Welcome, and thank you for saying yes to serving as a spiritual leader of Westminster Presbyterian Church. This page has been created especially for the Elders and Deacons of the Class of 2029 as an online tool for your officer training. Below you will find links to short training videos/slideshows designed to be viewed at your own pace. Together with your in-person training with Pastor Adam, these videos are meant to ground you in our shared calling, clarify how we live out our leadership faithfully and responsibly, and support you as you begin this season of service to Christ and Christ’s church.
*** A pastoral word of encouragement from Pastor Adam—”Please do not be overwhelmed by the volume of information shared in these videos and resources. Spiritual leadership in the church is a long, slow marathon; not a sprint. Daily, as you live faithfully into the role of leadership to which God has called you, the information shared below will take on greater meaning and clearer understanding. Traveling mercies!” ***
A word of thanks to the Reverend Brent Anderson for creating these valuable teaching videos and resources. More of his videos and resources for spiritual leadership in the Presbyterian Church (USA) can be found at his website: www.revba.org
What is Presbyterian Polity? This video will help explain our distinctive form of church government, in which the authority to make decisions is lodged not in individuals but in groups.
In the Presbyterian Church, people are called by God through the voice of the congregation to special “ordered ministries” called deacons, pastors, and elders. This video explores the thinking behind these ministries.
Our Presbyterian form of government has a Constitution, made of two parts. This video explores the first part, called The Book of Confessions.
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of Part 1 of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Our Presbyterian form of government has a Constitution, made of two parts: This video explores the second part, called The Book of Order.
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of Part 2 of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
What do Presbyterians believe? Lots of things, of course. But this video introduces you to one confession of faith in our tradition called “The Brief Statement of Faith.”
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of “A Brief Statement of Faith.”
Want to understand why Presbyterians worship the way they do? This video explores the basics of Presbyterian worship.
This video is specifically for those training to become elders. It’s an overview of the basic responsibilities that come with being an elder and serving on the session.
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of the prayer book used by spiritual leaders of WPC.
This video is specifically for those training to become deacons. It’s an overview of the origins of deacon ministry, along with basic responsibilities.
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of the prayer book used by the deacons of the church during moments of congregational care and visitation.
There are two sacraments in the Presbyterian Church: Baptism & Holy Communion. This video explores our basic beliefs about these two sacraments.
The end result of spiritual leadership training is to be ordained and installed as either a ruling elder or a deacon. This video explains the journey of ordination.
Click the button below to download a .pdf copy of the constitutional questions asked of all ruling elders and deacons on the date of their ordination & installation.
The following supplemental resources are shared to aid in your spiritual leadership training and development. The majority of these resources will be given to you as hard copies by Pastor Adam during your season of training.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of the basic training manual used for those preparing to become elders and deacons at WPC.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of the basic manual of operations for WPC, with information about the church’s committees.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of a document outlining ten beliefs that mark Presbyterians as distinctive in the Christian family.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of a note written by Pastor Adam, explaining why he’s a Presbyterian Christian.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of an introductory handout explaining how to hear God’s voice and discern God’s will.
Click the box below to download a .pdf copy of a document highlighting some of the notable Bible passages that have changed people’s lives.
