why church manual?
Key points from the chapter:
I.
The need of church manual
II.
How to use the church manual
III.
Terms used in the church manual
IV.
How and who changes the church manual
God is a God of order as evidenced in his works of creation
and redemption. Order belongs to the essence of his Church in the World. Order
may achieve only through principles and regulations that guide the Church in
its internal operations and in the fulfillment of its mission to the World. In
order to be a successful ecclesiastical organization at the service of the Lord
and humanity, it needs order, rule, and discipline. The Seventh- Day Adventist
Church observing order, having rules, principles and regulations which are put
together in the book called ‘’a Church manual’’.
The Church manual was published in the year 1932 after
General Conference committee voted to publish it in the year 1931. As the
Church Worldwide grew rapidly in the early twentieth century, it increasingly
recognized the need for a manual for worldwide use by its pastors and lay
members. ‘’It has become increasingly evident that a manual on Church
government is needed to set forth and preserve our denominational practices.
NEW INSIGHT: To know the year of first publication of the
Church manual, this was the year 1932
The Church manual describes the operation and functions of
local Churches and their relationship to denominational structures in which
they hold membership. The Church manual also expresses the Christian’s
understanding if Christian life and Church governance and discipline based on
biblical principles and the authority of duly assembled General Conference
session.
It is the only General Conference which have mandate of
making changes of the Church manual, this happen through his session after five
years regularly. In the year 1948 the General Conference vote that ‘’ all
changes or revisions of policy that are to be made in the Church manual shall
be authorized by the General Conference session’’ General conference report,
no. 8, p 197 ( June 14, 1946)
If a local Church, Conference, or Union wishes to propose a
Church manual revision, it should submit its proposal to the next constituent
level for counsel and study. If the level approves the proposal, they submit
the suggested revision to the next level for additional evaluation. If the
various levels approve the proposal, it eventually comes before the General
Conference Church committee, which considers all recommendations. When the
General Conference Church committee approves a revision, it prepares it for
presentation at an Annual Council and then in General Conference session.
CRITIQUE: The Church manual show how the Seventh- Day
Adventist Church is so organized as one Church in the worldwide, this is very
clear when there is need of changes, the process of changes is not simple
because it must involves all churches in the world.
TWO NEW INSIGHTS: The process of making changes in church
manual is a new insight to me.
Also the second new insight is the arrangement of the
meetings of from the local Church, Conference/field, Union Conference or
Mission, General Conference Committee, General Conference annual Counsel and
then the General Conference session after five years.
APPLICATION: I am going to teach in my field of work the
important of reading and following the Church manual.
CHAPTER 4
PASTORS AND OTHER
CHURCH EMPLOYEES
Key points from the chapter
I.
The call of God for all men and women
II.
The conference president and the church
authority
III.
The Pastor/minister
IV.
The Conference Departmental Directors
I.
The
call of God for all men and women.
God called pastors and other men and women for the work of
the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. ’’ Men appointed of God
have chosen to watch with jealous care, perseverance, that the church may not
be overthrown by the evil devices of Satan, but that she may stand in the World
to promote the glory of God among men’’.
II.
The
Conference president and the church authority
In the Seventh - day Adventist church in the level of the
Conference, the president of the Conference is an ordained pastor, who act or
stand as the head of the gospel ministry in the Conference, and is the chief
elder, or overseer of all the churches. The President work in cooperation with
the Conference Departmental Directors under the general direction of the
Conference committee.
III.
The
Pastor and his work
Pastors in the church are divided into two categories,
ordained pastors and non-ordained pastor. By virtue of ordination, the pastor
is qualified to function in all rites and ceremonies. The pastor should be the
congregation’s spiritual leader and adviser. Pastors should instruct the
officers in their duties and plan with them for all lines of the church work
and activity. The Pastor serves as chairmen of the church board, assisted by
elders. A Pastor should officiate at the communion service and baptism. Pastors
are not nominated or elected by the local church, but they appointed by the
Conference committee.
