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.

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.

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 (also known as Teaching Elder)
Ruling Elder, and
Deacon

THE SESSION

According to the Book of Order, the Session of First Presbyterian Church has “the responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that the congregation is and becomes a community of faith, hope, love, and witness” (Book of Order; G—3.0201). 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 Ruling Elders in active service.

The twelve Ruling Elders of the Session serve in three classes with four Elders in each class.
Each class of four Ruling Elders is elected to three-year terms by the Congregation.
A new class of four Ruling Elders is elected annually by the Congregation.
The Ruling 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 2024	CLASS OF 2025	CLASS OF 2026
David Deaton	Eric Everett	Philip Gump
James Exline	Jennifer Deaton	Paul Hager
Bonnie Gray		Bill Mitchell

CLERK OF SESSION: Melody Mitchell
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 ministry of the Board of Deacons "is one of compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress" (Book of Order, G—2.0201).

The Board of Deacons consists of nine Deacons and one youth Deacon 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.
Our Youth deacon serves a 1-year term and is elected by the congregation annually.

THE BOARD OF DEACONS
CLASS OF 2024	CLASS OF 2025	CLASS OF 2026
Linda Adams	Sue Reeves	Jennifer Brubaker
Donna Cox	Julie Stanley	Kathy Shew
Lynn Shearon	Gene Wolf	Coy Weldon

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 “Where permitted by civil law, each congregation shall cause a corporation to be formed and maintained” (Book of Order, G—4.0101). 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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