21 K. Some Sticky Issues

Appendix K Some Sticky Issues

We are indebted to Ron Ritchie for most of these questions, drawn from his experience in talking to pastors and church leaders. The local references to "what we do" at our local church in no way infer that we are doing everything right, for, like everyone else, we are still being taught of God and are just learning. In citing these examples we are simply attempting to share something of what we have learned, and our experience, interpreted in the light of God’s Word, is the only source we have for living examples.

Question: If I follow and teach what this book presents, won’t I be fired?

We don’t know. Your responsibility is to declare and obey the truth. You might be fired, but if so you can expect the Lord to open doors to a new ministry. As your Lord, he’s responsible for your life, but you may be able to help reestablish God’s order where you are. Just be sure you are responding to his direction and following his time schedule. Seek to understand the truth about these matters for yourself, then patiently and lovingly teach the truth he shows you. All the while remember how long it took you to catch on, and exercise lots of patience.

Question: How can I change my existing board?

You can’t; only the Lord can! So don’t try. But you can graciously help them to understand the truth as you see it and seek to move out together on the basis of your mutual understanding of God’s way.

Question: What’s wrong with majority vote for board decisions?

It avoids the necessity to trust the Lord to give a spirit of unity and reverts back to "the will of the majority" instead of finding the mind of Christ on the matter. It also encourages political pressuring and party spirit. We feel certain one of the Lord’s biggest heartaches is the broken fellowships caused by lack of unity. Politics are bad enough, but church politics are far worse because this kind of activity is so out of character with the con-cept of the Body. Have you ever noticed how often splits occur among democratically governed churches?

Questions: How can we be sure who has the Lord’s mind on a matter in a ten-against-one split on an issue? Is the one right or the ten?

See the illustration given on pages 36 and 37. The principle in this situation is to wait on the Lord in dependent prayer. We can also discuss issues together and seek added information that might clarify them, but all without pressuring to move things our way.

Question: If I am an elder, but not on the pastoral staff of the church, do I still have a pastoral role?

You certainly do! First, you are to care for the sheep (be a pastor over the flock) which God has called you to govern. All the decisions you are called on to make are to be under the direction of the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, for the well-being of his flock. In addition you undoubtedly have, or should have, a portion of that flock toward whom you have a direct teaching, overseeing, or discipling ministry.

Question: How do you choose elders? By the procedure described in chapter 2, pages 21 and 23, measuring the men God has made available against the scriptural yardstick set forth in the New Testament.

Question: Are there grounds for dismissing elders?

Flagrant sin with no repentance is grounds for dismissal and public exposure, as per 1 Timothy 5:17-20, but undertaken with loving firmness and redemptive motives.

Question: Can elders ever take a leave of absence?

Whenever there is a higher priority demand, an elder not only may but must take the necessary time aside to set his house in order. This is particularly true of crisis situations in the family, for if things are not in good shape at home, he will be too preoccupied to govern well in God’s family. Either the elder himself or his fellow elders should be free to request a leave, without censure, but rather with a deep sense of concern to seek an early answer to the problem, so that neither his own family or God’s family is hurting for lack of his ministry.

Question: How do you remove an elder who is not functioning?

First, try to encourage him, by exhortation and personal help, to begin to function. If, after you have done all you can to help him shape up, he still is not moving, it would seem wise to ask him to consider his accountability to God in holding down the position but not performing. If there is still no response, he may then be asked to resign.

Question: How do elders control all the activities and the doctrinal purity in Bible classes, etc.?

They don’t. The job of superintending and controlling belongs to the Holy Spirit-and he’s not about to be replaced by you or me! Trust the Lord to guide them just as he does you. We are not God’s police patrol. When discipline is necessary in the areas where we have direct, personal responsibility, then we should follow the biblical pattern of Matthew 18:15-17. But remember to treat someone "as a Gentile and a tax collector" is to put him in the place of one who does not know the Lord Jesus. And how are we to act toward those?

Question: Do you have women elders?

Even in these days of women’s lib we should have no em-barrassment or hesitancy in answering, "No-no women elders," but only because God has already said it: "Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor" (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

Question: How do you operate your membership program?

We don’t have one, because the Spirit of God is adding to the church daily those who believe. The important thing is that he makes each believer a member of Christ’s body. We do have a covenant of fellowship for people who want local identification with a church, but this is for their benefit to give a sense of belonging. However, many who enjoy our fellowship find it fully satisfying just to belong to Christ and his body, and this is fine with us. We feel free to ask some to sign the covenant if we think they need this tie, but their spiritual state and well-being are our primary concern, not their belonging to our "club."

Question: What is the attitude of your people toward the apparently "secret" meetings of your governing board? As far as we can tell, their attitude is one of relief that the responsibility is ours and not theirs-except when things don’t go well and needs are not being met; then they let us know where they are hurting so we can move to the rescue.

Question: How do you keep your people informed?

Badly, at times. But we try to be alert to communication needs and handle through the weekly bulletin, occasional news sheets, reports on board actions and finances. Pulpit announcements and occasional congregational meetings are also a help.

Question: How do you incorporate spiritual gifts?

We are constantly evaluating ourselves and our people in the light of spiritual gifts and ministries to see where and how all the members fit into the body. One of the pastor’s chief occupations is to solve the "spiritual unemployment" problems. We sometimes have a "Spiritual Gift Employment Service" available on Sundays for people to inquire about current training and ministry opportunities they may wish to check out. We are constantly teach-ing on this subject and trying to help Christians find their place of usefulness and fulfillment