This afternoon we had our quarterly elders meeting in the chapel. An elders meeting is when a handful of supposedly more mature and spiritually grounded Christians who've been serving the Lord for a number of years, get together to discuss church business...
And the elders meeting is also when we discover that none of us really have a clue about what we are doing or about running a church.
As is usually the case, our meetings start with hugs and handshakes, an opening prayer, a list of matters to discuss, followed by three hours of arguing and bickering. Followed, afterwards, by a closing prayer and more hugs and handshakes. Attending these meetings also serves to remind me of something I already know and have known for a long time, that I am not cut out to be a pastor. It's not a job for me.
To me, our meetings as church leaders are proof that if it was not for the elders of the congregation, things would actually get done. Yes, you read the previous sentence correctly. When it comes to the elders, we're great when it comes to slowing down the Lord's work.
But don't get me wrong. I love my brothers in Christ. We're family and they're actually a swell bunch of guys, because with all our arguing, there's also plenty of friendly bantering. But there's plenty of time wasting, too. I try to take it in stride, however. I also try to make our elders meetings a learning experience - learning that we'd be better off without such gatherings, always having to butt heads. Ha!
D.B.
As is usually the case, our meetings start with hugs and handshakes, an opening prayer, a list of matters to discuss, followed by three hours of arguing and bickering. Followed, afterwards, by a closing prayer and more hugs and handshakes. Attending these meetings also serves to remind me of something I already know and have known for a long time, that I am not cut out to be a pastor. It's not a job for me.
To me, our meetings as church leaders are proof that if it was not for the elders of the congregation, things would actually get done. Yes, you read the previous sentence correctly. When it comes to the elders, we're great when it comes to slowing down the Lord's work.
But don't get me wrong. I love my brothers in Christ. We're family and they're actually a swell bunch of guys, because with all our arguing, there's also plenty of friendly bantering. But there's plenty of time wasting, too. I try to take it in stride, however. I also try to make our elders meetings a learning experience - learning that we'd be better off without such gatherings, always having to butt heads. Ha!
D.B.
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