On March 29, eight members of Highlands Presbytery completed Presiding at the Table: A Class for Ruling Elders. With gratitude to the Presbyterian Church of Andover and their Clerk of Session (and course participant!) Sandra Wozniak, participants and guests were able to demonstrate what they had learned and practiced in the course of the three sessions.

This was the second cohort for this course, established by the Presbyteries of Coastlands, Highlands, Long Island, Northeast New Jersey, and Southern New Jersey. This is meant to address a mounting problem across not only the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in the northeast but mainline denominations
across the country: a shortage of ministers of Word and Sacrament.

While the policies across the five participating presbyteries differ, the sixteen total participants moved one step closer to meeting the challenges posed by this pastor shortage. With the companion course, Preaching God’s Word in the World, churches in search of pulpit supply or Communion have another
avenue to meet those basic Presbyterian Church needs.

In Highlands Presbytery, those who wish to preside over Communion in one of the Presbytery’s churches must complete both courses and meet longer-term expectations. After Preaching God’s Word and being placed on the Presbytery’s Pulpit Supply List, a required background check and boundary training must be completed. At that point, an individual can petition the Presbytery’s Commission on
Ministry, which upon examination can move to commission them as a Commissioned Presiding Elder as appropriate.

The next cohort of Preaching God’s Word in the World will take place this fall. This multi-session course prepares someone to preach and lead worship, and culminates once again in an in-person experience of preaching to one’s peers. You can also anticipate another cohort of Presiding at the Table, in early 2027. These two courses can be completed in either order. Contact Steve Shussett at 610.295.2930 or steves@highlandspresbyterynj.org if you have any questions or wish to be notified of the next course opportunities.