Regarding Ruling Elders launches new series on the foundations of Presbyterian polity
An accompanying podcast features the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George and Ruling Elder Martha Miller
After celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, “Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully” has launched a new year-long series for 2025 focused on the foundations of Presbyterian polity. The entire series is being written by the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George, and the first two columns for January and February have already been published. Ensign-George has served for many years in the PC(USA)’s Office of Theology & Worship.
The monthly Regarding Ruling Elders column was established in 2014 by the former Office of the General Assembly to address the particular needs and experiences of those serving as ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). While the column initially focused on specific responsibilities of ruling elders, it eventually shifted to the more theme-based format that is still in use today. It is now a part of the ministries of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons.
The pieces are intended to inform, educate and spark conversation, with each column including a handful of questions for discussion. More than 2,500 people receive a monthly e-newsletter that alerts them when the newest piece is published. Others receive the link from their church’s pastor or clerk of session, or through posting by Presbyterian News Service.
This year’s theme, “Rooted: The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity,” references the first section of the Book of Order, one of the PC(USA)’s two primary governing documents that make up the denomination’s constitution. As Ensign-George explains in the January 2025 column of Regarding Ruling Elders, Foundations of Presbyterian Polity was added to the Book of Order in 2011 with the introduction of the revision known as the New Form of Government.
Ensign-George goes on to explain that the section explores Presbyterian beliefs around the mission of both the church and God, and is meant to serve as a bridge between the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order.
“The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity articulates a vision of God, the church, and the world that clarifies our why,” Ensign-George writes.
Ensign-George also joined the Along the Road podcast as a guest for the episode released on Wednesday entitled, “Nourish: The Foundations of Presbyterian Identity.”
Martha Miller, who hosts the Nourish episodes of the podcast and serves as editor for the Regarding Ruling Elders column, expressed gratitude at being able to connect the two resources.
“As we continue to provide resources for ruling elders and deacons in their formation as leaders in the PC(USA), it is a gift to be able to connect the podcast’s season three theme of Presbyterian Identity to the important Regarding Ruling Elders article series,” Miller said. “With a focus on the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, ruling elders have an opportunity to dive deeper into that identity. And Barry is just the one to help us do that.”
On Along The Road, Ensign-George pointed again to the importance of the “why” for church leaders.
“Sometimes it’s the answer to the ‘why’ question that helps us sort out what we should do in a particular situation and the Foundations section … lifts up some things for us to be thinking about as we go about applying the material we find in the Form of Government,” he said.
Miller, a ruling elder, asked Ensign-George whether there were important theological concepts about which ruling elders and deacons in particular should be aware. He responded by highlighting the second chapter of the section, which focuses on the denomination’s relationship to the Book of Confessions.
In particular, Ensign-George said that the chapter explains how our confessions connect us to all denominations, to the Protestant movement, and to the Reformed tradition, as well as articulate what makes us distinct as Presbyterians. He described how one church leader he recently spoke to used this section of the Book of Order to discern how the church should proceed in a certain situation, “even more so than the specific rules that appear later.”
When Miller asked Ensign-George what word he would want to offer ruling elders and deacons, he highlighted that one of the biggest elements of Presbyterian identity is the gathering of ruling elders, deacons and teaching elders to think together about the faith and where they see God at work. He also named deep gratitude.
“I think what I would want to offer is just affirmation, gratitude, for a willingness to serve the larger body … and it is service and it matters deeply.”
A new Regarding Ruling Elders column is released in the middle of each month, and the series on Foundations of Presbyterian Polity will continue throughout the year. The second article, published on Feb. 14, focuses on how the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity helps people understand what makes Presbyterians distinct as a denomination.
The Along the Road podcast episode featuring the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George can be found on Spotify, Apple, and other major podcast platforms. Access to the Regarding Ruling Elders articles is available on the Leader Formation webpage and through a subscription to the e-newsletter.
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