What Is a Presbyterian—and Why Does Presbyterian Government Matter?

28 snips

Mar 20, 2026

Ben Ratliff, associate pastor and Polity Matters co-host, and Matthew Adams, senior pastor and writer, discuss Presbyterian identity and church government. They explore plurality and parity of elders. They unpack presbyteries, general assemblies, overtures, and connectional accountability. They compare PCA, OPC, and URCNA cultures and offer practical steps for active involvement.

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INSIGHT

Grassroots Is Not Congregationalism

Grassroots Presbyterianism values local voice but does not locate authority in the congregation alone.
Matt Adams warns grassroots practice has sometimes become functional congregationalism, especially on issues like commissioned female deacons and Lord's Supper methods.

INSIGHT

Overtures Show Grassroots Participation

Overtures are a distinctive grassroots mechanism to propose constitutional change and address denominational issues.
The PCA's high overture count reflects its cultural tendency to use bottom-up petitions to the General Assembly.

ANECDOTE

Women Deacons Were A Quota Story

Matt Adams recounts PCUS history where top-down rules forced temporary women deacons so churches could meet quotas to leave.
That episode shaped PCA emphasis on grassroots connectionalism to avoid bureaucratic overreach.

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What is a Presbyterian? Is Presbyterianism merely a style of church government, or is it a coherent biblical and theological system? In this episode we welcome Matthew Adams and Ben Ratliff for a lively conversation on Presbyterian identity, church government, and why polity still matters.

The discussion begins with Matt Adams's article, "Grassroots Presbyterianism ≠ Congregationalism," and expands into a broader exploration of Presbyterian ecclesiology. Along the way, the panel considers plurality and parity of elders, the role of presbyteries and general assemblies, the importance of connectionalism, and the ways accountability serves the peace, purity, and unity of the church.

They also reflect on differences in ecclesial culture among the PCA, OPC, and URCNA, discuss overtures and church courts, and offer practical encouragement for ordinary church members who want to be active, faithful Presbyterians in their local congregations.

Matthew Adams serves as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina. A native of Dillon County, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Christian Counseling from Liberty University and an M.Div. from Erskine Theological Seminary, and he is pursuing doctoral studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Adams serves as a council member for the Gospel Reformation Network and co-hosts the podcast Larger for Life.

Ben Ratliff serves as Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Belhaven University and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson in 2013. Before coming to Cleveland, he served at Providence PCA in Salisbury, Maryland, and later at churches in south Mississippi. Ratliff is also a co-host of the podcast Polity Matters, where helps lead conversations on Presbyterian polity and church government.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:49 Why Presbyterian government matters
03:12 Grassroots Presbyterianism is not congregationalism
08:56 Why the confusion persists
11:02 Different Presbyterian cultures: PCA, OPC, and URCNA
14:25 Overtures, church courts, and how change happens
22:27 What Presbyterianism is
25:50 Plurality, parity, and connectionalism
32:48 Accountability, freedom, and the well-being of the church
39:27 How church members can participate
48:36 Polity Matters, Larger for Life, and final thoughts

Participants: Ben Ratliff, Camden Bucey, Matt Adams