Thoughts from the Elders:

Over the last few months, the Elder’s board has been challenged to discuss and seek the Lord about a number of challenges for RBC. Some of these remain items for thought an prayer while others have already resulted in some preliminary action. For the purpose of this report, we’ll pose the challenges in the form of questions and then give our current thoughts and musings to date. Hopefully it will give you some idea of what we are thinking about and give you an opportunity to engage with us in considering them…

ONE: The Gospel (“Good News”) forms the backbone of our faith. How can we remind each other as a congregation about the gospel and its implications for our lives?

Ideas/thoughts:

• A Gospel Crash Course to be held concurrent with four consecutive Sunday luncheons (Darryl is currently developing an outline for it)
• Regular Christian communion/fellowship is so important for everyone. “Hi, how are ya” on Sunday morning doesn’t allow us to engage, challenge and spur each other on to live in the power of the Holy Spirit every day. Expect more emphasis on the importance small groups and living out our faith in close community with other believers

TWO: We need to pray more, at least as a corporate body. How can we look to God together more consistently to ensure that we are looking to Him to accomplish His work in and through us as opposed to trying to orchestrate things on our own?

Ideas/Thoughts:

A team of passionate pray-ers have recently met with and made recommendations to the elders board. More info to follow… certainly there will be more opportunities to pray and we will explore the why pray question through future discussions and sermons.

THREE: C.S. Lewis once described the church as “terrible as an army with banners, spread out over time and into eternity”. How might we mobilize as a congregation to spread the Gospel, locally and remotely? Our somewhat sprawling demographics (many people don’t live in the immediate region) and our limited interactions with one another (often we see each other only on Sunday morning) pose some difficulties in forming sustainable local initiatives.

Ideas/Thoughts:

• Map out where people live in order to see possibilities for regional initiatives (we started this already, remember the map in the foyer?)
• Participate in Toronto-wide initiatives that express a heart for city-wide revival (e.g. Tim Keller – FEB)

FOUR: Our building is expensive and underutilized. How can we share it with the local community of believers and also use it to reach out to the neighborhood?

Ideas/Thoughts:

• Open the facility to outside ministries
• Share the church building with another congregation
• Conversational English, ESL, Homework programs are all possibilities

This is a glimpse of some of the things we are working through. Please understand that we covet your prayers and your input. If some of these thoughts spark questions or a desire for dialogue, please speak to one of the elders. We would love to hear from you.

Bryan Campbell, Grant Caven, Dave Cook, Darryl Dash, Jon McMurray

This past Sunday, October 28, we held a members meeting to affirm Richview’s first elders. “The Elders are collectively responsible to oversee the doctrine, direction, and discipline of the Church.”

The following individuals received the required affirmation, and along with Pastor Darryl form Richview’s first Board of Elders:

Bryan Campbell
Grant Caven
Dave Cook
Jon McMurray

Please pray for these individuals as they take on this important responsibility.

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. On October 28, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

There are two church offices in the Bible: Elder and Deacon. It is best to keep these roles separate. Elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation. Deacons serve by administering the finances, buildings, and ministries of the church.

The candidates for elders are Bryan Campbell, Grant Caven, David Cook, and Jon McMurray. The senior pastor is an unelected member of the Board of Elders.

Qualifications

The qualifications for elders are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9. 1 Peter 5:1-4 describes how elders are to conduct themselves.

The emphasis in these passages is on character and godliness. It is emphasized more than skill, age, or any other factor.

We ask that you prayerfully read these passages as we prepare for next week’s meeting.

One writer says:

Finding men who desire the noble task of overseer is of great importance. Choosing pastors is the most important decision a congregation makes, for the pastors will shape the congregation through their teaching and their model. And given that, the Lord calls us to find men who “shepherd the flock of God… exercising oversight… willingly, as God would have [us]… eagerly… being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). May the Lord give us discernment, patience, and clarity of thought and observation as we seek reliable men who desire this noble task. (Thabiti Anyabwile)

On October 28, a members meeting will be held to appoint Richview’s first elders. “The Elders are collectively responsible to oversee the doctrine, direction, and discipline of the Church.”

The qualifications for elders are as follows: “Qualifications for Elders are those outlined in Titus 1:6-9. Only those who have been Members of the Church for the two preceding years may serve as Elders, with the exception of the Senior Pastor and those who have previously served as Deacons. Only males may serve as Elders.” The Senior Pastor is automatically a member of this Board of Elders.

Members have been given an opportunity to nominate individuals to serve as Elders. The following individuals have accepted their nominations, and have been interviewed and recommended by the Deacons. The Board of Deacons hereby recommend to the church that these individuals be affirmed as Elders:

Bryan Campbell
Grant Caven
Dave Cook
Jon McMurray

A two-thirds (2/3) vote of Members present at a duly constituted Meeting of Members is required to affirm each individual as an Elder.

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. On October 28, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

There are two church offices in the Bible: Elder and Deacon. It is best to keep these roles separate. Elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation. Deacons serve by administering the finances, buildings, and ministries of the church.

The 3-Ds of Eldership

The duties of elders will fall into three broad categories:

• Doctrine – to pay attention to the doctrine of the church, to “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9; see also Acts 20:28-31)
• Direction – decision making, planning, administrating, delegating, and governing the details of church life
• Discipline – to “keep watch over you as those who must give an account” (Hebrews 13:17; see also Titus 2:15)

This means that the elders will meet around important issues: defining and clarifying the church’s beliefs and principles of ministry; developing a distinctive mission and vision; evaluating major ministries; improving pastoral care; and planning for the future. The Word of God and prayer (Acts 6:4) will be priorities.

Coming next week:

What are the qualifications for elders?

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. In October, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

Last week we saw that there are two church offices in the Bible: Elder and Deacon. Elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation.

Deacons

Up until now, we have essentially expected our deacons to function as elders. When we give our deacons the dual role of deacon and elder, we give them an unmanageable role and expect too much.

Deacon literally means “servant.” In contrast to elders, deacons do not have ruling authority over the church, nor are they expected to be able to teach.

From Acts 6:1-6 (which may refer to deacons) and 1 Timothy 3:8-13, it seems that deacons had the following functions:

• Caring for the finances of the church
• Administering the affairs of the church
• Ministering to physical needs

The Difference

Elders at Richview will oversee the doctrine, direction, and discipline of the Church.

Deacons will direct the financial, benevolent, ordinance, and facility operations of the Church, as well as directly oversee ministries.

Coming in the next few weeks:

• What will elders do?
• What are the qualifications for elders?

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. In October, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

Two Offices: Elder and Deacon

In the New Testament, there are two basic types of church offices (Philippians 1:1). The first goes by many different names: elder, pastor, overseer, bishop. These terms are used interchangeably for the same office (Acts 20:17-28, Titus 1:5,7).

The other office is deacon.

Meaning of Elder

The different names for elder give an idea of what elders are:

• “overseee” literally means “one who supervises”
• “elder” could refer to chronological age or special status within the community
• “pastor” means shepherd

Elders fulfill a spiritual task. They anoint the sick (James 5:14), preach, teach, admonish, and guard against heresy (Titus 1:9), and govern the church (1 Timothy 5:17). Some have a special role in teaching (1 Timothy 5:17).

The New Testament consistently uses a plural form for elders, which means that the responsibilities were shared by a group of elders.

In summary: elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation.

Coming in the next few weeks:

• What is the difference between elders and deacons?
• What will elders do?
• What are the qualifications for elders?