Month: February 2017

2017 Elected Leader Nominations

Dear King’s Cross,

This has been an incredible season of seeing God’s provision and faithfulness to us a church. We are growing, as is our commitment and vision to the Kingdom here in our neighborhood and city. However, we need to recognize the great importance and role of leadership in the church. In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul reminds the Church:

“And he [God] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”

I am hardpressed to believe there can be any lasting and impactful work done for our Lord and King here in our city, lives, and church, apart from us continuing to truly believe that it is Christ’s will and desire to raise up such leaders as the apostle is speaking of. Therefore, as one of my first pastoral exhortations to you as a congregation, I urge you to take up this weighty matter of discerning those among us who the Lord may be calling to help lead King’s Cross to be truly Kingdom Minded, Kingdom People--that God would receive the great glory and worship he is worthy of in all the earth. 

In Christ,
-Robert C. 

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Nomination process

The nomination process is exclusively for members of Living Faith Community Church. The nominations must be submitted in hard copy and must be submitted in person to either Ester Linton between February 19-March 31. 
We will have forms at the welcoming table on Sundays or you can download and print your own here. For any other questions, please email info@kingscrossnyc.org. 

All nominees will be initially screened for membership and Christian experience requirements. If the nominee qualifies under both categories, they will receive a letter confirming their nomination and the process to follow. 

Once the nominations are in, a personal interview will be set up with the nominee and two elders (for elder nominees) and/or two Diaconate Members) to discuss the appropriateness and timing of their nomination. Nominees will begin training in April once they have been recommended. 

After the training, a personal interview and a group theological and doctrinal interview take place. The Session then votes on each nominee to either recommend or not recommend them to the congregation as officers.

All nominees who are approved and recommended to stand for election will then be voted on by the congregation at the Annual Anniversary congregational meeting. Nominees who are voted in are then installed in February and begin their office on March. 

Qualifications

• Requirements Nominating a member for either Diaconate or Elder:
  • Nominees should have been a professing Christian for at least (3) years.
  • They should either have been a King’s Cross member for at least (1) year
    • OR a King’s Cross member for at least (6) months with committed regular attendance at King’s Cross for at least (2) years.
  • In order to enter the screening process, a member needs a minimum of (3) nominations is required.

Personal questions to consider

1. Should I nominate a particular member to be an elder, diaconate at King’s Cross?
2. Should I accept a nomination to be considered as an elder, diaconate at King’s Cross?

*The following guidelines, though not the final word on the matter, ought to help as you consider these questions.

Five categories of qualifications

• Calling: Calling is both inward and outward. A candidate should desire to serve and should be recognized by others as possessing the gifts and graces necessary for the task.
• Character: Though no leader can expect to be perfect, he or she must be exemplary, modeling in a consistent way the character of Christ. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9 offer a useful summary of the character qualifications.
• Competency: God calls elders, and diaconate team to serve in distinct and varying ways. A candidate should evidence the inclination and ability to fulfill that particular biblical role.
  • Elder candidates should be able to equip and care for people spiritually and should know their way around the Bible and be able to teach it. They should be comfortable praying with people in need and should be good managers.
  • Diaconate candidates should demonstrate a practical and caring spirit. They should be willing to serve under the authority of the elders and in such a way as to free the elders to focus on their particular responsibilities. At King’s Cross, diaconate members pray for individuals after services on Sundays, assist in membership interviews, assist in examining diaconate candidates, assist with finances and advocate and care for those in need.
• Compatibility: Candidates need to understand and fit into the King’s Cross life and vision.
• Comprehension: Candidates need to understand and accept King’s Cross convictions about theology and church government. This involves commitment to the Bible’s authority, to Presbyterian Church government and to the Westminster standards. 

Training schedule

Training begins in April of each year with the theological and doctrinal class. Both Diaconate and elder nominees attend this training class. It is taught by elders.

After the conclusion of theological training, elder nominees attend a practical skills training class for elders, while diaconate nominees attend a practical skills training class for the Diaconate. Nominee training is held on agreed upon schedule with all the candidates.

Deferments

If a nominee is unable to continue with the nomination process due to time constraints or other life circumstances, they may defer their nomination for up to one year. The Diaconate Director should be contacted and a deferment requested. If the nominee is unable to move forward with the process within the year, they will need to be re-nominated at a later date.

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by robert