Ruling Elders and Sabbaticals

The Elders of the People

The Ruling Elder Podcast speaks to Drew Gordon about his book 'The Elders of the People: Leadership in Christ’s Church' (Grassmarket Press, Pittsburgh, PA, 2025). Drew is a ruling elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, serving in Covenant Fellowship RP church in Pittsburgh PA, and is publications director for Crown and Covenant Publications. Other books in the series mentioned in the podcast; * Written on the Heart: The Law of God by Stephen Steele * Remember the Poor: Cultivating a Heart of Generosity by Peter Smith * Worship, Feasting, Rest, Mercy: The Christian Sabbath by Daniel Howe * Together: Why We Need the Local Church by Gabriel and Isaac Wingfield Other books in the series can be found at Grassmarket Press [https://grassmarket.press/] Drew’s recommended books. * Timothy Z. Witmer, The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church (P&R Publishing, 2010) * Lawrence R. Eyres, The Elders of the Church, (P&R Publishing, 1975) * Leonard Stob, Mission Directed: Governing your Christian School with Purpose (Kindle Ebook) Archibald Allison’s OS article on Biblical Qualifications for Elders can be found here [https://www.opc.org/OS/pdf/OSV3N4.pdf]. (Ordained Servant — Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 80-96)

Ruling Elders and Sabbaticals

Rev. Brett McNeill and ruling elder Steve Ethridge of Reformation Presbyterian Church, Olympia, WA, talk about the work of ruling elders before, during, and after a pastor’s sabbatical. Information on the Committee on Ministerial Care’s grant can be found here [https://opccmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Sabbatical-Grant-Application-2025.pdf], and their policy example (Appendix A) can be found here [https://opccmc.org/sabbatical-guidelines/]. Brett’s reflections on his sabbatical can be found here [https://opccmc.org/my-sabbatical-a-pastors-experience/]. The CMC’s video is available here [https://opccmc.org/an-overview-of-sabbaticals-2/]. Brett’s recommended books. * Paul Tripp, Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do (Crossway, 2015, 2025). * Gerhard Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518 (Eerdmans, 1997). * Zach Eswine, Sensing Jesus: Life and Ministry as a Human Being (Crossway: 2013) or The Imperfect Pastor: Discovering Joy in Our Limitations through a Daily Apprenticeship with Jesus (Crossway, 2015) Steve’s recommended books * Steve Baugh, The Majesty on High: Introduction to the Kingdom of God in the New Testament (2017) * Octavius Winslow. Any title by Winslow.

The Shorter Catechism

Dr. Stephen Fix talks about John Thomson’s An Explication of the  Shorter Catechism. Thomson was an early American presbyterian who played an important part in American Presbyterian history. Dr. Fix is his seven-times great grandson. This work is important for two reasons, first, it is representative of Old Side  Presbyterianism during the first Great Awakening, and second, it is an excellent catechism on the catechism itself. Ruling elders will find the history just as helpful as the approach to explaining the catechism. John Thomson, An Explication of the Shorter Catechism, edited by Dr. S. A. Fix, with an introduction to John Thomson and his work. (Westminster Seminary Press 2025). For more information on Robert Letham on the Covenant of Redemption see his book The Westminster Assembly: Reading Its Theology in Historical Context, pp. 235-6, (and fn. 34.), P&R, 2009 Dr. Fix’s book recommendations. * The Bible. (Especially recommended is the Crossway ESV with Creeds and Confessions) * Zach Keele and Michael Brown, Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored (2nd Ed), Reformed Fellowship, Inc. 2019. (Available in Kindle) * Robert H. Thune, Gospel Eldership: Equipping a New Generation of Servant Leaders, New Growth Press, 2016

Blessed be the tie that binds...Seminaries and Ruling Elders

Dr. David Garner, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, talks about the relationship between seminary and church, focusing on how ruling elders and seminary professors can help the church thrive in godly knowledge and grace. You can read Dr. Garner's article “Strings Attached: The Church, The Seminary, and Abraham Kuyper’s Animating Ecclesiology” in the most recent Westminster Theological Journal, WTJ 87 (2025): 123-48. A video of the Krahe Lecture from April 2025, is available to watch online here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhVaDt4qAyg]. Dr. Garner’s recommended reading. * The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck, Westminster Seminary Press, 2020. * The Certainty of Faith by Herman Bavinck, Westminster Seminary Press, 2025. * A Word Fitly Spoken, A Theology of Communication by Aaron Garriott, Ligonier, 2025. * An Explication of the Shorter Catechism by John Thomson, Edited by S. A. Fix, Westminster Seminary Press, 2025.

Life in the Afternoon

In this episode of the Ruling Elder Podcast we review a new book by Christopher Ash, Not Old, Not Young, Not Done. Following Jesus in Your 50’s and 60’s. (The Good Book Company, 2025, 192 pages). Available in paperback and Ebook. Also recommended: * Derek Prime, A Good Old Age. An A to Z of Loving and Following the Lord Jesus in Later Years. (10Publishing, 2017) * J. I. Packer, Finishing our Course with Joy. Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging. (Crossway, 2014)