RULING ELDERS

The leadership of FPC is made up of the Session, Staff, and Deacons.

Each group serves a different role in the congregation to help fulfill our mission of
“Sharing a Living Faith Across Generations.”

Meeting minutes from any Session or committee meetings are available upon request.
Email dougb@fpcbellingham.org to access minutes or if you have any questions.

Definition of Ruling Elder from the Book of Order (G-2.0301)

“As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matthew 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships.”