DOCSLIB.ORG

Oklahoma Annual Conference the United Methodist Church

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Oklahoma Annual Conference the United Methodist Church Oklahoma Annual Conference The United Methodist Church Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. Pre-Conference Workbook Plans and Goals for the Year 2017 Report of the Boards and Commissions 2015-2016 Prepared by B. Craig Stinson, Director of Connectional Ministries Annual Conference Council 1501 N.W. 24th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Layout and Editing–Department of Communications CONTENTS AGENCIES AND TRUSTEE/DIRECTORS REPORTS Oklahoma City University Map ................................................3 Oklahoma Methodist Manor ..................................................55 Oklahoma City University Map 2 .............................................4 Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, Texas .................................56 Clergy and Lay Delegate Seating ...............................................5 Mount Sequoyah Center ...........................................................57 St. Luke’s UMC Floor Plan .........................................................6 Neighborhood Services Organization, Inc. ............................57 Daily Schedule ............................................................................. 7 Perkins School of Theology, ....................................................58 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Southern Methodist University, Dallas ..................................59 Council on Finance and Administration .................................9 Saint Paul School of Theology, OCU ......................................59 Committee on Episcopacy .......................................................15 South Central Jurisdictional Conference ...............................60 Report on Vital Congregations ................................................15 2015 Vital Congregation Statistics ..........................................15 RESOLUTIONS AND DOCUMENTS Commission on Equitable Compensation .............................16 STANDING RULES COMMITTEE Commission on Archives And History ..................................28 Wesley Foundation Bylaws, Lawton ....................................60 Conference Board of Trustees. .................................................28 Statement of Relationship - Strawberry Fields, Clinton; The Agency Emergency / Capital Fund Committee .....................29 Methodist Manor, Tulsa; and The Commons, Enid. ........64 Pension Benefits Standing Rules (revisions) ....................................................66 Report 1 ..............................................................................29 RESOLUTIONS Report 2 (Active Health Benefits) ...................................32 Report 3 (Retiree Benefits) ...............................................39 Resolution approving Corporate Dissolution, Report 4 (Flexible Benefit Plan) ...................................... 41 Leland Clegg Memorial UMC, Inc. .........................................78 Report 5 (Health Reimbursement Arrangement) ......... 41 Resolution approving Corporate Dissolution, Epworth UMC, Inc. ...................................................................78 CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES Resolution for Discontinuance and Abandonment, Annual Conference Council ...................................................42 Crosstimbers UMC ...................................................................79 Discipleship Ministry Team ...................................................42 Resolution for Discontinuance and Abandonment, Camp and Retreat Ministry .................................................43 Alderson UMC ...........................................................................79 Campus Ministry Resolution for Discontinuance, East Central University, Ada ..........................................43 Trinity UMC ...............................................................................79 Langston University, Langston.......................................44 University of Oklahoma, Norman .................................44 NOMINATIONS Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva ..........44 Committee on Nominations ....................................................80 Oklahoma City University....................................................45 Small Membership Church Commission ...........................46 Council on Young Adult Ministry .......................................46 Conference Council on Youth Ministries ..........................46 Leadership Development Ministry Team ............................47 Commission on Religion And Race ....................................47 Commission on the Status and Role of Women ................48 Mission and Service Ministry Team .....................................48 Board of Church & Society ..................................................50 Cookson Hills Center ........................................................... 51 Criminal Justice & Mercy Ministries .................................. 