| “How
do we become the church?” “How do we run the church?”
It is no secret that “The Church and Its Officers,”
chapter six of the Book of Order, and G-6.0106b in
particular, have been and continue to be part of a great moral
debate.
The concern of this set of study ideas addresses what happens
once you have been elected an elder or deacon. Early in chapter
six it states that all ministry, by all members and officers
alike, is to be patterned after the one who came “not
to be served but to serve” (Matt. 20:28).
The concept that has been overshadowed
by the later paragraphs is in the second section. “These
ordained officers differ from other members in function only.”
Since there are different forms of one ministry, elected officers’
functions will vary. If members of the session or board of deacons
are all doing the same thing, part of the ministry is most likely
being ignored. For example, if all the session is accomplishing
is running the church so that the doors are open on Sunday and
the bills are being paid, a significant aspect of the ministry
is not getting done, and the officers are not functioning as
those set apart.
Discovering answers to each of the following
questions should help officers discern their respective functions.
First, how do we become the church? Then, how do we run the
church?*
How do we become the church?
Consider having quarterly retreats.
The purpose of such “step apart
from the routine of leadership” mini-retreats is to focus
on being the body of Christ.
What is wrong with holding only one
officer-planning retreat or meeting per year? There is nothing
wrong with planning meetings. They are an absolute necessity
for stewards of time, talents, and treasure in a congregation.
Such meetings are key to the special functions to which we have
been ordained. However, how we nurture a church community in
the process of becoming the body of Christ will be in direct
proportion to how well we officers nurture ourselves. It is
for each one of us a lifelong growth experience. And it is true
that being called to special functions calls for special attention
to the nurturing required to fulfill those functions.
The Book of Order, G-7.0308,
explains that if there is a tie vote during a congregational
meeting, the motion is lost. The minister does not have a vote
in these meetings. This is a clear indication that becoming
the one true body is more important than winning a vote. If
a congregation is divided, it may still be able to do church
work, but it will not be the church. The leaders’ role,
be it during close vote, or dynamic new outreach, is to model
the spiritual well-being and unity a covenant community needs
to function as the body of Christ, the church.
*Consider these elements as you plan for
your mini-retreats.
Go somewhere for a few hours. Luke 9:10 says, “He took
them with him and withdrew privately. . .” Often meeting
in the church fellowship hall on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon
is a place away. Personally, I find a need to get out of my
office where reminders of all the things I have to do can prevent
me from focusing on that one important subject, my spiritual
growth. So if a college, seminary, or camp is not close enough
to provide private space, consider a neighboring church for
your mini-retreats.
What do you do at a mini-retreat? The
Office of Spiritual Formation has produced a very useable workbook
titled Lord, Teach Us to Pray—A Guide to Prayer.
Read!! This is not a prayer resource on how to keep your eyes
closed for a three-hour mini-retreat without falling asleep!
We know the disciples had a lot of trouble when they tried to
do that in the garden with Jesus. This resource has articles
that can serve as the basis for conversation about the faith
dimensions of our lives, and it suggests practical approaches
to use in personal and group settings.
The workbook contains such suggestions
as “how to pray the newspaper” to “how discernment
or prayerful decision making can occur.” It introduces
the availability of daily discipline through the “Order
of Elders” and the “Company of Pastors.” It
includes ancient, and introduces fresh, ways to explore the
living Word in Scripture. Each section of the resource has articles
for reflection and practical applications the group can experience
and consider together.
*How do we run the church?
The answer becomes clearer when we know what we have been called
to be.
The order of the being and doing questions
is intentional. How we do things in the church is determined
by our purpose for being the church.
The definition of management in the
Book of Order, G-9.0401, explains the importance of
this ordering: G-9.0402a—”Mission determines the
form of structure and administration. All structures should
enable the church to give effective witness to the Lordship
of Christ in the contemporary world.”
The mission for “the particular
church” is clearly listed in G-7.0102. Achieve a clear
vision of the mission. Then set goals, define budgeting priorities,
and determine how and where to involve the resource people who
will “do” the ministry. Secular management practices
that are the talents of certain officers can help make the ministry
happen.
The volume and scope of work that needs
to be done can dominate the meetings of the session and the
board of deacons. Officers may experience burnout, finding reasons
to miss the regular meetings; all too often the witness of individuals
and the work of the boards suffer. A mini-retreat each quarter
may be just the source of the spiritual nourishment your church’s
officers need to function as ordained members. |
