Rev. Mark Bedford – Moderator        |       Barb Davis – Clerk of Session

Class of 2023

Jane Hey

Charlotte Nagel

Barb Davis

Juliana Mayne

Patrice Johnson

Class of 2024

Vicki Ackerman

Brian Hazlett

Chris Hunt

Andrea Rohlena

Suzan Stewart

Class of 2025

Tim Hynds

Gerald Messersmith

Jeff Rarick

Jeff Stanley

Judy Vos

SESSION COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS 2023

Administration & Finance

Jeff Stanley – RE – Moderator

John Mayne

Suzan Stewart – RE

Karen Heinemann

Chris Hunt – RE

Gerald Messersmith – RE

Personnel

Patrice Johnson – RE

Lance Eybers

Kim Stanley – Moderator

Suzan Stewart – RE

Phil Krone

Mission

Jane Hey – RE

Charlotte Curry

Jane Vereen

Renee Weinberg – Moderator

Christian Discipleship

Charlotte Nagel – RE Moderator

Jeff Rarick – RE

Pam Woolridge-Perez

Kim Messersmith

Sarah Brown

Member Care

Vicki Ackerman – RE – Moderator

Judy Vos

Anne Cowley

Kathy Zebert

Julie Eybers

Tim Hynds

Patty Rarick

Nominating

Jeff Stanley – RE Moderator

Pat Anderson – Member at Large

Russ Nagel – Member at Large

Robbie Rohlena – Member at Large

Worship and Music

Mary Benton – Moderator

Jane Hey – RE

Anne Cowley

Sarah Steill

Rachael Wragge

Randy Benton

Andrea Rohlena – RE

Brian Hazlett

Memorial

Patrice Johnson – RE Moderator\

Juliana Mayne – RE

Pat Anderson

Neva Piece

Corporation Officers

John Mayne – President

Curtis Burns – Vice President

Judy Vos – Secretary & Treasurer

Building and Grounds

Chris Hunt – RE Moderator

Curt Burns

Bob Anderson

Damon Baier

Juliana Mayne – RE

Rick Heinemann

Commissioner Delegates

Juliana Mayne

A major contributor to Reformed theology was John Calvin, who converted from Roman Catholicism after training for the priesthood and in the law. In exile in Geneva, Switzerland, Calvin developed the Presbyterian pattern of church government. The Presbyterian Church is governed by councils composed of elders (in Greek, presbuteros) elected by the people.

 

There are four councils:

  1. The Session is each local church’s governing body. It consists of bot ruling and teaching elders.
  2. The Presbytery consists of teaching elders (pastors) and ruling elders from each church within the bounds of a determined district. Presbyteries help to organize new congregations, nurture the connectional nature of local churches, and are charged with ordaining, receiving, dismissing, and installing teaching elders. First Presbyterian is a member of the Presbytery of Prospect Hills.
  3. The Synod is a collection of presbyteries gathered to work with the denomination’s institutions: colleges, seminaries, children’s home, retirement homes, etc. First Presbyterian is a member of the Synod of Lake and Prairies.
  4. The General Assembly is a council of the whole church. It consists of ruling and teaching elders elected by presbyteries. The General Assembly gathers at least biennially.

 

All four councils are charged to provide that the Word of God may be truly preached and heard, that the Sacraments may be rightly administered and received, and to nurture the covenant community of God’s faithful people.

 

At First Presbyterian Church, Sioux City our Session is made up of elders elected to service by the congregation at a congregational meeting normally held in October. All have a vote in matters of church government. The pastor serves as moderator of the Session, the main responsibility of which is to govern the congregation and guide its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that the congregation remains a community of faith, hope, love and witness.

 

For more information about the Session at the First Presbyterian Church, Sioux City, Iowa, contact our Session Clerk, Patrice Johnson or Rev. Mark Bedford at pastor@1stpresby.com.