Bound Together

Presbyterians sometimes use the phrase “connectional church” to describe who we are. According to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), this means that our congregations are “bound together in a mutual system of shared governance, accountability, and mission rather than acting as independent entities.”

Within each congregation, the session provides spiritual leadership and oversight through ruling elders elected by the congregation. Congregations are then connected through presbyteries and synods, which coordinate ministries, support the health of churches, and oversee the preparation and ordination of ministers. The General Assembly brings commissioners from across the denomination together to discern the mission, priorities, and policies of the wider church.

These connections do not mean that Presbyterians always agree. Anyone who has attended a session meeting, presbytery gathering, or General Assembly knows that faithful people can reach very different conclusions. Our tradition protects freedom of conscience, allowing members and officers to disagree with decisions of the church while remaining faithful to our constitutional commitments and ordination vows. Our unity does not depend upon uniformity. We remain connected because we belong to Jesus Christ and therefore belong to one another.

Christ’s church is always larger than any single congregation. Grace is one expression of the body of Christ, but we are called to live in community with other congregations in our denomination and with Christians beyond our own tradition. These relationships remind us that we do not worship, serve, or discern God’s call alone.

Last weekend, our presbytery gathered in Wellington. We were joined by the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, who preached during worship and offered an update on the actions taken by the General Assembly when it met in Milwaukee in July. Our time together was more than a business meeting. It was a celebration of the connections we share with siblings in Christ and congregations throughout our denomination. We worshiped together, listened to one another, and remembered that God is at work through communities of faith far beyond our own walls.

This Sunday, I will have the pleasure of preaching with the congregations in Viola and Wellington. Meanwhile, their Commissioned Ruling Elder, Scott Randle, will return to Grace, the congregation that helped nurture and form his faith, to preach at our 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. worship services.

This exchange is a small but meaningful expression of what it means to be a connectional church. We share our gifts, learn from one another, and strengthen the bonds that unite us. I look forward to discovering more ways our congregations can work together, supporting one another in ministry and serving alongside the people of our communities.

We may worship in different buildings and serve in different places, but together we are Christ’s body. By God’s grace, we are bound together in faith, hope, love, and a shared calling to serve.

See you in church!

Peace, Love, and Grace,
Pastor Kevin