RULING ELDER 101 SHENANGO LEADERFEST 2018 BOOK OF ORDER G-2.0301 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

RULING ELDER 101

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

SHENANGO LEADERFEST 2018

G-2.0301 RULING ELDER DEFINED

BOOK OF ORDER

As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit.

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

PEERS PARTNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE PROVISION PERSEVERANCE

✓ Participate ✓ Discuss ✓ Summon ✓ Organize ✓ Educate ✓ Worship

— Book of Order G-2.0101

CHRIST ALONE RULES, CALLS, TEACHES, AND USES THE CHURCH AS HE WILLS

” “

PEER LEADERSHIP

PRINCIPLE #1

• Jesus alone is Lord of his church
• Worship VERTICALLY — Lead HORIZONTALLY
• No leader is above or below another
• Call DOWN those over functioning
• Call UP those under functioning
• Presbyterian = Discipleship + Democracy

PARTNERSHIP

PRINCIPLE #2

• Misconceptions

๏ Clergy-centered ๏ Board of Directors and Executive ๏ Employer — Employee relationship

• Same VOWS — Particular FUNCTIONS
• RULING elders — TEACHING elder
• “Session” — council where sum is more than parts
• Mutual accountability

Session

Pastor

Session

Pastor

Pastor

Session

Session

Pastor

Active Elders

— Book of Order F-3.0204

PRESBYTERS ARE NOT SIMPLY TO REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, BUT RATHER TO SEEK TOGETHER TO FIND AND REPRESENT THE WILL OF CHRIST.

” “

PERSPECTIVE

PRINCIPLE #3

• “Ruling” = DISCERN + MEASURE
• You are not a REPRESENTATIVE
• Listen to all … but then DISCERN
• Leadership can be lonely
• Discern and Measure VISION
• PRAYER and SCRIPTURE

— Book of Order G-2.0101

THE BASIC FORM OF MINISTRY IS THE MINISTRY OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE OF GOD

” “

PROVISION

PRINCIPLE #4

• Elders PROVIDE for ministry
• STRENGTHEN and NURTURE
• Ordination is a DEMOTION
• How are we providing for the growth 

• f our people in scripture and service?
• Provide for a ministry that includes YOU

PERSEVERANCE

PRINCIPLE #5

• Joyful moments
• Harder moments
• Ordination vows because it is hard
• Lean on wisdom where you find it
• No power — lots of INFLUENCE

RULING ELDER 101

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

SHENANGO LEADERFEST 2018

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

PEERS PARTNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE PROVISION PERSEVERANCE

✓ Participate ✓ Discuss ✓ Summon ✓ Organize ✓ Educate ✓ Worship

PARTICIPATE

PRACTICE #1

• in Worship
• in Ministry
• in Session gatherings
• prepare for meetings
• speak up or shut up
• listen to learn
• share in worship and work
• Disciples makes Disciples

DISCUSS

PRACTICE #2

• CONVERSATION is key to Discernment
• with your Pastor
• with other Elders outside of meetings
• with members in parking lot
• with your grandkids
• with the unchurched

— Matthew 9

AS JESUS WAS WALKING ALONG, HE SAW A MAN CALLED MATTHEW SITTING AT THE TAX BOOTH; AND HE SAID TO HIM, “FOLLOW ME.”

” “

SUMMON

PRACTICE #3

• Public announcement — Personal SUMMONS
• Make straightforward invites
• State clear expectations
• Discern gifts and callings
• Come to peace with a “NO”

ORGANIZE

PRACTICE #4

• Committees/Teams are mini-congregations
• Prepare for meetings/events
• Nourish with prayer/scripture
• double and double COMMUNICATE
• Meetings are not the ministry
• Expect something of them

EDUCATE

PRACTICE #5

F

Foundations

F-1 Mission F-2 Confessions F-3 Principles

G

Government G-1 Members G-2 Officers G-3 Councils

W

Worship W-1 Dynamics W-2 Elements W-3 Ordering W-6 Ministry

D

Discipline D-1 Principles

BOOK OF CONFESSIONS
 BOOK OF ORDER

WORSHIP

PRACTICE #5

The life of the Christian flows from the worship 


• f the church. The believer’s life of response 


and discipleship flows into the church’s life of worship and service.

RULING ELDER 101

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

SHENANGO LEADERFEST 2018