on the label "Presbyterian"

ARTHUR:  ...I am your king.
WOMAN:  I didn't know we had a king.  I thought we were an autonomous collective.

I remember a newspaper cartoon which had two dogs standing next to each other. The first said to the other, "I'm a St. Bernard". The other replied, "I think I'm a Presbyterian."

I'd like to start by saying, Presbyterians (though often loyal) are not a breed of dog. Presbyterianism is not a particular series of doctrines or beliefs either, which may be confusing as the word "Presbyterian" occurs in the titles of some denominations, which do have doctrines and beliefs. Presbyterian refers to a type of church government. Presbyterians may generally hold some beliefs in common, but this is not always the case. While I, myself, am a Presbyterian, I don't necessarily agree with other Presbyterians on all their theology. I will agree with their form of church government.

Definitions, please?

ARTHUR: ....Who lives in that castle?
WOMAN: No one live there.
ARTHUR: Then who is your lord?
WOMAN: We don't have a lord.
ARTHUR: What?

So, what is a Presbyterian form of church government? First, the word "Presbyterian" is from the Greek word "πρεσβύτερος" which means elder. As I'll show later, the whole of Presbyterian government is based on elders.

The United States Government was formed by many Presbyterians, from it I'll pull some examples. In the US, there are city governments, county governments, state governments, and the federal government. Each level has representatives from the people over which they preside. The mayor of a city has to be a citizen of that same city. A US Senator must come from the state which elected him. These are representatives. Representatives from several cities form a county government. Representatives from a number of counties form a state government. Representatives from all the states form the federal government.

When we think of a Presbyterian denomination, we'll see the same pattern. At the basic level, there are individual local churches (or local bodies, as in "the body of Christ", I'll use the terms synonymously throughout this post). The decisions which affect each of these local churches are made primarily by a group of ruling elders which are also members of this same church (called the session) and thus each has it in his interest to keep this local body in good health. A group of local churches together form a presbytery. A presbytery is a group of elders - representatives from the sessions of each of the local churches which make up the presbytery. Representatives from several presbyteries form a synod. If a denomination is large enough to require it, representatives from several synods make up a general assembly.

Here's a short diagram of what I've covered so far:

a city is comprised of citizens.
city -> county -> state -> nation (federal)

a local church is comprised of believers.
local church (session) -> presbytery -> synod -> general assembly.

Why?

DENNIS: I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
ARTHUR: Yes.
DENNIS: But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting.
ARTHUR: Yes, I see.
DENNIS: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--
ARTHUR: Be quiet!
DENNIS: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more--
ARTHUR: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
WOMAN: Order, eh -- who does he think he is?
ARTHUR: I am your king!
WOMAN: Well, I didn't vote for you.

Why do Presbyterians choose to govern themselves the way they do? What is their reason? What is the advantage? Why aren't they governed by a hierarchy of bishops (episcopacy)? Why doesn't each local body govern itself completely (congregationalist)?

A basic premise is that there is strength and wisdom in seeking many counselors. This is a biblical idea:

Proverbs 11:
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Presbyterians hold that oversight is good for a church. If a church is only held accountable by it's pastor, what happens if he were to lead them astray in some way? Would they follow him? How far? A larger body to which a local church can appeal decisions and seek counsel is helpful in keeping that local church healthy. This is why Presbyterians avoid placing too much power in a small number of people in the local church; why they are not congregationalists.

In addition to taking precautions against too much power in the local body, Presbyterians do not want to place too much power outside of it. Just as a local pastor or a small group of elders without accountability could lead the local body astray, a ruling hierarchy without accountability could do the same. The presbyteries and synods are composed of elders from each local body, thus they are responsible and accountable to them. They also have equal voting power to prevent placing too much power in any single person or small group within each presbytery.

Ultimately, each elder is also accountable to God, and must be above reproach. These are things which Paul told Titus:

Titus 1:
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, [3] and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, [4] as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound [5] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Notice that the term "overseer" or "bishop" is used synonymously with "elder". The elders are instructed to hold firm to the trustworthy word and called to rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine. When a local church selects an elder, they are to use Paul's criteria to select upright men.

Applying the Label

I am a Presbyterian. I submit to the authority of the elders of my church as they instruct me according to God's Word. I appreciate the accountability they receive from the elders of my denomination. I intend to hold my elder accountable to their post regarding the local church and the church at large. I'm thankful to God for these ways in which He maintains, builds, and defends His church.

Quotes of Monty Python and the Holy Grail can be found at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/mphg/mphg.htm