Presbyterian polity is highly overrated. Its brilliance pales in comparison to the light of Reformed theology.
Yes, the spiritual gifting of all God’s people that’s affirmed in our Book of Order honors and unleashes the ministries of all church members.
Sure, the parity of ruling elders with teaching elders beats having an elite clergy class such as is elevated in hierarchical denominations.
And, sure, the mutual accountability exercised among elders, deacons and members forms disciples with greater potential to attain the breadth and depth and length of the love and wisdom of God.
But that all pales in comparison to and offers a meager substitute for the core convictions of the faith taught in Reformed theology.
Reformed theology says that our identity as believers is based neither on our own inherent goodness nor our exercise of beneficence. All our good works are as filthy rags. Instead, our identity originates from the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth — who has made the grace of God accessible to us. That identity gets actualized in us via the generous working of the Holy Spirit — who has called us to Christ, kindled within us faith and repentance, and empowered (and continues to empower) us to live for God.
Then again, that’s where Presbyterian polity comes in. The genius of our polity is that it so keenly reflects the core convictions of our Reformed faith. The affirming, unleashing and honoring of believers’ gift ministries result from the Spirit who empowers such ministries. The parity and mutual accountability shared by us arises out of an honest confession of the sinward tendencies that are ever with us – tendencies from which no one (including church professionals) ever gains immunity. And the exercise of church discipline encourages us to grow in the faith within authentic, covenanted community.
Come to think of it, Presbyterian polity is really awesome, a wondrous gift from our Reformed forebears.
But that polity is underappreciated.
Some of us have applied ourselves to earnestly teach and uphold the standards outlined in the Book of Order. But such efforts prompt enthusiasm among a scant few of our fellow pilgrims. Then again, those others may be shrugging us off due to their own sense that what really matters are not the operating norms and standards but, rather, the ideas behind them. They want to find the life principles, the transforming energy, the hope-filled vision toward which the constitution is pointing.
The life of Presbyterianism is found in the gospel promises that were taught and embodied in our Savior. It is activated as we live in community, that is, the Reformed, ever-to-be-reformed company of believers. And that community is being shaped not simply by our earnest efforts to maintain standards but by the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating our understanding of the living Word of God, whom we know by attending to the written word of God.
… Which brings us, in turn, to the work of ordained deacons, ruling elders and teaching elders.
One of the primary responsibilities of the ordered ministries in the church is that of providing perspective. Sure, the company of elders and pastors is tasked with many duties, but one of their highest obligations is providing perspective, that is, determining points of emphasis, articulating theological foci and casting vision for the mission of God to be pursued by us together.
And the most important perspective to which we would point is that our polity serves not so much to dictate our actions as to facilitate our service, not to specify our goals but to provide means toward achieving them, not to define us but to point to the One who has already defined us by claiming us in mercy and grace to be the family of God living in community.
So toward those ends, we would warn each other not to so overrate our polity that we underappreciate the faith it seeks to serve.
—JHH
