Your Church’s Participation Matters!
Before this summer’s Converge Biennial Meeting at Heartland Church in Fishers, Indiana, our movement will facilitate an electronic ratification vote for the Converge President, which carries a six-year term. This nationwide ratification vote is one of our denomination’s expressions of congregational governance, and your church’s participation matters!
One biblical example that helps us understand some characteristics of a congregational form of church and denominational governance is found in Acts 1:15-26. In this passage, Peter raises the issue of replacing Judas with a new apostle. It is encouraging that Peter’s first step was to biblically examine the matter by comparing scripture with scripture (1:15-20). Secondly, the apostles examined their own experience and journey with Jesus to determine the qualifications of a new apostle; this led to the choosing of Joseph and Matthias as candidates (1:21-23).
Finally, the apostles expected God’s involvement in the final decision as they prayed and cast lots, which was connected to an Old Testament method of gaining either-or types of answers from God (1:24-26). Though Matthias was ultimately selected to replace Judas, it is important to understand that the final decision did not present a risk as both Matthias and Joseph were equally qualified.
Regarding the upcoming ratification vote for the Converge President, please biblically examine the matter at hand, apply objective insights from life experience and prayerfully expect God’s involvement as the decision is ultimately determined through the votes of committed and God-honoring church members from across our district and movement. For Converge National voting purposes, each Converge Heartland church is permitted two voting delegates for up to 100 church members, and one more delegate for each additional 50 members, up to a maximum of 10 delegates. To ensure that church delegates are adequately informed on voting matters, each district pastor has been sent online forms and requested to submit their church’s delegate information to the District Office for Converge National voting and Converge Heartland District voting purposes.
For more information on congregational governance, please click here to read Converge Great Lakes Regional President Ken Nabi’s article, “A Plea for the Congregational Voice in Church Polity.”