Modern governments use majority rule elections to peacefully replace their leadership. How does your faith replace its religious leaders?

First, let me clarify who the “religious leaders” are in a Reformed/Presbyterian church. There are pastors, or teaching elders, and ruling elders. The pastor labors specifically in preaching and teaching, and he and the ruling elders together are the spiritual leaders and authorities in a congregation.

Pastors of a congregation are chosen and formally called by the congregation and examined by the presbytery, a body made up of the pastor and elders in a geographic region, to be sure that the man meets the biblical qualifications for the office and can demonstrate serviceable knowledge of the Bible and its doctrines. If successful, he is then ordained and installed to the office of pastor.

Ruling elders go through a similar process on a local scale; nominated by someone in the congregation; he is examined, undergoes a time of training and testing, and is then elected by the members of the local congregation.