Springwood Presbyterian Church: Whitsett, NC

Why are we called Presbyterian?   Our name comes from the Greek, presbuteros, meaning “elder.”  Elders-- elected by the congregation--meet together as a Session to govern us.  Elders are not always elderly, although John Calvin’s French word makes it sound even more decrepit: anciens.  (Of course, the deep faith and wisdom we seek in Elders are often strengthened by age and experience.) The pastor is also an Elder (keep those jokes to yourself!) and all installed pastors are elected by the congregation just as the governing body Elders are.  Therefore, installed pastors have the privilege of voting in Session meetings.  Interim pastors, not being elected by the congregation, may not vote in Session meetings.  Pastors—installed or interim--may not vote in congregational meetings since they are members of the Presbytery, rather than of the congregation.  Formerly, those Elders who are members of the congregation were named “Ruling Elders” and pastors, “Teaching Elders.”  Presently, the Book of Order (the second part of our Constitution—the first part is the Book of Confessions ) distinguishes the offices by “Elder” and “Minister of Word and Sacrament.”

                The question has been asked about members attending Session meetings.  The Book of Order provides that “The Session may invite members of the congregation to attend and observe its meetings if it so desires, without restricting its right to meet in executive session whenever circumstances indicate the wisdom of doing so.” (G-10.0201)  Each Session may determine if members may attend and observe.  Springwood’s Session welcomes you to attend.  If you wish to speak, it’s a courtesy to request permission in advance so the agenda can be tailored to the time needed.   

John Calvin: Queen Elizabeth I thought Calvinists—that’s us—were more “reformed” than Lutherans because we are involved with social reform as well as theological reform.  John Calvin, a French lawyer in the 16^th century, had also studied theology, originally planning a career in the Church.  When his theological beliefs began to diverge from those of the Catholic Church, he went into exile in Basel, Switzerland.  There, Calvin turned his energy to study Scripture and to clarify the doctrines of the church in those troubled transitional times.  His theological and legal training led him to write what became the first edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536), addressing the Law of God, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, sacraments, Christian freedom, and what he called the “false sacraments of Rome.” 

Just after the Institutes were published, Calvin decided to move to Strasbourg.  On his way, he was forced to detour through Geneva to avoid the religious wars in the area.  Geneva had only recently become Protestant, and the civic leaders implored Calvin to stay with them to help establish their church.  By 1541, Calvin was the acknowledged leader of the religious community and the major influence on the civil government, as well.  With the support of the other clergy, he convinced the city officials to regulate the life of the citizenry in dramatic ways: public education, public safety (no fires permitted in rooms without chimneys, chimneys to swept regularly for safety, railings ordered for balconies of houses to protect children), public health (latrines provided for houses without them, streets to be kept clean), welfare of the poor (cloth manufacture introduced to provide gainful employment for the unemployed), democratic forms of government introduced in both church and state.  Unique in Western Europe, these social reforms fit into Calvin’s understanding of  sanctification (the daily living-out of our discipleship and faith) and the covenantal relationship between God and the people.  We Presbyterians have inherited Calvin’s concern for the health and wholeness of society.