At our recent elders’ intensive (in October), we discussed the matter of my pastoral transition, specifically who would replace me. There has been much discussion about this over the years and several ideas have been floated, debated, shot down, and replaced by other suggestions followed by more discussion. But as was shared this past Sunday at our quarterly members meeting, the consensus among the elders is that Anton Beetge is best positioned to do so. So where to from here? Is this a done deal? What role does the congregation play in this weighty decision? Let me attempt some answers to these questions in what will perhaps result in a several part series on elder-led congregationalism.

When the elders discussed the way forward, I remember making the confident comment that the congregation will do its job of indicating whether or not this is the right direction for Brackenhurst Baptist Church. I remain confident that, as each church member faithfully does their job, we as a congregation will know on earth what the Lord has determined in heaven. Allow me to explain.

The elders’ recommendation of Anton is neither infallible nor an authoritative mandate. We don’t have a Bible verse that says, “Anton is to be the next pastor-teacher of BBC,” and neither do we have the authority to command it to be so. Nevertheless, scriptural instruction coupled with scriptural implications combined with practical prudence lead us to the conclusion that our recommendation makes sanctified common sense.

The elders are persuaded that Anton has the biblical qualification to serve in this role. This includes a sense of constraint(he has a strong desire to serve the Lord and our church in this capacity), proven character (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9), and verified competence (the ability to feed the flock through a pulpit ministry). But is this enough? Does meeting these three biblical requirements suffice to appoint Anton to this role? I don’t think so. Alongside these biblical non-negotiables is another vital biblical element—a congregational one: The congregation must confirm Anton’s call to this role. This is a vital “job” of the congregation. The elders can suggest but the congregation must affirm. So church member, please, do your job!

Since the announcement on Sunday, I have been pleased that there has been interactions between church members and Anton, as well as with the other elders, including myself. There has been affirmation as well as helpful and honest questions about the way forward. This is the church at work! Keep it up!

There are plenty of questions and practical considerations, as well as the need for ongoing evaluation of Anton. We need to be transparently upfront about all of this. As church members, we need to ask our questions (to those who can provide answers), to be in consistent prayer about this matter (including fasting), and to be patient because considered confirmation takes time (and I am in no hurry to leave!).

To summarise, church members need to do their job of biblically assessing the way forward, for we must make an informed, not a merely pragmatic decision. Let me further explain.

A friend of mine is of the opinion that every citizen should be given the opportunity to take a basic course in economics and only those who do so should be eligible to vote in national elections. His argument is that, too often, the citizenry vote for aspiring politicians who present economically unfeasible platforms. Yet due to not being sufficiently informed, their vote is pragmatic rather than principled. Now, such an approach to the electorate may or may not be warranted; nevertheless, it highlights the need for making an informed vote. So it is when it comes to a congregational vote: Church members need to be well-informed about matters for which they need to cast their vote.

Motivated by this conviction the elders are committed to providing helpful information to members concerning such matters. Therefore, each church member needs to do our job of availing ourselves of the necessary information relevant to a voting matter. When messages/articles/alerts are sent to the congregation, we are responsible to familiarise ourselves with them. In other words, the element of surprise should be a rarity in a healthy local church.

Before this article becomes a book, let me conclude by appealing for church members to engage with the elders. Talk to us. And, by the way, not only when there is a criticism or complaint. If the only time you engage is to correct then perhaps you should consider whether your attitude is helpful.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13).

I will write a fuller article on this sometime, but here I want to highlight that the ESV translation “respect” is, in my view, unfortunate. The Greek word is a strong word for “to know.” (The KJV gets it right.) The word speaks of a knowledge that is strong and certain; a knowledge that is acquired by careful observation.

The point Paul is making is that church members are to engage with their elders seeking to know them closely, not merely at a distance. Brothers and sisters, such relational knowledge is necessary to build trust and respect. It is therefore necessary for healthy elder-led congregationalism. And at this juncture in our church life, this is vital as we consider the calling of Anton. Get to know him, engage with him and, while doing so, come closer to all of your elders and allow them to get close to you. If each of us does our job, then we will experience the fruit of being “at peace among ourselves” to the glory of God (1 Thessalonians 5:13).

Doug