51 Circle of Care .........................................................................52 Restore Hope Ministries, Tulsa ............................................52 Skyline Urban Ministry, Oklahoma City ............................53 United Methodist Women ....................................................53 Department of Communications .........................................54 New Faith Communities Ministry Team .............................55 OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY MAP OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY MAP 2 CLERGY & LAY DELEGATE SEATING FLOOR PLAN OF ST. LUKE’S UMC “Enriched by our Diversity, United in our Love” 2016 Session of the Oklahoma Annual Conference May 30 - June 2 Under God’s control all the parts of the body fit together . So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love. (Ephesians 4:16) St. Luke’s UMC – Oklahoma City University DAILY SCHEDULE (TIMES LISTED ARE APPROXIMATE) Monday, May 30 Episcopal Address (30) Laity Address (20) All Events at St. Luke’s UMC General Conference recap and Next Steps (20) 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. .......................................Registration opens Archives and History Video (12) Parlor and Fellowship Hall, St. Luke’s UMC Enabling motions (5) Noon ..................................................................Deacon Lunch Safety announcements (5) Celebrating 20 years of Service Break (10) 1 p.m. ....................................................................Laity Session Annual Conference Council (10) Christian Life Center New People, New Places (15) 1:15 p.m...........................................Clergy Executive Session Leadership Development Ministry Team (10) Sanctuary Board of Laity (15) 3:00 p.m........................................... Service of Reconciliation Announcements (5) Ray Buckley Noon ............................................................. Lunch Break 5 p.m. ............................................................................. Dismiss 2 p.m. .............................Worship Service of Retirement 6:30 p.m. ........................................................ Pre-worship concert 3 p.m. ..................................................... Business Session 7 p.m. ................................... Memorial Worship & Communion Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU (10) Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr., preaching United Methodist Foundation (15) 8:45 p.m................Reception honoring families of deceased Board of Ordained Ministry (10) Christian Life Center Introduction of Ordinands and Commissioned (10) Tuesday, May 31 Episcopacy Committee (10) Tuesday Morning and Afternoon Events at OCU 4 p.m. .....................................................................Dismiss 4 p.m. ...........................................................Dinner break 6 to 11 a.m. ................................................Health Screenings, Food trucks located at Conference Ministry Center Kramer School of Nursing East, 2nd floor 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.. ............Registration – Freede Center, Lobby Tuesday Evening Events 8:30 a.m. – Noon & 1 - 4 p.m. .................Treasurer’s Office National Cowboy and Open for Moving and Retiree Checks Western Heritage Museum 5:30 p.m.......................................Area-wide Celebration 8:30 a.m. ..........................................................................Gather Honoring Bishop Robert and Mrs. Dee Hayes 8:55 a.m. .......................................................... Gathering Song 9 a.m. ...................... Business Session - Freede Center, OCU Wednesday, June 1 Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries (12) Wednesday Events at OCU Treasurer’s Report (10) Skyline Urban Ministry video (3) 6 to 11 a.m. ............................................................ Health Screenings, Trustees (10) Kramer School of Nursing East, 2nd floor Restore Hope video (3) 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. .........................Registration – Freede Center, Lobby Introduction of Elders and Deacons under Appointment 8:30 a.m. - Noon & 1 - 5 p.m..................................Treasurer’s Office as Chaplains (5) Open for moving and retiree checks Announcements (5) 5 p.m. ............................................................................... Dinner Break 7:30 a.m. ...................................................Service of Word and Table Evening Events at St. Luke’s UMC Smith Chapel, OCU Bishop Hayes, homily 6:30 p.m. ............................................................ Pre-worship Concert 8:30 a.m. .............................Business Session – Freede Center, OCU 7 p.m. .......................... Service of Commissioning and Ordination United Methodist
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Korean-American Methodists' Response to the UMC Debate Over
    religions Article Loving My New Neighbor: The Korean-American Methodists’ Response to the UMC Debate over LGBTQ Individuals in Everyday Life Jeyoul Choi Department of Religion, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; [email protected] Abstract: The recent nationwide debate of American Protestant churches over the ordination and consecration of LGBTQ clergymen and laypeople has been largely divisive and destructive. While a few studies have paid attention to individual efforts of congregations to negotiate the heated conflicts as their contribution to the denominational debate, no studies have recounted how post-1965 immigrants, often deemed as “ethnic enclaves apart from larger American society”, respond to this religious issue. Drawing on an ethnographic study of a first-generation Korean Methodist church in the Tampa Bay area, Florida, this article attempts to fill this gap in the literature. In brief, I argue that the Tampa Korean-American Methodists’ continual exposure to the Methodist Church’s larger denominational homosexuality debate and their personal relationships with gay and lesbian friends in everyday life together work to facilitate their gradual tolerance toward sexual minorities as a sign of their accommodation of individualistic and democratic values of American society. Keywords: homosexuality and LGBTQ people; United Methodist Church; post-1965 immigrants; Korean-American evangelicals Citation: Choi, Jeyoul. 2021. Loving My New Neighbor: The Korean-American Methodists’ Response to the UMC Debate over 1. Introduction LGBTQ Individuals in Everyday Life. The discourses of homosexuality and LGBTQ individuals in American Protestantism Religions 12: 561. https://doi.org/ are polarized by the research that enunciates each denomination’s theological stance 10.3390/rel12080561 and conflicts over the case studies of individual sexual minorities’ struggle within their congregations.
