectional church".  A Presbytery is one of the vital ways that pastors and elders can connect with each other.  It is an avenue through which we form smaller support groups in which we talk about the joys and concerns of ministry.  Through our connections in Presbytery we share ideas - both those that have worked and those that haven't. We come together to learn new ways of thinking and new ways of being the Body of Christ.

A Presbytery worships together helping us as a group to maintain our focus on the God who calls us to ministry and who is the source of all of our connectedness.  As we worship we get a greater sense of what it means to be the whole Body of Christ, for we are worshipping with people of other places, backgrounds, and traditions.

A Presbytery does ministry together reaching beyond ourselves to people with special needs both in this nation and in others.

A Presbytery also does business together, setting and carrying out policies which help its churches to remain true to the integrity of Scripture and of our Biblically based constitution.

So, a Presbytery, as you see, is more than just a governing body in a region of churches.  It is Presbyterians coming together to be made stronger for the work of ministry in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Rev. Susan Tomlinson

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