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It is tough being a church leader.  A church servant leader is tougher still.  The Bible requires that the leaders appointed by God must have specific characteristics and conduct.  The Bible’s description of the church leader is not the work he does but his character and conduct.  The criteria for leaders set by the Apostle Paul to his co-leader Titus clearly showed the characteristics and conduct the servant leader must have.  This is a tough listing to follow but it is what God expects church leaders to have.  Leaders need the fear of God in their lives if they want to be servant leaders of the church.  The gracious and merciful God has raise up servant leaders for BKC who try hard in simple faith to meet God’s tough standard and have the trust and confidence of the people they serve – we pray and hope.

BKC has servant leaders who are termed “Elders and Deacons”.  We have only one-liners in our church “Statement of Practices” that calls out the recognition and appointment of Elders and the election and appointment of Deacons.   The wisdom of the framers of this “Statement of Practices” used simple one-liners for leaders but the selection and workings of the leaders for our church is anything but simple.  It is because we are referring to spiritual servant leaders who meet God’s and the Bible’s requirement and not man’s wisdom and judgement.

Elders: “The recognition and the appointment of Elders who are male members of the Church fitted by God for spiritual leadership and for episcopal and pastoral duties.”

Deacons:  “The election and the appointment of Deacons who are members of the Church, and who possess qualifications for the office of Deacons in accordance with the Scriptures and who are responsible for all matters relating to finance, property, transport, personnel and the general material welfare of the Church”

These one-liners in our “Statement” are pregnant with demands of “fitted by God” and “in accordance with the Scriptures”.  As our leaders shepherd church members they are always aware of the awesome responsibilities that this leadership expects of them.  They literally serve the living God and His people with “fear and trembling” for “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).  The Body of Christ in BKC can do their part in praying hard for these church leaders that God has given to us.  Pray, pray and pray again!