Election of New Elders to Session
Langley Presbyterian Church belongs to the Presbyterian Church in Canada (www.presbyterian.ca).
In the PCC, each congregation is served by a Session whose members (Elders) are elected by the professing members of the congregation.
Currently, our Session has eight elders - Graeme Kennedy (Clerk), Bev Feick, Trevor Fowler, Nancy Hantke, Marianne Lazaro, Eleanor Mills, Heather Nordine, and Thomas Wagner. Our Session decided to begin the process of seeking additional elders.
On behalf of the Session, I would like to present the following steps:
1) Nominations
Who may be nominated: Any professing member or adherent of Langley presbyterian church, whether previously ordained elders or not, can be nominated by any two members of the congregation.
How to nominate: Nominations must be submitted in writing and made by at least two members of the congregation, either separately or together. Completed nominations are to be placed through the slot in the wooden box at the back of the sanctuary.
Nominating period: Sunday, September 28th to Sunday, October 12th - three Sundays.
2) Recommendation of the Candidates
After receiving nominations, Session will consider the candidates and arrange interviews as needed.
Following this process, the list of recommended candidates will be presented to the congregation on Sunday, November 9th.
3) Voting
How to vote: Members of the congregation will receive a ballot of candidates and will place completed ballots in the wooden box at the back of the sanctuary.
Voting period: Sunday, November 23rd to Sunday, November 30th (two Sundays).
4) Ordination and Admission of New Elders
On Sunday, December 7th, Ordination of Elders and/or Admission of previously ordained Elders will take place during the Sunday Worship Service.
"An elder must be a professing member of the congregation and must be 'an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity" (Book of Forms I 06. I) -the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
"Election to the eldership is the call of God, through the congregation, for service in Christ's Church. Since the eldership is a spiritual office concerned with the rule and pastoral oversight of the congregation, only suitable men and women should be considered. They should be committed Christians, in regular attendance at public worship, persons of sound judgment and upright character, and either knowledgeable or prepared to learn of the government of the church." (Book of Forms 132) —the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
I encourage you to participate in this process with thankfulness and prayerful consideration.
Rev. Lydia Bae