    [Show full text]
  • Dcom Candidacyprocess
    Steps into Licensed & Ordained Ministry Steps into Licensed and Ordained Ministry • The charge conference will vote whether to recommend (¶311, 2008 Book of Discipline) the candidate to the district committee on ordained Candidacy for ordained ministry is the first formal step ministry. The recommendation must be confirmed by a toward ordination as a deacon or an elder or licensing in The two-thirds majority vote. United Methodist Church. Certified Candidacy Inquiring about Candidacy • In order to be certified, the candidate will request to meet • Persons exploring a call to licensed or ordained ministry with the district committee for an interview and approval should contact the pastor of their local church, another as a certified candidate. The following must be completed elder or deacon, or the district superintendent of the and/or prepared prior to the meeting: district in which their United Methodist setting is located ○ a written response to questions regarding God’s call to inquire about the candidacy process. and the role of the church in the call, formative • As people begin considering the candidacy process they Christian experiences, beliefs as a Christian, gifts for are encouraged to use resources such as The Christian as ministry and present understanding of the call to Minister and the Ministry Inquiry Process to learn more ministry as deacon, elder, or licensed ministry; about the ways they can serve. These resources are ○ required psychological reports, credit checks, criminal available from Cokesbury, 1-800-672-1789 or
    [Show full text]
  • In the United Methodist Church, Clergy
    Terms and Definitions Appointed / Appointment: In the United Methodist Church, clergy (ordained or licensed) are sent out to serve by the Bishop, in consultation with the Superintendents, pastors and local churches. Clergy are appointed by the bishop on a yearly basis. The church or charge to which they are sent is the appointment. Appointments can only be changed by the bishop. Assigned: Some churches are led by lay persons such as Certified Lay Ministers or Lay Minister Candidates. These persons are assigned to a church. This term is used to help identify the difference between clergy who are appointed and laity who are assigned. BOOM (sometimes BOM or the “Board”): The Board of Ordained Ministry of the Susquehanna Conference has oversight of all clergy and their relationship to the Annual Conference. The Board is charged with caring for, examining, approving, and developing passionate, joy filled leaders in the United Methodist Church. Candidate for Ministry: A person who senses a call from God and officially begins to explore the possibilities of ministry as clergy is a candidate for ministry. Certified Candidate (for Ministry): A candidate for ministry, who has completed the candidacy studies, has been approved by his/her Charge Conference and has been approved by the DCOM. A certified candidate may attend Licensing School or Seminary (or both). Certified Lay Minister: A lay person who has completed the entrance and course requirements for the CLM program and has been certified by the DCOM. A CLM may preach, teach, help with administration, conduct funerals, and visit the sick or other duties as described in a covenant with the church or charge.
