While all Christians are called to serve Christ and his Church in the “office of all believers”, we believe that Christ, the head of his Church, leads and serves his church through the ordained offices of elders, deacons and pastors. The members of these 3 offices make up the Church Council or Board that is called to lead and equip God’s people in their service to each other and the world. For this purpose, the Council may appoint volunteers and hire staff according to the needs of the congregation.
Elders serve by governing the church in Christ's name. They received this task when Christ entrusted the apostles and their successors with the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19). Elders are thus responsible for the spiritual well-being of God's people. Through their oversight of the pastor(s), they must provide true preaching and teaching, regular celebration of the sacraments, and faithful counsel and discipline while keeping in confidence those matters entrusted to them. And they must promote fellowship and hospitality among believers, ensure good order in the church, and stimulate witness to all people.
Deacons serve by showing mercy to the church and to all people. They received this task in the early church when the apostles designated special persons for the work of mercy (Acts 6; 2 Corinthians 8-9). In Christ's name the deacons relieve victims of injustice. By this they show that Christians live by the Spirit of the kingdom, fervently desiring to give life the shape of things to come. Deacons are therefore called to assess needs, promote stewardship and hospitality, collect and disburse resources for benevolence, and develop programs of assistance. They are also called to speak words of Christian encouragement. Thus in word as well as deed they demonstrate the care of the Lord himself.
Pastors serve by preaching the Word of God in Scripture (2 Timothy 4:1-2), administering the sacraments (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25), caring for the members of the congregation (1 Peter 5:2), leading the church in its evangelistic mission (Matthew 28:19-20) and by engaging in the ministry of prayer (Acts 6:4). In all of this, the pastor’s focus is on calling sinners to be reconciled with God through faith in Jesus Christ with repentance from their sins.
These tasks of elders, deacons and pastors call for believers who are Christ-like, who are mature in the faith, and who exercise their offices with prayer, patience, and humility. With input from the congregation, elders and deacons are nominated by the Church Council of elders, deacons and pastor(s) from among active and mature members of the congregation and approved by majority vote of the congregation. Future pastors are recommended to the congregation by the Council and approved by majority vote of the congregation. Elders and deacons typically serve 3-year terms while pastors serve until God calls them elsewhere.