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“Sign a letter and we’ll never tell who wrote it” I am intrigued by rules (the way we do things — our habits), especially our rules for selecting elders. We find qualities of elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4). We can observe or ignore the apostles’ principles for selecting leaders for God’s people…
A few months ago I heard a new expression: “one elder and one decoy.” A preacher friend was describing a situation in a congregation. Most of us have seen it. There were two elders. One of the elders moved, died, or became disabled. The church didn’t want to be without an eldership. They searched and…
It’s time to select additional elders. What are our rules? Will leaders select leaders or will the group select leaders? Will we encourage legalized gossip during the vetting phase (a later blog post)? Legalized Gossip Should we ask people before we nominate them? It’s important to think, discuss, decide, and communicate our rules. Our rules…
The first New Shepherds Orientation Workshop, November 1, 2, 2013 was initiated when Henry Wilhoit, an elder from Fairlane Church of Christ, Shelbyville, Tennessee called me with a request. “Jerrie, we’ve appointed five elders. Four of them have never served before. Do you think you could prepare something to help us understand the work of…
Yes How do I know? The Bible tells me so. Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages”…
So, do you have any advice for bringing a new elder up to speed? Tentatively, I’m thinking we should meet immediately and ask for his input on the guidelines we established for ourselves as soon as we were appointed three years ago (how we make decisions, how we communicate to the church, etc.).” For the…
I received this contact from an elder on Facebook Messenger: “Hello! Can you suggest an article on the process of appointing an additional elder at a church with elders? I know you’ve discussed this before and had some good words on the subject. Thanks!” My reply: Click to read: Who Selects Leaders in the Church? Click…
Brian Jarrett graduated from Freed-Hardeman College in the spring of 1985 and came to Dalton, Georgia, to serve as an intern during the summer. He did an excellent job and endeared himself to the Central church. Brian is now pulpit preacher for the Hartsville Pike church in Gallatin, Tennessee. From left to right: Bob Sidwell, Jamie…
The couple walked in, closed the door, and burst into tears. She’d just found evidence he was having an affair. He didn’t deny it. They talked. I listened. They came back the next day. We talked more. I told them, “I’m a pretty good country doctor. But you need a cardiologist. I’m not a cardiologist….
When it’s time to select elders or deacons, who makes the selection? Selecting and ordaining are two different actions. Who selects? Who ordains? Please read my previous post for the beginning of this discussion: Who Selects Leaders in the Church? #1. The principle of the group selecting leaders, not leaders selecting leaders, isn’t a modern…