ANNUAL ADMIN MTG. TONIGHT
As I have said the past couple of years, tonight’s meeting is a representation of a church’s trust as much as anything else. Some churches almost never vote, as Pastor Waterloo told us, “A vote is just a chance for disagreement.” Other churches vote every week, or for everything.
The congregation at Antioch was somehow unified by the Holy Spirit to send out Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13. It doesn’t say whether they took a vote, just that “when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” The Holy Ghost brings unity, and we try to trust His guidance as we go about the “business” of the church.
A pastor makes a recommendation as he is led of the Lord, often after much prayer and counsel, and a vote then democratically shows unity around that decision. The Scriptures emphasize unity, and a “holdout” is never seen favorably—they are dissenters who sow discord. This is most often in terms of doctrine, such as in the following:
- Romans 16:17 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
- Titus 3:10-11 – “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
But division is also about other areas that aren’t as explicitly doctrinal:
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
- Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- 2 Timothy 2:23-24 – “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 – “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
- Philippians 2:2-3 – “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
- James 3:16 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
- Ephesians 4:3 – “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
The trust I am talking about is in those areas that you might not have all the details—can you trust that the decision is best for our church? Not one person has all the details of every situation, so, by God’s grace, we go forward as a family and trust that we are all doing our individual parts to help the church body.
“Well, I think we should spend more on X and less on Y.”
I don’t doubt we could adjust some things in our budget, and we do every year. The question of trust is whether you believe the decisions made are foolish or wise, frivolous or intentional, selfish or generous, “wrong” or “right.”
I learned on year one of pastoring that I have never made a decision that had 100% agreement—not one! And I suppose I have to find a way to be okay with that.
My goal is to help our church be a place that connects people’s lives to God. I want us to bring the Bible home. I want the Great Commission to be real to every member, and the budget and other decisions all funnel into those goals. I love you, Church, and I am eager to see what 2025 holds as we go forward.
-Pastor Ryan