Acts 27:1-12 NIV
Sometimes, the majority needs to listen to the voice of wisdom. Often, it does not. The church on earth is often set up like a democracy. Everyone gets a voice. In January the council at Zion will take a look at the voting member roster and establish who must be removed from voting member status to the inactive baptized roster. Those who have not worshipped with us in the last year will no longer have a vote at our congregation meeting later that month. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves having to this is. But, it is necessary. Our constitution requires a 20% quorum at congregational meetings. Sometimes, it is difficult to get to that number in light of the fact that we have so many voting members who attend only a couple of Sundays a year; usually Christmas and Easter. It is also not always wise to have people who are not involved in the ministry of the church voting. When we vote, it is helpful that those who are voting have a big picture of what it is that we're voting on. Just as in government elections, we need to try to look at not just what is going to serve us as individuals; but, what is the greater good.
At our last annual meeting, the question of what time we should hold worship services came up at the congregation meeting. It was added to the agenda at the last minute. Some wanted to change the worship time to an earlier time, at least during the summer so that they would have more "play" time following worship. I advised against this as we have families who travel about 20 miles to worship and some of our seniors have a very difficult time getting there that early. But, the vote passed. The consequence was that our attendance dropped once the new time hit. Even those who wanted the time change didn't attend as often as they had before. And.. once, the time changed back to what it was when school started, some of those who quit coming during the summer never made it back. The majority had indeed voted; but, without actually putting much fore-thought about the long-term consequences of the vote the whole congregation suffered.
If there is to be a vote; sometimes, (always would be better) the majority needs to listen to the voice of wisdom. Paul warns about sailing toward Italy so late in the season. They had already been battling the storms and had sought shelter in a safe harbor. But, they took a vote and they are about to sail on treacherous seas. We will find that in upcoming days that there were consequences for this vote. They will realize they should have listened to the voice of wisdom and reason.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Sometimes, the majority needs to listen to the voice of wisdom. Often, it does not. The church on earth is often set up like a democracy. Everyone gets a voice. In January the council at Zion will take a look at the voting member roster and establish who must be removed from voting member status to the inactive baptized roster. Those who have not worshipped with us in the last year will no longer have a vote at our congregation meeting later that month. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves having to this is. But, it is necessary. Our constitution requires a 20% quorum at congregational meetings. Sometimes, it is difficult to get to that number in light of the fact that we have so many voting members who attend only a couple of Sundays a year; usually Christmas and Easter. It is also not always wise to have people who are not involved in the ministry of the church voting. When we vote, it is helpful that those who are voting have a big picture of what it is that we're voting on. Just as in government elections, we need to try to look at not just what is going to serve us as individuals; but, what is the greater good.
At our last annual meeting, the question of what time we should hold worship services came up at the congregation meeting. It was added to the agenda at the last minute. Some wanted to change the worship time to an earlier time, at least during the summer so that they would have more "play" time following worship. I advised against this as we have families who travel about 20 miles to worship and some of our seniors have a very difficult time getting there that early. But, the vote passed. The consequence was that our attendance dropped once the new time hit. Even those who wanted the time change didn't attend as often as they had before. And.. once, the time changed back to what it was when school started, some of those who quit coming during the summer never made it back. The majority had indeed voted; but, without actually putting much fore-thought about the long-term consequences of the vote the whole congregation suffered.
If there is to be a vote; sometimes, (always would be better) the majority needs to listen to the voice of wisdom. Paul warns about sailing toward Italy so late in the season. They had already been battling the storms and had sought shelter in a safe harbor. But, they took a vote and they are about to sail on treacherous seas. We will find that in upcoming days that there were consequences for this vote. They will realize they should have listened to the voice of wisdom and reason.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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