Dear Cornerstone Family,
On the behalf of the elders, I am pleased to announce the beginning of a nomination, training, and election cycle for new officers at Cornerstone. In our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, it is the sober and joyous responsibility of communing members to nominate qualified men for the office of elder and deacon.
To help you prepare for nomination season, please pick up the Officer Nomination Booklet at both entrances to Cornerstone this morning. The Officer Nomination Booklet includes important information like elder and deacon job descriptions and Cornerstone’s vision for leadership. It also includes timely details about the officer nomination process, qualifications, training, examination, and election.
Below are a few important matters to keep in mind as you prepare to submit nominations:
· Nomination season will open two weeks from today on Sunday, September 21 and close Sunday, October 5.
· All nominations must be submitted in writing or electronically by using the Officer Nomination Form (to be published on Sunday, September 21).
· Only Cornerstone members are eligible to nominate for office. The person making the nomination must identify himself or herself in the nomination.
· Only male Cornerstone members who have been members for a minimum of one year are eligible for nomination.
· Each nomination should be put forward for either the office of elder or deacon. Ultimately, discernment for a particular office will be evaluated and determined by the Session after a season of training.
· After successfully completing training and examination, the Session will recommend qualified candidates to be elected as officers. An officer election will be held in a called congregational meeting.
The responsibility to nominate officers should be approached with biblical wisdom and prayerful deliberation. For the next two weeks, please take time to read the elder and deacon job descriptions in the Officer Nomination Booklet. Pay special attention to biblical qualifications for office outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. With the job descriptions and qualifications in mind, begin identifying qualified men you know in the congregation and nominate them.
Finally, and most importantly, pray for this process. Pray the Lord would use your preparation and active participation in this vital work to raise up more officers in our midst.
Your servant,
