Continous Discipleship - Synod and General Assembly

Prayer: Let your mission be our mission, let you calling be heard clearly, let your discipline be felt as your love, let our connection and communication glorify you, our beloved God. Amen.

Synod is the unit of the church's life and mission which consists of not fewer than three presbyteries within a specific geographic region.
          Book of Order  G-12.0100

When a synod meets it shall be composed of commissioners elected by the presbyteries. … The commissioners from each presbytery shall be divided equally between elders and ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
          Book of Order  G-12.0101

Synod is the intermediate governmental unit responsible for the mission of the church throughout its region. It therefore has the responsibility and power (summarized list)

to develop joint plans and objectives for the fulfillment of mission, providing encouragement and guidance to its presbyteries and overseeing their work;
to coordinate the work of presbyteries' committees on ministry and assist in matters related to the calling, ordaining, and placement of ministers;

to facilitate communication among its presbyteries and between its presbyteries and the General Assembly;

to serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline;

to review the records of its presbyteries and to take care that they observe the Constitution of the church;

to deal with prevailing, emerging, and emergency issues of racism, racial violence, and racial injustices, as well as with any ideology that promotes racial oppression in the church and in the surrounding political and social contexts.
      Book of Order  G-12.0102
The General Assembly is the highest governing body of this church and is representative of the unity of the synods, presbyteries, sessions, and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
          Book of Order  G-13.0101

When the General Assembly meets biennially, it shall consist of equal numbers of elders and ministers from each presbytery, … These persons, so elected, shall be called commissioners.
          Book of Order  G-13.0102b

The General Assembly constitutes the bond of union, community, and mission among all its congregations and governing bodies. It therefore has the responsibility and power (partial list)
  • to develop overall objectives for mission and a comprehensive strategy to guide the church at every level of its life;
  • to establish and administer national and worldwide ministries of witness, service, growth, and development;
  • to provide a system of administrative services to fulfill its objectives and program;
  • to provide services for the whole church that can be performed more effectively from a national base;
  • to provide for communication within the church;
  • to serve in judicial matters in accordance with the Rules of Discipline;
  • to warn or bear witness against error in doctrine or immorality in practice in or outside the church;
  • to provide authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order which shall be binding on the governing bodies of the church
  • to establish and maintain those ecumenical relationships that will enlarge the life and mission of the church.                                                        Book of Order G-13.0103
Prayer: May the work of the church be our worship of you. Amen.