Richmond First Presbyterian Church - Richmond, KY

OUR OFFICERS

Although it is the responsibility of every member of First Presbyterian Church to live a life which witnesses to the reality of Christ’s love for the world, it is especially incumbent upon the officers of First Presbyterian Church to lead the people of God in this mission.

According to The Book of Order:

The purpose and pattern of leadership in the church in all its forms of ministry shall be understood not in terms of power but of service, after the manner of the servant ministry of Jesus Christ. (G-14.0110)

From this statement, we understand the following about our officers and their leadership in the church:

Leadership is ministry.
Leadership is service, not control.
Leadership in the church is patterned after the servant ministry of Jesus Christ.

There are three categories of officers in the Presbyterian Church. They are:

Minister of Word and Sacraments
Elder, and
Deacon

THE SESSION

According to the Book of Order, the Session of First Presbyterian Church “is responsible for the mission and government of the particular church” (Book of Order; G—10.0102). So, the Session divides its work into seven areas in order to manage and account for its responsibilities for the church’s mission. There are seven standing committees of the Session which have oversight of each of these areas.

The Administration Committee (ADM) oversees the prayerful and responsible management of the church’s financial resources (monetary gifts) and the church’s human resources (both employed and contracted staff) for the glory of God.

The Christian Education Committee (CED) oversees the spiritual and theological education and training of God’s people.

The Congregational Nurture & Care Committee (CNC) oversees the participation and leadership of God’s people in worship. This committee is also responsible for the assimilation of members in the life of the church.

The Fellowship Committee (FLW) oversees the common sharing, the sense of communion, and the fellowship which God’s people have with Christ and with one another.

The Good News Committee (GNS) oversees the communication of Christ’s good news of the church’s ministries and missions to God’s people and to the world.

The Missions Committee (MSN) oversees the work of God’s people beyond the community of faith—working to show Christ’s love, peace, justice, mercy, and grace to the world.

The Property Committee (PRT) oversees the prayerful and responsible use of its physical resources (real property) for the glory of God.

Among the members of the Session are twelve Elders in active service.

The twelve Elders of the Session serve in three classes with four Elders in each class.
Each class of four Elders is elected to three-year terms by the Congregation.
A new class of four Elders is elected annually by the Congregation.
The Elders in active service on the Session (by reason of their office) are the Trustees of the corporation.

Among the members of the Session is the Pastor.

The Pastor is a Minister of Word and Sacraments elected in perpetuity by the Congregation and by the Presbytery.
The Pastor (although a member of the Presbytery) is also a member of the Session.
The Pastor is the Moderator of the Session and the Moderator of meetings of the Congregation.
The Pastor (by reason of his or her office) is the chairperson of the Board of Trustees and is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

THE SESSION
CLASS OF 2012	CLASS OF 2013	CLASS OF 2014
Linda Adams	Sandy Dickson	Nancy Carrico
Chris Campbell	Mark James	Kevin Crump
John Harter	Frank Milanesi	Becky Elam
Beth Underwood	Tom Smith	Bill Mitchell
CLERK OF SESSION: Grace Gutekunst
MODERATOR: Curtis Christian

THE BOARD OF DEACONS

In addition to its seven standing committees, the Session also accomplishes its ministry of compassion through the church’s Board of Deacons. The Board of Deacons ministers to those who are 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—6.0402a).

The Board of Deacons consists of nine Deacons in active service.

These nine Deacons serve in three classes with three Deacons in each class.
Each class of three Deacons is elected to three-year terms by the Congregation.
A new class of three Deacons is elected annually by the Congregation.

THE BOARD OF DEACONS
CLASS OF 2012	CLASS OF 2013	CLASS OF 2014
Pam Lawrenz	Delores Harder	Ruth McCann
Chandra Leaverton	Opal Frazier	Dale Patrick
Roxanna Potosky	Coy Weldon	Devan Stone

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

There are those occasions when, in its efforts to show Christ’s love to the world, First Presbyterian Church must sometimes establish covenant relationships with organizations and institutions—relationships which need to be recognized by civil law. The Book of Order states that “Whenever permitted by civil law, each particular church shall cause a corporation to be formed and maintained” (Book of Order, G—7.0401). So, for the sake of such covenant relationships, the Session functions as a Board of Trustees for the corporation which is First Presbyterian Church. The Board of Trustees, for all intents and purposes, is the Session. In order for First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Richmond, Kentucky, to establish and maintain covenant relationships with civil authorities in accordance with civil law, the church has formed a non-stock, non-profit corporation.

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