Shepherd Leadership Team Nominations
CPC Church Family,
The Apostle Paul tells us, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
The church is much more than a weekly gathering place. Here we are ministered to by Jesus through a connection so intimate that the scripture calls the church the very body of Christ! Our Lord has deemed that Elders will shepherd us in His name. Those called to this position serve according to divinely inspired qualifications, which Paul details in Timothy 3:1-17.
[1] The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. [2] Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3] not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. [4] He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [5] for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? [6] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Our own Book of Church Order instructs Elders to “visit the people at their homes, especially the sick. They should instruct the ignorant, comfort the mourner, nourish and guard the children of the Church. They should set a worthy example to the flock entrusted to their care by their zeal to evangelize the unconverted, make disciples, and demonstrate hospitality. All those duties which private Christians are bound to discharge by the law of love are especially incumbent upon them by divine vocation, and are to be discharged as official duties. They should pray with and for the people, being careful and diligent in seeking the fruit of the preached Word among the flock.” (BCO 8-3)
The office of Elder is one of God’s wonderful graces bestowed upon His church. Answering the call requires serious consideration and prayer.
God created men and women to work alongside one another, serving in different roles and using their varied gifts for the glory of God and the good of the church. To that end, our church has appointed a Women’s Leadership Team to assist the Elders in shepherding the congregation. The women on this team should have an abiding love for Christ and His people that manifests itself in a deep desire to help the people of God flourish and a longing for their neighbors and friends to know the grace of Jesus.
On Sunday July 27th at our Congregational Meeting we will accept nominations for those who would serve as Elders and on the Women’s Leadership Team. Over the coming weeks, please prayerfully consider whom the Lord would call from within our congregation to serve in these ways. Nominations will be followed by a season of preparation for those nominated. Those called to the office of Elder will then be set before the congregation for election and those called to serve on the Women’s Leadership Team for appointment to their roles.
Praise God for His provision for our church and His infinite grace through our Elders and Women’s Leadership Team.
Mike