The Presbyterian Church takes its name from the New Testament Greek word for "Elder": presbuteros. It describes the way the church is governed, with oversight resting on elected bodies at the congregational, regional and national levels.

The governing group in each congregation is called the Session, a body made up of men and women known as "Elders" who have been "set apart" by election and ordination into a supervisory role.  The Session meets monthly to conduct the business of the church.  "Teaching Elders" are the name for installed pastors in a congregation.  They are also members of the Session with equal rights to the other Elders.  At First Presbyterian Rev. Dr. Fairfax Fair, Rev. Dr. Brewster Gere and Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers are all installed pastors and are members of the Session.

Lay Elders generally serve for staggered three-year terms, with a third of the Session elected each year.  Ordination is a for life designation.  Past Elders are part of a group called - collequially - the College of Elders.

The Elders for 2012 are:

Class of 2013: Rudi Ansbacher, Lucie Audette, Cindy Lambrides, Marc Buchanan, Brian Dabrowski, Bill McPherson, Katie Parker, Sarah Stitt

Class of 2014: Karen Barks, John Brent, Virginia Bell, Diane Hockett, Roland Kibler, Pat Liljestrand, Bryan Magnuson, David Nerenz.

Class of 2015: Ann Andrews, Paul Brown, Tom Crawford, Jane Hayes, Prue Heikkinen, Henry Johnson, Jane Kinzinger, Paul Smith

Committees chaired by elders (or in a few cases, co-chaired by elders) oversee many aspects of church life. Co-Opted committee chairs are not currently elders.

The Session Committees are:

Executive Committee: Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair, Pastor/Head of Staff, Moderator; Katie Parker, Vice-Moderator; Diana Gardner, Clerk of Session

Adult Education: Pat Liljestrand, Chair

Campus Ministry: John Brent, Chair

Children's Education and Family Ministries: Jane Kinzinger, Chair

Congregational Life: Bill McPherson, Chair

Finance: Brian Dabrowski, Chair

Mission: Virginia Bell, Chair

Personnel: Katie Parker, Chair

Property: Rol Kibler, Chair

Residency/Candidates Committee: Rudi Ansbacher, Chair

Stewardship and Endowment: Lucie Audette, Chair

Technology:  Bryan Magnuson, Chair

Vision and Strategy: Tom Crawford, Chair

Worship: David Nerenz, Chair

Youth Education and Ministries: Marc Buchanan, Chair

Other offices and committees and special assignments:

Clerk of Session: Diana Gardner

Assistant Clerk of Session: Katie Parker

Presbyterian Women Liaison: Jane Kinzinger

Appointments: Bryan Magnusson, Chair

Nominating Committee:  Diane Hockett, Chair

Presbytery Commissioners: Ben VanTuyl, Co-Opted Chair