Louisa Interim

Church's Involvement in Pastoral Search process

Thanks to those who took part in conversation yesterday about pastoral search process. I do not usually share that information with a large group in the church. Usually we are only invited to share that with leadership groups and those asked to serve. But I hope it was helpful.

Pray for the Leadership Enlistment Team daily. They are seeking the Lord's will and what is best for the congregation. They need your prayer support as they determine the next best steps. And there is not an easy solution to keep the church moving forward. But God has a clear solution. Let’s let Him work through the Leadership Enlistment Team.

A question was raised about the involvement of the church in the process. I undoubtedly was not clear in the rush of getting through so let write down some of my thoughts about how most churches are involved in this process in a healthy way:

• Pray! Pray! Pray!

• Congregation will affirm the selection of the Pastoral Search Team.

• Each member will be asked to share their thoughts with the team about the perceived needs of the congregation and expectations of the pastor.

• Congregation will pray for the team.

• Congregation will receive regular reports from the team about their process.

• Congregation will encourage the Pastoral Search Team through personal affirmations and notes.

• Members will be allowed to submit recommendations of names of pastors they know who could serve as pastor.

• Congregation will keep praying.

• Congregation will approve financial package for pastor.

• Congregation will have opportunity to meet and ask questions of the final candidate that the Pastor Search Team brings in view of a call.

• Congregation will vote to call new pastor.

• Congregation will provide support, encourage, love, and follow the leadership of the new pastor.

What questions remain in your mind about this process?

Two big elements are important in the Baptist way of selecting a pastor - trust and prayer. If either element is missing, most churches are unsuccessful in creating a good match.

Five Enemies of Unity - Enemy Number 2

I took a detour last week from talking about Dave Ramsey’s Five Enemies of Unity due to Veterans Day, but let’s move to Public Enemy Number #2 – Unbridled Gossip. Ramsey is convinced that gossip can kill an organizational spirit quicker than anything else. In fact, he states in his business organization, sharing gossip is a reason to be fired. WOW!

 

What is it about gossip that makes it so prevalent in the Baptist church? Gossip destroys. Here are some biblical references to the power of gossip in Proverbs:

·         Proverbs 11:13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

·         Proverbs 16:28 -- A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

·         Proverbs 18:8 - The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.

·         Proverbs 20:19 -- A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

·         Proverbs 26:20 -- Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 

Paul lists gossips alongside slanders and God-Haters in Romans 1 as he describes the depraved condition of humanity. When he reprimands the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 12, he writes, “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.”

 

So beware! If you want to destroy the church, allow gossip to reign in your journey. If you want the church to be united and live out its mission of God’s community, then change your language.

 

How do you stop it? Pray that God will help your language be clear. When you hear someone else disparaging someone else, speak the truth the love and remind them that disciples are called to live differently. Paul reminds us of the importance of our language in Ephesians 4. Gossip destroys! Don’t let it have sway in your circles of friends, even at the church.

 

Just a reminder – following the 11:00 worship service November 23, we will meet in the fellowship hall to talk about the steps of the pastoral search process. Several have expressed interest in understanding more about what takes place in this process. Join us if you can.

For What Are You Thankful This Year?

Thanksgiving brings fond memories for me. It has always been a family gathering point for the Kesslers. While I must admit we would gather around the dinner table or the TV to watch football, I will always remember my mother’s smile and my dad’s laughter around our gathering. We would always take time to say one thing for which we were thankful before we ate lunch. Over the years, we five boys grew from answers like our dog or our baseball glove to remembering friends or a special family member or even the price Jesus paid for our lives.

 

I guess Paul would have been good at the Thanksgiving table. When he was remembering his friends in Philippi, he shared with them, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

 

I am thankful for you as a church. 2008 has been a difficult year for you as a congregation, but you have kept the faith and continue the partnership that God has called you to. So I encourage you to claim the promise that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.

 

What are you thankful for this year?

 

Next week, we begin our celebration of Advent. It’s my favorite time of the year. We will celebrate together the coming of our Lord. I hope you will plan to be here each Sunday and Christmas Eve as we celebrate as a community. Invite a friend to join you for our celebrations.

Apologies to the Choir . . .

It won't be the last mistake I make, but I really blew it in 11:00 service yesterday. The choir was poised to sing, and I just got up to preach without even acknowledging them. It was a big mistake because I know that they had given good preparation for leading us in worship.

I have asked the choir members for their forgiveness and also those who rushed up to me yesterday to remind me that I had left the choir out.

You know, some days you would just do better to stay in bed - even if you did get an extra hour of sleep.