As I write this letter, Eliot Presbyterian is in the process of selecting, examining, electing, ordaining, and installing new leaders for our congregation. The nine people who have been chosen by God through the voice of the nominating committee have shared their stories of faith with me and with the Session. These are men and women from a variety of backgrounds who have encountered Jesus in powerful ways – sometimes as children or teenagers, other times as adults. All of them are practicing daily to trust in the Lord through the ups and downs of life and to grow deeper in their discipleship. You, the members of Eliot Church, will confirm their call by electing them during our congregational meeting on January 31.
In the Presbyterian Church, elders and deacons (and pastors) are elected to fulfill certain functions in the life of the church. Elders have the job of governing the church, overseeing things like the church finances, the selection of curriculum for Sunday School, maintaining the building, and ensuring that God’s Word is preached from our pulpit. Deacons have the job of pastoral care through prayer and visitation. They pray every week for the names submitted on those yellow prayer slips, and they assist me in visiting shut-ins. They also have the job of compassionate care for those outside of our congregation through ministries like St. Paul’s Kitchen and delivering food to Open Pantry. Both elders and deacons have special jobs to do in the church, and they are chosen to serve because they exhibit Christian character and the gifts to do the job. However, our constitution reminds us that they have no special status either in the church or with God. All people are equal before God – equally in need of God’s grace and equal in access to the power of God’s Holy Spirit – including elders, deacons, and pastors. And equally in need of your prayer. As we elect new elders and deacons, I invite you to pray for them, that they may lead with wisdom, with grace, and with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The other interesting thing about elders in the Presbyterian Church is that even though they are elected by the congregation, they are not elected to represent the congregation. This is different from what we expect of our legislators that we send to Beacon Hill and Washington, D.C. Instead of listening to the people and doing what the people want, elders in the Presbyterian Church are called to listen to the Holy Spirit and lead the congregation in doing what God wants. This is a significant task, and one that our elders hold with great humility. In the coming year, our elders will be listening closely for the voice of the Holy Spirit as they discern where God is calling Eliot to go and who God is calling Eliot to be in the years ahead.
I am grateful for the men and women whom God has called to lead this congregation. For those who are ending their time of service, let us say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” They have led with tenacity through the difficult years without and installed pastor. For those coming on the session and the diaconate, let us say, “Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” for there is yet much work to do as we move toward the future God is promising. By God’s grace and with Christ-like leaders, it will be a good future indeed.