PRESBYTERY (ML. pre.sbyterium, from Gk. rpco-ftureptop, assembly of elders, from rim- in-epos, pr•esbytcros, elder). Generally, the body or class of presbyters or elders in the Christian churches taken collectively. More specifically, in the churches having a Presbyterian form ernment, it is one of a series of judicatories, ranking next above the session, the court of a local church, and below the synod (q.v.). The presbytery as an ecclesiastical judica tory is most completely developed in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. where its composition and pow ers are defined in the Form of Government as follows: "A i:resbytery consists of all minis ters, and one ruling elder for each congregation, within a certain district. The presbytery has power to receive and issue appeals from church sessions, and references brought before them in an orderly manner: to examine and license can didates for the holy ministry; to ordain, install, remove, and judge ministers; to examine and ap prove or censure the records of church sessions; to resolve questions of doctrine or discipline seri ously or reasonably proposed; to condemn er roneous opinions which injure the purity or peace of the Church; to visit particular churches for the purpose of inquiring into their state and re dressing the evils that may have arisen in them; to unite or divide congregations, at the request of the people, or to form and receive new congre gations; and in general to order whatever per tains to the spiritual welfare of the churches tinder their care." Such a presbytery corre
sponds to a classis in the Reformed churches. The name presbytery is also commonly applied in the Roman Catholic Church to the pastoral residence of the priest or priests of a parish.