What Do Elders Do? An Invitation to Dialogue

Paul distinguishes between elders who “direct the affairs of the church” and those who have the added role of “preaching and teaching” (1 Tim. 5:17, NIV).   Earlier, he devotes a chapter to the qualities of an overseer, his wife, and a deacon, and gives a similar list in his letter to Titus.  Peter charges elders to “be shepherds of God’s flock,” detailing the manner in which it should be done (1 Peter 5:1-4), and Paul warns the elders from Ephesus of the dangers for which they must be vigilant (Acts 20:28-31). 

As pastors in His church, you have probably wrestled with these verses not only for yourself but for your church leaders.  We would like to hear what you have learned.

The focus on the next year of Regional Lead Networks will be “Multiplying Leaders.”  We will seek to build on the healthy leader teachings of the last three years, but with the important dimension of your study and experience.  In the next few weeks, we will be seeking your input on some fundamental questions, which we trust will help us map out how we approach the next three RLN’s. 

We ask you to forward to us any teachings or curriculums, whether your own or that of another, that you have used and that you recommend on the subject of elder and church leader training and multiplication to health@sedcma.org.

And, to start the dialogue, would you take a moment to thoughtfully respond to this question:  In God’s design for the church, what do elders do?  Practically, what does that look like?  Click on “Comments” below, and join the dialogue.   

Thanks!

Chuck, Alfredo, and Harris 

Why Emphasize Membership?

Several weeks ago, a pastor wrote me after finishing a nominating committee meeting, frustrated over finding willing and able members to serve.  He asked some key questions on membership, which I tried to answer from my heart and experiences.   I would be interested in your input on how I responded (below), and what you might add to the conversation on these two questions.

1.     What is the purpose of membership?

Membership in the local church is like a marriage.  Involvement with a body of believers should include a commitment.  The commitment says “God has led me to be a part of this local church.”  It is the recognition of 1 Cor. 12:18 for my life… that He has placed me here according to His will.  This is where I am supposed to serve and glorify Christ.  This commitment to a local church says I belong here, and I will not flee when things do not go well.  It says I am under the authority of the leaders of the church, and includes permission for biblical discipline of me according to the agreed upon Uniform Policy.  It also says that I believe what the C&MA has discerned to be Biblical orthodoxy, with the life changing emphasis of Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King, and am thus at least doctrinally qualified to teach/serve in this church.  It says that I want to be a part of the worldwide outreach of the C&MA, and I accept that calling with my prayers and resources.  I could go on, as I have started to preach now.   I once compared attending a church without membership as a couple living together without the commitment of marriage.  I got in trouble for that, but I think there are many dangerous similarities.

2.     We say that members have privileges, but really, members have more responsibilities because they can be tagged to hold a position whereas if they didn’t become members, they would never be asked!

The privileges of membership can easily be diluted if we do not make the clear distinction of members.  I prefer to talk about “membership meetings” rather than “congregational meetings.”  I would seek to make the membership meetings a time of family gathering, not just business.  Have food, introduce new people, and highlight what God is doing in their lives.  Perhaps have quarterly membership meetings with food, a challenge or program, special training, updates in what God is doing in the church, or an inside track to the pastor and his heart.  Tell them your plans for the future, your next series of messages, or some special insights into your ministry.  I would not welcome any non-members (adherents is a sterile word, how about “friends”?) to these.  When the annual meeting comes, I would make it a very special time of recognition and celebration.  Voting on leaders should be a sacred moment, bathed in prayer.  I think we need to control the meeting so that it does not get hijacked into non-missional issues of salaries or some disgruntled members issues.  I digressed.  Other ways that you can elevate membership is to send an email quarterly to your members thanking them, asking them to pray, introducing new friends in the church, etc.  Also, sign all your members up for aLife… its free and its missional! 

