Nominations for elders and deacons

Our annual general meeting is a month away. Sunday, 20 September. After the morning service. The church gathers to give account. To look forward. And to appoint those who will serve us into our future.

This is weighty work. Not administrative. Not procedural. Spiritual.

In January, our executive invited the church to submit written nominations for deacons. You responded. We considered each name carefully. We weighed them prayfully. From those nominations, the executive identified suitable candidates. Each has undergone a six-month period of testing. Not a formality. A proving. We watched. We prayed. We asked hard questions. We interviewed each candidate. We asked, Do you want to serve? We inquired about their homes. Their ministries. Their walk with Christ. We tested their qualification according to 1 Timothy 3. Not perfect men. But qualified men. And women. Those whose lives bear the marks of faithful service.

We prayed over them. Discussed them. Then we took a decision. A united decision. A decision we now bring to you:

The executive nominate or renominates David Somerset and Gerhard Wessels as elders.

And the executive nominates or renominates the following deacons: David Bell, in Prayer. Ian Bowie in Stewards. Rina Bowie in Hospitality. Jackie Gittins in Visitation. Tyrone Long in Builders Community Life Group. Evans Odhiambo in Evangelism. Lance Long in Worship. Barbara Somerset in Ladies.

These are men and women of character. Proven. Faithful. Ready.

Two men who were up for renomination have asked not to have their names put forward.

The first is Robert Burge. Our church secretary. Robert has served well. His service has been steady. Quiet. Essential. But Robert has asked to step aside. This creates a concern. Presently, there is no one to replace Robert from within our ranks. We have no successor at the ready. Robert has offered to continue serving until a new secretary is found. A gracious offer. A servant’s heart. The executive will interview a prospective man at our September meeting. However we will not hurry the nomination or election process. So pray with us about this.

Andre Broodryk has served Benoni Baptist Church with excellence. Not only as senior pastor. After Mark arrived, Andre supported his smooth transition as an elder. He gives wise counsel. He provides stability. He leads faithfully. Andre will not bear the responsibilities of elder going forward. But he has availed himself to ongoing ministry at the church. He remains among us. He will serve. Not as elder. But as brother. As our friend. We are grateful to have him in our midst. We thank God for him.

Members, please pray. Consider these nominations. Weigh them. Bring any concerns to Mark or David. Not complaints. Not gossip. Concerns. Lovingly. Faithfully. For the good of the church. The text must govern. The qualifications must hold. The church must be served.

As I said at the beginning, this is not a political exercise. This is the church ordering itself under Christ. He is the Head. We are the body. The body works only when the members do their work. Not effort. Not performance. Not perfection. Faithfulness alone.