A few times in ministry, the question has arisen as to how many elders and deacons a Church should have. Why not just have a "hard core" of competent people? I have said that there is a lot more to think about than, say, efficiency. Here are some of the reasons why:
▪ Representation matters. Therefore one takes people on board who represent women, parents, labourers, youth, and so on. This has to do with witness, too.▪ Diversity matters. There is strength in a mix of abilities, experience, perspectives, backgrounds, and convictions.▪ Mentoring matters. Elders and deacons are not there only for their own sake, but may take people on board with their potential in mind.▪ Safety matters. It is safer for the Church, for its policy and its governance, to have a larger body of elders and deacons,▪ Congregationalism matters. A "hard core" of competent people may tend to call the shots, and lose the spirit of Congregationalism.
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