If you’ve been at GCC this summer, you’ve heard us talk about officer nominations. You also heard the 1 Timothy sermon series that covered leadership in the local church as one of its topics. At this point, seven men have been nominated to office: three for elder, and four for deacon. The evaluation and selection of elders and deacons is one of the single most important functions of our church. Our leadership is key to the health, maturity, and identity of GCC.
You still have until August 31 (this Saturday!) to submit any other nominees to myself or any of the other elders. Once the nominations are closed, the candidates then enter into a process that begins with the session interviewing all of the nominees about their walk with God, their family life, and other relevant matters to see if they’re ready to be trained.
The names of all the candidates will then be published to the congregation. Since you will know who these men are, you can be praying for them during their officer training. You can go directly to them to with questions or encouragement about their sense of call.
Those candidates who have not trained for office at GCC in the past will receive training in the doctrine of the PCA and in the practices of GCC as a ministry. Our elders are looking for four things:
1. Life: They exhibit the godly characteristics of 1 Timothy 3 & Titus 1.
2. Doctrine: They are in accord with our church’s beliefs.
3. Ministry: They are already showing the gifts of the office to which they are sensing a call.
4. Vision: They embody GCC’s vision to produce disciples of Jesus Christ who worship in all of life and witness in word and deed.
The overall purpose of the officer training is to prepare these men to say “I do” to the following vows:
Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?
Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will, on your own initiative, make known to your Session the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?
Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity?
Do you accept the office of ruling elder (or deacon, as the case may be) in this church, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof, and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your life, and to set a worthy example before the Church of which God has made you an officer?
Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?
Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and edification of the Church?
At the end of this training, the candidates will complete a written exam for their office, and then complete a verbal exam with the elders. Only then will their names be proposed to the congregation for an actual vote. After that, a service is held for their ordination to office.
It is quite a process to even get to the election day! The process of identifying, training, and ordaining our officers is one of the most important things we do as a church. Officers at GCC are elected for life, and serve unless they take an occasional sabbatical.
As we prepare to start this process with these seven nominees, I’m reminded again of how diligently our current officers serve God and our church body. Thanks to Jeff Deal, Jonathan Velasquez, Jim Morton, Peter Edwards, and Win Wood, for serving alongside Tag and me as elders. Thanks also to Steve Hill, Randy Sawyer, Dave Hill, Mike Eiden and Terry Woodworth for serving as our deacons as well as Aaron Andreson, Mike Layman, and Fleming Straughan who assist the deacons.
I’m grateful for the men who have agreed to start this important journey! We’ll keep you posted on their progress along the way.
In Him,
Pastor Don