Leadership Elections 

26th August 2025 

On Sunday morning it was announced that at our AGM in September (on the 24th if you've not already got it etched in your diary and/or your memory!) we will be holding elections for a number of different leadership positions in the life of our church

For a number of years now we've had a pattern of electing people into leadership roles for an initial period of three years. After this there’s the potential to stand again and be re-elected for a further period of three years. However, after those six years, it's important to give people a break for at least a year. This system is designed to help to keep the leaders themselves, but also the whole team too, refreshed. 

Some of our leaders have served for their full six years and have reached the point where they are stepping down. Others are just taking a timely break from the role of leadership because of other demands on their time. So firstly, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! to those currently stepping back from what is quite a stellar team! Your voice, vision, passion, gifts and energies are appreciated more than you know!

We are now called to turn our thoughts to the task of electing new leaders, and you might be wondering what the process is for that. So here's a quick guide to help us seek the mind of Christ in this together. Grab your bible and turn with me to Acts 1...

No, go on - actually grab it, it's fine I'll wait for you...
 

Acts 1 - Setting the Scene: 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had called twelve disciples and appointed them to be His 'apostles' (or 'sent-ones'). After the loss of Judas, the remaining eleven were faced with the question of whether his place needs filling. Having consulted the scriptures, they arrived at the conclusion that Judas should be replaced - which then lead to the natural question of who would be an apostle in his place. How do you work that one out?

Well, here's what they did:

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
Then they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry...”
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

ACTS 1. 23-26

In those few short verses we're given a snap shot into both the process, but also their priorities, in this huge task: 


 


Firstly, two names were put forward - "they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias..." (v23). They simply recommended people based on their knowledge and experience of them. In short, they applied their God-given gift of wisdom to the task.

God's Word tells us that wisdom is a precious and valuable thing - and that if we lack it, God loves to pour it out lavishly for those who ask. And so that's where we too begin: is there somebody's name that you would like to nominate as a leader? They may say yes, they may say no, they say not-now, or they may be willing to allow themselves to be nominated as part of their own process of discerning - but it begins with wisely considering the question of who... 

We're calling on all church members (more of this at the bottom of this blog) to be part of this process - please do think and pray about who you can nominate.

And we all can do that right now...
The remainder of this blog will be sat here waiting for us when we're done...
Why not pop the kettle on, pour yourself a cuppa, and let your mind scan the faces of the church... and consider the question: who might be good to nominate for the task of leadership in this season?


Ah good - you're back! Let's crack on...

Then Luke tells us: "Then they prayed." (v24) 

So then we pray.

One of the reasons for announcing this so early is so that everyone involved can give themselves to the task of prayer. As a church, as a leadership team, and as individuals ourselves - we need to deliberately and diligently seek the heart of the Father in this so that both the church and the leaders are confident of God's calling in this.

I would go as far to say that if you haven't given the question of leadership serious prayer, it's probably better not to take part in the vote on the night itself - that's how vital prayer is.

Again - we can all do this right now... 
We can pray:

• Giving thanks for those who are taking a break from leadership - for their faith, service and love...
• For those currently in leadership - for their "ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches"...
• Over the names that have come to mind - is it right to explore this further and speak to Jon, or one of the elders about it?
• If you have been approached about being nominated - is right to simply take the next step and explore it further yourself?
• When the names are announced we can take time to pray for them - that the Lord would lead them, and us, to His will together.

Let's take a moment to pause and pray right now...


And so, what were the early church praying for... 

Thankfully Luke summarises the theme of their prayers in this journey: 

 

Then they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen...”

ACTS 1. 24

I once heard a seasoned church leader explaining their thoughts on appointing new members of the team - he shared that his priorities were: character, competency and chemistry. From his long experience he recognised that character must always trump competency and chemistry.

We live in a culture that often chooses leaders based on their personality or popularity... but it's someone's passion for God that counts in the kingdom. We look at the outward appearance - but the Lord "looks at the heart..."! 

Whose love, commitment and service reveals a real God-given heart for what He is doing in and through Bethel in these days?



But they're not done yet - 

“Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen...”

ACTS 1. 24

Lord, show us.
We bring to you our wisdom and our wishes, but we submit them now to Your will and purpose.

Jesus models for us a prayer life that is entirely open and honest about our desires - but radically sacrificial when it comes to submitting to the Father's heart. Our prayers need to be God-seeking above all else. 
So Lord, show us!


Which leads to the tricky question of how the Lord will show us... but here, again, we thankfully don't have to guess:

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

ACTS 1. 26

There was a process of discernment, which for them involved the casting of lots - an Old Testament practise of seeking God's will. 

Having applied their wisdom and prayers to the question of leadership, they then submitted themselves to a process of discernment. For us, the final part of the discernment process, is that each member gets to vote on each name. It's a fair and simple way of gauging whether the church feels that this person is right for this role in this season.

But again - it's so important that we do not side-step the time spent in prayerful consideration.

We really want the whole church membership to engage prayerfully and meaningfully in this process - so please do plan to join us for the vote on the 24th of September. 



There's a summary of that process that we tend to share on Sundays leading up the members meeting that simply says:

At our church meeting on Wednesday 24th September we will be seeking to appoint Trustees as Deacons, Elder and Church Secretary. The list of those who are currently
Trustee including those standing down and those available for re-election is on the notice board in the book room.
(There are 2 Deacons and 1 Elder standing down and the Church secretary has completed 3 years of office and can be re-nominated)
Nomination forms are available from the Church Secretary and all nominations must be submitted in writing with the supporting signature of two other Church Members, and the consent of the candidate. None of the signatories on a nomination form may be related to the nominee.

All completed nomination forms must be submitted to the Secretary or Elders no later than Sunday 7th September

Please prayerfully consider who could be appointed as Trustee to serve in our church and I also ask that you have a chat with Jon or one of the Elders first, before approaching someone.

 

Final Thought: Church Membership

I mentioned earlier that this process of appointing new leaders is a privilege and responsibility of the church members... I wanted to take a moment to explain why that is.

Church membership is a formal way of expressing that Bethel is your spiritual home:

• that you feel God has lead you to be part of this fellowship,
• that you are committed to be part of her ministry and mission with the gifts that God has given you,
• that you will invest spiritually, practically and financially in the journey God is calling us on,

And it's a two-way street, as a church we get to share with you that we too acknowledge that God has lead you to be part of this fellowship - and that our spiritual home has grown and become yours too. We covenant together before God to walk together in fellowship, holiness and seeking His vision together for the future He has planned for us!

It's therefore right and natural that the decision about future leaders (among many other decisions too) falls to those who have made that step of commitment to the community and journey.

If you're not yet a church member, but do consider Bethel to be your spiritual home, we would love you to explore that with you. It's a lovely and simple process of sharing your story with us, and then us with the church at a members meeting. 

Please do take the opportunity to talk to one of the leaders about it!
 

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully!

ROMANS 12. 4-8

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