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The Foundational Principles and Policies of a Local Church Operations Manual

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The Foundational Principles and Policies of a Local Church Operations Manual LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES OF A LOCAL CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Daniel John Grabill Lynchburg, Virginia March, 1995 Copyright 1995 Daniel J. Grabill All Rights Reserved 111 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET GRADE MENTOR i / ! ~I~ (/ ~~/~READER lV ABSTRACT THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES OF A LOCAL CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL Daniel J. Grabill Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 1995 Mentor: Dr. Paul R. Fink The administration of a local church often so occupies a minister's time that less than appropriate time remains for study of the Word. An administration manual that would objectify and standardize procedures would help alleviate this problem. The purpose of this project was to design a manual that would answer the need for what to do but would go beyond that to provide a theological base for the procedures. A comprehensive survey of Grace Brethren Churches was conducted to ascertain what has been done and what needs remain. This project has incorporated the best insights and hopefully met the remaining needs. Abstract length: 100 words. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is deeply indebted to the many pastors and teachers who have influenced his life. One of those has been Dr. Paul F. Fink. One could not accomplish a project such as this without the support and encouragement of his family. For this support I am most grateful. A dear friend, Polly Lewis, has devoted many volunteer hours to typing this manuscript. Appreciation for her diligent work cannot be overstated. All the honor and glory for anything in this project of eternal value goes to Jesus Christ, my Lord and the head of the Church. Soli Deo Gloria. Vl TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT . v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Vl INTRODUCTION 1 PART I - THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS CHAPTER 1. A THEOLOGICAL RATIONALE TO GUIDE IN THE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A LOCAL CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL. ... 15 Introduction to and Focus of the Chapter Administrative Decision Making in the New Testament God's Mission and the Programs of the Local Church Ministry is to Persons and Structures Authority in the Local Church How Jesus Christ Rules the Local Church How Christ's Headship and an Operations Manual Interrelate The Nature of Leadership in a Local Church Conclusion 2. DEVELOPING A MISSION STATEMENT 37 Purpose Theological Considerations in Constructing a Local Church Mission Statement A Suggested Process A Mission Statement - An Ongoing Process 3. EXPLANATION OF BIBLICAL OFFICES OF ELDER AND DEACON 43 ELDERS/BISHOPS The Qualifications of Elders/Bishops Primary Responsibilities of Elders The Congregation's Response to Elders Propriety of Pursuing Eldership DEACONS What is a Deacon? Vll The Role of the Deacon Why Deacons? The Qualifications for Deacons Summary 4. A THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP. 73 The Meaning of Worship The Biblical Basis for Worship The Biblical Requirements for Worship The Biblical Forms for Worship Obstacles to Worship Summary 5. A THEOLOGY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. 83 Introduction Rudiments of a Christian Philosophy of Education Fundamental Theological Principles Pertaining to Education The Importance of a Christian Curriculum The Necessity of Christian Education Summary 6. A THEOLOGY OF MARRIAGE/DIVORCE/REMARRIAGE 110 Introduction Marriage Divorce Remarriage Summary 7. A THEOLOGY OF SICKNESS AND HEALING BY ANNOINTING WITH OIL . 125 Origin and Purposes for Sickness Conditions for Healing Promise for Healing Summary 8. BIBLICAL COMPENSATION PRINCIPLES 130 General Pinciples to Consider in Developing Compensation Packages Specific Matters to Consider in Developing a Pastoral Compensation Package Specific Matters to Consider in Developing a Workers Compensation Package Summary 9. THE TRANSITION OF PART I AND PART II 137 Vlll PART II - CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS . ii CHAPTER 1. OFFICIAL CONSTITUTION. 140 2. MISSION STATEMENT OF CALVARY GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH . 162 3. PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION 163 General Expectations of all Leaders Personnel position Descriptions 4. PERSONNEL POLICIES 188 Hiring Termination Grievances Salaries Benefits for Full Time Personnel 5. PROCEDURE FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THE ORDINANCES 195 Baptism Communion Annointing the Sick 6. