Here is, I think, an unhelpful / misleading depiction of the Presbyterian form of government (Grudem, Systematic Theology):
not so good
Here is, I think, a better one:
better
The (one) church is ruled by (all) its elders.
The local assembly of elders is called the “Session”, the regional assembly of elders is called the “Presbytery” and the national assembly is called “General Assembly” – but none of these is an entity per se, and none are ‘higher’ than the other per se. The larger assemblies of elders have greater authority simply because they are what they are - larger assemblies of elders. Or, if you like, they are higher only because they are broader.
My diagram is better because the regional ’presbytery’ and national ‘general assembly’ have no essentially different kind power than any local session – they are simply greater assemblies of elders. It is a difference of degree, not kind: there are more of them meeting together. They’re simply elders whether meeting locally, regionally, or nationally. And, my diagram is better, I suggest, because I start with the one church, instead of with the many, particular churches.
Thoughts and questions are most welcome.
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I like yours better for the reasons you list. They are good emphasis(pl) that grudem’s diagram misses. Also I think his version has it wrong in a couple of other senses as well…
I don’t want to do away with his diagram entirely, but I do want to turn it on its head. As it stands it looks far too romish or episcopal. As it stands it looks hierarchical, which you point out is not helpful. And while there is a greater authority, it is an authority in service, and so while ruling, the elders are actually beneath the congregation, serving and protecting them. And so the diagram should be turn on its head, the church at the top with the GA at the bottom and Christ himself below as the foundation (and also atop as the head, but that’s a separate emphasis).
The other issue I would take is from the perspective of church discipline, one of the main reasons why there is such a thing as polity at all. And in that regard i would replace the congregation with the individual, the local session below him, then presby, and ga. Each individual in the church is afforded the full gamet of the church courts, appealing to broader, and therefore wiser, ‘judges’.
So instead of portraying presby polity like that of rome, a single entity ruling over more and more as they go down the diagram, it is instead the individual believer (or church) at the top being served by more and more men as necessary.
I cant draw a picture on my phone so i hope the description is adequate. ^_^