Our Officers
For a church to spiritually mature, deal effectively with adversity and advance in its mission, its leaders must be devoted followers of Jesus who meet the qualifications for church office that Paul clearly describes, especially in I Timothy 3. Leadership should be organized and exercised in light of biblical instruction.
At Atonement our officers include elders and deacons. Whether an elder or a deacon, an officer is expected to be an example of faith in Christ and a life consistent with the faith.
Our deacons and elders must first be nominated to serve and undergo training and examination by the elders. They are then presented to the congregation for election at the Church’s annual meeting in November. Finally they are ordained and/or installed in a special worship service early in January. Elders serve four year terms, and deacons serve three year terms.
At Atonement our officers include elders and deacons. Whether an elder or a deacon, an officer is expected to be an example of faith in Christ and a life consistent with the faith.
Our deacons and elders must first be nominated to serve and undergo training and examination by the elders. They are then presented to the congregation for election at the Church’s annual meeting in November. Finally they are ordained and/or installed in a special worship service early in January. Elders serve four year terms, and deacons serve three year terms.
Our Elders
Our elders are responsible for the ministries of the Word and for the governance of the church. They do not meet as a board of directors, but as men deeply committed to the Word of God, to seeking the Lord’s will for the church, and to leading with their lives as well as with their decisions. Our pastors are counted among our elders.
Our Deacons
In the same way, the deacons are responsible to make our ministries of the Word possible by attending to the many tasks necessary to maintain the facilities and operations of the church. These men and women also oversee the Church’s mercy ministries which include our Deacon’s Fund. The term “deacon” literally means servant, and deacons are examples of servants of Christ and the Church.