We make decisions together as a body, but not all decisions are made the same way. Different kinds of decisions belong to different parts of the body. Knowing which kind a decision is helps everyone — the Eldership, the Committee, the Saints — understand who carries the weight on each one.
Spiritual matters — the Eldership discerns in prayer
Who is recognised as an Elder, Deacon, or Five-Fold minister. What we teach as doctrine. How a Saint who has fallen into sin is restored. What the Lord is calling the body towards in the year ahead. How a particular ministry is led. These are spiritual matters. They are not put to a vote of the body.
The Eldership prays, fasts, weighs scripture and counsel, and reaches unity together — and then communicates the discernment to the body for the body’s confirmation and prayer. We trust the Lord to lead His Church through the Elders He has placed over us.
The Eldership aims for unity on every decision. Where unity is not present on a matter, the Eldership defers it for further prayer rather than rushing to a decision. Where the matter is urgent and a decision must be made, a majority of the Eldership decides and the dissent of any Elder is honoured and recorded.
Legal, financial, and structural matters — the Members vote
Some matters belong to the Members under the law and our Constitution. These include: electing the Committee that legally represents us; changing the Constitution itself; approving the audited annual financial statements; deciding to buy or sell significant property; winding up the church if the Lord ever brings its season to a close.
These matters are put to a vote of the Members at a General Meeting. Members read the proposals in advance, pray, and vote. The Eldership confirms each proposal is consistent with the Statement of Faith and the purposes of the church before it comes before the body — but the legal decision belongs to the Members, by their vote.
Practical and operational matters — the Committee handles, with the Eldership’s spiritual oversight
The bank accounts. The contracts. The property maintenance. The compliance reporting to the regulator. The day-to-day running of the legal entity. All this is handled by the Committee — typically the Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and other Committee members — in their regular meetings. They make their decisions promptly so that the body’s work is not held up.
The Eldership oversees the spiritual posture of these decisions; the Committee carries the legal authority for them. In most weeks of most years, the Committee’s work is quiet and unremarkable — which is the right outcome.
When a decision has both spiritual and practical sides
Many decisions do. A new ministry needs both spiritual confirmation (is the Lord leading us into this?) and practical resourcing (how do we fund it, where do we house it, who is accountable, what does success look like?). In these cases, the Eldership discerns the spiritual matter, the Committee handles the practical scaffolding, and the two work together. The Eldership’s discernment leads; the Committee’s authority gives it legal and operational form.
When there is a dispute between members
We follow the pattern Jesus Himself gave us in Matthew 18:15–17. Restoration is the aim of every stage; sanction is a last resort and is exercised in love.
- First — the two Saints speak directly with one another, privately and in love.
- Second — if that does not resolve it, one or two trusted Saints or Elders sit in.
- Third — if still unresolved, the matter is brought to the Eldership, who pray, listen, and seek to bring restoration.
- Fourth — where the Eldership determines it is necessary, the matter is brought before the body.
- Fifth — only where these spiritual steps have been exhausted, or where the matter involves abuse, safety, financial misconduct, or something legally required to be reported, does the formal grievance or disciplinary process under the Constitution and the law come into play.
The annual rhythm
Each year, the Eldership leads the body through a five-stage discernment process. They begin in prayer and alignment. They review the gifts and current ministries of the body. They invite the Saints into workshops to discern together what the Lord is doing. They scope the work for the year ahead. They present the Annual Prospectus to the body at the Annual General Meeting, with the base operating costs disclosed and any new ministries named with their funding asks.
The body responds in giving. The Committee gives the year its legal form. The work proceeds. Every six weeks the body sees the funding status against the named target. Nothing is hidden.
The principle underneath it all
Christ is the only Head of His Church. Every decision-making structure described above sits under His authority. Where the Spirit leads, the Eldership discerns. Where the law requires, the Members vote. Where the work needs running, the Committee runs it. None of these layers competes with the others; each serves the others; together they enable the body to walk in obedience to Christ.