The non-ordained pastors or licensed minister are granted
ministerial by the conference confers the opportunity to develop the
ministerial gift. Licensed are authorized to preach, to engage in evangelism,
to lead out in outreach (missionary) work, to assist in all church activities.
The Conference committee directs all employees, such as pastors, Bible
instructors, and departmental directors who receive their credentials and are
responsible to the Conference, not the local church. The Conference Committee
may change employee or to remove whenever it believes they are needed. Official
credentials and licenses are issued to all authorized full-time church
employees and are granted by controlling committees for limited periods.
IV.
The Conference Departmentals
Departmental Directors their relation to local churches is
advisory and not vested with administrative or executive authority.
NEW INSIGHT: To understand that, the ordained pastor is one
who qualified to function in all rites and ceremonies in the entire Church.
CHAPTER 5
ORGANIZING, UNITING,
AND DISSOLVING CHURCHES AND COMPANIES
Key points from the chapter:
I.
How to organize a company and a church.
II.
Uniting and dissolving churches
III.
Care of members, Records and Fund
I. How to organize companies and churches
The great work and only the commission of the Church is to
preach the gospel and ensuring the welfare of those who accept that message.
When a company of baptized believer is prepared to assume the responsibility of
an organized Church, the procedure for organizing the Company to be a Church
should take place. The Church pastor should consult the President of the
Conference or Field and obtain approval from the Conference Executive Committee
prior to seek a date for organization to take place.
The procedure of organizing the company to be the Church
include to make a call of names of all who are in agreement with the principles
of all who desire to unite in Church
fellowship to come forward. The name of each person should be recorded.
Three members preferably established Sabbath keepers among
those present should be selected as a nucleus. They may be asked some questions
according to what they believe, and then the names of other members of the
Company are called one after another. Each person asked the question listed in
the preceding paragraph.
After the Church is complete, then the members of new Church
should nominating committee for the procedure of electing the new officers of
the Church. After election and ordination of the Elders and Deacons, the Church
is fully organized and ready for the service.
COMPANIES: When a number of isolated believers reside near
one another or where they belong to a small group they should form a company of
believers for fellowship and worship with the objective of growing into an
organized Church. Church members who are part of small groups may form the
nucleus of a new company. The district pastor shall preside at such meeting.
II. Uniting and dissolving
churches
When it is advisable to unite two churches, the conference
committee should recommend such a course. When favorable action has been taken by
both churches, a joint meeting of the two churches should be arranged, with the
conference president presiding or in his absence an ordained pastor appointed
by the conference. A carefully written statement of agreement should be prepared
setting forth the reasons for uniting and stating any special matters or
conditions involved, such as the disposal of property and responsibility for
financial obligations. It should provide for the new name of the united church
and for the release from service of all officers of the two churches. Members
of the new congregation then should choose a nominating committee to nominate
officers to serve for the remainder of the current year. A copy of the
agreement should then be filed with the conference. The united body becomes
responsible for the order and discipline of all members. Members under
discipline should be dealt with as provided elsewhere in this man ual. All
records of both churches become a part of the records of the united body. The
local conference should be notified so that it may take suitable actions at its
next session.
IV.
Care of members, Records and Fund
Loyal members of a
dissolved or expelled church may desire to retain their memberships in the
Church. To ensure their welfare, their memberships shall be provisionally held
for up to one year in the conference church to allow opportunity for those who
desire to have their memberships in the conference church confirmed or
transferred to another church. Their standing shall be evaluated by the
conference committee, and, if satisfactory, the conference committee may
recommend them for membership in the conference church or churches of their
choice.
Loyal
members of a dissolved or expelled church may desire to retain their
memberships in the Church. To ensure their welfare, their memberships shall be
provisionally held for up to one year in the conference church to allow
opportunity for those who desire to have their memberships in the conference
church confirmed or transferred to another church. Their standing shall be
evaluated by the conference committee, and, if satisfactory, the conference
committee may recommend them for membership in the conference church or
churches of their choice. The names of members of a dissolved or expelled church
who are under discipline shall be referred to the conference secretary for
early attention by the conference committee as set out in “Loss of Members,”
above.
