Featured Refusing Leadership

Has Bob received a calling from the Lord to enter this very important Office at Church? If no, then he is right; if yes, then he is disobeying the Lord. Even if the Church might think that he is right for this Office, it is what the Lord determines and Bob's own conviction from the Lord, that really counts.

 

Yes, he's been called.

Some men recognize personal shortcomings that they feel limits them from serving.
Over time occasionally these shortcomings may be addressed

Some men don't have the time. My church meets weekly at 6:30 AM. - I arrive at work early and can't make the meetings. Our professions limit our availability.

Some men feel that they have risen to the level of their competency and don't desire to stretch themselves, "fear of failure".

Some men have too much on their plate, work, kids, home, activities,,,, church leadership would be one to many things on their plate.

Others don't see church leadership as a desirable position. Do churches honor those in leadership of does the congregation make comments about how bad the leadership is?

Rob

 

1 Timothy 3:1 “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”


1. Situational qualifications.

A desire to serve (1 Timothy 3:1). A posture of readiness and eagerness is contagious in any setting—including the noble task of spiritual overseeing. Simply because someone is qualified to serve due to godly character does not mean he feels called or desires to serve in such a role. Sometimes there are outside factors and underlying forces—big and small, good and bad—that a affect a person’s desire to be involved. Elders who serve halfheartedly or begrudgingly do a disservice to the local body of Christ.

One key question an existing elder team can ask a potential elder is “Are you willing and able to serve as an elder in our church?” One potential elder we approached who was willing, but because he had to travel out of state three to four times a month for business, he did not believe he could fulfill the role faithfully and would be neglecting the leadership of his family at home. He respectfully declined in order to serve faithfully in these other areas of responsibility. Though he was wise and well respected for his faith, and our church would have benefited from his leadership as an elder, he made a wise decision.


Eldership and the Mission of God Equipping Teams for Faithful Church Leadership Alan Hirsch

 

I say leave Bob alone.

 

If "Bob" was truly called by God, he would be willing (Psalm 110:3). His reluctance is a manifestation that however qualified he may seem to be, God hasn't called him.

 

Is earnest desiring though one of the spiritual qualifications Paul listed? Based upon your list, would seem as being an almost poster boy recruit to Eldership!

 

Well I suppose that is the other side of the coin.
If God wants Bob to serve, then he'll serve; just like Jonah did.
But it is God who will have to make Bob willing.. The church leadership pressurizing the guy won't help.

 

he was qualified to be used in that capacity , but he took himself out of the running it seems!

 

I was just using the material listed and given to us, as it appears that he met the qualifications, except for not desiring to act as a mature believer and accept the calling of the Lord as an Elder.

 

My understanding is that the person knew what the Lord was offering him to do, but he was swlfish and refused to allow God to use Him as an Elder, as thta would cut into his free time.
And are not Elders in a sense called of the Lord, as the church confirms that evidence?

 

So here is another approach.
One of the tasks of a church is to train up leadership.
Equip the member to serve Christ and each other.
The training process in the church I attend includes having members serve in various leadership tasks.
Among other tasks, Elders (and others) lead family prayer each week for a month and lead communion monthly.

Include Bob in the line up,

• Train him to be an elder by including him in various roles.
• Seek out his advice utilizing the expertise in areas that are uniquely his own if applicable.
• Step by step lead him into eldership.

Instead of taking one big step toward eldership, have him take many little ones.

Rob

 

Being ordained is when the church accepts/confirms that the person has the call of God upon Him as the pastor, correct?