Officer Nominations: What is the Process?
Every Spring we come to a month-long period in which church members can nominate potential church officers.
Our Book of Church Order (BCO) states that authority in a church is exercised by church officers but that “the power to elect persons to the exercise of [that] authority” resides with the church members (Preliminary Principle, #6). The great power and privilege of the people of God is that they get to elect the leaders of their church.
But how do you know whom to elect and whether they are qualified? The qualifications for and authority of church officers are laid out for us in Scripture. Here is the process we follow at Midtown for nominating, training, and installing new officers:
Review the qualifications for office.
Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 and Acts 20:17, 28-32 in order to review the qualifications for elders. And read 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-7 to review the qualifications for deacons. You’ll notice most of these qualifications are about character. While competence is necessary, it’s not sufficient; it’s competence combined with godly character that creates a healthy church culture. Please review the biblical qualifications and prayerfully discern if there is a man that you would like to put forward as a potential officer and leader in our church.
Contact the man you wish to nominate
Please contact the man you hope to nominate to see if he’s willing to accept the nomination. As you’ll notice in 1 Timothy 3:1, Paul mentions that potential elders ought to “aspire to the office of overseer.” This role is challenging, and a man must sense he is called to it, and have a desire for it. Is he willing to be considered for and enter into the training and testing required of church officers? If the man you desire to nominate is willing to be nominated, proceed to step 3.
Contact one of our current elders
Please call or meet with one of our current elders to share that you would like to nominate a man who is a member of Midtown and that you believe he is qualified for the officer of elder or deacon. Once nominations close, those nominated will begin officer training, which begins in June and goes through the summer.
In further posts, I will describe what elders and deacons do, as well as what happens at officer training. Acts 6:3 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, pick out from among you…men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.” May Jesus, the King and Head of the church, lead us as we seek to obey him by raising up leaders who will humbly reflect him and wisely shepherd and serve his people.
— Pastor Rick