Session Responsibilities
Responsibilities for mission and the governance of First Presbyterian
The session is responsible for the mission and the government of our church. It therefore has the responsibility and power:
to provide opportunities for evangelism to be learned and practiced in and by the church
to receive members into the church upon profession of faith in Jesus Christ, reaffirmation of faith, 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 preaching of the Word, the sharing of the sacraments, and for the music program, in keeping with the principles in the Directory for Worship
to provide for the growth of its members and for their equipment for ministry through personal and pastoral care, educational programs, 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
to challenge the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship
to establish an annual budget
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 instruct, examine, ordain, and install new officers
to delegate and supervise the work fo the board of deacons, board of trustees, and all other boards and task forces within the congregation
to provide for the administration of the program of the church
to provide for the management of the property of the church
to maintain regular and continuing relationship to the higher governing bodies
to establish and maintain ecumenical relationships
to serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline
to keep an accurate role of the membership of the church