Transcript THE ROLE OF THE STEWARDS

THE ROLE OF THE
STEWARDS
THE CALLING, APPOINTMENT AND COMMITMENT
STEWARDS
• Unprecedented growth in the church membership
and attendance is the result of prayerful, dedicated
Stewards
• Show a keen interest in the Bible, the Discipline, and
other books relating to becoming an officer
• Is the highest office that a layman can hold in the
A.M.E church
• Enjoy being a follower
• Falls to his/her knees in humility of the call and rises
to their feet in Commitment
COMPOSITION
• The Pastor may appoint a chairperson pro tem to
act in the absence of the Pastor.
• All business conducted in the absence of the Pastor
shall be subject to veto by the Pastor.
• The Pastor shall nominate the number of stewards
needed for the mission.
• These names are submitted to the quarterly
conference, which shall confirm them or reject
them.
THE CHOSEN
• Stewards must be nominated by the Pastor in
charge
•
•
•
•
Subjected to confirmation of the Quarterly Conference
No less than 3 and
9 according to Turner Polity
Discipline states no more than 19 can be appointed to a
given board of stewards.
ACCEPTING OUR CALLING
(EPH. 2:1-10; JOHN 17:1-5)
We are called for a holy and noble purpose!
You were put on earth to make a contribution.
God designed us to make a difference with our life.
We were created to add to life on earth, not just
take from it.
• God wants you to give something back. This is
God's purpose for your life, and it is called your
"ministry" or service.
•
•
•
•
You were created to serve God- the Bible says, in
Eph. 2:10b
(COLOSSIANS 3:12-17)
• And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy
and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one
another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a
complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you,
so also should you. 14And beyond all these things put on
love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15And let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you
were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word
of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching
and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your
hearts to God. 17And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through Him to God the Father," (A Fathers Love Letter)
HOW IS A STEWARD QUALIFIED
• Respectful of the A.M.E doctrines
• Upholds the principles and practice
• Must be practical and able to conduct business
matters and those financial responsibilities of the
Church
• Spiritual lay Leaders of the Church
• Spiritual –
• Leader -
WHAT DO STEWARDS SERVE ?
• The Lords Table
• The Ministers Table
• The Poor Table
• They do so willingly, they do so caring yet respectful manner
towards all people,
• Needy
• Successful
• Poor or prominent
HOW LONG DO STEWARDS SERVE ?
•
•
•
•
•
1 year ONLY
Elections are conducted annually
In compliance to the DISIPLINE
Annual appointment made by the PASTOR
After 2 years of membership
• Effectively demonstrate
•
•
•
•
Loyalty
Ability in temporal affairs
Good character
Love and respect for the traditional African Methodist Church
CAN ANY POWER OVERRULE AN OFFICIAL
SESSION OF THE STEWARDS AND PASTORS ?
• They official session of Stewards and Pastor
constitute a Board by the General Rule . No other
presences in the official church can override their
jurisdictional ruling involving the church.
• The Stewards with their Pastor are effective and
responsible for their church, ENTIRELY
• THEY MUST BE SPIRITUAL AND HAVE LEADERSHIP ABILITIES
SPIRITUAL
• 1 PETER 2:5
• And you are living stones that God is building into his
spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests.
Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual
sacrifices that please God.
• (NLT)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Purity of Joseph
Wisdom of Josiah
Responsibility of Boaz
Honesty of Job
Courage of Paul
Forgiving of Ananias of Damascus
Compassion of Jesus
LEADER
• A leader is "a person who influences a group of
people towards the achievement of a goal". A
mnemonic for this definition would be 3P's - Person,
People and Purpose as illustrated by the following
diagram.
THE CALLING AND THE APPOINTMENT
• No person should be considered for service on the Steward Board—or leadership
elsewhere in the church—simply because he or she is influential in the community
or generously contributes money to the church. If every church would adhere to
biblical standards and qualifications in selecting and electing leaders, many of our
churches would be stronger, not to mention better off.
• I believe God calls stewards to perform in at least six specific ways:
• God calls stewards to work with their pastors to carry out special duties assigned to
them for the work of ministry.
• God calls stewards to a special ministry of servant hood.
• God calls stewards, in the name of Jesus Christ, to serve the poor, weak, sick, and
lonely
• God calls stewards to study the Scriptures, deepen their prayer life, and develop
spiritual discipline.
• God calls stewards to make known to the world the needs and concerns of the
church, congregation, and community.
• God calls stewards to a life of ministry that models the life of Jesus in service to
God’s people.
THE DUTIES OF STEWARDS
• Providing the elements for the Lord’s Supper
(Communion) is another duty of church stewards.
They are responsible for ensuring stewardesses have
sufficient juice, wafers, and clean, white linen to
properly conduct the sacrament.
• Stewards are charged with negotiating the
compensation package for the pastor.
• Stewards also encourage, inspire, and motivate
other members to serve.
• Stewards serve as assistants during public worship
and other special events.
THE DUTIES OF STEWARDS
• Make an exact account of all money or other
provisions collected for the support of the Pastor of
the mission.
• Seek the needy and distressed
• The foundation of African Methodism has been in
place since the printing of the first The Doctrine and
Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. Throughout our illustrious history and rich
Methodist tradition, the role of a steward has been
consistent with very little alteration.
THE DUTIES OF STEWARDS
• Make accurate reports of every expenditure of
money
• Attend quarterly conference
• They shall write circular letters to societies of a circuit
when occasion require.
• They shall register baptisms, marriages and deaths.
• Conduct a survey of the membership.
• Investigate all members on the roll
• Subject to the bishop, elders, deacons, and
traveling ministers of the station.
THE CALLING AND THE APPOINTMENT
• Be reputable (1 Timothy 3:10; Acts 6:3).
• If married, have one spouse with whom they live in tranquility, peace, and harmony
(1 Timothy 3:12).
• Be humble, prudent, and willing to serve others (Matthew 20:27).
• Lead respectable lives (1 Timothy 3:15).
• Be effective teachers committed to doing God’s will and not their own (Titus 1:7).
• Possess patience, understanding, and self-control (Titus 1:7).
• Be spiritually mature Christians living according to God’s Word and examples for
others to follow (Titus 1:7-8).
•
Selection Criteria
•
Many churches are having trouble today because their pastors are not using a
biblical model when selecting men and women to serve on the Steward Board.
Problems are bound to arise whenever a pastor ignores God’s mandates for
spiritual maturity as a major qualification of any individual being considered for
leadership. Failure to adhere to this divine standard is a refusal to do it God’s way. If
God is not in it, it won’t work!
THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF STEWARDS
• Accountable to the quarterly conference, which
has the power to remove them when they fail or
refuse to do their duties.
• In the interim of the quarterly conference, the
minister in charge has the right to suspend a
steward who refuses, neglects, or fails to discharge
his or her duty.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF STEWARDS
• The board of stewards must have
• Appropriately labeled church record books which contain
records of baptisms, marriages, births, deaths, probationers,
and full members. (One Book separate Ledgers).
• The minister in charge shall see that all these
provisions are enforced.
• Review pages 64-66 “The Book of Discipline of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church”.
WEEK 1
BREAK-OUT SESSION