Session (Presbyterianism)

A session (sometimes called consistory or church board) is a body of elected elders governing each local church within presbyterian polity.

These groups of elders make decisions for the local parish through a ruling body called the Kirk session (Latin. sessio from sedere "to sit"), sometimes the Session, church session, or (in Continental Reformed usage) consistory. The members of the session are the pastor (Teaching Elder) of that congregation, and the other ruling elders (sometimes called "lay elders"). Elders are ordained for life, so if they are subsequently elected or appointed to Sessions at later points in their life, they are inducted, there being no second ordination. In most denominations, the pastor serves as Moderator of the Session and thus convenes or presides over the session. All elders have an equal vote in the session.

In some denominations, the pastor is given no vote. However, in a sitting body of an even number or with a quorum of the session counted, the pastor can break a tie with a casting vote. In the Polity of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the pastor and associate pastor have a vote as members of the session on any and all matters. However, the pastor will often refrain from voting except in tie situations. The Pastor is not a voting member of the congregation.

The elders who are members of Session have both executive powers as a group and pastoral responsibility. Many elders will be in regular pastoral contact with a group of the members of the congregation and their families. In the pastoral function elders rarely bring issues to Session meetings, resolving them privately or with the aid of the minister or other counsellor.

In executive function a number of Sessions have complete authority (under presbytery) for the ordering of all business, spiritual and temporal, of their congregation. This condition is known in the Church of Scotland as "quoad omnia". Other congregations have a separate "Congregational Board", "Deacons' court" or "Management Committee" which deals with financial details and the maintenance of property. The financial board thus relieves the Session of much routine responsibility but remains under the direction of the Session.

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