An Aspect of the Church Manual
by Pastor Grant Lottering
None of our local churches are ever governed by any one individual. Instead, a group of individuals composed of departmental heads comprise the church board and are entrusted to provide leadership in the local church. But what exactly is the function and purpose of the church board? And which office bearers form part of the church board?
The answer to both important questions can be found in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. The work of the church board is summarized as follows: “Every church must have a functioning board whose members have been elected during a church business meeting. Its chief concern is having an active discipleship plan in place, which includes both the spiritual nurture of the church and the work of planning and fostering evangelism” (p. 129).
Among other things, the church board exists for spiritual nurture and for planning, fostering and coordinating evangelism! Any church board which does not have the spiritual growth of the local church and the evangelization of its surrounding community at the heart of their discussions and meetings is confused about its purpose.
Most of us have become used to church board meetings being filled with discussions on problems and issues which are often difficult to resolve. These difficulties often distract us from fulfilling the mission of the church. Only once in my life, while setting up an agenda, did I realize that at a particular church where I was pastoring there were no issues to discuss. I nearly called the meeting off since there were no issues to iron out but then I realized that this was an ideal opportunity to have a meeting which concentrates on the core business of the church board – evangelism! After all, the devil finds work for idle hands. For this reason the Church Manual points out, “When the board devotes its first interests and highest energies to involving every member in proclaiming the good news and making disciples, most problems are alleviated or prevented, and a strong, positive influence is felt in the spiritual life and growth of members” (p. 129). Do you long for a problem free church board? Then focus on the mission of the church!
Who comprises the church board? The Church Manual lists the following office bearers found on page 130-131:
- Elders
- Head deacon
- Head deaconess
- Treasurer
- Clerk
- Interest coordinator
- Adventist Community Services leader or Dorcas Society leader
- Adventist Men’s coordinator
- Adventist Youth Ministries leader
- Adventurer Club director
- Ambassador Club leader
- Bible school coordinator
- Children’s ministries leader
- Church music coordinator
- Communication committee chairperson or communication secretary
- Education secretary/church school principal or head teacher
- Family ministries leader
- Health ministries leader
- Home and School Association leader
- Pathfinder Club director
- Personal ministries leader and secretary
- Public Campus Ministries leader/coordinator
- Publishing ministries coordinator
- Religious liberty leader
- Sabbath School superintendent
- Stewardship ministries leader
- Women’s ministries leader
- Young adults leader
