Growing up in the ARP denomination or new to the ARP denomination, there are some things you may not know or understand really well. One question that is easy to explain, yet complicated as well is, “What is a Presbytery?”
The Presbytery has the oversight of a group of congregations within a specific geographical area as determined by the General Synod. In the expansion of the Church, there are times when Presbyteries need to go beyond their geographical boundaries in order to establish churches, “chapels,” “preaching stations,” “ethnic ministries,” or “mission congregations” in other areas. The Presbytery is the essential court of the Presbyterian system in administering its general order, the higher courts being constituted simply by a wider application of the general principles of the Presbytery. The name is scriptural, derived from the Greek of the New Testament. (FOG 10.1)
The Presbytery shall have as its primary responsibility the initiation, planning, organization and administration of programs designed to enable it to carry on the mission of God in Christ’s Church by word and deed in the Presbytery and also in the local congregations, the General Synod and the whole world. In order to institute and supervise the general work of the Presbytery, the Presbytery has the power to appoint boards, commissions, or committees and to ordain, install, receive, dismiss, remove, and try pastors of the Gospel, requiring pastors to devote themselves diligently to their sacred calling and censuring the delinquent. (FOG 10.3K).
There are currently 10 Presbyteries as you can see on this map. The next ARP Magazine issues will take two presbyteries in detail highlighting the work of the people for God’s glory.