We elect and ordain qualified Ministers of the Word and Sacraments to serve as our primary preaching and teaching officers. They do not, however, possess greater executive authority than other elders in our church. Rather, our congregation is governed pastorally by a board of nine local elders who are assisted by seven deacons. To serve in church office, men must first meet the biblical requirements and be elected by the congregation. We have transparent, accountable financial policies and report regularly to the church.

Learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and requirements of elders and deacons.

Rev. Michael Spotts

senior Minister of Word & Sacraments

Pastor Spotts first heard the Gospel at age ten, through Christian radio. The Lord moved him to call in and order a children’s Bible which he began studying on his own. Mercifully, his parents came to faith not long after and their family began attending an Evangelical church. Michael’s aspirations for ministry lead to an undergraduate degree in Biblical Theology and mission work in Australia and on Catalina Island.

For ten years, he owned and operated businesses related to photography and design. In 2012, he enrolled at Westminster Seminary in California, where he earned a Masters of Divinity. Rev. Spotts was ordained as our Associate Minister in 2017 and then made Senior Minister in 2021. Michael has served as Stated Clerk of Classis Southwest U.S. and is currently on the Classical Committee for Pastoral Care. He and his wife have three children. His other interests include camping, woodwork, and astronomy.

Rev. Chris Smith

Associate Minister of Word & Sacraments

Chris comes from a broadly Evangelical background. He transitioned into Reformed churches in his early twenties before attending seminary. in 2022, he received dual Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees from Westminster Seminary California. His an undergraduate degree is in History.

Elders

Roles — The duties belonging to the office of elder consist of continuing in prayer and ruling the church of Christ according to the principles taught in Scripture, in order that purity of doctrine and holiness of life may be practiced. They shall see to it that their fellow-elders, the minister(s) and the deacons faithfully discharge their offices. They are to maintain the purity of the Word and Sacraments, assist in catechizing the youth, promote God-centered schooling, visit the members of the congregation according to their needs, engage in family visiting, exercise discipline in the congregation, actively promote the work of evangelism and missions, and ensure that everything is done decently and in good order.

Requirements — The qualifications of the elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

The apostle Paul repeats these qualifications in his letter to Titus. “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:6–9).

PURC ELDER FACTS

We currently have six lay elders.

Their combined experience in office is over 100 years.

Pastor

• Rev. Michael Spotts
  (M.Div., Westminster Seminary in California, 2016)

Roles — Pastors are equal in authority with other elders, but shoulder the vocational burdens of ministry. Their duties consist of continuing in prayer and in the ministry of the Word, administering the sacraments, catechizing the youth, and assisting the elders in the shepherding and discipline of the congregation. They also evangelize, disciple, and counsel.

Requirements — As Elders, Pastors must possess the same character attributes as ruling elders described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Additionally, prior to ordination, the URCNA requires candidates to pass an extensive public examination that shows their competence in biblical languages, homiletics, theology, history, counseling, and other areas.

PURC PASTOR FACTS

Previously, Rev. Spotts participated in foreign missions in Australia and worked in commercial photography.

Deacons