Posted on 12/17/2012 7:10:15 AM PST by Laissez-faire capitalist
A vacancy occurs within a church (as in the pastoral position), and let's say an interim pastor steps in for a certain amount of time until a replacement pastor is voted in.
Let's say 4-5/6 licensed/ordained ministers within that denomination apply for the open position and thus for a chance to preach before the church - and the church members who will later hear those ministers will pray about which one they desire to be their pastor and eventually vote one in.
Should the board get to toss any of those names from consideration, if those licensed/ordained ministers are in good standing with their denomination?
Is not the board, in effect, indirectly choosing which pastor the people will decide on to be their pastor if they can toss the names of those ministers (for example) they think that perhaps they can't or won't be able to control once that minister is voted in?
And where in the Bible is there one scripture where the church board is to have authority beyond advising the pastor, much less having the ability to have a vote during board meetings - one vote each with the pastor having one vote?
What say you?
A very large local church our friends attend had an opening for a senior pastor.
They received over 200 applications.
If everyone one of those have a trial sermon, and was reviewed by the Congregation it would take over 4 years.
That’s the purpose of the Board, to weed through the applications...like HR screens applicants for the hiring manager.
A very large local church our friends attend had an opening for a senior pastor.
They received over 200 applications.
If everyone one of those have a trial sermon, and was reviewed by the Congregation it would take over 4 years.
That’s the purpose of the Board, to weed through the applications...like HR screens applicants for the hiring manager.
Whats a church board? Whats a church vote?
In a few instances that could occur.
But you avoided the question of whether or not boards should be able to toss applicants names when only a few apply.
And secondly, in the case of over 200 appplicants, you could have first come, first served, with the first 10 only put up for consideration.
And you avoided answering whether or not church voards should have power beyond advising. Please provide a scripture that gives them power beyond advising the pastor.
In a few instances that could occur.
But you avoided the question of whether or not boards should be able to toss applicants names when only a few apply.
And secondly, in the case of over 200 appplicants, you could have first come, first served, with the first 10 only put up for consideration.
And you avoided answering whether or not church voards should have power beyond advising. Please provide a scripture that gives them power beyond advising the pastor.
A Biblical form of Church government is needed; various Reformed denominations have church polity that is set up in documennts and includes Biblical proof texts.
For example: http://wpcus.org/WestminsterFormofPresbyterialChurchGovernment.htm
That’s what I am wondering. I can’t find scriptures where church boards have equal power to the pastor when it comes to voting on things, much less any scripture where a deacon board has much power at all - period.
That’s what I am wondering. I can’t find scriptures where church boards have equal power to the pastor when it comes to voting on things, much less any scripture where a deacon board has much power at all - period.
There, I fixed it for you.
I would say the power is vested to them by the Congregation that elected them to the search committee.
That’s their job...to review the applications first and present those they feel are the best qualified and best match for the church.
Why would you use first come/ first served? If the job description is posted, isn’t there a cut-off date for applications? Any paperwork received before the cutoff should be considered, not just the first one or two in the IN box.
If the search is for a new pastor, why would they be advising the old one who is leaving?
Where in the Bible is there one Scripture where something like a church board is even mentioned?
I am Catholic. I don’t get a vote. I have to take whatever the Diocese sends me and I have to live with it until they decide to send someone else.
I have often felt that was not quite Kosher. LMAO Kosher,LOL.
As for the Board tossing applicants...sure they should.
If a certain criteria was not met..say number of years experience, education, etc...Not met? Tossed. If references are iffy...tossed. Issues with theology not matching the church...tossed.
Why waste the Boards or the congregations time on someone not suitable from the start?
In my home church, yes. It is run by the board of elders, not the pastor. We expect our pastor to be obedient to the elders and all to be obedient to Christ.
So yes, they should be able to toss out or weed out applicants they feel would not make a good fit. Endless friction between a pastor and the elders would be harmful.
It’s up to the church body to maintain a group of elders that are spiritually fit and willing to do their job.
There is always the power of the purse.
I don’t understand what you mean by power of the purse...
You can’t have 200 applicants try out, nor can you let a church board/deacon board toss out names because they might toss out names of those ministers they think they cannot control. Just as there have been corrupt preachers, corrupt church boards/deacon boards also exist.
The only solution is to make it known that the position is open and allow at most the first 12 who have applied to each be able to preach one time before the church. That’s Wednesday, Sunday morning, Sunday night - for 4 weeks. The members should be praying, and then decide, with multiple votes possibly being necessary until one gets 50% plus. of the vote.
The only 12 who should be considered are those in good standing with the fellowship, and are either licensed or ordained to preach within that fellowship. If they meet that criteria, one of those 12 will most likely end up being the pastor. No tossing of names then by a board that might toss the names of those ministers they know they won’t be able to control.
You can’t have 200 applicants try out, nor can you let a church board/deacon board toss out names because they might toss out names of those ministers they think they cannot control. Just as there have been corrupt preachers, corrupt church boards/deacon boards also exist.
The only solution is to make it known that the position is open and allow at most the first 12 who have applied to each be able to preach one time before the church. That’s Wednesday, Sunday morning, Sunday night - for 4 weeks. The members should be praying, and then decide, with multiple votes possibly being necessary until one gets 50% plus. of the vote.
The only 12 who should be considered are those in good standing with the fellowship, and are either licensed or ordained to preach within that fellowship. If they meet that criteria, one of those 12 will most likely end up being the pastor. No tossing of names then by a board that might toss the names of those ministers they know they won’t be able to control.
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