A digest of our elders oversight meeting, 9 July 2026

Our elders met this past Thursday for an oversight meeting. We gathered with 1 Corinthians 11 open, prayer ascending. As Paul writes, Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God. We desire to remain transparent before you. What follows is a faithful account of what we can share publically.

The elders discussed the need to revisit and rewrite staff letters of appointment. We will also update our disciplinary process and staff job descriptions. These are matters of order. Not bureaucracy. Clarity protects the church. Clarity protects those who serve.

We have compiled a set of policies for adoption by the executive. We clarify the qualifications of elders and deacons. We explain how congregational meetings run. We explain how members may bring a motion from the floor. The executive has had sufficient time to comment. We will now send a request for comment to the congregation.

The constitutional committee will convene to write the next section for the AGM. We will focus on Membership and Church Discipline. The desire is this, move the authority for decisions regarding who enters membership and who is put out away from the executive to the congregation. This is biblical recovery. The church decides who belongs to the church.

The congregation has nominated deacons. And we have deacons up for renomination. Before our next executive meeting, we will rearticulate the qualifications to them. We will urge them to examine themselves. Examine their ministry. Consider the weight of the office. What is the weight? Executive meetings one night a month. Regular decisions during the month. Vision meetings on one or two Saturdays a year. Expected attendance at every Sunday service. Prayer meetings on Sunday evenings. And a pastoral call for the church plant is coming. In addition to leading their ministry portfolio. At our next executive meeting, we will ask them, Will you stand? Will you not stand? We will make enquiries regarding their qualifications. We will affirm the decision to bring their names to the congregation. With time to spare before the AGM.

We will review our financial policy. We will make it available to the congregation alongside our other policy documents. We are investigating a bank card for the church office to reduce cash on hand. Prudence. Not mistrust. Wisdom.

We had a wonderful financial year in 2026. This is the Lord’s provision. Not our merit. His faithfulness. Part of the way we intend to use the surplus is to support other Baptist works we have close relationships with. To that end, we will sponsor a catered lunch for five senior pastors. We will discuss practical matters that relate to church health. We will invite a respected pastor to facilitate these conversations. Iron sharpens iron.

When we purchased 35 Wordsworth Road, the stated intent was office use. Over time, and presently, it serves dual purpose. Office and residence. We will bring this change to the congregation at the AGM. Transparency demands it.

We discussed fire extinguishers for the lithium iron batteries since the solar upgrade. Safety. Stewardship. And we discussed the possible need to update our Certificates of Compliance.

We have multiple lists. Renovation. Maintenance. Vision projects. We will bring these together into a single document. We will prioritise. We will make it available to all members.

David will make the proposal to paint the brick work in the church on behalf of the executive at the SGM. This is on the advice of the interior designer. Her recommendations and colour palette have been adopted for continuity throughout the building.

We discussed the need for inexpensive fencing for the kids’ play area. Pool fencing. Or wooden fencing. We will action this with the deacons. As soon as possible. The children are not peripheral. They are the inheritance of the Lord.

The first phase of changing our parking lot was a success. We created parking bays for thirteen vehicles. We will start the process of reclaiming parking space opposite the church office. This includes cutting trees. Landscaping. The hope is thirteen additional bays. This serves the body. This serves our visitors.

We agreed that Lance and Evans may do baptisms. This is a recognition of their calling. The next baptismal service is scheduled for Sunday, 26 July.

We discussed an open elder ordination process for Gerhard. We will invite pastors from the Baptist Northern Association. There will be sections related to affirmations and denials open to the congregation. This is not a private ceremony. It is a public recognition. Let the church see. Let the church affirm.

Yolanda has met with members interested in mercy ministry. She has offered a plan. We reviewed the plan. We made suggestions for the future. We decided to support her as the ministry team lead. Mercy is not optional. It is the shape the gospel takes. The one who received mercy now extends mercy.

We share these matters not to burden you but to include you. You are not spectators. You are the household of faith. We ask for your prayers. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to oversee the flock God has entrusted to us. We do not take this lightly. We cannot do it without grace. We cannot do it without you.