UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SESSION
The reason we are called Presbyterians is because we are ruled by Elders (in Greek means Presbyters) which make up the Session.
THE SESSION: A COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH AND EXPRESSION OF UNITY & MUTUALITY
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is governed by councils, which “exist to help congregations and the church as a whole be more faithful participants in the mission of Christ.” The councils of the church are the session, the presbytery, the synod and the General Assembly. The session is the council for the congregation and is composed of ruling elders, elected by the congregation to active service, as well as all installed pastors and associate pastors.
Councils serve as an expression of the unity of the church and “all councils of the church are united by the nature of the church and share with one another responsibilities, rights and powers as provided by the Constitution.” Along these lines, each council remains subject to the review of the next higher council. Our polity envisions a system of unity, mutuality and accountability where councils communicate and work together to make important decisions impacting the faith and mission of the whole church. Our polity presupposes a fellowship of love and trust where important constitutional matters are not decided unilaterally, but where lower councils collaborate with higher counsels to prayerfully discern the mind of Christ and work through decisions that will impact the mission of the church. Through dialogue and working together on important and often difficult decisions, sessions, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly can help the whole church understand more fully what it means for us to be a community of faith, hope, love and witness
THE SESSION: DISCERNING LEADERS ATTENDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
The session is responsible 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. In seeking to help the congregation be and become this community, the session has an important role as it engages in prayerful discernment and attends to how God’s Spirit may be at work in the congregation and in the broader community. Along these lines, we recognize that ruling elders are provided “with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people” and that “together with Ministers of the Word and Sacrament (Pastor), exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment and discipline and have responsibilities for the life a congregation as well as the whole church…”
THE SESSION’S RESPONSIBILITIES
As it seeks to lead and guide the congregation, the session is to keep before it the Marks of the Church, the Notes of the Reformed Church, and the Great Ends of the Church. The session’s main responsibilities and powers fall within three broad categories tied to the Notes of the Church: 1)
Providing the word of God may be truly preached and heard; 2) Providing the Sacraments be rightly administered and received; and 3) Nurturing the covenant community of Christ’s disciples.
Those currently serving on Session:
Duane Dunn
Jeff Enger
Danielle Giesler
Charley Keesee
Mark Lee
Gail Martin
Sylvia Pringle
Mary Reed
Mark Sherfy
2022 SESSION COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Property and Finance Personnel Committee Kitchen Committee Worship Committee Christian Nurture Committee Church Growth/Outreach
Mark Lee, Chair Bob Martin, Chair Yvonne Wegner, Chair Duane Dunn, Chair Elizabeth Sherfy, Chair Charlotte Enger. Chair
Delbert Bossingham Carrie Orn Nancy Fletcher Sylvia Pringle Danielle Geisler Delbert Bossingham
Bob Martin Carrie Orn Marge Nething Gail Martin Jonelle Lindbo
Mark Sherfy Elizabeth Sherfy Maurine Scholer Edith Prentice Bev Schaack
Joe Burgard Susan Bond Dixie Lee Ruth Bossingham
Ryan Carlson Marcy zarkowski
Mary Reed, Treasurer Simone Leigh
Carrie Orn
Membership Committee Mission Committee Stewardship Committee Financial Review Committee Social Media/Website Committee
Diane Weispfenning, Chair Sylvia Pringle, Chair Angie Allmer, Chair Jen Bollingberg, Chair Rev. Bob Boyar
Nancy Burgard, Clerk Lou Mayer Dixie Lee Nancy Burgard Elizabeth Sherfy
Jackie Tarpinian Pat Lindbo Mark Lee Bill Weispfenning Sharon Watson
Steve Koehn Steve Reed Mark Sherfy Tony McIntyre
Sue Parries Mary Reed Deb Hornung
Marge Nething Cindy Wermager Tammie Keesee
Sanctuary Circle HERRB Project Committee
Dixie Lee & Elizabeth Sherfy, Co-Chairs Jackie Tarpinian, Chair
Nancy Burgard Kim Thoele
Nancy Fletcher Sylvia Pringle
Diane Weispfenning Diane Witzig
Links of intererest:
Presbytery of the Northern Plains website: www.northernplainspresbytery.com
PCUSA website: www.pcusa.org
Synod of Lakes and Prairies website: www.lakesandprairies.org