May I challenge you on the word “responsibility”?  Responsibility is a privilege that every member of the body of Christ should welcome.  If someone doesn’t want to serve at all, they might not be saved!  Responsibility becomes a burden when, for whatever reason, we lose sight of the goal.  Some tasks might need to be abandoned in order to simplify matters and keep sight of the goal.  My pet peeve was requiring membership and election of those who were responsible for maintenance of a facility.  Why does that require membership?  We need many entry points for our church friends to serve, as well.

Where Is Our Margin?

“On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and he rested...” Genesis 2:2b NKJV

Where is our margin? Some say, my schedule or the demands of ministry does not allow margin in my life. What is margin anyway? Margin is the necessary pause or rest needed in every ones life. It is “breathing room”. God teaches this to us in the creation account with the seventh day rest. God created margin but often our motives push us to go beyond the natural margin God intended for us. The result is we fall into a trap that results in overwhelming stress and even burnout. The underlying question is do we recognize the signs of accumulated stress and do we know ourselves well enough to see the warning signs? I think the answer is we do not.

The Winter Olympics, which we watched just a few months ago, illustrates this for us. Imagine you are in the cross country ski race, 50 kilometers. For those of you who have trouble with the metric system, it is a long ways! As you race you think you are ahead of your competitors, only to discover after you have given your last kick or spurt of energy, you are being overtaken. There is nothing left as other racers go by, what a discouraging feeling that must be.

We are overtaken by the accumulation of added activities, late nights, mixed motives with the result that we seem surprised when we come to the end of our energy. This sudden overtaking if we could only see was not sudden at all. It had accumulated overtime and we did not see the warning signs. It is hard to see the total affects when you are in the middle of the race of life, or the chaos that surrounds it. Lets look at some of the safeguards that allows us to see it coming and enables us to serve long, serve faithfully and serve with joy.

Consider these safeguards...

1. Never say it will not happen to you. That is the first step toward being blindsided by ministry stress.
2. Listen to your trusted friends beginning with your spouse. They will see the signs before you do. Give them permission to speak into your life.
3. Actually rest: remember the Sabbath principle of a pause. A change of pace, actual rest. Don’t be afraid of taking your day off. Your vacation, etc.
4. Are you resting in Jesus while you are working for Jesus? The reason we work is for His glory and the way we work is with His power and His pattern. Yes His pattern was to rest. Are we following in His steps?
5. Check your expectations: Are our expectations in ministry from God or from another source? Are they from your peers? From your own lack of self worth? From people in your church? From your parents?
6. Work right, work smart. Keeping margin in your life is not an excuse for not working hard, it is the way we work right with the end in mind so that we can finish well to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is being focused on priorities instead of just being busy.

Chuck Hughes
District Superintendent

I Miss Hearing Scripture in Church

In the tradition in which I was raised, we would stand in the sanctuary while long passages of the Bible were being read. Sometimes we would all read it together along with the pastor, and sometimes we read it responsively. It was monotone, without a whole lot of conviction. Even so, there are certain passages that have been with me since childhood.

I notice today that many of our worship services do not include Scripture readings, and I miss it.

I am concerned that we are missing out on a source of power and blessing by not having formal Scripture readings as a regular part of our worship. Paul instructs Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Tim. 4:13). Some discount the first of the three things that we are to be devoted to, perhaps rationalizing that we’ll hear verses in the message. One may say that, in contrast to the first century, we are now literate and there are plenty of bibles around.

There is power in God’s Word. It does not return void. It is profitable. Jesus used it against the devil, and it is our sword of the Spirit.

Too many pastors have turned over worship to musicians who do not appreciate the power of the Word. They can put a song set together, and intersperse it with vague comments and simple prayers. How much more meaningful would be a verse that amplifies the message of the song, or vice versa. What about a well placed responsive reading emphasizing essential truths, or a reading in unison of a classic passage? Such exercises fit in any service, no matter what the style. And they speak to the spirit of the worshipper.

And we are told to devote ourselves to it.

What do you think? Am I wrong here? What have you seen or done in public scripture readings that works?

Harris Campbell

Assistant District Superintendent

Southeastern District, C&MA