Introduction to Presbyterian Life
First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown is committed in its life and mission to the love and justice of God, the grace and Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the communion and transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
The First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown was founded in 1799 as part of the Western Reserve. In all of these many years of faithful service, the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown has sought to serve the Lord as attentive and grateful stewards, seeking to represent God in the world as we bear God’s image in all that we do, say and are.
As a congregation, we believe that we are able to express ourselves most faithfully and effectively as part of the body of Christ through the theology and work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As a denomination, the PC (U.S.A.) is a part of the Reformed Tradition which acknowledges that we are formed and reformed continuously by the power of the Holy Spirit who continues to reveal God at work in the world to us. Saved by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we respond each day as faithful disciples, living our lives praising God and seeking to bring God’s Kingdom come in this world.
As part of this wonderful Reformed Tradition, we have a very particular way of governing which is different from other churches. As Presbyterians, we seek to govern “decently and in order.” In order to do this, the Session, comprised of the Ruling and Teaching Elders of the congregation, are the governing and spiritual leaders of the church. Since we are unicameral, the Elders of the Session also serve as the Board of Trustees, handling any matters the church needs to deal with fiscally or legally. The Ruling Elders are called to these positions through Nominations but, even more deeply, through a sense of call by God who has tasked them to do this important work in the life of the church with energy, imagination, intelligence and love.
As part of the PC(USA), we also recognize that we are part of the connectional church. We are connected to other PC(USA) congregations in our region through being part of Eastminster Presbytery as we participate in the life of that Presbytery together by attending Presbytery meetings quarterly, helping with education events, collaborating on worship services together and supporting mission work. We connect with other Presbyteries, through our life in the Synod of the Covenant. Every two years, we are connected with our sisters and brothers in the PC(USA) nation-wide through the General Assembly. This is the gift of being the connectional church that First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown continues to participate in faithfully.
As a congregation, we also ordain Deacons. The Deacons care for our church members as they seek to care for all our sisters and brothers in the congregation, showing we are truly a family. In this work, the Deacons are called to these positions through Nominations and yet, as it is with the Elders, on a much deeper level it is through a sense of call from God by which these faithful individuals come to do this important work and serve with energy, imagination, intelligence, and love.
Seeking to serve God in our life together in ways that are faithful, the contents of this handbook are presented as a way for our beliefs and practices to be held together with grace and integrity. These job descriptions, committee descriptions, policies, procedures, and evaluations are ways for us to have places to turn to when we are unable to find answers in Scripture, our church constitution (Book of Order, and Book of Confessions) and need simple guidance for situations that will arise in our life in the church together
The First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown was founded in 1799 as part of the Western Reserve. In all of these many years of faithful service, the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown has sought to serve the Lord as attentive and grateful stewards, seeking to represent God in the world as we bear God’s image in all that we do, say and are.
As a congregation, we believe that we are able to express ourselves most faithfully and effectively as part of the body of Christ through the theology and work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As a denomination, the PC (U.S.A.) is a part of the Reformed Tradition which acknowledges that we are formed and reformed continuously by the power of the Holy Spirit who continues to reveal God at work in the world to us. Saved by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we respond each day as faithful disciples, living our lives praising God and seeking to bring God’s Kingdom come in this world.
As part of this wonderful Reformed Tradition, we have a very particular way of governing which is different from other churches. As Presbyterians, we seek to govern “decently and in order.” In order to do this, the Session, comprised of the Ruling and Teaching Elders of the congregation, are the governing and spiritual leaders of the church. Since we are unicameral, the Elders of the Session also serve as the Board of Trustees, handling any matters the church needs to deal with fiscally or legally. The Ruling Elders are called to these positions through Nominations but, even more deeply, through a sense of call by God who has tasked them to do this important work in the life of the church with energy, imagination, intelligence and love.
As part of the PC(USA), we also recognize that we are part of the connectional church. We are connected to other PC(USA) congregations in our region through being part of Eastminster Presbytery as we participate in the life of that Presbytery together by attending Presbytery meetings quarterly, helping with education events, collaborating on worship services together and supporting mission work. We connect with other Presbyteries, through our life in the Synod of the Covenant. Every two years, we are connected with our sisters and brothers in the PC(USA) nation-wide through the General Assembly. This is the gift of being the connectional church that First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown continues to participate in faithfully.
As a congregation, we also ordain Deacons. The Deacons care for our church members as they seek to care for all our sisters and brothers in the congregation, showing we are truly a family. In this work, the Deacons are called to these positions through Nominations and yet, as it is with the Elders, on a much deeper level it is through a sense of call from God by which these faithful individuals come to do this important work and serve with energy, imagination, intelligence, and love.
Seeking to serve God in our life together in ways that are faithful, the contents of this handbook are presented as a way for our beliefs and practices to be held together with grace and integrity. These job descriptions, committee descriptions, policies, procedures, and evaluations are ways for us to have places to turn to when we are unable to find answers in Scripture, our church constitution (Book of Order, and Book of Confessions) and need simple guidance for situations that will arise in our life in the church together