Ruling elders and the practice of prayer

Life is both beautiful and difficult. In every season, however, God remains near and does not forsake us. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus’ final words affirm his enduring, life-giving presence. For that reason, our connection with God is essential to both our individual lives and our life together as the church.

Ruling elders have been called into a ministry that includes some of the most meaningful and most challenging days, gathering to respond to the needs of both the congregation and the wider community. There are decisions about budget, direction, outreach, and congregational care as well as opportunities to help plan worship and strengthen ministries that form disciples of all ages.

While serving together as a part of the church’s session, there are many situations that call for wise and faithful discernment. In such moments, it is easy to believe there is a need for one more resource, one more framework, or one more plan to make the right decision in a time marked by constant change, trauma and uncertainty. Consultants, books and strategic plans can all be valuable. Yet alongside these tools, we have been given an ancient practice that remains essential to the ministry to which we are called.

That practice is prayer. By the power of the Holy Spirit, prayer draws us into communion with God. It is one of the primary ways we experience God’s loving presence and seek direction for our lives and for the life of the church. In prayer, we are reminded in the depths of our being that we are loved beyond measure and invited to trust God without fear.

Prayer is a communal practice. It opens us to God’s deep love for us and for the world, even in the midst of fear and anxiety. Prayer teaches us to trust God in both the beautiful and the difficult moments of life. With that in mind, consider three dimensions of communal prayer: personal prayer life, prayer within the faith community and prayer with others beyond it.

Prayer can draw us closer to God and clarify our sense of purpose. Early in my ministry, a ruling elder gently asked about my prayer life. I responded, somewhat puzzled, “What do you mean?” He asked, “Do you spend time with God each day?” That conversation marked the beginning of a deeper commitment to prayer first thing in the morning. Even in solitude, prayer remains communal, because I come before God carrying not only my own life but also the lives of others. Over time, I have come to cherish this part of the day. It is a time to become grounded and to place before God the realities of my life, including anxiety, fear and joy. 

Prayer is essential to the life and ministry of the congregation. In a church I served before my call to denominational ministry, the session followed a meaningful practice before any major decision: We set aside a full day for prayer. It was a time to listen to God and to one another as we discerned what God was already doing in our community and whether a proposed decision — whether related to outreach, facilities or another significant initiative — was aligned with that work.

Prayer is for all people. I learned this in a memorable way during a backpacking trip with a group from a church I served. Once a month, about 10 of us would hike in the mountains of Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Each evening, we shared a meal, told stories and prayed together. On one trip, a young woman who was hiking the Appalachian Trail camped nearby. We invited her to join us for dinner, and she stayed for both the meal and our time of sharing and prayer. She left before daybreak the next morning, but she left behind a note that read, “Thank you for last night; it was my first experience of Christian community in months.”

It is my prayer that your ministry will bring life, comfort, and hope to your congregation and to the community around you.

For reflection:

• Since prayer is coming before God with our lives and the lives of others, when do you pause in the day to simply stop to experience God’s love and purpose for your life and the lives of people around you? How would you describe that time of solitude?
• How are you praying together for the needs of the congregation and the community you are serving as leaders of the church?
• Share how you have experienced prayer with others in the community. Maybe you have had a similar experience to the one described in the backpacking story. Or maybe you have experienced a prayer walk, simply walking around your community and praying for the people, homes and businesses around you.

The Rev. Dr. Ray Jones is the Director of Leader Development in Presbyterian Life & Witness, an agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has served churches in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Ray is committed to a gospel ministry that equips and trains followers of Jesus to engage in God’s mission of justice and hope. Hanging out with his family, hiking along mountain trails and spending time alone restore his soul. He has experienced training and education at Furman University and Columbia Theological Seminary.

Throughout 2026, monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles will focus on some of the foundational aspects of ruling elder service and spiritual leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Subscribe to receive notifications of monthly Regarding Ruling Elders articles. Visit the PC(USA) Leader Formation website for more resources for ruling elders and deacons. For more information, email Martha Miller, editor of Regarding Ruling Elders.