On
dissolution or expulsion of a church for loss of members or for disciplinary reasons,
all offerings, financial accounts, and all property real or personal, whether
held in the name of the local church or the conference or other denominational
legal association, are held in trust for the conference.
The
conference therefore has the right, the authority, and the duty to administer, protect,
or dispose of such property and funds.
All records of the on dissolution or
expulsion of a church for loss of members or for disciplinary reasons, all
offerings, financial accounts, and all property real or personal, whether held
in the name of the local church or the conference or other denominational legal
association, are held in trust for the conference. The conference therefore has
the right, the authority, and the duty to administer, protect, or dispose of
such property and funds. All records of the
NEW INSIGHT: To know that, the person who is a member of the
company and not participate in the day of organizing the Company to be a Church,
he must apply for transfer of his name from the mother church.
CRITIQUE: The good
procedure of how the Company is organized to fully organized Church.
APPLICATION; Because the commission of Jesus Christ to the
Church is preach the gospel and ensuring the welfare of those accepted the
message, for the grace of God i promise to take an active part to the work of
the Church, to do what i can in order to establish companies and Churches.
CHAPTER 6
MEMBERSHIP: Key
points from this chapter
The members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church are those
who are called out of darkness into his marvelous light, are the only those
giving evidence of having experienced the new birth and enjoying the spiritual
experience in the Lord Jesus, prepared for acceptance into membership. The only
way of becoming the member of the Church is through baptism. Pastors should
instruct candidates in the fundamental teachings and related practices of the
Church so they will enter the Church on sound spiritual basis.
Jesus instructs the followers to go and make disciples of
all nations, with baptism serving as the symbol of joining the kingdom of God.
Two commitments are experienced at the rite of baptism: Commitment to Christ
and his church, and the commitment to loving, befriending, and enfolding the
people into the church.
The Seventh - day Adventist church believes in baptism by
immersion and accepts into membership, only those who have been baptized in
this manner will have the right to be acceptable as the Church members. Before
baptism the baptismal candidates shall receive baptismal vow and commitment to
affirm their acceptance of the fundamental beliefs in the presence of the local
congregation or other properly appointed body. Those who reply all 13 questions
by verbal assent, raising the hand or other culturally appropriate method will
be allowed to be baptized and acceptable in the membership of the church.
The individuals from other Christian communions on Biblical
ground, who have embraced Seventh - day Adventist Church beliefs, and who have
previously been baptized by immersion, rebaptism may not be required. This
rebaptism is a subject which each individual must conscientiously take his
position upon the fear of God.
NEW INSIGHT: How is not necessary for the an individual from
the other Christian Church who have been be baptized by immersion, who need to
join in the Seventh- Day Adventist Church and not need to be baptized again,
rebaptism is not required. Then the duty of urging belongs to no one but God
though Ellen G White supports rebaptism as the spirit leads the new believer to
request it. –Ev 373.
When a member move to another locality for long than six
months should make immediate applications for letters of transfer. Members moving
to an isolated area with no Church within a reasonable distance should apply to
join the Conference church
NEW INSIGHT: How the membership of the one who not known
where he or she was, shifted from the local Church where it was to the
Conference Church, when he or she come back he or she has to apply for his
Church membership from the Conference Church. The letters of transfer performed
by the Church clerk with the members desire to unite the receiving Church,
after the whole process of passing the letter to the Pastors, elders, Church boards,
and the congregation for the vote of receiving or allowing to go and join the
new Church.
CHAPTER 7
DISCIPLINE:
Key points from the chapter The Seventh- Day Adventist
Church used the Bible and the spirit of prophet to maintain the purity,
integrity, and spiritual fervor of the members of the church.
Church discipline requires a delicate balance between
standing for principle and extending forgiving, loving kindness.’’ There is
need of showing Christ like patience and love for erring one, but there is also
danger of showing so great toleration for his error that he will look himself
as undeserving of reproof, and will reject it as uncalled for and unjust’’. The
Acts of the Apostles, pp. 503, 504
Discipline is
essential for preserving the integrity of the church. Discipline should be
considered, not an act of punishment, but an attempt to restore people to
discipleship. Discipline functions as safeguard in the church while preserving
the purity of doctrine and behavior in its members.
