New Elders

Terry Hutchison, chairman of the board, speaks wisdom over the new board members. Board members are (from left): Terry Hutchison, Aaron Watson, Lee Smith, Dale Drury, Michael Rodriguez, Arthur Wint, David Morris, Steve Ocheltree and Robert Gonzales.

The congregation joins in giving  blessing and consent to the three new elders, as Terry Hutchison prays for the board and congregation.

Today's installation of our three new elders was indeed a church family occasion. It was a time to dedicate three new elders and their wives to serving our wonderful family. Of course, as Dr. Jason Locke, our preacher, pointed out, many, many people serve within our church. But, we dedicate a few men, who meet the biblical qualities that describe an elder, to do the tasks of ministering and administering over our whole church family.

Terry, Hutchison, the chairman of our church board, offered this job description of an elder:

Elders are
Shepherds not Commanders
Overseers not Overlords
Experienced and Wise not Perfect
Gentle Men not Angry Men
Servants not Nobility

He described the commitment level of these new elders:
A commitment to each other
Not exactly like Marriage
For Better or for Worse
In Poverty and in Wealth
In sickness and in Health
NOT forsaking all others--God, and our own spouse, are the first objects of our allegiance
NOT until death do us part--but the term is not limited

Each of the candidates agreed to the following:
Do you confess your faith in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Do you accept that you have been called by this church, and therefore by God, to this office as a servant and a leader?
Will you be diligent in your study of scripture and use your knowledge to teach this body of believers in grace and understanding?
Will you pray for this church and for all God's people, and will you lead them by your own example in faithful service and holy living?

The congregation then agreed to the following:
Do you receive and accept these men in the name of the Lord, as men duly chosen to the ministry of shepherd, overseer, and elder of this church?
Do you promise to respect and follow them in their role as elder for the sake of the body of Christ?
Do you promise to encourage and pray for them?
Do you promise to labor together with them in obedience to the gospel for the unity and peace of the church, as well as the welfare of the world, to the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ?
We declare these men to be duly installed as elders of this church, to the glory of God and the furthering of his kingdom.
All who agree say
AMEN!

Current elders' wives and members of the church family then surrounded the three wives, Gay Morris, Robyn Gonzales and Carolyn Ocheltree (that's me) and prayed for us.

Thank you, church family! It was a blessed day!

--Posted by Mama O.