A congregation is organized on the basis of the standards of the Reformed Presbyterian Church and in conformity with its law and order. A fully organized congregation is made up of a group of members with a session of elders for the oversight of the congregation and a board of deacons responsible chiefly for the ministry of mercy and stewardship. Presbyteries are directed to exercise due care and diligence to see that both sessions and boards of deacons are duly chosen, ordained and established in every congregation under their care. All ordained officers shall be chosen by vote of the congregation, and every communicant member shall have an equal voice in such choice. Children of communicant members of the Church, in consequence of their covenant relationship, shall receive baptism, pastoral care and instruction, and are baptized members of the Church, but are not to be admitted to the Lord's Supper until they have reached years of understanding and have voluntarily professed their faith in Christ and assumed for themselves the vows and obligations of the Covenant of Church Membership.
Baptized members have no vote in the congregational meetings.
Persons, not members of the congregation, who regularly attend the services, participate in the worship, and contribute to the support are known as adherents. They have no vote in the congregational meetings. In many states or provinces, congregations are required to have a Board of Trustees in whom the title of the church property is vested and who represent the congregation in all legal matters. The Board shall be elected from the membership of the congregation and shall have no duties beyond those necessary to fulfill the legal requirements. For efficiency in handling its affairs, the membership and officers of the Board of Trustees may be identical with or chosen from the Board of Deacons.