The act of discipline ought to be a way back for someone who
has wandered; discipline show how the church cares, love precedes chastening.
God says, ‘’as many as I love I rebuke and chasten’’. (Rev. 3:19)
The church manual provides counsel in addressing the process
of discipline in the church, represents both the Adventist understanding of the
biblical principles of discipline and its wisdom, developed through practice
and discussion. To ignore the church manual means to go contrary to the
official position of the church in World.
Any act of discipline
must be accompanied by an emphasis on forgiveness.’’ If your brother sins
against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sin against
you seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive
him’’ (Luke 17:3, 4). The words of Jesus
recorded in Matthew 18:15-17 outline the procedure to be followed in dealing
with sin in the church of God.
While the goal of
Christian discipline includes drawing an erring member back into the community
of the church, at that time a rebellious heart may reject the kindest of
efforts at reconciliation. The church members should maintain contact, and let
former members know that they are remembered and missed.
New insights: It is danger when a pastor or church leader
showing so toleration with errors without rebuke.
Critique: To remove the name of a wrongdoer from the church
books
Application: The church discipline is the one which I must
apply in my field work because it is responsibility to all pastors and
congregation in the business meeting.
Two new insights: Discipline requires a delicate balance
between standing for principle and extending forgiving chapter
CHAPTER 8
LOCAL CHURCH OFFICERS AND ORGANIZATION
Key points from the chapter: In order for the Church to have
prosperity it need qualified Church officers which should exercise the greatest
care when calling men and women into position of sacred responsibility. The
Bible says that ‘’ Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such
as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be
rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
tens’’ (Ex 18:21).
Members in regular standing are eligible for election to
leadership position in the Church where they hold membership. The officers of
the local Church shall be one year, except where the Church in business meeting
votes to have election every two years in order to facilitate continuity and
development of spiritual gifts and eliminate the work involved in having yearly
elections.
Elders are the religious leaders of the local Church; they
must be recognized by the Church as strong spiritual leaders and must have good
reputations both in the Church and community. In the absence of the Church
pastor, elders are the spiritual leaders of the Church and by precept and example
must seek to lead the Church into a deeper and fuller Christian experience.
Ordination is required before an elder has authority to function. The elder may
function as a Church leader before be ordained after election.
NEW INSIGHT: The information that, between election and
ordination, the elder may function as Church leader and not Church elder.
The office of deacon as mentioned in the New testament with
the Greek word diakonos, interpreted as ‘’servant, minister, writer,
attendant’’ and in Christian circle has acquired the specialized meaning now
attached to ‘’deacon’ ’After election Deacon must be ordained if they elected
to the first time. The work of the deacon involves a wide range of the service
for the Church, such as: Assistance at services and meetings, visitation of
members, preparation for Baptismal service, Assistance at communion service,
Care of the sick and aiding the poor and unfortunate, and care and maintenance
of property.
Deaconesses were also included in the official staff of the
early Christian Churches as we read to the book of Roman 16:1,2. Deaconesses
should be chosen for their consecration and other qualifications that fit them
for the duties of the office.
CHURCH CLERK: The function of Church clerk in the local
Church is one of the important, because of those specialized functions of this
office, it is wise to choose one who can be reelected to provide continuity in
recording and keeping and reporting. Large Churches may need assistant clerks
as needed. The Church clerk has no right to add or remove the names from the
Church book without a vote of the Church, which must always vote to add or
remove a name, except in the case of the death of a member.
The responsibility of Church clerk includes; Transferring
members, corresponding with members, Notice of delegates for conference
sessions, Reports to be furnished promptly, and Church records.
TREASURER: The treasurer can be one who can be greatly
encourage faithfulness in the returning of tithe and deepen the spirit of
liberality on the part of the members. Because of the important functions of
the treasurer, it is wise to choose the one who can be reelected to provide
continuity in recording keeping, and reporting. The treasurer is the custodian
of all funds in the Church include; Conference funds, Sabbath school funds,
Local Church funds, Funds of Auxiliary organization, and also Church treasurer
is the Safe guarder of the purpose of funds.
