Oakville Church, like all Presbyterian churches, is a representative democracy. The word “Presbyterian” actually comes from the Greek word “presbuteros,” which means “elder.” We are governed by elders who are democratically chosen from and by the entire congregation. Governance and authority over church matters resides with these elected elders.
Elders make up the church’s governing body, which is called the Session. Our Session oversees the day-to-day work of the church and supervises the Deacons, who are elected to conduct the temporal and charitable ministry of the church.
The Session
The Session of Oakville consists of the pastor and the elders in active service, and all are entitled to vote.
The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. is our guide in how we organize and govern ourselves. It describes the Session in the following way:
The Session is responsible for the mission and government of the church. It therefore has responsibility and power:
- To provide opportunities for evangelism to be learned and practiced in and by the church, that members may be better equipped to articulate their faith. To witness in word and deed to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and to invite persons into a new life in Christ.
- To receive members into the church upon profession of faith, upon reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ, or upon satisfactory certification of transfer of church membership.
- To lead the congregation in participation in the mission of the whole church in the world.
- To provide for the worship of the people of God, including the preaching of the Word, the sharing of the sacraments, and the music program.
- To provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs, including the church school, sharing in fellowship and mutual support, and opportunities for witness and service in the world.
- To develop and supervise the church school and the educational program of the church.
- To lead the congregation in ministries of personal and social healing and reconciliation in the communities in which the church lives and bears its witness.
- To challenge the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship of money and time and talents, developing effective ways for encouraging and gathering the offerings of the people and assuring that all offerings are distributed to the purposes for which they were contributed.
- To establish the annual budget, determine the distribution of the church’s benevolences, and order offerings for Christian purposes, providing full information to the congregation of its decisions in such matters.
- To lead the congregation continually to discover what God is doing in the world and to plan for change, renewal, and reformation under the Word of God.
- To engage in a process for education and mutual growth of the members of the Session.
- To instruct, examine, ordain, install, and welcome into common ministry elders and deacons on their election by the congregation.
- To delegate and to supervise the work of the board of deacons and the board of trustees and all other organizations and task forces within the congregation, providing for support, report, review, and control.
- To provide for the administration of the program of the church, including employment of nonordained staff, with concern for equal employment opportunity, fair employment practices, personnel policies, and the annual review of the adequacy of compensation for all staff, including all employees.
- To provide for the management of the property of the church, including determination of the appropriate use of church buildings and facilities, and to obtain property and liability insurance coverage to protect the facilities, programs, and officers, including members of the Session, staff, board of trustees, and deacons.
- To maintain regular and continuing relationship to the higher governing bodies of the church.
- To establish and maintain those ecumenical relationships necessary for the life and mission of the church.
- To serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline.
- To keep an accurate roll of the membership of the church.
The office of Deacon is designed “to minister to those in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.” (Book of order G-6.0402). The origin of “deacon” is the Greek diakonos, “servant.”
At Oakville Presbyterian we have an elected Board of Deacons who minister with compassion to anyone in need, whether they are members of the church, visitors, neighbors, or other members of the community. Deacons meet on a monthly basis to determine how best to met those needs. They receive care and prayer requests from those who themselves, or whose loved ones, are ill, or have special needs, and can refer people for pastoral care.
Deacons also offer practical, loving help. They telephone or visit people in need, particularly those who are homebound. It might be simply to check in on how someone is doing and see if there is any help that they may need. They can provide news of activities at Oakville Church or simply provide a listening ear and a friendly smile. Or it maybe to answer a specific need, such as to write a letter, place a phone call, run shopping or other errands, feed or walk a pet, rearrange furniture, or assist with a change of accommodation. Deacons also receive requests for emergency short-term financial support that are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Our deacons are involved in a wide range of activities at Oakville Church.