Position · 1541

Presbyterian Polity

Church government by elders (presbyters), with ministers and lay elders sharing authority through a series of councils from the local church up to a general assembly.

John Calvin set out the offices of pastor, teacher, elder and deacon in Geneva’s church ordinances of 1541. The system was developed further in Scotland and spread with the Reformed churches. Its supporters hold that the New Testament uses “elder” and “bishop” for the same office, so no rank above the elders is needed. It stands between Episcopal Polity and Congregational Polity.