Membership and Covenant Commitment in the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian services for key life events—including Baptism, Marriage, and Memorial services—are provided as part of the church’s covenant responsibility to its members. The Book of Order defines the nature of this relationship, asserting that these services are specific acts of nurture and shepherding for those who have officially joined the church family by making a public profession of faith (or through being baptized as an infant of a professing member). Services like Marriage and Funerals are extended to members and their immediate families in recognition of this shared commitment, as the entire community pledges to support them in faith and life. The Book of Common Worship provides the prayers and liturgies that fulfill this covenant duty of spiritual care.
Spiritual Shepherding and the Role of Elders
The foundational principle of spiritual care is rooted in the offices of leadership, specifically the Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders (Ministers), who are charged with nurturing the flock.
“It is the duty of the eldership to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation.” (Book of Order, G-2.0301)
This mandate ensures that the spiritual leaders of the church have the primary responsibility of accompanying and guiding members through every phase of life.
Baptism: A Sign of Incorporation into Christ
Baptism is the definitive service of entrance into the covenant community. The service emphasizes God’s grace and the community’s commitment to the newly baptized.
“Baptism is the sign and seal of God’s grace and of our incorporation into Christ and into the church. All Christians are called to be faithful stewards of the gospel and ministers of God’s grace.” (Book of Common Worship, On Baptism)
The service includes an explicit pledge by the congregation, highlighting the communal commitment to care for the baptized individual:
“Do you, as members of the church of Christ, promise to guide and nurture this child [or person] by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging them to know and follow Christ and to be faithful members of his church?” (BCW, Service of Baptism, Promises by the Congregation)
Marriage Services: A Gift of Grace and Mutual Vows
The Presbyterian service views marriage as a gift from God and a solemn, publicly witnessed covenant between two people that the community pledges to support. The minister officiates under the church’s authority, underscoring its role in the relationship.
“God established marriage for the procreation of children and for the mutual joy, help, and comfort which husband and wife render to one another, in singleness of heart, through the hallowing of God’s grace.” (BCW, Service for the Celebration of Marriage, Introduction)
The importance of the community’s shepherding is reinforced by the BCW‘s instruction for the worship leader to address the attendees:
“The community of faith is called to support them in their commitment and to surround them with prayer.” (BCW, Service for the Celebration of Marriage, Charge to the Couple and Congregation)
Memorial & Funeral Services: Bearing the Burden of Grief
The funeral or memorial service is a profound act of spiritual shepherding, offering the hope of the Resurrection to those experiencing the pain of loss and commending the deceased to God’s care.
“We commit the mortal remains of our sister [or brother] to the dust, trusting in the promise of the resurrection… May God receive us all and sustain us with the promise of eternal life.” (BCW, Service for the Burial of the Dead/Memorial Service, Committal)
The primary pastoral function is to provide comfort through liturgy and Scripture:
“When we gather for a funeral or memorial service, our primary purpose is to remember the life of the deceased, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to offer comfort and hope to the bereaved family and friends.” (BCW, Notes on the Service for the Burial of the Dead)
Columbarium Placement: Resting in the Household of Faith
The establishment of a columbarium on church grounds is an extension of this shepherding for the deceased’s family, providing a sacred, familiar place for remembrance and rest.
“A columbarium is a place of sacred rest, often provided by the church as a final resting place for the cremated remains of church members. It provides a means by which the church may continue its ministry of comfort and care for those who grieve, and allows the deceased to remain within the community of the faithful, the ‘household of faith,’ in perpetuity.”