Ask the Elder: What is the Presbytery of Chicago?

The Rev. Kristin Hutson of Edgewater Kirk, Rev. Joseph Morrow of Fourth Kirk, and Rev. David Black of First Kirk presiding over the Lord’s Supper in 2023. They represent a northside, downtown, and southside church in the Presbytery respectively. Photo: Gerald Farinas.

When people first get involved in a Presbyterian congregation like Edgewater Presbyterian Church, they often hear the word “Presbytery” mentioned in worship, in prayers, or in our church’s reports. But what exactly is the Presbytery of Chicago and how does it shape who we are as a community of faith?

The Presbyterian Church (USA), or PCUSA, is what we call a connectional church. That means no congregation exists on its own. Every local church belongs to a Presbytery, a regional body that connects congregations for worship, service, mutual care, and shared decision-making.

The Presbytery of Chicago is our regional governing body, encompassing nearly eighty congregations and worshiping communities across Cook County and parts of neighboring counties. Together, these congregations form a network that reflects the diversity of Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs.

We learn from one another, collaborate on mission projects, and discern together how to serve God faithfully in our time and place.

The Presbytery Assembly is the governing council of the Presbytery of Chicago. It is where the important decisions of the Presbytery are made, such as approving new ministers, supporting new ministries, setting budgets, and discerning the Presbytery’s collective mission and vision.

Every congregation in the Presbytery sends one or more representatives, known as elder commissioners, to participate. These include teaching elders, also called Ministers of Word and Sacrament, who are pastors serving congregations or specialized ministries, and ruling elders, who are elected and ordained members from each local church, chosen by their congregations to represent them in the wider church.

Together, these teaching and ruling elders form the membership of the Presbytery Assembly. When they meet, they deliberate, pray, and vote on matters that affect all the churches in the Presbytery.

In essence, the Presbytery Assembly functions for us in much the same way that a bishop would in a Catholic or Episcopal diocese. Rather than one person making decisions, however, Presbyterians believe that the Spirit speaks best through the gathered body of elders, women and men discerning together in prayer and equality.

It is a form of shared governance that reflects our belief that no single individual has authority over the Church. Instead, authority is shared, representative, and rooted in the collective wisdom of the community.

The Presbytery of Chicago does not just make decisions, it provides care and guidance.

It supports congregations through times of transition, conflict, and growth. It also oversees the preparation of new ministers through the Commission on Preparation for Ministry, ensuring that future leaders are equipped with both theological understanding and pastoral sensitivity.

For pastors, elders, and lay leaders, the Presbytery offers continuing education, retreats, and grants to strengthen ministries. When a congregation like ours calls a new pastor, the Presbytery guides the process, ensuring fairness, discernment, and alignment with the wider mission of the Church.

As part of the Presbytery of Chicago, Edgewater Presbyterian Church joins in citywide mission initiatives that reflect our shared values, supporting immigrants, confronting racial injustice, addressing homelessness, and caring for mental health and human dignity.

The Presbytery also nurtures new worshiping communities and congregations that reflect the changing face of the city, multiethnic, multilingual, and inclusive of all people. In a world where division is easy, the Presbytery stands as a witness to Christ’s reconciling love in one of the most diverse and complex urban regions in the nation.

The Presbytery of Chicago is one of sixteen presbyteries within the Synod of Lincoln Trails, which includes parts of Illinois and Indiana. The Synod in turn connects to the national body of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This layered structure of congregation, presbytery, synod, and General Assembly means that decision-making is shared and balanced. It ensures accountability, prayerful discernment, and faithful representation at every level of the Church.

For us at Edgewater, being part of the Presbytery of Chicago connects our local mission to something larger. It reminds us that we are part of a family of congregations working together for the sake of the Gospel across the city.

Our pastor participates in Presbytery work, and our elected ruling elders serve as commissioners to Presbytery Assemblies. These gatherings are moments when our congregation’s voice is heard and when we, in turn, listen to the voices of others.

When we ordain elders, when we welcome candidates for ministry, or when we engage in Presbytery missions, we are living out the covenant relationship that binds us together in Christ.

In short, the Presbytery of Chicago is our extended church family, our partners in ministry, our collective conscience, and our shared witness to the love of God in the city we call home. To learn more, visit www.chicagopresbytery.org.