    [Show full text]
  • Order of Elders: Ordained Elders in the United Methodist Church
    Order of Elders: Ordained Elders in The United Methodist Church HiRho Park, D. Min., Ph.D. Director of Clergy Lifelong Learning GBHEM Elders within The UMC Elders are ordained to a life7me ministry of Word, Sacrament, Order, and Service (Four-fold ministry). ¶332: The servant leadership of the elder, in both parish and extension ministries, is expressed by leadinG the people of God in worship and prayer, by leadinG persons to faith in Jesus Christ, by exercisinG pastoral supervision in the conGreGaon, and by orderinG the Church in mission in the world. By the authority Given in their ordinaon, they are authorized to: (¶332, ¶340) • Preach and teach the Word of God • Provide pastoral care and counsel • Administer the sacraments of bap7sm and Holy Communion • Order the life of the Church for service in mission and ministry Accountability (¶333) • Elders are bound in special covenant with the Order of Elders in the annual conference • They accept and subject themselves to the process of clergy discipline (inves7Gaon, trial courts ..) • Elders in full connec7on shall have the right to vote in all maers in the annual conference (except lay deleGates) • Eligible to hold offices in the annual conference and be elected as deleGates to the General, Jurisdic7onal and Central conferences. Professional ResponsibiliOes (¶334.2) • Open to appointment, inerancy: “All ordained elders shall accept and abide by these appointments” (¶338) pastoral charGes and extension ministries • Annual par7cipaon in a process of evaluaOon with SPRC and the DS • Growth in professional competence and effec7veness throuGh connuing educaon and formaon • WillinGness to assume supervisory and mentoring responsibilies within the connec7on.
    [Show full text]
  • Ministry of ELDERS
    Ministry of ELDERS Ordained to Word, Sacrament, Order, Itinerant Clergy and Service In more than 230 years of Methodism, the elders’ distinguishing Elders lead and serve the Church in the ministries of Word, mark has been their willingness to offer themselves “without reserve Sacrament, Order, and Service. Elders’ primary responsibilities to be appointed and to serve” (¶333). Elders commit to full-time, are communicating the faith and proclaiming God’s Word through itinerant service in the Church under the bishop’s authority. Through preaching and teaching. Elders administer the sacraments of itineracy, the Church also assures pastoral leadership for every local baptism and Holy Communion and order the Church’s ministry. Most congregation. elders serve as pastors in charge of local congregations. However, elders may also serve in a variety of extension ministry (¶343) Elders who are in good standing and continue to fulfill their settings (such as chaplaincy or pastoral counseling). Bishops and professional responsibilities are continued under appointment district superintendents are chosen from among the elders, because unless they are on leave and are assured equitable compensation the ordering of ministry and administering the Discipline are elders’ for their ministry. responsibilities. Elder as Pastor in Charge Service Elders oversee the local church’s ministry as it fulfills its mission Ordained ministry is rooted in servant leadership. As servant leaders, of service and witness in the world. This includes administrative elders embody Jesus’s teaching. For John Wesley, this meant refusing oversight, evangelistic leadership, programmatic planning, spiritual the limitations of parish boundaries and claiming the world as his nurturing, and pastoral care in the congregation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Strategy to Train Local Church Elders for Effective Assimilation And
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Project Documents Graduate Research 2014 A Strategy to Train Local Church Elders for Effective Assimilation and Nurture of New Converts Enock Chifamba Andrews University This research is a product of the graduate program in Doctor of Ministry DMin at Andrews University. Find out more about the program. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Missions and World Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Chifamba, Enock, "A Strategy to Train Local Church Elders for Effective Assimilation and Nurture of New Converts" (2014). Project Documents. 262. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/262 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Project Documents by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT A STRATEGY TO TRAIN LOCAL CHURCH ELDERS FOR EFFECTIVE ASSIMILATION AND NURTURE OF NEW CONVERTS by Enock Chifamba Adviser: Bruce L. Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A STRATEGY TO TRAIN LOCAL CHURCH ELDERS FOR EFFECTIVE ASSIMILATION AND NURTURE OF NEW CONVERTS Name of researcher: Enock Chifamba Name and degree of faculty adviser: Bruce L. Bauer, DMiss Date completed: October 2014 Problem In most multi-church districts the pastoral burden rests with the local church elders.
