God asks even more of you when God calls you through your congregation to ministry in Word and Sacrament, to be an elder, to be a Christian educator, or to be a commissioned lay pastor.

Your congregation is depending on you for many things, including your energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. And you do a lot to meet those expectations. But what about the desire you have to help people think prayerfully and practically about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit? In fact, what about the desire you have to do that for yourself so that you will be prepared to help others? In response to such expressed needs of Presbyterian pastors, the Office of Theology and Worship and the Office of Spiritual Formation have established the Company of Pastors and the Order of Elders.

As a church leader, do you want to Discover the Scriptures as “the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ”?

Explore the confessions of our church, to better instruct and be led by those confessions in leading the people of God?

Be formed by your office and ministry into a more faithful Christian?

The Company of Pastors is open to all ministers of Word and Sacrament, commissioned lay pastors, Christian educators, and seminarians, while the Order of Elders has been developed for all elders, whether currently serving on session, resting between terms, or after having spent a lifetime of service.

Those who join these programs commit themselves to daily disciplines of prayer and reading of Scripture and The Book of Confessions. Members also agree to be part of a book subscription program through which three times a year they will buy and read selected books appropriate to their ministries. These books will be sent out automatically. Those in the Company of Pastors also receive a subscription to The Register of the Company of Pastors, a journal of theology written by and for pastors, and, as a visible reminder of the covenant made with colleagues, an oak plaque with a laser-engraved Company of Pastors logo. Those in the Order of Elders receive a stoneware paperweight/coaster with the logo of the Order of Elders.

There are gatherings for members of the Company of Pastors and the Order of Elders, as well as those who are interested in becoming members. To date, these have been held in conjunction with the General Assembly. Speakers have included Thomas Long, Richard Mouw, Eugene Peterson, and Craig Barnes. Members receive these speeches on compact disc and in print in The Register of the Company of Pastors.

Members of the Order of Elders and Company of Pastors also receive special access to a Web site that has roster information, electronic versions of the daily readings, and a discussion forum to communicate with other members.