Officer Nominations & Elections
By John DishmanThe recently held pulpit committee election was important in the life of our church, but the forthcoming election of officers is equally so. As stipulated by our church by-laws, this election is held at the congregation's annual meeting on the 3rd Wednesday evening of January. The by-laws call for a two-step nomination process applicable to both the election of ruling elders to the Session, and the election of deacons to the Board of Deacons. In the first step the congregation nominates male members of their choice to go through the officer training course. In the second step, men previously ordained to an office can be re-nominated to serve in that office; or men not previously ordained who have taken, or are taking, the officer training course can be nominated to serve in either office.
The Town North by-laws and the PCA Book of Church Order (BCO) spell out in great detail the requirements for men nominated as an officer to become qualified to stand for election. Given the events of a year ago, the Session desires to make the entire process as open and as transparent as possible, while at the same time scrupulously adhering to the requirements of both documents. To aid in this process, the Session has posted 3 documents for use by the congregation. The first is a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) document that attempts to anticipate questions that congregation members might have about the process, and to provide answers to those expected questions. The second document is a selection of excerpts from both the BCO and the TNPC by-laws specifically pertaining to the election of officers. Finally, the third document is the nomination form itself. One form is to be used for each nominee, and includes space for the nominator to indicate the reason he or she is nominating the man of their choice. Additionally, it spells out suggested guidelines to be followed in considering whom to nominate for these offices. In particular, it reminds the congregation that the Biblical requirements for elder and deacon are spelled out in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and urges members to read these passages prior to making a nomination. The nomination form also gives a list (found on the back of the form) of all men who are eligible to be nominated for membership on the Session and/or on the Board of Deacons. These are men who are eligible because they meet one of the qualifications mentioned in the discussion of the "second step" above.
This year the Session has instituted one additional requirement to the nomination process. Because the officer training course we are using-taught by Pastor Pete-covers not only theological material, but also the important areas of spiritual leadership, shepherding and discipleship, the Session believes that even men previously ordained to the office of ruling elder should attend the course in order to be qualified for nomination for re-election. All four of the off-Session ruling elders are attending the course. Seventeen other men are also attending, including the three ruling elders currently on the Session. The result is that a total of 21 men are eligible to be considered for election as officers in the coming year. This is a very positive development in the life of the church, since it shows a commitment by the men of the church to come together as leaders. It also shows the congregation's enthusiasm for and engagement in the process.
The Session asks the congregation to be in prayer for the officer election process this year. We should be seeking the Lord's guidance as He raises up leaders for our congregation. The Session urges each member to read the three documents described above that detail the officer nomination and election process. These documents, along with the box used to receive completed nomination forms, are found in the narthex. Don't hesitate to ask either of our pastors - or any other Session member - any question that you may have about the process or the material found in the three documents.
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