Click here for the LNC Interview Questionnaire.
Church of the Valley
Your name has been suggested as a potential leader at Church of the Valley. The Leadership/Nominating Committee is looking for men and women of God who love the Lord and this Church and are willing to give of their time and talents as an Elder, Deacon, or Ministry Team Member.
As a potential candidate we ask you to assist us with the following information. Your responses will be held in confidence, specifically for use by the Leadership/Nominating Committee to match your Spiritual Gifts and talents with the particular ministry openings that are currently available. Please feel free to use as much space as needed.
To assist you in your consideration, we have included a brief description of the responsibilities of Elders, Deacons, and Ministry Team Members. In addition, we have included the nine ordination questions asked of Elders and Deacons.
We recognize the significance in the commitment we are asking you to consider and thank you for prayerfully considering whether you are being called to current service in a particular ministry at Church of the Valley.
Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone #:
Age Group: Under 20 20-29 30-39 40-49
50-59 60+
Occupation:
Date you joined COV:
Current/ Previous ministries where you have served at COV:
In which area of leadership are you interested in serving? (check all that apply)
Elder Deacon Leadership/Nominating Committee
Any of the above Other:
Do you attend church regularly and have you been actively involved in ministry in the last six months?
Describe your present personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Briefly share your journey of faith.
What do you feel are the most important beliefs in your Christian faith?
What scripture is closest to your heart and why?
How does your faith fit in your everyday life?
Explain your background, experiences, skills and spiritual gifts that you
feel qualify you for a position of leadership.
If chosen for leadership, will you be able to passionately, forcefully,
yet respectfully present your opinion to your fellow leaders for consideration?
(Yes or No)
If chosen for leadership, will you listen to all sides of an issue with an
open mind, give due consideration to all sides of an issue, and with
prayerful thought and conviction vote for the betterment of the church
as a whole?
As a member of a representative governing body, will you be able
to abide by the majority decision?
In your opinion, what is the most urgent need in the life of Church of the Valley?
What area of ministry do you have interest in or feel more qualified for?
Make sure to click this button when you are completed:
RULING ELDER
THE OFFICE: Ruling Elders, in their role as members of the Session, carry total responsibility for the conduct and mission of the church, except for those responsibilities which the Pastor exercises by virtue of his/her office, i.e., the preaching and pastoral ministry, the selection of hymns and scriptures in worship, and the conduct of those responsibilities assigned the Congregation.
QUALIFICATIONS: Ruling Elders assume leadership in the Congregation. Therefore, they are expected to make their views and ideas known in meetings of the Session, and actively to participate in the life of the church. Any active communicant members of the church is eligible to serve as Ruling Elder; however it is assumed that those so elected will be strongly committed to Jesus Christ and the Word of God and be mature in judgment and knowledgeable in matters pertaining to the whole church. A Ruling Elder ought to be active in the life of the congregation through worship attendance, participation in educational and mission opportunities and in their stewardship of time, talent and resources. A Ruling Elder represents the “whole” church, not just a segment of the Congregation.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Elders are called to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the Congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastors, they should encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world, visit and comfort and care for the people, with special attention to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those who are oppressed. They should inform the pastors and Session of those persons and structures which may need special attention. They should assist in worship. They should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible. Those duties, which all disciples of Jesus Christ are bound to perform by the law of love, are especially incumbent upon elders because of their calling to office and are to be fulfilled by them as official responsibilities.
Members of Session are expected to attend all regular (“stated”) meetings and all special (“called”) meetings unless excused for due cause. Specific duties of each elder serving on Session are as follows and may be added to at any time by majority vote of the Session:
(1) Membership (or chairperson) on one of the standing ministry teams of Session: Worship, Adult Education, Children’s Education, Student Ministry, Budget & Finance, Building & Grounds, Long Range Planning, Leadership/Nominating, Membership, Missions, Church & Society, Personnel, Family Ministries, Third-Age Ministry, and Transportation.
(2) Attendance at monthly meetings of the ministry team and recruitment of leadership
for and maintain supervision over subcommittees or mission groups reporting to the team.
(3) Serve in one of the following administrative positions of Session:
n An officer of Church of the Valley (Presbyterian) Corporation (President, Vice-
President, Secretary/Clerk of Session, or Treasurer (all are check signatories)
n One of two Session members on the Leadership/Nominating Ministry Team.
(4) AttendanceSession retreat.
(5) On several occasions each year, serving Communion and being part of a team of at least two elders who, at the end of each worship service will be available at the front of the sanctuary to pray for those in need of healing and/or commitment in Christian faith.
(6) Some elders will be requested to make special announcements during worship services, to make special presentations during congregational meetings, and to assist in other ways during worship services.
*ESTIMATED MONTHLY TIME COMMITMENT: 6-15 hours/month; a full-term is three years.
CHURCH OF THE VALLEY
THE OFFICE: The Board of Deacons organizes itself around thirty (30) parish groups. There are three mission foci that are a permanent function of the Board. They are: (1) a ministry to the confined members of our church; (2) assistance to members of Church of the Valley to meet basic needs for food, housing, transportation, etc.; and (3) the ministry of prayer. It is expected that Deacons will serve in these areas since they represent the unique call as Deacon.
QUALIFICATIONS: The office of Deacon, as set forth in Scripture, is one of sympathy, witness and service, after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, exemplary lives, honesty, sympathy and good judgment should be chosen for this office. An elected Deacon ought to be active in the life of the congregation through worship, attendance, participation in educational opportunities and stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, just as Elders are called to be.
RESPONSIBILITIES: It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. They shall assume such other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the Session, such as leading the people in worship through prayers of intercession, reading the Scriptures, presenting the gifts of the people, and assisting with the Lord’s Supper.
Deacons are expected to attend all meetings of the Board (once per month) unless excused for due cause. Specific duties of each Deacon serving on the Board are as follows:
(1) Care for members with needs in their parish group and maintain personal contact with and prayer support for those in their parish. Call each parish family every six to eight weeks as part of the Tele-Care Ministry.
(2) Serve in one of the administrative functions of the Board (Co-Moderator, Secretary, Treasurer, Representative to the Leadership/Nominating Ministry Team of the Congregation), Prayer Chain, and other areas as needed.
(3) Attend an annual training retreat for long-range planning and Deacon training for mission service.
(4) Assist pastors in home Communions.
(5) Receive new members into membership.
(6) Serve as greeters for Sunday and special worship services.
(8) Participate in the preparation of certain congregation-wide events.
(9) Work with the Church Growth Ministry Team to reach the uninvolved and under-involved members of their parishes.
*ESTIMATED MONTHLY TIME COMMITMENT: 10 hours/month; a full-term is 3 years.
I. The following questions are asked of all officers ready to be ordained and/or installed as they stand before the congregation in public witness before the Lord God:
A. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
B. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the
Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church
universal, and God’s Word to you?
C. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed
faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable
expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be
instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?
D. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority
of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?
E. Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?
F. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?
G. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?
H. Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
I. (For elders) Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
J. (For deacons) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need? In your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?