For
Choosing Best Candidates
The most recent edition of the Lutheran Witness, our Synod's official publication, offers an insightful article on the Presidential vote. This edition of the Pastor's Page does not. I refer you to the Witness for presidential politics.
I'd like to discuss with you an upcoming election that in many ways is even more critical.
On November 21, our congregation will meet for its semi-annual assembly. We'll hear reports, approve our ministry spending plan for 2005, and we'll elect five new members of our board of Directors. It is the Board's task to lead us forward in our mission of sharing the saving love of Christ. that makes it an election that has consequences far beyond the economy and the war against terrorism. It's about the war against a more terrible enemy, Satan.
God has called us to a mission with eternal consequences for the people in our community. The leadership is critical. It has been a privilege of mine to work with dedicated, passionate people on our church board these past years. I feel as strongly as even, maybe even more so, about the need for the very best to rise to the top of our church leadership as we move faithfully, boldly, creatively and courageously into the future of God's kingdom work.
I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect with me on our upcoming election and I hope you will keep this important matter before the Lord in prayer in the coming weeks.
Nominations
According to our constitution, our Vice-President is to call together a nominating committee for this task. At our meeting this week, before listing names of potential candidates, Vice-President Les Stroh led the committee, Jennifer Cross, Bev Garnant and Carol Moses, through a careful and scripturally grounded discussion of the qualifications and expectations of church leaders. I list those here for three reasons.
First, I want you to make informed, Spirit-led choices for church leaders. The entire committee invites you to join us in prayer that God will lead us to those people who humbly and by the grace of God meet these requirements. And we want you to join us in prayer that God the Holy Spirit will guide our election process.
Second, I want those of you who are approached by the nominating committee this week to consider them carefully, but in the knowledge that we are all praying for you.
And third, I want the entire congregation informed about our expectations so that you might consider where you should be growing in Christian discipleship as God may be leading you into future leadership in his church.
Now the lists.
Qualifications
In searching for leaders to serve on the Board of
Directors of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, we take into consideration the
following “qualifications.”
Servant Heart: cares
first about those who are lost and those who are in need of the love and
support of their church.
Spiritual Disciplines: consistently practices those things that help one grow in
faith.
Prayer:
believes God is active among us and that He hears and responds to the prayers
of His people.
Word: believes
that God speaks and that if we seek His will for our church, He will show it to
us.
Worship: seeks
communion with God through personal and corporate worship.
Tithing: commits
to the church's ministry as evidenced by first-fruits, proportionate giving.
Visionary Leadership: able and eager to be a part of a vision community that will
come along side the Pastor to see God’s will for our future ministry.
Team Player: believes
that “together everyone achieves more” and who is willing to sacrifice
personally for the growth of the church.
Willingness to Follow God: believes that God is active among His people and is willing
to follow His direction
Passion for the Mission: fully committed to “sharing the love of Christ that
transforms ordinary people into extraordinary servants.”
When considering the responsibility and role of those
giving leadership to the congregation, we anticipate attention to the following
“expectations.”
Spiritual Disciplines: sets a leadership example in those practices that help one
grow faith.
Prayer:
believes God is active among us and that He hears and responds to the prayers
of His people.
Word: believes
that God speaks and that if we seek His will for our church, He will show it to
us.
Worship: seeks
communion with God through personal and corporate worship.
Tithing: commits
to the church's ministry as evidenced by first-fruits, proportionate giving.
Attendance: regularly
attends all meetings of the Board and the Congregation Assembly
Active Participation: actively participates in the discussion and decision making
processes of the Board.
Represent the Entire Congregation: strives to represent the views of the entire congregation
and not of one particular point of view or the view of any “special interest”
group.
Unity with Leadership: supports the direction set by the Board once an issue has
been thoroughly discussed and a decision made.
Gift-Oriented Ministry: has completed or is willing to complete the Gifts Oriented
Ministry discovery process.
Engaged in Ministry: uses gifts in ministry efforts, other than Program Board
leadership, beyond the role of Board member.
Listening: listens
to the voice of God through the hopes and dreams of the members.
While this list of qualifications and expectations seems rather imposing, it is not at all impossible. There is no suggestion that a leader needs perfect wisdom, just the willingness to eagerly use the wisdom God has given and seek the wisdom given to others in the family.
There is no suggestion that a leader needs to live a perfect life, just the proven track record of living by the grace of God and finding daily and weekly renewal in word and sacrament.
There is no suggestion that a leader must be spending hours
and hours in ministry service, just that they are engaged in service according
to their gifts to help us fulfill our mission.
But the expectations for leaders are indeed very high. That’s why I invite your prayers, your
encouragement of our leaders, and your support of their efforts on all of our behalf.
And I hope that you are doing all you can to grow in
leadership wherever the Lord has placed you into extraordinary service in his
kingdom!
Reserve the date: November 21, following the late service for potluck and important ministry business. I’ll see you there!