Members, therefore, may speak in its name only if authorized to do so. The Presbyterian Church in America does not have synods. Some smaller Presbyterian bodies do not have general assemblies but call their top courts, the synod. The ruling elder representatives to meetings of the presbytery and synod are elected by the session and not by the congregation. While ruling elder are members of the congregation, ministers are not.
Ministers are members of the presbytery.
One notable exception at this time is the Presbyterian Church in America whose General Assembly consists of all the ministers and elders from every church in proportion to size. In the Presbyterian Church U.S., commissioners are elected by the presbyteries in proportion to size, one minister and one ruling elder for each 5,000 communicant members counting all the churches in the presbytery. Presbyteries have the power to receive and issue appeals, complaints and references brought before them in an orderly manner. Presbyteries also have the power to review the records of sessions and to require them to observe the constitution of the church. The presbytery ordains ministers, installs them as pastors and dissolves the pastoral relationship under appropriate circumstances.