The Lord Jesus Christ has clothed His Church with power and authority. This authority is vested in the whole membership of the Church, which has a right to choose its officers from among those of its own members who possess the scriptural qualifications.

Christ has appointed in His Word a particular form of government for the visible church. It is government by elders (Greek: presbyters) and is therefore called presbyterian. Each congregation should be ruled by a session of ordained elders, elected by the membership of the congregation.

RP Testimony, 25.6 & 25.7