Congregational Organization

[Gregory Matthews]

Under the leadership of he senior pastor, Japhet De Oliveira, the Boulder SDA Congregation is being organized in a manner that is somewhat unique and is attracting attention from pastors and denominational leaders.

 

NOTE:  As is typical, the Church Board handles routine administrative matters.

 

1)  Vision Board:  This committee is responsible for the overall direction that the congregation is going as it relates to the mission and ministry of the congregation.  It coordinates the work of four major councils which also have sub-committees:

 

A) The Administrative council:

      1) Building Management:

          a) Custodial.

          'b)  Renovation.

          c) Reservations.

 

      2) Communication:

 

      3) Finance:

          a) Financed Committee.

          'b) Treasurer.

 

      4) Global Mission:

          a) The One Project.

          'b) Vista Ridge Academy. 

     

 'B)The Community Council:

      1) Discipleship:  Divided into three sub-groups.

 

       2) Local Mission: Divided into five sub-groups.

 

C) The Teaching Council:

      1) Adult Bible Study:  One subgroup for each adult class.

 

      2) Children's Bible Study:  One subgroup for each of the six divisions.

 

      3) Youth:

           a) Group devoted to expressing mission in the medium of art.

           'b) Discipleship.

           c) Mission.

 

      4) Children's MInistry

 

D) The Worship Council:

     1) Programming:  Divided into eight subgroups.

 

     2) Deaconess: Divided into five subgroups.

 

     3) Deacons:  Divided into three subgroups.

 

2) Leadership positions and the selection of people to fill those positions. 

 

    a) Every person in a leadership position takes a test that measures their abilities in:

         Strategic Thinking:and 8 subcategories.

         Relationship Building: and 9 subcategories.

         Influencing: and 8 subcategories.

         Executing: and 9 subcategories.

 

     'b) Persons are then placed into leadership positions based the ability of the person to supply the leadership qualities that are needed by that position.

 

3) Persons elected to the position of Elder fill leadership positions based upon the identified needs of the congregation  (E.G. An Elder is the head of each of the four councils listed above.) and the ability of that Elder to provide the leadership skills that are needed in that position.  NOTE:  Elders fill additional positions that are not listed here.

 

4)  This means that the functions of persons in leadership are defined by the congregation and not by the CHURCH MANUAL (CM). This does not mean that the CM is violated.  Elders do fill the role that is outlined in the CH.  However, individual Elders may only fill some of the functions as outlined by the CH.  E.G  An Elder involved in Global Mission may be involved in visiting people interested in the denomination but may not be involved in congregational visitation.

 

NOTE:  This is a somewhat simplified discussion of the organization of the Boulder congregation.  It is designed to place qualified people in positions as identified for need by the congregation that will succeed in the task given them.  It does not list every position.  Frankly, the congregation is organized in such a manner that every member who wants to participate will be given a role in the Church.  But, people are not required to fill a role.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

question:  How does a church member know who to call on when the role sets are so rigid?  

[Gregory Matthews]

The members have a one-page organizational chart that attempts to answer this question.  That chart lists people by name.  They also have a listing of names and means of contact.

 

So, let me give an example:  Let us say that someone had a concern about the Homeless Shelter which the church hosts one night a week.  That would be under: Community Council, Local Mission. Homeless Shelter and a name.

 

If the member was not satisfied with the response of the contact point for the Homeless Shelter, they could go to the contact for the Local Mission and from there to one of the five contacts for the Community Council.  So, in this case, they would have seven contact persons to discuss their issue with.

 

Beyond that they could to  the Vision Board, which has 15 voting members.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

okay... thanks!  You've definitely got a structured business organization ...  I think it's good, as long as the human and personal side doesn't get lost in the efforts to maintain efficiency...

[aka]

Have I to understand that there are SDA churches out there somewhere that have congregationalist church governance?

I sincerely like that kind of rule.

[Gregory Matthews]

Yentyl:

 

SDA Congregations have always had considerable freedom.   The major freedoms that  individual congregations have today are:

1) The freedom to determine who becomes a member.

2) The freedom to decide on church discipline.

3) The freedom to place whomever they want in positions of leadership.

4) The freedom to determine the role and function of those leadership positions.

 

It will be noted that none of the above are 100% free.  There are some boundaries and if those boundaries are violated the congregation can be expelled from the fellowship of SDA congregations.  But, such expulsion has to be voted by the local fellowship of SDA Congregations. 

 

Case in point:  When Dr. Desmond Ford was expelled from the position as SDA Clergy, some wanted to expel him from SDA membership.  The local congregation, that held his membership, refused and for many years he remained a member of that congregation. 

 

I could give a number of examples that cover the above list.

 

In brief.  There is nothing that the Boulder congregation is   doing that violates accepted SDA standards.  The leadership of the Boulder congregation is working openly with the leadership of the Rocky Mountain Conference.  It listens to and takes advice from the RMC.  Communication if full and open.  Yes, there are individuals who would on some decisions do it differently.  But, the congregation is in majority (by a large majority) agreement with what is happening and in its relation to the Conference.  One of the reason for that is the full and open communication.

 

Case in point:  There was a congregational Business Meeting Sunday.  That meeting was live-streamed and can be viewed now, by anyone who wants to view it.  Anyone who wants to spend the time to view common business will clearly see demonstrated leadership that listens to and responds to congregational questions and will probably be surprised at the degree of openness demonstrated.

[Gregory Matthews]

If any congregational pastors or administrators want to know more about how the Boulder congregation is organizing, they can contact the Boulder pastor.  I believe that he would be willing to fully share information.

[aka]

Good of you to go into detail. Thanks, Gregory.

 

As far as I understand, all material property of any individual SDA church becomes SDA property ownership. It is awarded legally the local conference for management but in end effect belongs to the General Conference Springfield in their books of ownership. So whatever was donated by any individual may not be claimed by them again if they divorce themselves from the Church, right? Carpet, organs, pianos, refridgerators, trucks for transport or even small busses. 

[Gregory Matthews]

Yentil:  It is more complicated than that.

 

NOTE:  I can only speak for the North American Division.

 

1)  Generally the local Conference owns the property.  If that Conference goes out of existence, title to the property owned by the Conference passes to a higher organization.  But, it is the local Conference that actually owns the property.

      NOTE:  However, there are some buildings and property that are not owned by the Conference.  Some of those are owned by other organizations that are associated with the SDA Church, some are owned by organizations not associated with the SDA denominations and  some are owned by individuals.  I have pastored two congregations where the building and property were owned by individuals.  I am well informed of a case in which the building and property was owned by an organization not associated with the SDA denomination, but was associated with a group of individuals within the congregation.

 

 

2) Due to rules of the Internal Revenue Service one can not generally claim an IRS deduction if one retains a right of ownership.