The Elders and Deacons serve the congregation at Westminster as they follow the Lord’s clear teaching in the Scriptures and lead in ministry of the church within the congregation, in the community, and even around the world.
The primary spiritual leaders of a congregation are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Heb. 13:17). Elders come in two types: Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders. Teaching Elders are commonly called Ministers or Pastors, and they primarily provide for the preaching and teaching need within a local congregation (Ephesians 4:11). Ruling Elders are commonly called simply by the shorthand of Elders, and they shepherd the flock, caring for the congregation, and watching over her spiritual needs (Acts 20:28). Together the Teaching and Ruling Elders make up the Session, which is charged with oversight of the ministry of the Word and prayer in the church. In other words, the elders are called and qualified by God to care for the spiritual needs of the church. At WPC the Session normally meets on the third Sunday of each month and additionally as needed.
In addition to Elder, the other ordinary and perpetual office in the Church established by Christ through His Apostles is the office of Deacon. Deacons, too, have a crucial role in the life and the health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’. The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church so that the elders can concentrate on their primary calling. These men too are elected by the congregation (Acts 6:1-6), just like the Elders. The role of Deacons in the church is to serve the congregation in its physical needs and to encourage the congregation to love and good deeds for others in need. This distinction is based on the pattern found in Acts 6:1–6. The apostles were devoted “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 4). Since this was their primary calling, seven men were chosen to handle more practical matters in order to allow the apostles the freedom to continue with their work.
This division of labor is similar to what we see with the offices of elder and deacon. Like the apostles, the elders’ primary role is one of prayer and teaching the Word of God. Like the seven, deacons serve the congregation in whatever practical needs may arise.
The Westminster Elders are often referred to as the Session when they meet and lead collectively, and likewise, the Deacons are often referred to as the Diaconate.
Westminster is currently led by:
Teaching Elder Kyle Ferguson
Ruling Elder Jim Foster
Ruling Elder Mike Gray
Deacon Angelo Juliano
Deacon Joe Faus
Deacon Will Bebout