Dear BPCWAians, Over the last few weeks’ Pastoral Letter, we have been looking at various aspects of this meeting in the run up to the Triennial elections and ACM. We will close up the series with a look at what will be held next week.

How should you prepare for the elections? Elections are not just “something that is on the calendar”. It is a critical event for God’s church and should be important to you. As Christians, church is an important part of your spiritual life and growth. The Session will make decisions on behalf of the church. They will be involved in planning and organising the events and activities in church. We should be concerned that they are leaders that will follow and obey Christ, the Head of the church. On our part, the Board of Elders have ensured that, to the best of our knowledge, the men who are standing for elections fulfil the spiritual qualifications and are willing to participate wholeheartedly in the ministry of the church. The election is your role in the process, where the members will vote in the next Session of BPCWA. While we believe that these are the right candidates being put up this year, we should still know what we must do as members:

1. Know who you are voting for. A booklet entitled “2017 Triennial Session Election Candidates” was distributed together with the Sunday bulletin on 27th August. This year, there are 4 candidates being put up for election – 1 for Office of Pastor, and 3 for Office of Deacon. 2. Know the biblical qualifications required for each Office. I have outlined over several weeks the qualifications the God requires for leaders of the church. You can find these in my Pastoral letter from 18th June to 16th July. There are requirements for Deacons, and a higher standard required for Pastors and Elders, so take some time to familiarise yourself with these. 3. Prayerfully assess the candidates for each role based upon the qualifications and their role. What it simply means is – if someone is standing for Office of Deacon, don’t expect him to be doing the role of Elder and assess him against those qualifications and vice versa for the Pastor. Look at their lives – have they demonstrated themselves to be of sound character? Then, look at their service in the church – have they demonstrated themselves faithful to God’s Truth, and diligent in his past and current areas of service? 4. Pray for the elections. Keep this in your daily prayer for the church that we will be blessed with a God fearing Session that will serve together in peace and unity with the sole objective of glorifying God and advancing His kingdom’s work here at BPCWA. 5. Know how to vote. During the ACM, listen carefully when the explanation on how to fill the voting form is made. Every member who votes is accountable before God. Pray and indicate your vote properly.

How should you prepare for the ACM? We hold a Congregational Meeting so that members take stock of what we have done over the past year as a church. This is why so much effort has gone into having ministry leads submit their respective reports.

1. Review the ACM reports. By now, most of you should have received a copy of the ACM reports. As you read through these reports, you should: a) Have a better understanding and appreciation of what each group is involved in. You may not attend every fellowship group, but through these, you have a glimpse of what each fellowship group has done. It also tells you what has been the focus of each ministry and what it is involved in. b) Know how to pray for each group. c) Aim to participate in some of these fellowships or ministries. If all these seem rather remote to you, then make it a point this year to join some of these fellowships. Serve in an area of ministry. Be part of the body of Christ at BPCWA. d) How you, as a body of Christ, can contribute in some way. Is there someone you know that you can invite to these fellowship groups? Do you have some expertise in some area that may be helpful for that ministry?
2. Understand the Constitution changes being proposed. This year, the congregation will vote on 3 areas changes to the Constitution. 2 are actual amendments to the Constitution, while the other is about corrections to typographical errors present in the current Constitution. We are proposing these changes because we believe that they are safeguards for the church. For Constitution changes, a two-thirds majority vote of members is required. So, do read through the details and reasons for these in last week’s Pastoral letter and prayerfully vote for what is best for BPCWA.

Ultimately, let us pray and endeavour that everything that is done at next Sunday’s Annual Congregational Meeting is what God desires for BPCWA. Everything must be done objectively – keeping aside personal preferences, likes or dislikes – based on God’s Word, His revealed will, and for His Glory. When elected, this must also be the Session’s purpose – to execute God’s Will, God’s way, and for Him alone. We must work together with this common purpose and objective. Only when we do this can we truly say that Christ is “the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph 1:22-23)

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor