Today our discussion turns to the office of what is currently identified as Teaching Elder. In fact this is a return to language used earlier in the church. The office of Teaching Elder is the ordained office most commonly called Pastor, but also may be known as Minister of Word and Sacrament, Chaplain, Reverend, Preacher and sometimes with the Preschool kids, “Chapel Man.” The fact of the matter is that the Teaching Elder, like Deacons and Ruling Elders, are set apart for certain ministries. We have these diverse titles because the role of a Teaching Elder is unique to the gifts of the person and the needs of the ministry context they serve. Continue reading
Tag Archives: session
Christ Presbyterian Joins the Acts 16:5 Initative of the National Capital Presbytery
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At last night’s Session meeting, the Session endorsed Christ Presbyterian’s participation in the Acts 16:5 Initiative. In previous Tidbits I have given some insight into the content of the Initiative and shared some of my esteem for its leader, Stan Ott. I believe that our participation in this program will assist our congregation in developing a solid vision of what God is leading us to. Stan affirms that, “the Acts 15:6 Initiative does not propose a simple checklist of things to do. Rather, it suggests a wide variety of practices and practical “next steps” that a congregation may take.” I’m excited to see how God works through this program to address our unique issues and achieve our congregation’s specific God-given mission.
I’m sure that most of you are wondering what this entails. Here is an outline of the Acts 16:5 Initiative. Continue reading
Spiritual Passions and Spiritual Gifts
#000000;”>This past Saturday the Session of Christ Presbyterian Church met for a leadership development activity. I call it this because it didn’t fit into my definition of a retreat. After all, we were in the church building and were not removing ourselves from our normal reality to a place of respite or retreat. Instead, it was an interesting time of discovery and discussion.
Click here to go directly to the online Spiritual Gifts Survey
Stewardship for the Common Good
Last night the Session, which is the governing body of Christ Presbyterian Church, met for its stated monthly meeting. I remember times in my ministry that I used to dread going to session meetings. Even when I was an Elder in my home church, going to session meetings seemed more like a punishment rather than a blessing. I have been through session meetings that seemed more like struggling business meetings than a church council. I have to admit that last night I wasn’t feeling up to a session meeting. The cold, or whatever I have, sucked any energy for such a meeting out of me. Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to postpone the meeting. I know that people’s schedules are such that I need to do my best to honor their time. So I loaded up on medicine and tissues and went off to session. Continue reading
Led By The Spirit?
Each month the Session of Christ Presbyterian Church meets to conduct it’s stated meeting. Nine women and men selected “by God through the voice of this congregation” meet to hope, dream, listen and lead.
I have been involved with Sessions for over twenty years. I first served as an Elder in my home church at the age of sixteen. I remember going to my first Session meeting with no illusion as to what we were to be doing. This was a board that was supposed to make management decisions for the church and we met for the purpose of oversight and budget accountability. Continue reading