THE HOPE FOR ELDERS LOADED DOWN

It seems in my travels I continually learn of the consistent burden elders feel. Appropriately, they take their roles extremely responsibly. I've not encountered one who did not possess a near reverence for the office. Their demeanor is found to be a good combination of sobriety and devotion. They take not their assignments lightly.

However, I see in many cases good men trying to swim in the wading pool. They are dealing with things deacons and deaconesses should be handling. Elders are mistaken when they find themselves devoted to being the Board of Permission as well as the Financial Board of the Church. Such is terribly poor leadership which causes the congregation to be immature. When elders operate from AUP (Ask Us Permission) the flock does not develop in risk, faith, and mystery. It only develops upon the restrictive control of its three or four or six men in charge. This is crippling to the body.

Elders would find their load greatly lightened when two things happen: (1) turn over the work of the church with full confidence in the members, and (2) learn to stay out of the way. Right now there is so much productive good going on at Memorial there is no way our four guys could permit it, support it, understand it, or know about it. They are interested, quite interested, in the productivity and spirituality of every member. But the members health cannot depend on the shepherds knowing about and how to run every good work this membership can envision.

When elders bless the church instead of boss it, profound life is experienced. Right now David and Lisa Combs are arranging to baptize Mary on November 30. They have been working with her through the food pantry. None of the elders (I imagine) know who Mary is. I know her and can't think of her last name. The point is our shepherds love this flock and are proud as punch that God works so many fascinating ways they cannot possibly keep up.

Bottom line: our elders believe God works. They are not afraid to give shepherding the flock their best shot without having their hands in every paint bucket. If we want to spend money we don't ask the elders. We ask the four on the finance committee. If we want to have an event, we don't ask the elders. We check the church calendar to see if it would conflict. If we are uncertain as to an expenditure or an event's wisdom, then we go to the shepherds and they wrestle with us over the best approach. They are terrific to work with any of us; but they do not own the work. God does.

I think too many elders are frustrated because they are trying to shepherd from the safety of the wading pool. Such a work was not designed for men of such faith. This can frustrate the spirit of the men trying to serve as well as the flock trying to do good and mysterious works. If these men would move to the deep end of the pool where they have fewer answers as well as control, they just might find that God's involvement would be a great necessity. Too, they will discover He is willing to participate in the work to such a degree the loads get lighter.

Go figure.