WHO IS QUALIFIED TO SERVE IN THE SESSION?

Every three years our church will elect or re-elect our Session members and each time the task of asking people to stand for election is never an easy one.

FEAR
Fear is always the major concern for most people who have been approached to consider being a Session member. What kind of fear these people have? It is always the fear of not being spiritually qualified for the office although we know they are qualified, that is why they have been approached.

The biblical qualifications of a deacon or elder/bishop is found I 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. This spiritual qualification should not only be for those who are church officers, but they should also be our constant personal spiritual qualification.

SERVICE
Some people may feel that they can do more rather than be in the Session. As it is for some people, they are already doing much for the Lord, therefore, they do not see the need to take on another appointment, especially an official one as a church officer.

BUSYNESS
Time is of utmost importance to many people. We a very busy people in the church and in the work place. Our members also need our time. To be in the Session is to spend a little more time in church. Some people struggle in this area as they decide on serving the Lord in the Session.

A CHURCH WITHOUT A SESSION?
Would that happen to Grace church one day? We would have to change our church constitution if this happen. A church without a Session will be run by a single person. Will that be healthy for the church? Maybe we should put away the name "SESSION" and call the ruling body "COMMITTEE". What is the difference, if those who come forth and serve the Lord MUST have the biblical qualifications. The Church Session must be in place in Grace church. We must have a plurality of elders and deacons/deaconesses. The church leadership must never be a "one-man" leader. The Pastor and Session must lead the church together.

SELECT THE RIGHT PERSONS FOR THE SESSION
Our church election is coming up in December 2009. Please pray for the right persons to come into this office.

• Look out for spiritually qualified people for the task. We are not looking for the world's qualified person. Neither are we looking for the powerful or rich.
• The candidates should be a member of our church for the last 5 years. The candidate must not be a young Christian. A good gauge would be a Christian for at least five years. Even so, such people would have to be tested in service for the Lord first.
• Married or single are welcome to serve the Lord in the Session.
• The Person who serve in the Session must be in agreement with the Constitution of Grace Church and the Westminster Confession of Faith. We are a B-P Church. We are reformed in our belief. We are Calvinistic and Pre-millennial in eschatology. (Look up our doctrinal distinctive in the Constitution)
• Humility in the life of the Session member is crucial for service (read up 1 Peter 5: 1-5). Without humility we can't work together. The Session is a place of service to the Lord. It is not a place of contention or opposition to the ministry. The Session exist to serve the Lord and build His Church. We are not there with our own agenda. Leadership is servant hood (Mark 9: 35).

BE A PART OF THE CHURCH SESSION
I know some people may think that it is not necessary to be in the Session to build the church. That is true. But we need people in the Session to make important decisions for the church ministry. There must be some people who are willing to come forward to take on the task and responsibility to lead the church.

I am thankful to the Lord for the present Session members who stood with me and serve the Lord with joy these years. We are few in number now, but we must increase the number, God-willing, in this coming election.

The nomination for the candidates will only be done sometime in early November. In the meantime we, in the Session, are still looking out for candidates. If you have anyone one in mind now, please talk to any Session member.

The church election is a crucial part of the church life. Those who lead the church must be hand picked carefully. They are the ones who lead the church in the way of the Lord. They must be people of the Lord's choice. We are the instruments to elect these people. We must do so carefully and biblically.

Pastor