I can't believe it's already been two months since I started here at Indelible Grace! It has been a delight to serve you, to work beside you, and to get better acquainted with you all!
I want to update you about the good work your session has been doing (The session is the total number of pastors and ruling elders). Let me first say that your ruling elders are extraordinary men of God. Pastor Wade and I are in a unique role to see how much these wise men have sacrificed for you and this church, how much they love you and the Lord. It is beautiful.
As we enter a new season at IGC, we are discussing our culture as a session, asking aspirational questions about the kind of leadership body God has called us to be. What work has God set before us as elders? How do we as a session become a body that listens to the Spirit together? How can we better shepherd each other as well as you, the congregation?
One result is the decision to strive to communicate more clearly to you about our work as a session. We are committed to a posture of transparency and openness the Bible calls the church to manifest. The kingdom Jesus brings is one of light, not darkness, of uncovering what was once in the dark and secret (Luke 12:2-3). The apostle Paul renounces "disgraceful, underhanded ways" and instead commits himself to the "open statement of the truth" (2 Cor 4:2). In addition, we believe openness respects the Reformational principle that all believers are priests (1 Pet 2:9, stay tuned for our sermon next week!). The Spirit lives among you all, and we want to listen to the voice of the Spirit in the congregation. Our system of Presbyterianism presumes this. That’s why elders are nominated and voted on by the congregation. The Spirit works through you, church members, to accomplish his will.
In light of this transparency, we want to invite you to attend a session meeting! Stated meetings, our regularly scheduled session meetings, are open to any church member in good standing. Our next stated meeting will be on November 7, 2023 at 8 pm at Pastor Jesse's house. Come on, all who are curious! Come join us! If you can’t make this stated meeting, there will be future meetings.
Of course, key parts of eldering require confidentiality. Thorny pastoral issues, church discipline matters, big picture vision, or personnel matters require discretion. The Book of Church Order (the policy guide of the PCA) provides two tools. Executive session, the first tool, is a section of a stated meeting where only session members are allowed. We reserve any discretionary matters for executive session. The other tool is a called session meeting. Called meetings are for a specific purpose and only session members are thus invited.
At the session’s request, we are using several called meetings scheduled for the fall to rethink and potentially restructure ministries around IGC. For instance, our next called meeting will be working towards a philosophy of worship. There are many biblically faithful ways to do worship, and we as a session have a responsibility to determine how IGC's worship should be structured and guided. We will also commit other called meetings to address discipleship, children and youth ministry, mercy ministry, and outreach at IGC.
So, stay tuned! There will be much more communication to come. We are thrilled and thankful to the Lord for this new season. We believe that God is guiding us on this great adventure of being his exile people. He is at work among us!
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please reach out to me or any other elder. Again, we are your servants for the sake of Christ and his glorious gospel! And please pray for us and these exciting discussions. We need your prayers. In his exposition on eldership, the apostle Paul warns that the devil has it out for elders (1 Tim 3:6-7). So please pray for our preservation and perseverance in Christ’s joy.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jesse