Session (Governing Body)
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
