No one is to be the sole leader in a Presbyterian church. Church pastors, for example, are called to lead, but only alongside other leaders, who are chosen by the congregation and are called “Elders.” Together with the ordained Pastor(s), ordained Elders form the church’s governing board called the “Session.” During their term of years on the Session, they are called “active Elders.” When their terms of service are completed, and they rotate off the session, they are called “inactive Elders,” but they remain, for the rest of their lives, truly active spiritual leaders among us.

Each year, one class of Elders relinquishes it place to another class of Elders, and new life begins. We do not forget the past; every past ministry which is still alive is brought into the new year. But the rotation system which brings a new class of elders each year provides assurance that we won’t get stuck in the past, doing the same old same old just because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” A new group of Elders assures a flow of new ideas and new visions for ministry.

At Madison Square, twenty-one active Elders serve on the Session. These twenty-one people (twenty-three, counting the pastors) are leaders for the congregation’s ministry, but they are certainly not the only ones who minister. All our members are ministers, and many of them serve on Session committees, with much of our ministry happening through their shared work.

A list of those committees gives you a glimpse of our ministry, as the Spirit leads the Session to lead us.

                        Buildings and Grounds
                        Child Development Center
                        Church Community
                        Communications
                        Education
                        Finance
                        Long Range Planning
                        Mission
                        Personnel
                        Welcoming
                        Worship

Madison Square also ministers through the service of “Deacons.” These nine persons are ordained by the Holy Spirit through the “Laying on of Hands” (as are Pastors and Elders). Like the Elders, who serve a limited number of years on the Session, Deacons serve a limited number of years on the “Board of Deacons.” And, just as the Elders have a particular calling to the ministry of leadership, so also Deacons have a special calling to a particular ministry. They fulfill the biblical identity and role of Deacons, which is “hands on” caring ministry. Along with the pastors, they tend those with acute needs, whether those needs are long-term or for a while. We entrust to the Deacons’ faithful care the sick, the elderly infirm, the lonely, the grieving, those in crisis and any others who need a special touch of love and help. The way our Deacons care is a true face of who we are, a congregation which truly cares.
“Deacons offer a caring ministry in their commitment of compassionate, faithful, trustworthy and Christ-centered lives. The Madison Square Presbyterian Church deacons offer a safe, caring outlet for anyone experiencing a life crisis or challenge which could include divorce, loss of a loved one, hospitalization, illness, relocation, retirement, unemployment, empty nest or other life transitions.”