The treasurer should always remember that relations with
individual members are strictly confidential. The treasurer should never
comment on the tithe returned by any member or on the income or anything
concerning it, except to those who share the responsibility of the work. Great
harm may be caused by failure to observe this rule.
In the local church we have departments and other
organizations as follow down:
CHILDREN ’S MINISTRIES:
This department seeks to nurture children from birth to 14 years of age,
into loving, serving relationship with Jesus. The department works closely with
other ministries to further shared goals. Too much importance should be placed
on the early training of children. The lessons that the child learn during the first seven years of
life have more to do with forming his character than all that it leans in
future years. –CG 193
COMMUNICATION: The
communication department in the seventh day Adventist church seeks to inform
and inspire the church members, as well as connect with the communities served.
The communication department builds bridges of hope while endeavoring to create
a favorable image of the church and its mission, life, and activities that will
encourage people to become followers of Christ.
EDUCATION: This
department responsible for promoting the quality of Christian education program
in the local Church. The department assists church and school leaders as they
address school board governance issues, strategic planning, and accreditations
matters. The source, the means, and the aim of Adventist education are a true
knowledge of God, fellowship and companionship with him in study and service,
and likeness to him in character development. A church as school association
with a home as a school to the Christian school will do the best to the
children.
HEALTH MINISTRIES: This is one of the department in the Seventh
Day Adventist church, which revealing to
the community the passion and care of our Lord Jesus Christ through concern for the wellbeing of the
whole person. The essence of this ministry reveals Christ in all his beauty.
This department provides to the church health seminars, health books, and other
materials. Also is concern to take care for the church hospitals and
dispensaries. The Church believes its responsibility to make Christ known to
the world includes a moral obligation to preserve human dignity by promoting
optimal level of physical, mental, and spiritual health. The leader of health
ministry in the local Church should be health-oriented and interested in
promoting the Church’s standards in healthful living among members and in the
community through Church- operated health ministry’s programs.
MUSIC: The Church should take great care in selecting music
leaders, choosing only those who are thoroughly consecrated and provide
appropriate music for all Church worship services and meetings. Secular music
or that of a questionable nature should never be introduced into our services.
The Church must exercise care in selecting choir members and
other musicians who will rightly represent Church principles. They should be
members of the Church, the Sabbath school, or the Adventist youth
society-Because they occupy a conspicuous place in Church services, they should
be examples of modesty and decorum in the appearance and dress.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: The department seeks
to promote and defend religious liberty so that the church members have to know
their right and the freedom of choice to live according to their conscience and
to respect the equivalent rights of other religions. The department involving
in knowing the right of an individual before the government organizations in
order to upholding religious freedom. The department also supports freedom of
belief for all people everywhere.
PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT: This department provides primarily
printed material for spiritual nurture and evangelistic outside of the church.
The department seeks to encourage the church members to read our books, to
distribute to others for soul winning. The department provides literature
awareness seminars among members of literature evangelists and church members.
Young people in schools are recruited to join in literature evangelism
campaigns during the vacation periods
SABBATH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT: Sabbath school focuses in
fellowship of church members, outreach, Bible study and mission. The department
provides lessons for each age of people in the church. Also Sabbath school
provides leadership, resources, training, and inspiration for the members of
the local church. Sabbath school has the director of the department from the
local church, conference or field, union, division and the General Conference.
The Sabbath school is
an important branch of the missionary work, not only because it gives to
young and old a knowledge of God’s word, but because it awakens in them a love
for its sacred truths, and a desire to study them for themselves; above all, it
teaches them to regulate their lives by its holy teachings. –CSW 10, 11
STEWARDSHIP: Department of stewardship seeks to teach the
church members of their spiritual responsibility to be faithful in stewardship,
to inform, encourage, to remind the church to return tithe and offerings of
gratitude to God as a consequence of their covenant relationship with him. The
stewardship department provides resources for church members, to encourage the
believers to be faithful for stewardship of time, health, money, talents or
gift, and their influence.
