Comments on: Four Ways To Engage The Elders of Your Church http://www.toddawilson.com/2009/06/08/four-ways-to-engage-the-elders-of-your-church/ The writings, thoughts and musings of... Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:00:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: brizobrown http://www.toddawilson.com/2009/06/08/four-ways-to-engage-the-elders-of-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-122 brizobrown Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:37:54 +0000 http://www.toddawilson.com/?p=374#comment-122 Thanks for the good words, Todd. Our culture today has been taught to distrust and challenge authority. While it is good to be discerning and aware of false teachers, a churchman should respect his elders unless the teachings of scripture are contradicted. Brian Wildman Visit my blog at www.solid-foundation.blogspot.com Thanks for the good words, Todd. Our culture today has been taught to distrust and challenge authority. While it is good to be discerning and aware of false teachers, a churchman should respect his elders unless the teachings of scripture are contradicted.

Brian Wildman

Visit my blog at http://www.solid-foundation.blogspot.com

]]> By: derek http://www.toddawilson.com/2009/06/08/four-ways-to-engage-the-elders-of-your-church/comment-page-1/#comment-120 derek Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:47:04 +0000 http://www.toddawilson.com/?p=374#comment-120 I'm really glad you are addressing this topic, Pastor Todd. In my 9 years at Calvary, I've heard a number of people refer to the elders in a very disparaging way. This makes me very uncomfortable because in most cases, the critics are operating with a limited set of facts or have heard only one side of an argument/complaint that has multiple dimensions. I also appreciate your important reminder that God holds leaders to a high standard and they will give an account for each decision they make. Some people struggle with people in authority because they have seen power abused and they imagine - incorrectly - that these abuses have gone unnoticed by God. But it ought to also remind us that God will also judge and discipline church members who gossip, tear down and play a divisive role in the body of Christ. There are two sides to this coin - a responsibility for those in leadership and also for those of us who have been commanded to obey, honor and respect the authority God has placed in our lives. One question I have about the list of 4 ways to interact: If people have questions about decisions that have been made, isn't there a 5th way to interact with the elders, where people can ask questions about decisions that have been made, or even to offer their input into pending decisions? I know this kind of communication can take more time out of an already busy schedule and limited resources, and I also realize that there are issues of confidentiality, but it does seem like there could be more communication than there is today (with the church members). I’m really glad you are addressing this topic, Pastor Todd. In my 9 years at Calvary, I’ve heard a number of people refer to the elders in a very disparaging way. This makes me very uncomfortable because in most cases, the critics are operating with a limited set of facts or have heard only one side of an argument/complaint that has multiple dimensions.

I also appreciate your important reminder that God holds leaders to a high standard and they will give an account for each decision they make. Some people struggle with people in authority because they have seen power abused and they imagine – incorrectly – that these abuses have gone unnoticed by God. But it ought to also remind us that God will also judge and discipline church members who gossip, tear down and play a divisive role in the body of Christ. There are two sides to this coin – a responsibility for those in leadership and also for those of us who have been commanded to obey, honor and respect the authority God has placed in our lives.

One question I have about the list of 4 ways to interact: If people have questions about decisions that have been made, isn’t there a 5th way to interact with the elders, where people can ask questions about decisions that have been made, or even to offer their input into pending decisions? I know this kind of communication can take more time out of an already busy schedule and limited resources, and I also realize that there are issues of confidentiality, but it does seem like there could be more communication than there is today (with the church members).

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