Vienna Presbyterian Church

Board Descriptions

At Vienna Presbyterian Church there are  two main boards:  Session as the highest decision making body, and Deacons as the caretaking, pastoral group.  Both groups are to be a representation of the congregation as a whole.

The elders and deacons are ordained positions in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  That means that we believe this person has been chosen by God and the people to be a leader in Christ's church.  

Elders work with the pastors to lead the church in its worship of God and its outreach to the community and world.  Together the Senior Pastor, Associate Pastors, and Elders make up the Session, which is the governing body of the church.  The Session exercises leadership, government, and discipline, and has responsibility for the life of the church as well as the church at large, including ecumenical relationships.  The VPC Session meets monthly, normally on the fourth Monday of the month.  On occasion the monthly meeting is held jointly with the Deacons and Trustees, and is referred to as a Tri-Board meeting.  Elders are elected by the members of the church, typically for a 3-year term.  During this term they are known as "ruling elders" and serve on Session.  Following this term they become members of the College of Elders.

Deacons oversee many tasks to ensure that the church community feels the care and healing of Christ in their individual and family lives.  VPC has a Deacon Care Council to insure those who are sick, friendless, in distress, or in need, are attended to in any way possible.  The tasks of the Deacons may include delivering flowers to people in the hospital, visiting shut-ins and nursing home residents, sending a goody bag to college students at finals time, or managing a telephone calling tree to notify people of urgent prayer needs in the congregational community.

It takes many people to make the church function smoothly and do the work of Christ in our community.  We are grateful to God for the unselfish contributions of time and talent from all of our elected leaders, and the many, many volunteers that work behind the scenes.