Herbert W Armstrong

All church pastors should plan to be in their local congregations for services on Atonement, except those who have international assignments for the Feast of Tabernacles. If you have an international assignment, please inform Ministerial Services or your Regional Office about the arrangements you will be making for Atonement services in your congregation(s). U.S. ministers may consider September 26 through October 11 as Festival travel time.

On another subject, it seems that one area in which we can always grow is that of communication in the local congregations. Just as in a marriage, a key ingredient in effectively pastoring a local congregation is communication among the leadership. We need to keep in mind the principle the Apostle Paul laid out in II Timothy 2:2.

Church pastors should meet with associate or assistant pastors once each week for the specific purpose of discussing plans and procedures for the coming week, as well as results and progress of the preceeding week. This is not, as some may have thought in the past, for the purpose of "checking up" or "keeping tabs" on the associates and assistants. It is simply a matter of sensible management. God teaches us in I Corinthians 14:33, 40 that we should work together in unity and harmony. This includes, of course, the government of the local congregation as well. This simple procedure of regular communication among the leadership of the congregation greatly increases their ability to effectively serve God's people. This is not just some idea that so-called "management experts" have come up with to write about. It is a clear principle from God's Word.

God loves unity. Regular, godly communication enhances and promotes unity. When the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, confusion results. Associate and assistant pastors who aren't given regular guidance and direction tend to become frustrated, unsure of whether they are properly serving their pastor and the congregation.

Some pastors may feel that they won't know what to discuss, or how to properly handle such a meeting. But realize that God will give you the help you need, just as He does in every other area of your ministry. Ask God for His help to use these meetings to encourage and give positive direction to the men working under you.

You associates and assistants should realize that the purpose of meeting with your pastor once a week is to promote unified and harmonious leadership in the congregation. It is an opportunity for you to grow in understanding of your pastor's approach and to get to know him better. This will enable you to back up and support his office more effectively.

These same principles also apply to local church elders and deacons. Meetings with the elders and deacons should be held about once a month. Again, elders and deacons need this regular contact and communication with the pastor in order to do their jobs effectively. These meetings give you the opportunity not only to map out plans and responsibilities for the coming month, but also to review and discuss the previous month's successes and failures, as well as to give needed instruction and Biblical guidance to the local leadership.

All associates, assistants and elders also need to recognize their responsibility to keep the pastor informed of any development in the local congregation that will in any way affect his ability to serve the brethren. Ask God for understanding of His government. Sometimes it is easy for the vanity of human nature to rise up and make you begin to feel that it is best for the brethren to come to you rather than to the pastor. "After all," one might reason, "the pastor may one day be transferred, and I will probably still be here." Ask God for the humble attitude He describes in Isaiah 66:2. Don't allow yourself to develop the attitude Satan had of wanting to assume more authority or responsibility than was rightfully his.

In times past, some associates, assistants and elders have found themselves disagreeing with their pastor. Some have assumed that their pastor was "off the track" simply because he did administrative things differently than they would have done. In their vanity, they lost sight of the difference between an actual heresy and a simple matter of administrative style. Mr. Armstrong made it clear in the September 25, 1978 GOOD NEWS that one who disagrees with his pastor should go to him about it with the desire to understand. If the matter is only a question of style or personal approach, and not something contrary to established Church policy, then the elder should simply recognize his responsibility to back up the pastor's decision. Of course, pastors need to be open to suggestion and constructive criticism done in a right attitude. In James 3:17, we are told to be easily intreated.

In the August 28, 1978 GOOD NEWS, Mr. Armstrong also explained that a case of actual heresy or false doctrine that is intentional should be reported immediately to Headquarters. An accidental mistake or oversight can be handled by discussing it with the pastor. But clear, intentional heresy should be reported immediately.

As mentioned earlier, however, some have assumed that the pastor was "off the track" simply because his method of handling a matter was different from their own. Much of this kind of problem could have been avoided by regular, proper communication done in a right attitude of genuine concern and love for superiors and subordinates. An attitude of real concern for one's superior would not permit criticism of every little thing he does. Instead, a subordinate should strive to support, uphold, strengthen and pray for his superior, striving to make his plans and procedures work.

On the other hand, a supervisor who truly loves and cares for those under his responsibility will not keep them in the dark about everything he is doing. He will not leave them on their own to do the best they can. Obviously, there are some things that cannot, and rightly should not, be shared with everyone. But regular communication regarding those things pertinent to an individual's own responsibilities is vital to the effective discharge of his duties.

Pastors also have the responsibility to keep Headquarters informed of significant developments they become aware of, as was discussed in the September 2, 1983 PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT.

I hope each of you will realize the need for regular communication in all areas. It is an important way to increase your effectiveness as a servant in God's Church!

So let's all strive to improve our communication with one another, thereby growing together in the oneness of God's mind as He intends. Let's also continue diligently in our prayers for one another, for Mr. Armstrong and for all the brethren as we all work together in fulfilling the commission of proclaiming the Gospel around the world.

Recent Ordinations

Six men were recently ordained local elders or local church elders. The men and the dates on which they were ordained are as follows: March 30, Edward Johnston, Ft. Collins, Colorado; April 6, Jacob Enns, Saskatoon, Canada; April 12 (the last day of Unleavened Bread) John Katai, Vancouver, Canada; John Kohoot, Vancouver, Canada; Wilmer Thompson, Cumberland, Maryland; and April 20, Gary Richards, Pasadena Auditorium PM.