This week’s article was prepared by Conejo member, Chris Stivers
Sunday, August 23, is the last day to submit the names of men and women whom you feel would serve well as leaders of this congregation. If you are a member here, I encourage you to participate in this process, prayerfully considering the Biblical passages noted in the recent email from our current elders. These speak to the character and responsibilities of those called to lead. Be thinking about your experience with members of this church and how they might lovingly respond to the needs of this church family.
It might be helpful to consider what our church leaders actually do. As a former elder I can tell you they spend time together in prayer and discussion about our members’ individual and family concerns as well as concerns about the church as a whole. They deal with very personal matters and complex issues. Even when discussing mundane topics their focus is on how such things serve our congregation, the community, and beyond. They monitor our teaching for Biblical integrity and for meeting current congregational needs.
A preacher friend of mine at another congregation tells a story about how his elders wrestled with an issue: they had members who would not serve communion because they couldn’t afford clothes nice enough to stand up front behind the church’s beautifully hand-carved communion table. Those elders, not wanting anyone’s embarrassment to keep them from serving, decided to move the communion table to the back of the church so that the servers could start serving from there. When they announced this planned change to the congregation, my preacher friend noticed that one of their senior women looked down and began to cry. Obviously, something was wrong, so after service he sat with her and asked about it. She told him that her deceased husband had built and carved that communion table with wood from an oak tree felled when clearing the land to build that church. Since her husband’s passing the table had been a weekly reminder of him, his love for that church, and their long history as members.
We’ve experienced similar moments here at Conejo where solutions aren’t always clear or expedient, and solving one problem can create another. The elders’ letter highlighted several significant matters they’ve dealt with recently. I again encourage all members to participate in the nomination process, looking for men and women who are mature, God-centered, and led by the Spirit.
One more thing: if you feel good enough about someone to nominate them, you might consider telling them you did. Even if they would refuse a nomination or don’t receive enough mentions to move to the next phase of the process, your regard for that person could be an encouragement to them now and possibly lead them to desire this role in the future.
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