This Sunday we gather for our quarterly general meeting. These meetings matter. They express who we are as a church. We are congregational. We believe Christ is Lord of His church, and that His Word is our final authority. And we believe He has given every member both the privilege and the responsibility to participate in the life and decisions of the church.
Our Baptist principle states it clearly. Each member is gifted. Each member is needed. Each member participates in appointing leaders. And when we meet as a constituted church, under the Lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture, that meeting becomes the highest court of authority for our local church. This is not merely procedure. It is obedience. It is stewardship. It is congregational life under Christ.
To help us honour this principle, we follow clear and transparent guidelines. You can review them here: https://www.benonibaptistchurch.com/guidelines-for-a-general-meeting/. These guidelines explain how we conduct ourselves. How motions are made. How decisions are taken. How we proceed in an orderly and God-honouring way.
Here is the agenda for Sunday’s meeting, which will take place directly after the morning service:
- Call to order
- Establish quorum
- Approval of previous minutes by show of hands
- Adopt agenda by show of hands
- Reports
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Pastor
- Unfinished Business
- Accept reviewed financials by show of hands
- New Business
- Changes to the constitution by ballot
- Confirmation of the treasurer by show of hands
- Confirmation of the secretary by show of hands
- Proposed changes to the elders section of the constitution
- Announcements
- Adjournment
Please read them before Sunday. Pray over them. Come prepared, informed, and ready to participate.
Christ builds His church. But He calls His people to steward it. Let us do that well. With unity. With clarity. With joy. And with confidence in the Lord who leads us.