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES. 212 Purpose Personnel Program General Policies Governing Christian Education Activities 7. WORSHIP POLICIES 221 Its Focus Biblical Requirements Preparing the Church for Worship 8. WEDDING POLICIES 224 Purpose Policies lX 9. CHILD DEDICATION POLICIES. 228 Purpose Prerequisites Single Parents Child Dedication Service 10. FUNERAL POLICIES 231 Introduction Visitation Floral Arrangements Use of the Church Family Meal Memorial Service Preparation Follow-up Assistance 11. VISITATION POLICIES 234 Introduction Procedure Types of Visitation 12. AIDS POLICY 239 Introduction AIDS Acquired Through Homosexual Activity A Legitimate Concern of the Church Concerns of the AIDS Patient 13. COUNSELING POLICIES 245 Purpose Policies 14. MISSIONS POLICIES 248 Purpose Procedure 15. POLICIES REGULATING SPECIAL USE OF CHURCH PROPERTY . .. .... 250 General Guidelines Policy Policy if the Kitchen is Used APPENDIX 252 BIBLIOGRAPHY 337 VITA 346 x INTRODUCTION Recently, David Wells,l an eminent evangelical theologian with sterling pedigree, has expressed dissatisfaction and suspicion at the "orthodoxy" of several ministry-related applications of the faith. He insists that this dubious orthodoxy, which has over-contextualized itself to modern American culture, is saturated within a stunning array of popular church and para-church agencies like the widespread use of recovery groups, Christian therapy centers, church-growth workshops, "seeker-sensitive" servlces, seminars in managerial methods for ministers, and Doctor of Ministry professional degree programs. His fundamental complaint can be summarized: An overly "practical" concentration along with a modernized view of the local church has had the cumulative effect of encouraglng Christian leaders to subject its explicit theological foundation, albeit unwittingly, to alien cultural forces. That is, theology's once assured position of centrality In the life of the local church has now been lDavid F. Wells, No Place for Truth, or, Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology? (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993). See also David F. Wells, God In The Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994). 1 2 displaced. Thus, Wells alleges that evangelical leaders have become enamored with "success" and "technique" at the expense of careful theological reflection, especially in matters pertaining to the local church and its ministry. Theology has, therefore, succumbed to the prevailing winds of praxis. According to Fuller Seminary President, Richard Mouw, "Wells is convinced that evangelicals have formed an unholy alliance with various non-Christian cultural forces: pragmatism, a democratized understanding of truth, a fondness for the therapeutic, and so on."2 This state of affairs, Wells contends, has contributed to an understanding of the Christian faith where at the psychological center of much evangelical faith are two ideas that are also at the heart and practice of democracy: (1) the audience is sovereign, and (2) ideas find legitimacy and value only within the marketplace. Ideas have no intrinsic or self-evident value; it is the people's right to give ideas their legitimacy.3 But is this contextualization actually occurring at the unprecedented rates or on the infrastructural levels that Wells believes it is? Now, moving closer to the project at hand, the task In this chapter shall be to scrutinize whether or not an operations manual, such as that developed 2Richard Mouw, "Ending the Cold War Between Theologians and Laypeople: Why Christian scholars don't trust laypeople, and what can be done to make the relationship better," Christianity Today (July 18, 1994): 27. 3Wells, No Place For Truth, 207. 3 in subsequent chapters, in fact, represents more than an unadorned repository of procedures and techniques ("how­ to's") used by a local church in the course of ordering its particular corporate life? Or, rephrased slightly to address Wells's objection, can an operations manual which, naturally enough, pays so much attention to mundane detail and "practical" concerns, possibly have an abiding theological basis? The chapters which follow all strive to answer that question in the affirmative. If they are unable to do this, or even move in the opposite direction, then it is likely that the manual has fallen prey to an unwitting pragmatism. Therefore the processes to be delineated in the following chapters should each in their respective manner point back to the theological earnestness with which this project was first begun. The Need For This Work Our local church, like so many others today, was constantly in the process of articulating its mission and then developing procedures in order to implement that understanding of mission into every phase of its organizational life. In perusing materials that were available to assist us in developing policies and procedures, which were scarce, the theological-missional based approach was thoroughly underrepresented. Thus it became apparent that a deep need actually existed for the 4 development of a manual to help
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