This coming Sunday we will be selecting our new leaders by Lot. Our practice is in keeping with the decision of Synod 2003 (Acts, p.609), which reads:
1. That synod declare that the use of the lot in the election of officebearers is permitted when a congregational vote is part of the process.
Grounds:
a. In their election of officebearers, an increasing number of churches are finding it beneficial to include the lot at some point in the election process.
b. The use of a congregational vote at some point in the process honors our Reformed history and our 1989 decision by providing for the meaningful involvement of the congregation in this process.
Our practice is to present the names to the congregation for an affirmation vote, with 66% approval required for the nominated names to stand. We prayerfully prepare the list of nominees, we present them to the congregation for an affirmation vote, and then we allow the Lord to select the new leaders through the hands of the retiring leaders.
We have found this method very positive. The feedback is also positive, and it has helped people to decide whether to allow their names to stand or not.
This Sunday we will be selecting 2 new Council Elders, 1 new Pastoral Elder and 2 new Deacons!