| ARTICLE VII. THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
| SECTION 1. THE POSITION OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
| The pastor-teacher is the primary teaching pastor of the church. He is responsible for the spiritual equipping and oversight of the entire congregation and is the first among equals in the elder body. He is the spokesman for the elder body to the congregation and is directly responsible to the elder body for the carrying out of his duties in the church *(1). |
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| References |
| (1) Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1Peter 5:2-4 |
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| SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
The duties and responsibilities of the pastor-teacher in order of their priority are as follows:
- To pray*(1).
- To prepare and to preach the Word*(2).
- To protect the church from false doctrine*(3).
- To see to the administration, oversight, and care of all church staff *(4).
- To lead in the selection of all church staff in accordance with the selection process established in these by-laws.
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| References |
| (1) Acts 6:4<, (2) Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:5, (3) 1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 1:9, (4) Acts 20:34 |
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| SECTION 3. AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE |
The pastor-teacher may, at his discretion, delegate any task pertaining to the administration and oversight of the church staff. Delegation may be done through individuals or councils. In the event of the delegation of a task, those individuals or councils shall be directly responsible to the pastor-teacher, and the pastor-teacher shall remain responsible for the task. This provision is added with the following tasks in mind, but is not limited to this list.
- The selection of pastoral, non-pastoral ministry and support staff.
- The annual financial support review of all church staff.
- The compilation of an annual ministry church budget.
- The review of ongoing and new church program possibilities and ministries.
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| References |
| (1) Romans 10:14-15; 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; Galatians 6:6; 1Thess. 5:12-18; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 3John 5-8 |
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| SECTION 4. THE SELECTION OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
The elder body shall select the pastor-teacher as follows:
- The elders shall serve as the pastor search council, or select the pastor search council.
- The elders shall set guidelines and procedures for the council to follow throughout the pastor search process.
- The council shall consist of at least five men and shall have a member ofthe elder body as its chairman.
- The council shall be directly responsible to the elders and shall keep them informed on its progress.
- Upon the recommendation of the council and the approval of a specific pastor-teacher candidate, the elder body shall make known to the congregation all pertinent information about the pastor-teacher candidate.
- A special meeting shall be set and announced publicly at least two weeks in advance when a pastor-teacher candidate is coming in view of a call.
- At the special-called meeting, a formal affirmation of all eligible members shall be taken concerning the candidate for pastor-teacher. The results of this affirmation will be made public.
- After consideration of the formal affirmation of the congregation, the elder body shall make the final decision regarding the candidate for pastor-teacher. Upon approval of the elder body, the man shall become the pastor-teacher. The elder body shall announce to the church the date that the new pastor-teacher’s tenure shall begin.
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| SECTION 5. FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
The pastoral care council shall initially establish and continually review the pastor-teacher’s financial support and benefit package *(1).
- The pastor-teacher shall receive his support package information in writing before he comes to the church in view of a call.
- The pastoral care council shall initially establish the pastor’s support and benefit package and submit its proposal to the finance council.
- The pastoral care council shall also review the pastor’s support and benefit package at least annually and submit its proposal to the finance council.
- Any change in his support and benefit package shall be given to the pastor-teacher in writing.
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| SECTION 6. TENURE AND DISMISSAL OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER |
- The tenure of the pastor-teacher shall be indefinite in length.
- The elder body has the authority to dismiss the pastor-teacher if he becomes physically incapacitated, spiritually unqualified, or his inability to serve is unanimously established by the remainder of the elder body.
- Any accusation against the pastor-teacher must be made in accordance with scripture*(1).
- Dismissal may be immediate if so determined by the remainder of the elder body.
- The pastor-teacher must give at least one-month’s written notice if he intends to resign.
- The time limit of resignation is subject to a lesser time if mutually agreed upon in writing by the pastor-teacher and the elder body.
- Financial support shall continue to the end of the pastor-teacher’s tenure.
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| References |
| (1) 1 Timothy 5:19-20 |
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| SECTION 7. VACANCY OF THE PASTOR-TEACHER POSITION |
In the event that the church is without a pastor-teacher, the elder body will:
- Choose from among themselves an interim first among equals as chairman, moderator, and spokesman for the elders to the church.
- They shall choose an interim administrator to be over all church staff.
- They shall be responsible for finding a preacher to fill the pulpit in the interim time.
- They shall start the pastor search process as established in these by-laws.
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