The Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church: A Sermon Preached in Philadelphia, May 22, 1843 (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Samuel Miller

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0428928587 ISBN 13: 9780428928582

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Discover the role and value of church leadership that guides congregations with wisdom and care.

This sermon lays out why ruling elders exist in the Presbyterian tradition, tracing their roots to the Jewish synagogue and the early church. It explains how leadership in a congregation is shared among pastors, teachers, and elders, and why this structure aims to ease pastors’ workload while sustaining governance and discipline.

The book clarifies three key questions: what justifies the office, what the office entails, and what duties elders perform. It emphasizes the dignity and responsibility of elders who “rule well,” including those who teach and those who focus on governance, and it argues for a respectful, practical approach to church government that supports the gospel mission.

• Origin and purpose of the ruling elder in church governance
• Distinctions between elders who teach and those who primarily rule
• Practical duties and the daily impact of lay leadership on congregations

Ideal for readers interested in church history, Presbyterian practice, and the practical life of lay leadership within a parish.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0428928587
• ISBN 13: 9780428928582
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176