VBCC - Administration

WHAT IS IT?

Administration, leadership, government, whatever you want to call it - this is how ours works... We do believe that God has placed a system of leadership in the Body of Christ for the purposes of general administration, spiritual guidance (equipping), and "vision carrying". These people, called "Elders," "Overseers," or ÒPastorsÓ aren't popular figures whom the people in the congregation elect to an office. They are called and gifted by God and set in place by the Holy Spirit.

The Body, or the Community, is a unified whole under the headship of Christ alone. There aren't "classes", per se, of Christians - only those who perform various and different functions. So, the role of Elder/Overseer/Pastor does not place these men "above" the other members of the body. They simply fulfill a unique role in the community by virtue of both their spiritual maturity and their giftedness.

RESPONSIBILITIES

They are responsible to see that the community of believers comes to maturity in Christ and that the administrative business of the community is run smoothly. Their job is not to do all the ministry, but to have oversight - making sure the whole body is equipped to do ministry in it's various forms.

Their job is not to lord over or control the community but instead, to guide it, watch over it, and to model Godly character to it in order that all the members come to their full potential in Christ, as a part of His Body. They do this as those "among" the people of God, not ones "over" them.

GO HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

STRUCTURE

PASTORAL TEAM/COUNCIL OF ELDERS
The Elders are the guiding and primary equipping body of the community. Their responsibilities are spelled out above. The terms Overseer and Pastor are also used to refer to the same individuals in the community. They are the mature and tested members of the body who hold a "position" in so much as they carry out a vital "function" in the whole community. They are gifted by God with various gifts which enable them to lead. Lead, that is, by modeling and example primarily, as well as equipping their siblings through teaching.

DEACONS & CELL LEADERS
Deacons are appointed from among faithful, mature members of the community to help with the daily "business" of practical needs in the community. Cell Leaders perform many of the same functions as Deacons, as well as being the "shepherds" of the cell groups, which are the basic buiding blocks of the community.