On Sunday 15th March, we will hold our Annual General Meeting. This is the opportunity for church members to hear about the past 12 months of ministry, ratify our budget, and offer suggestions to Parish Council. Yet the most important task of an AGM is to vote on our church’s office holders, namely our Wardens, Parish Councillors, Synod Reps and Church Nominators.
Our sermon passage today highlights the importance of selecting the right people for such roles. According to the Bible, church leadership is almost ALL about character. Whether a person has the necessary skills, or a deep will to serve, is of minor importance to God. What makes the most impact in Christian ministry is being of good Christian character.
Most of the leadership roles within Earlwood Anglican are appointed by the ministry staff (e.g. Bible study leaders, Sunday School teachers, Youth group leaders, Service leaders, Prayer leaders, Bible readers, Song leaders, Scripture teachers). As such, it is the ministers’ role to ensure these people are above reproach. To be above reproach does not mean sinless. It means there are no clouds hanging over that person’s character. If people see people being appointed to such roles with questionable reputation, it affects gospel ministry at our church.
However, in the Anglican system, church office holders are appointed by the congregation at the AGM. While the ministry staff are not idle in this process, asking people of noble character to accept nomination, the final say lies with the congregation. Anyone can be nominated from the floor (so long as they’re 18, are baptised, and are a regular member of our church), and can therefore be voted in. While only people of noble character have been nominated during my time, and I see no reason this would change, 1 Tim 3 reminds us not to be complacent about this.
So, please be praying for our AGM, and come along, to be a part of our church moving forward in Christ.