    [Show full text]
  • Elders/Pastor Relationship
    ELDERS/PASTOR RELATIONSHIP THE PASTOR/ELDER TEAM PASTORS AND ELDERS ARE PARTNERS IN MINISTRY. Each should be able to say of the other: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philipians 1:3-5. THE PASTOR-ELDER TEAM DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PASTORS AND ELDERS: • Pastor: assigned and ordained by the local conference for a pastoral district. • Elder: assigned and ordained by the local congregation . • Elder’s ordination valid on the congregation. • Pastor’s ordination has worldwide validity. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PASTORS AND ELDERS: § Both are leaders over the congregation. § Both coordinate the church’s activities. § Young ministers who have not been ordained to the ministry are ordained as local elders. THE PASTOR/ELDER TEAM PASTOR’S PART 1. Training elders in all their churches. 2. Call elder’s meetings regularly. 3. Curriculum • Church organization and administration / leadership. • Church growth. • Care of new converts. • Worship leadership. • Preaching and visitation. • Function and chairing of committees. THE PASTOR/ELDERS TEAM 4. Respect and support them in their function. 5. Invite them for special pastoral visitation. 6. Spend time together . 7. Support the elder’s family. 8. Special attention to elder’s children. 9. Help them in their spiritual life. THE PASTOR/ELDER TEAM 1. DELEGATE Pastoral stress comes as a faliure to delegate responsibility, especially to their elders. Along with responsibility, pastors must also delegate authority. 2. COMMUNICATE Get some reports from elders on their assignments Personal spiritual growth should always be emphasized Schedules for preaching in written form Distribution of relevant material 3.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ministry of Elders a Theological Position Paper 2
    The Ministry of Elders A Theological Position Paper 2 The Ministry of Elders A Theological Position Paper Introduction Jesus as their Lord and Savior, new churches God’s plan has always been to form a were formed. Qualified men were selected to people for his glory.1 He gathers Christians lead the churches. Paul and Barnabas provide into local churches in order that they would one example, And when they had appointed elders display his wisdom,2 so that they would grow for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they into maturity,3 and so the unity exhibited by committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed the Trinity would be displayed in forgiven (Acts 14:23). When one considers the sinners learning to live as brothers and sisters astonishing growth of Christianity and the in Christ.4 Who bears the responsibility for severity of hardship these early churches these churches? Ultimately, the members do.5 faced, the fact that time was taken to develop But in wise providence God appoints leaders and appoint a specific group of leaders should called elders to lead every local church to not go unnoticed. fulfill her God-given mission. As one author To use biblical imagery, God’s sheep need put it, “Elders are Jesus’s assistants for shepherds. Whether in times of relative ease shepherding his churches.”6 or stark hardship, the people of God need On the pages that follow, readers will qualified shepherds to provide God’s care and discover the importance of elders, the biblical instruction.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Does the Pastor Wear a White Robe?
    Why Does the Pastor Wear a White Robe? Pastor Jeffrey J. Meyers For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics and sashes and headbands; you shall make them for glory and beauty. — Exodus 28:40 The minister officiating in Christian worship ought to be dressed in a way that identifies him as the representative and spokesman of Jesus Christ. This is his calling and the congregation should be visually reminded of his responsibilities and place in the Sunday service. Traditionally, this means that the minister wears a white tunic or robe. These two sentences will likely raise all sorts of questions. Is this biblical? Or is this some- thing that has just always been done that way? Isn’t this too “Catholic”? Does the robe mean that the pastor is better than me? Closer to God than I am? Is he a priest? Why does the pastor lead the entire worship service anyway? These are the kinds of ques- tions that I will attempt to answer in this little pamphlet. Office Over Personality First, the white robe, among other things, helps emphasize the office of the pastor and de-emphasize the personality of the man in the pulpit. Sometimes it is hard to be led in worship by an elder or pastor who is a good friend or a peer or even (especially) one who is younger. To help us get over this feeling, the church has traditionally placed special robes on her ministers when they conduct worship. This helps the people to remember that it is not just good old Jeff Meyers up there; rather, the Lord’s ordained minister is leading us into God’s presence and speaking God’s Word to us.
