The Presbytery of Elizabeth is a governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which has the responsibility to tell everyone it can that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that through his life, death, and resurrection God has acted decisively to bring peace and reconciliation to all humankind. It fulfills this responsibility primarily through the life and work of the Presbyterian churches within its geographic boundaries. The Presbyterian Church is a representative democracy, with each area-wide Presbytery functioning as the collective bishop: All the ministers serving its churches are members of the Presbytery; each congregation nominates one or more elders to represent it, with full voting rights, at a Presbytery meeting.

In addition to its work of preaching, teaching, healing, and compassionate acting through congregations, the Presbytery of Elizabeth shares its financial and human resources with a regional body called the Synod and a national body called the General Assembly. Locally, it also witnesses to Jesus as Lord and Savior by working with and through other organizations and missions.