WOMEN MINISTRY: The department upholds and encourages the
women in seventh day Adventist church as disciples of Jesus Christ and members
of his world church, empowering them to become stronger women of God and to
serve him. The department provides resources and nurturing the women in the
church and community.
YOUTH MINISTRIES: The youth department seeks to help youth,
to build on salvation and service. It facilitate and support the ministry in
soul winning, holding, and reclaiming .The department prepare the youth for
ministry by training them. It provides materials and prepares programs which
will equip them to serve God. The functions of various age groups include;
Leadership for the Adventurer club, Pathfinder, Ambassador, and the senior
youth.
Application: I will work hand to hand with departments as to
ensure availability of these resources.
The author challenged my understanding of this Church and
how it is well organized.
CHAPTER 9
ELECTIONS
Key points from the chapter;
Election is an
important work in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, when officers of the Church
are elected. In order to have officers who will perform their duties
prayerfully, seriously, and competently so election is a very important. In
local Church officers are elected every one year through an appointed
nominating committee. This nominating committee after accomplishment of the
work, they bring its report to the Church, which then votes on the names presented.
This procedure enables the Church to give careful study to each name prior to
election and avoids the competitive element that may arise when nominations are
made from the floor.
The nominating committee should be appointed early in the
closing quarter of the Church year and should report at least three weeks
before the final Sabbath of the Church year. The size of the member of
nominating committee depend on the numbers of the Church members, the size will
range from five members for small Church to a large number in a large Church.
Who should be members of nominating committee must be only
the Church members of the Church and also who have to be elected as the Church
officers are those who are the members of that Church. The chairman of
nominative committee shall be a Church pastor, assisted with Church elder. The
list of the officers to be considered by nominating committee may vary with
size of the membership. A large Church may determine it needs more officers.
CRITIQUE: The Seventh - day Adventist Church has a good
order of Church election which show that the church is so well organized.
APPLICATION: I am going to use the information which i learn
in this chapter, how to perform church election because the development of the
Church depend on leadership.
CHAPTER 10
SERVICE AND OTHER MEETINGS
Key points from the chapter;
The general principle for all Church services and meetings
is to worship God in spirit and truth, so all those who assemble to worship him
should put away every evil thing. The purpose of all services and meetings is
to worship God for his creative work and for the benefit of his salvation; to
understand his teaching, and his purposes.
In the Church of God the parent they have to teach their
children to have the highest reverence for the house of God and to understand
that when they enter the Lord’s house it should be with heart that are softened
and subdued by such thoughts as these; ‘God is there; this is his house.
God must worshiped in genuine reverence, when the people of
God come into the house of God of worship they have to bear in the mind that
they are in his presence, there will be a sweet eloquence in silence. The mind
should be prepared to hear the word of God, that it may have due weight and
suitably impress the heart.
The party of music in the house of God. ‘’ Music should have
beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voice be lifted in songs of praise and
devotion. Let the glorious harmony ascend to God, an acceptable offering’’ -4 T
71. The singing is not to be done by few. As often as possible, let the entire
congregation join.
THE USE OF PULPIT: No
right to any person, any pastor, or other person to make the pulpit a forum for
advocating disputed points of doctrine or Church procedure. The only safety for
any one of us is in receiving no new doctrine, no new interpretation of the
scriptures, without first submitting it to the brethren of experience. Lay it
before them in humble, teachable spirit, with earnest prayer, and if they see
no light in it, yield to their judgment; for in the multitude of counselors
there is safety. -5 T 293
In the Church we have to maintain the unity of the faith as
important that we seek to ‘’ keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’’.
Such unity requires caution and counsel with Church leadership. Though we have
an individual work and an individual responsibility before God, we are not to
follow our own independent judgment, regardless of the opinions and feeling our
brethren.
NEW INSIGHT: How to maintain a true spirit of devotion by
silent meditation, keeping the heart up lifted to God in prayer that the
service may be of special benefit to their own hearts and lead to the
conviction and conversion of the souls.
CRITIQUE: Pulpit not a forum, no right to any person to use
advocating disputed points of doctrine procedure.
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