“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”-Acts 14:23
In January of 2021, this congregation completed an 18-month process of selecting men to be ordained as overseers in the church of Christ at North Second Street. The process was successful and two men were chosen. However, one of those two expressed a lack of desire to fulfill the office and we have continued without shepherds.
During the same Men’s Business Meeting (January 31), it was decided to revisit the process in one year. Believe it or not, 12-months have passed. Last Sunday, I presented the first of four lessons to prepare our minds to select two or more men for the office of bishop. Christ gave himself to cleanse the church and organized local congregations with elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-13). Our group has gone nearly a quarter century without fitting ourselves to this divine pattern. May God bless us as we repent, humble ourselves, and ordain overseers for our congregation.
October 24, 2021 If At First You Don’t Succeed
November 21, 2021 What Elders Look Like In The Mirror
December 12, 2021 A City With Walls
January 9, 2022 Put In Order
(Anonymous ballots handed out to individual members)
January 30, 2022 Names counted and announced after morning services. If two or more men reach the threshold (55% of ballots returned), a Men’s Business Meeting will occur at 4:PM to ask the selected men if they desire the office. If they do, two men will be selected as Appointers.
February 6, 2022 Sheets with names put in mailboxes.
February 27, 2022 Any objections collected (no anonymous sheets accepted). The two men chosen as Appointers will schedule times to meet with those who object (if any) with the goal of reconciliation. The Appointers will act as a go between for those with questions/objections and the men under consideration.
March 27, 2022 The two men chosen as Appointers will give a conclusion/update to the congregation after morning services. If all objections have been overcome (for at least two men), the congregation will give assent to ordaining elders at North Second Street.
If the Lord wills, North Second Street will be scripturally organized in March of 2022.
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