Walking in my life call (assignment) isn't something I do to appease men, but rather to please Him who called me.
What is your role in the body of Christ?
Would that role cease if you were no longer the "Senior Pastor?"
I guess my thoughts today on this blog (blog = an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.) is that if God called me to walk in the office of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher or pastor - then does it cease if an election says "no"?
I believe that the minute we quit because of some election.... is the minute we open ourselves up for falling. The main reason for things not going the way they should is people politicking for who they WANT instead of praying for who they NEED.
ReplyDeleteBUT... If you are in tune with what God is saying, then you will know if you should move on or wait it out. If someone is put in a position they should not be in.. pray for them as you would anyone in that position. If they are not fit for the position, let God take care of it. He always comes through, and He will have His way.
Well here goes. I might be kicked out of PCG after this comment.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the election process should cease from existence within our churches. my personal opinion is that our churches should be staff led without the congregation vote. We have district officials that should be given authority to appoint our Pastors. I think we would experience a lot less turnover in our churches and we would have men of God called to stick out the problems and bring the church to a healthy state.
I also believe that we should move to the same process in the district and national level. The people did not vote for Moses to lead them. God called HIM. The people hated him at times and wanted to kill him. God called Joshua to take over the leadership & Moses appointed him.
What ever you do DON"T QUIT because of an election. You are a called MAN OF GOD. Don't allow the sheep to rule the Shephard.
Just wondering, Eddie...
ReplyDeleteWho appoints the general bishop?
Dare we do it Bible-style where we pick a couple of names and then cast lots?
I would vote for such an amendment.
It'd sure shorten how much convention time we devote to elections!
It might also cut back on some of the politicking that goes on. Maybe. Or, perhaps new politicking would take its place -- "Let's all vote that we roll the dice this year on the incumbent bishop."
I personally do not like the election process myself. I have witnessed it's damage on many occasions. I especially do not like it when people who do not support, attend or bother to get involved to help but then want to be involved in the voting process. IT IS WRONG. One year we voted on our DYD and a minister said please have the men stand so we can see a face to the name we are voting on. Is this really how we mover forward securing our future?
ReplyDeleteI realize this may not be the forum to fix what is wrong. Our system locally and nationally is what it is and I will do my best with what we have but I will not allow anyone to keep me from doing what God has put within me to do and neither should you!
Well...one thing is for certain, if you've ever lived through an "election" (local, district or national) it's not the best feeling.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely inclined towards theocracy versus democracy.
I have heard about local pastors who are voted on every year or every other year to see if the congregation wants to retain them as their "leader". There are some people that love this "system" because it gives them a sense of "say so".
In truth I would much rather have a divine appointment where elders fasted & prayed and were moved upon by the Holy Spirit to appoint by the leading of the Spirit. If you don't trust the elders to make the decision...then why are they elders?
Honestly, I'm not sure our fellowship has an alternative plan for this kind of restructure whether it is National or District. It is working on the local level...but how does it function in a "preachers union?"
When God calls you...men can't uncall you. Regardless of the failures and factions of the "voting" process we've seemed to adopt as our mode of operation.
I still believe that God has a way of stepping into the middle of our disfunction (at times)and still bring His perfect will to pass. So, it's not a perfect process...but until it changes we must set it in our heart to be part of the SOLUTION and not the PROBLEM.
I will be in Joplin in June ready to "vote" and if need be jump to the mic and offer 20 minutes of vancular verse. :-)
(Honestly, I love hearing people speak in the mic. It adds much to spice up things. Of course...only in the right spirit. Smile.)
Oh by the way...can you pass me some extra ballots...?
I think the democratic process suffices for a union of preachers or a fellowship of churches. Many, many clubs and organizations elect officers every year and do well.
ReplyDeleteThe glitch is that we're more than a simple union or fellowship.
Bishops, in order to be effective, have to be recognized as authority figures, but our democratic process muddies everything up.
Those who voted against the bishop walk out of conventions convinced that the majority failed to hear from God.
Those who voted for the bishop often view him more as a friend than an authority, and even then, only as long as the bishop promotes policies they agree with.
The bishop can find himself:
- worried about how to win the support of his no-voters
- feeling indebted to his supporters
- weighing his decisions by how they will impact an upcoming election.
Perhaps some sort of paradigm-shift is needed -- a realization that not all bishops carry titles. A bishop is more defined by what he does than what title he carries.