FRAMEWORKS OF CHURCH MEETINGS AND YOUR ROLE AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER

PURPOSE FOR ELDER’S MEETINGS 1.PLANNING for ministry 2.TRAINING for ministry 3.Coordinating DISCIPLESHIP 4.Informing of NEEDS and how to care for them 5.Prayer for the CHURCH and its MISSION 6.Mentoring in CHURCH LEADERSHIP 7.Mutual COACHING, ADVICE and COUNSEL

Elder’s Meetings Grow and share a vision for the missional outreach of the church. Discuss and plan for the spiritual care of the church. Give assignments for the spiritual care. Review and ask for a report of what has been done.

There is wisdom in the multitude of counselors – Proverbs11:14 Listen to the elders, as the leader. Learn the cares and concerns. Give thought to any counsel you may receive. Pray for discernment how to respond.

Training and growth of elders Teach them what you have learned. Learn alongside them together, as a team. Give opportunities to preach or lead out in services. Give them significant spiritual activities to lead out. Find any opportunity to affirm their ministry in front of the church.

Leadership Meetings Small Group leaders (Groups, SS teachers) Worship Team leaders (elders, musicians, youth) Sabbath School leaders Personal Ministries / Outreach

Leadership Meetings When you meet with any of the leaders of ministry in the church, be sure to RESPECT the leaders of those ministries. Do not come as the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, DICTATOR and the KNOW IT ALL. That is COUNTER- PRODUCTIVE to leadership in North America.

CHURCH BOARD MEETINGS Many churches have fallen into the practice of the church board being PERMISSION WITHHOLDING or a PERMISSION GRANTING body.

You want to lead the Church Board to see their role as the group that FOSTERS and COORDINATES ministry

MOVE CHURCH BOARD TO FOCUS ON-- 1.Reporting how the plans are coming for ministries. 2.How to support those ministries. 3.What obstacles may be encountered. 4.How to achieve overcoming those obstacles.

Each Board meeting needs to have an AGENDA

Routine church items should be cared for by the ministry group typically charged with that function.

The Agenda should strive to keep its focus on the ministries of the church, outreach, and spiritual growth. (75% of its time in the meeting)

Set your agenda that the Church Board runs no longer than 90 minutes, including devotional time and a fervent season of prayer. Do not quickly pass over the prayer time. (Example 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.)

MOTION TO ADJOURN AFTER 90 MINUTES

CHURCH BUSINESS MEETINGS Business meetings are a time for the whole church to give focus on the WORK, the MINISTRY or the CORPORATE ACTION needed by the church.

Annual Church Business meetings are the ideal time to share the VISION and DIRECTION of the ministry of the church for the upcoming year.

TYPICAL BUSINESS MEETING Repeat the mission and vision for the church. Share again any Guiding Values the church may have. Major ministry departments give a brief report. Seek for those departments to tie into the mission and vision. Present the Church Ministry budget as recommended by the Church Board. Brief Church Clerk’s report. Finish up with you giving a spiritual calling to share the joy of Christ’s soon return. Close with a season of prayer for all the ministries.

OTHER TIMES FOR A CHURCH BUSINESS MEETING Buying or selling property. Renting property Releasing someone from membership (Dis-fellowshipping) Borrowing money for any reason.

TIPS FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS Use an agenda. Follow the agenda. Refer items that may come up to the Elders, Church Board or next Business Meeting. Announce any meeting 2 times, at least 2 weeks in advance. For sensitive items, secret ballots can be used. Do NOT allow proxy votes / ballots on any item. Present a code of conduct for meetings and have voted, when potential for conflict.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE MINISTRY PLACEMENT COMMITTEE The real intent is to encourage the entire family to serve in the mission of Jesus to reach the lost and the mis-guided. And it is to seek to discern where God has placed gifts for ministry among the members for service.

BASIC PRINCIPLES Officers of the Church and those serving on the Church Board MUST be members of the local SDA Church. Church Elders, Officers and members of the Church Board MUST be returning tithe through the local SDA Church. The church treasurer can provide a list of those eligible to be considered. Those considered should faithful to the basic beliefs and mission of the SDA World Church. Those considered should be a positive influence in the local church family.

Those considered should be willing to lead ministry or be faithful in carrying on the ministry, not just filling an office or holding the title of the position. Not every office or position listed in the Church Manual must be filled by the Nominating Committee. You should be sure to decide ahead what ministries the Lord has called this church to do. Fill those ministries first. If no one is available for certain offices or ministries, do not feel pressured to fill a name for that ministry. Be sure that anyone selected to work with children is appropriate and will not hesitate to take a required background check. BASIC PRINCIPLES

The Nominating Committee time and process is one of the times in the life of the local church, where much grace, tact and kindness is needed in the life of the leader. Treating people with kindness will be more important on the long run, then getting the job done and getting on to the next project!