Why has it been recommended that a leader not serve in more than one office in the local church? My church is small, and I don't have may options.
The Church Manual says, "In the distribution of duties pertaining to church activities, care should be taken not to lay too much responsibility upon willing workers, while others with perhaps lesser talents are passed by. The election of one individual to several offices is to be discouraged unless circumstances make it necessary. The elder especially should be left free from other burdens to perform effectually the many duties of this sacred office" (p. 52). The best option for each congregation is to have the maximum number of people doing something for the church, not what we see today where one person is overloaded with activities. The Church Manual presents a case, as an exception, when a member may in certain circumstances assume more than one position, but this should not be practiced as a rule. Each pastor and elder should train new leaders and not work always with the same group of people. Delegating responsibility and training others for the work should be a common practice in our churches. When we select one person to fill several offices, we show that we are not training new leaders. Besides under-stimulating the church's leadership, this sends the wrong message to other members, suggesting that we don't trust their spiritual gifts. Challenge yourself in the next nominating committee to correct this problem, or your church may become lethargic.
An elder who has been removed from the church loses his ordination. When he returns and is rebaptized, could he be an elder again?
In past years, the Church Manual forbade an elder removed from church membership from becoming an elder again. Currently, the manual does not forbid it. And by not forbidding, it is understood that in some cases, such a person could be elected once again as an elder. Every elder is ordained for this position. With the discipline of removal, he immediately loses his ordination. In the future, if he regularizes his situation with the church and the church elects him to be an elder once again, he will have to be ordained again. Much care should be taken before we nominate someone in such a situation. An elder should have certain spiritual and moral qualities to serve in such post. No hasty decision should be made without considering whether sufficient time has elapsed. The church leader should be above any personal problem that might expose him to criticism from the congregation.
General Conference Ministerial Association
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