Leadership
The Chapel does not have any staff, pastoral or otherwise. Our church has a lay leadership team made up of people who are currently either in employment or self-employed. The church’s programmes are run by volunteers (leaders and others). As of Summer 2010 the leadership team comprises Rob Powell, Steve Waterfield and Andrew Stuffins.
This model of leadership is seeking to follow the New Testament church order as we read it in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
We understand the role of the Elders supported by the Deacons to be to:
- Pray for the members and the wider community1
- Assist with the pastoral needs of the members
- Teach the members all that Jesus taught His disciples
- Keep good discipline amongst the members
- In doing the above, to steer, encourage and enable the members to serve their community1 as Jesus intended
- Lastly (and least), to deal with the administration and organisation of the church programme
1How do we define community? Each of us has acquaintances, near neighbours, people we work with, friends and family. Those connections define our community and give shape to our ministry.
We recognise that whilst it is one of our key aims to do so, our own church does not always succeed in serving its community as it should.
In 1965 Michael Green published a book entitled, “Called to Serve” (Westminster Press), in which he wrote:
“When we reflect on the history of the church, are we not bound to confess that she has failed to follow the example of her founder? All too often she has worn the robes of the ruler, not the apron of the servant. Even in our own day it can hardly be said that the ‘brand-image’ of the church is of a society united in love for Jesus, and devoted to selfless service of others.”
