ELDER’S TRAINING SEMINAR Based on the Elder’s Handbook Ministerial Association of the General Conference www.ministerialassociation.com

The Church and Its Organization Chapter 1

Church organization The Church is God’s Idea God created the church. Everywhere God is at work there is organization. People who want to be part of God’s plan, but not part of an organization, do not understand how God works. Since God is the originator and He is in the work of saving sinners, He put together an organization to help in acomplishing that task.

Church organization Organizational Structure From the Beginning FAMILY - Patriarchal system NATION - God’s people CHURCH - Community of Christians

What is the church? The Bible uses many images to represent the church: A church is a group of Christian people. 2. A church is a group of Christian people called out from the world, learning to love God and each other. The CHURCH is not a museum, but a living workshop.

What is the church? The Bible uses many images to represent the church: 3. A church is a group of Christian reaching out to the world, inviting others in. 4. A church is a place for healing the hurts of life. Every church member, in receiving the Holy Spirit, receives a spiritual gift to be used in soul winning ministry.

What is the church? A MISSION: a group of disciples sent to reach out to the world inviting others in. A HOSPITAL: a place for healing the hurts of life. THE HOUSE OF GOD: God is the Father and people are His children.

Organization of The Church BIBLE MODELS The Israel Model: theocratic nation Paul Model: body Jesus Model: eklesia

How to meet the challenge? Revelation 14:6 - “nation, tribe, language, people” Mark 16: 15 - “all creation” Global Multicultural Multinational

How to meet the challenge? The challenge can only be met by: Good organization of resources Delegation of authority Flexibility, evaluation and control

God’s resons for organization Ellen G. White: To support the gospel ministry. To carry on the work of preaching in new fields. To protect both churches and the ministry from unworthy members’ action. For holding church property. To publish the truth via the printing press.

Forms of Church Government Papal: The Pope has supreme authority. Episcopal: The final authority rests with church bishops. Congregational: Full authority within its domain rests with the local congregation. Representative: Authority rests with church members. Planning and coordination is delegated to other administrative levels, reviewed at periodic “sessions.”

Levels of SDA church organization Local Congregations. This includes the organized church and organized company. 2. Local Field. Conference/Mission. 3. Union. Conference/Mission. 4. General Conference. The world field with 13 Divisions (Regional Representatives).

In the King James Version, the term ELDER is used 194 times. Delegation The Old Testament Delegation Process: God. Moses. Counsel from Jethro (Exodus 18) 70 Men. Qualification of the 70 (Numbers 11) In the King James Version, the term ELDER is used 194 times.

Early Church officers The New Testament Leadership: Apostles: ordained They cared for the overall teaching, planning, administration, and evangelism of the church. They were generally itinerant workers.

Early Church officers The New Testament Leadership: 2. Elders: ordained They were lay persons. They exercised their spiritual gifts in the local congregation. They provided a ministry that gave strength and direction to the local church.

Early Church officers The New Testament Leadership: 3. Deacon: ordained They were responsible for visiting sick members They took care of the needs of the congregation They were witnesses

Local officers/how important ! Church Manual “In the work and organization of the church, if a pastor has not been provided by the conference or mission, the office of elder ranks as the highest and most important.”

The Importance of Local officers Church depends upon elders: There are approximately 25,000 ministers available to serve more than 15 million Seventh-day Adventist members in 130,000 congregations. Only through the faithful ministry of local church leaders can churches thrive.