    [Show full text]
  • Authority of Senior Ministers
    Lead Ministers & Eldership Boards Operational Guidelines by Pastor Bill Vasilakis Part 1. ROLES AND AUTHORITY … The Role and Authority of Lead Ministers and Church Eldership Boards Part 2. RELATIONAL HEALTH … The Absolute Priority and Need For Relational Health Between Lead Ministers and their Church Eldership Boards • Endorsed by the Australian National Executive – March 2003 • Update to document endorsed by National Executive – June 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE NUMBER INTRODUCTION 4 PART ONE – ROLES AND AUTHORITY … The Role and Authority of Lead Minsters and Church Eldership Boards 1. The Genius of the Plurality of Leadership Principle 5-7 2. How can we outwork the New Testament Leadership Government Pattern? 7-8 3. Leaders must really lead their Eldership Boards and their Churches 9-12 4. Leaders must work responsibly through their teams 12-13 5. Leaders and Eldership Boards must be fully accountable to each other and to our CRC Denominational Family 13-15 6. Appointment and Dismissal powers of all church officers 15-16 7. Review of Elders’ Functionality 17-18 8. Finance, Property and Legal Affairs 19 9. Salaries and Remunerations Matters 19-20 10. Constitutional Changes 20-21 11. Controversy and Conflict 21 12. Collegiate Leadership and Family Entanglements 22-26 … Flow Chart of Seaton CFC’s Governmental Structure 27 2 PART TWO – RELATIONAL HEALTH … The Absolute Priority and Need For Relational Health Between Lead Ministers and their Church Eldership Boards 1. A good and very sound relationship must exist before the Lead Minister recommends someone for appointment 28 2. Never compromise 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 28-29 3.
    [Show full text]
  • What Does Pastor/Elder Led, Deacon Served Mean?
    WHAT DOES PASTOR/ELDER LED, DEACON SERVED MEAN? The mission of Park Lake Church, approved by its members is "expressing Christ's compassion through evangelism and discipleship." Our mission statement falls naturally in line with Christ's commission to his disciples for the church in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go," evangelism; and "making disciples," discipleship. These two mandates for evangelism and discipleship merge with the compassion of our Savior in our mission statement evidenced in many places throughout the synoptic gospel narratives such as Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 20:34; Mark 5:19, 9:22; Luke 15:20. Without a doubt one of Satan's most effective lead strategies for combating the Matthew 28:19-20 mission of the church is distraction. This is most notably true as evidenced in Acts 2. Luke records that unity and peace prevailed when the Church was able to minister to one another by in reach, and by outreach to unbelievers, thus allowing Peter and John not to be distracted so they could devote themselves to the Word and prayer. In Acts 6 the primacy of the Word and prayer is once again under attack in Peter and John's pastoral ministry priorities. The answer for this quarrelsome distraction was deacon servant leadership so that the elders, Peter and John, could keep the main thing the main thing, prayer and the ministry of the Word. Again, Paul reminds Timothy of this mandate by exhorting him to give double honor to the elders who rule well, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17).
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Elders
    The Role of Elders A VILLAGE BIBLE CHURCH DISTINCTIVE The Distinctives series articulates key biblical and theological convictions of Village Bible Church. villagebible.org/distinctives TABLE OF CONTENTS Answering the Key Questions about Elders......................................................................... 4 What is the proper understanding of the term elder? .......................................................... 5 How is the term elder used in reference to the church? ...................................................... 6 How is the term “elder” related to the terms “bishop” and “pastor”? ................................ 7 What are the qualifications of an elder? ............................................................................ 12 How are elders to be set apart for their service? ............................................................... 15 Are elders to be supported financially by the church? ...................................................... 20 Is the pastorate a team effort? ........................................................................................... 22 Does government by elders eliminate the role of special leaders? .................................. 22 What is the elder's relation to the congregation? .............................................................. 24 The Ministry of Elders at Village Bible Church .................................................................. 25 Selection of Elders .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]