1. The Pastoral Role In the Proxy System Implementation
Church of God of Prophecy
Pastoral Training
2008
In light of the adoption of the new Assembly Business Policies and Procedures concerning representation and proxies that will be implemented in coming Assemblies, pastors will be challenged in how to educate their Church on the process and how to also help their people come into a harmonious spirit where they can express their decisions.

2. Education is Paramount
In coming Assemblies, Pastors will be challenged in how to educate their Church on the process and how to also help their people come into a harmonious spirit where they can express their decisions.

3. Pastor’s Role is Paramount
The Pastor’s role…is paramount to the success of this process.
The process relies heavily on his/her reading and studying the issue being introduced.
Upon release of the new study document the pastor will need to begin thinking of the process and his role in local church involvement.
The Pastor is not to alienate or judge…but rather…seek to be a counselor and peacemaker.
The pastor’s role in the new Assembly Business Policies and Procedures is paramount to the success of this process. From the release of a new study document, it relies heavily on the pastor to read and study the issue being introduced to the church. Therefore, immediately following the introduction of a new report, the pastor will need to begin thinking of the entire process and the role required of him/her to help the local church be as involved as possible in the Assembly. Great care should be taken by the pastor not to alienate or judge those who do not have the same convictions on the issue; rather he/she should seek to be a counselor and peacemaker.

4. A Series of Scheduled Meetings
After the Pastor has read and studied the new document, he should schedule a series of meetings to dialogue about the issues.
It is suggested that at least four sessions be held to successfully complete this task.
After reading and studying of the documents under consideration, the pastor should schedule a series of meetings in his/her church to dialogue about the issues. It is suggested that at least four sessions be held to complete this task.

5. Session #1
Read the document in its entirety and allow ONLY questions pertaining to understanding or clarity.
Announce meeting in advance and encourage prayer for these meetings.
At the close of the first meeting, people should be encouraged only to pray and to refrain from further discussions until after the second session a week later.
We MUST allow time for the Holy Spirit to guide us!
The first session would be to read the document in its entirety and to allow only questions pertaining to understanding what it is saying or to clarify any point that may require further explanation. This meeting should be announced in advance and the congregation encouraged to pray for this series of meetings and the issues that will be discussed. At the close of the first meeting, people should be encouraged only to pray and to refrain from further discussions until after the second session a week later. We must all allow time for the Holy Spirit to guide us!

6. Session #2
Discussion should be invited…with understanding and encouragement that issues are to be discussed for ‘content’ only and not to judge one another’s views.
Pastor…maintain a Godly order.
Pastor…refrain from giving your own input until all others have expressed their thoughts. Then…
Introduce a good Biblical exegesis concerning your views on the subject at hand.
End of second session…Prayer…NO FINAL DECISION!
At the second session, discussion should be invited by all present, with an encouragement that issues be discussed for content only and not to judge one another. The pastor will want to maintain a godly order and not give his/her own input into the dialogue until others have expressed their thoughts. The pastor then should introduce a good biblical exegesis concerning his/her views on the subject a hand. At the end of the second session, prayer should be made by the entire group for God’s direction. No final decision should be made after this second session, but prayer would continue for another week.

7. Session #3 Begin to seek for a unified expression on the issue.
It may be necessary to intersperse times of prayer or worship to allow the Holy Spirit to bring unity and submission to God and one another.
Sermon Topics: Biblical Submission, Holy Spirit leading, Prayer/Fasting, and Unity of the Body.
At the end of session #3 hopefully a “one accord” decision can be reached…if not…additional sessions may be necessary.
In the third session, the Church will begin to seek for a unified expression on the issue they have been discussing. During this meeting, it may be necessary to intersperse times of prayer or worship to allow the Holy Spirit to bring the entire group into unity and submission to God and one another. Perhaps during this four week period, messages during the Sunday services by the pastor or other ministers chosen by him/her would help the church by bringing to their attention themes on Biblical Submission, Holy Spirit-leading, prayer and fasting, and Unity in the Body. These messages should not include “pro/cons” for or against the issues in the documents under consideration. At the end of the third session, hopefully a “one accord” decision can be reached; if not, an additional session to dialogue could be added before the final one.

8. Session #4
Choose an ‘official representative’ who will attend the Assembly to be their “voice”.
The Pastor, District Overseer, State Overseer, or the North American Presbyter.
Pastor is most likely, but…if they have convictions that would hinder serving as the “voice” for the local church’s proxy, then another representative should be chosen.
The final or fourth session would involve choosing an official representative who will attend the Assembly to be the “voice” for them. This person should either be the pastor, District Overseer, State or Regional Overseer, or the General Presbyter of their respective area. It would seem the pastor would be the best representative if he/she were attending the General Assembly. If the pastor has convictions that would hinder him/her serving as the “voice” for the Church’s proxy, then another representative as outlined in the Proxy Procedures should be chosen. Regardless, the pastor should share from God’s Word on the need of supporting whatever God leads the Church to do in that coming Assembly.

9. Finally…
After the Church has made their final decision…Church Clerk and Pastor complete, verify and mail the “Proxy Pre-Registration Form” to the State Office.
MUST be in the State Overseer’s office by March 31, 2008
Keep in Mind: It may be necessary for a local church to “Abstain or Submit” if they cannot come into “One Accord” once at the Assembly.
After the four sessions or when the Church has made their final decision, the Church Clerk along with the pastor, will complete the "Proxy Pre-Registration Form," and send it to the State/Regional Office for review and submission to the Area Presbyter. After this is done, the pastor should bring the church into periodic seasons of prayer until the Assembly so that they can prepare to submit to the final decision that will be guided by the Holy Spirit. Pastors and churches should be reminded that it might be necessary for the local church to choose to “Abstain or Submit” if they cannot come into “one accord” once at the Assembly.

10. The Pastoral Role In the Proxy System Implementation
Church of God of Prophecy
Pastoral Training
2008
Questions and Answers…