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Leadership of the
Church - Questions and Answers
MP3
Sometimes when I write a Notebook piece, I receive feedback from the
congregation and I welcome this very much. After writing my
previous Notebook piece, "Headquarters Just
Isn't Showing Any Leadership!", I received some questions that I
would like to answer.
Let us begin...
1) What was the underlying purpose of your
writing the Headquarters piece?
Answer: I was speaking to an
overall negative attitude I see as rather dangerous and shortsighted.
Individuals sometimes see the church of God only in the physical.
They see the operations of the church, whether locally or worldwide as
being done by humans. Sometimes statements are made and attitudes
come forth that seem to forget that this is the Work of Jesus Christ and
the great Creator God. I try to never do that. When I hear a
statement, such as, "Headquarters Just Isn't Showing Any Leadership", I
ask myself, "Does this person not understand this is the Work of the
Living God?" This statement and ones similar to it strike me as
complaints coming from negative attitudes.
2) Are you of the attitude that leadership in
the church is above reproach?
Answer: The word "reproach"
means to express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in
(someone). Based on this definition, I would have to say that I would
hope that no member would offer disapproval and criticism that comes
from a negative attitude. Rather I would like to say that
leadership in God's church is APPROACHABLE with legitimate CONCERNS.
There is, in my mind, a vast difference between the member having a
legitimate concern about a person or operation in the church and what I
call the Korah attitude. Korah did not have any legitimate
concerns. He wanted Moses out, plain and simple. He was not
looking for solutions to concerns, but for power and position.
There is nothing wrong with having a concern about someone or some
operation of the church.
3) Is anyone in the church infallible or off
limits to the members of the congregation?
Answer: Absolutely not!
See two definitive pieces I did not this subject:
Fallible Human Beings and
Give Me a Church in Peace and Harmony. In short, the church
will never be in absolute peace and harmony as long as humans exist.
Further, church operations and the Work in general will always be
carried out by abundantly fallible human beings until Christ returns.
No human in the church is perfect and no operation in the church is ever
going to have 100% acclaim from the congregation. All physical
operations in the church will be less than perfect and will be open to
legitimate concern and constant suggestions for improvement.
4) If I have a concern about some operation in
the church at the local level, what can I do?
Answer: Here is a quick
checklist:
1) Have the right attitude about it. See my piece: "Two
Basic Rules of Thumb" Primarily the first rule, "What would
Christ do?"
2) Pray about the situation.
3) Communicate your concern. Talk to the local minister, host
and/or local church Board. Next, communicate with the Area
Coordinator or Regional minister if you have one. Finally contact
Headquarters.
4) Take action where possible.
5) If my concern is about some operation in the
church at higher levels, what can I do?
Answer: Again, a quick
checklist:
1) Have the right attitude about it.
2) Pray about the situation.
3) Communicate your concern. Begin, as above with your local
and/or regional ministry and then prepare your communication for
Headquarters. Address it to the appropriate Board. There is
one for the ICG and one for the EA. Send your communications
[concerns, suggestions, etc.] to Garner Ted Armstrong, P.O. Box 747,
Flint, TX 75762. Make it attention to the appropriate Board.
4) Take action where possible.
6) I have a personal concern about the Feeding
of the Flock and the church operations that address this commission to
the church.
Answer: See my next piece, "The
Feeding of the Flock" where I will cover this subject in some
detail.
Conclusion:
Nothing about the church or the Salvation Process is easy. Keep in
mind however, that God is in absolute control and all His ways are
perfect. Every operation in the church is in His hands.
Every member in the Salvation Process is in His hands. As we keep
one eye on our every concern, keep the other eye on the Kingdom of God.
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