Fourth, many non-profit and for-profit boards are put together in the light of tasks that need to be done. So an accountant is recruited for the financial task, a carpenter for facilities management, a public relations person for handling media, etceteras. While Paul says that different spiritual gifts are like different body parts, this is brought up for the church as a whole rather than for a session. In fact, notice that in Romans 12:8 there is the gift of leadership. The session is built around the leadership task not around specific organizational tasks.
Fifth, the gift of leadership prompts me to suggest this differentiation for nominating committees: needed to qualify, required to play, must have to win. Needed to qualify is that the committee should not consider unless this minimum is in the candidate’s life. Required to play is that the committee should not consider this person seriously unless these additional qualities are present. Must have to win refers to those qualities which would lead a nominating committee to make a candidate a finalist. I would suggest that being a Christian or being nice does not qualify a person for consideration. The person rather must be, in addition to being a Christian, growing spiritually and involved regularly in the life of the congregation and ministry to the world. To play, the requirements would be that he or she is balanced, is leading in the church somewhere somehow, attends, gives, and has vision. To win a place on the final slate he or she must have a spiritual gift for leading, be generous of spirit (this is a sign of grace and faith operating in a person’s life), and be confirmed by the Spirit to the group in prayer.
Staff members, their spouses, and the spouses of current elders are not eligible. On occasion, someone from the nominating committee itself is suggested. The issue here is whether the committee can, after having that person recluse him or herself from the discussion, still have that person re-enter and in the voting time be truly turned down. The committee will have to decide about this should it come up.
Sixth, sometimes it comes across to me in organizations and in the PCUSA that we should be following a quota system. We need a young person, a person from the women’s ministries, a person who is very denominational and another who is not, and so on. I don’t subscribe to that as our reality. What I see in scripture is a priority on the quality of spiritual maturity. After that, I see in scripture also, that we are to seek balance in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, and other socio-economic factors. I do not believe that spiritual maturity or the gift of spiritual leadership is limited by gender or age or race or economics.
Seventh, beware of people with low self-esteem, a need for prominence or power, and a stingy-ness of heart. Not that these are not true of all of us from time to time but these conditions as prevailing in a person’s make-up leads to competitiveness, criticalness, and a “tightness” that are harmful to the well-being of the church. And, pay attention to any inner concerns you may have regarding a candidate’s moral integrity.
Sometimes someone will nominate a person with the thought that this will help them become involved or mature spiritually. They should already be at that point.
Look around at who’s doing what. Most of the time spiritually mature people are not un-involved wall flowers. No, they are already showing love and doing stuff. Sometimes that makes them look busy and we don’t want to burden them. Well, a lot of time busy people know how to get stuff done. And a lot of time what’s being asked of them is more strategic than what they are doing and they should trade the less strategic contribution for the more. And let’s err on the side of asking them and letting them answer for them rather than us answer for them.
You make some very good point. I agree with you on all of them, I just could have elquant(sp). Pastor Jeff I think you are doing good things for CPC, and helping turn it in the right directions. I wish I could say I have a good excuse for not coming, but I don't. But I do make a promise, when I get back fro NC on the 8th of September I am going to at least try to visit the church once a month and get my heart and soul back into coming to CPC. I do miss the people there and especially the children/ Dpn't know if you even know who I am but I use to do Children sermons and Children Church at least once a month. I was the chairperson for the 50th anniversary. You still remind me of a Southern Baptist minister. By the way my name is Jan Willis, the one who help get over 125 volunteers for the 2012 PW Gathering that happen in July.
ReplyDeleteJan, I remember well who you are and have been missing you. I realize, however, you said you were out of town. I have been glad to see someone reading the posts and responding. Way2go!! I'll look for you when you get back. Let's keep talking. J
DeleteI have to say what you say about being an elder is very true and you don't beat around the brush. You are right about asking people who are already doing so much. One of the big probles we have our age group. At one time I thought it would be neat to start a cafe for the youth in to hang out at. I believe there are people in the neighborhood that need us, we just have to think out of the box. I would as a GAL Guaridain Ad Lietem so nothing surprises me about people. You just can't expect them to live your standard at home. This I mean on how the house looks. I have never been real good with the bible and giving bible study, but thing I do I do from the heart. I work good on committee and enjoy helping people. I know with my mother their is a need to help the elderly, as I have been my mom's main caregiver for almost 20 years, even though she still live in her own home for acouple more months.
ReplyDeleteI will also let you know I don't mind doing Childen sermons again or even children church, I just need to know when I am needed. This is the first time I have really blog but I do enjoy reading your blogs
Janet, I applaud you working from the heart, serving others, and wanting Cocoa Pres to minister understandint that everyone is at a different place. Let's talk about children's stuff when you get back, ok? And as I am fond to remember, "The only one I don't want thinking outside the box is my cat with respect to his litterbox!" Everyone else, yes!
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