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Reflections on Church Leadership Elections

Once again this month our church family gathers to do something that might look simple on the surface: we vote. We mark a box, raise a hand, or affirm a name. But beneath that ordinary action lies something profoundly spiritual. Choosing leaders is not just an administrative task—it is one of the ways we listen together for the voice of God.

In a world where voting often feels divisive, the church has the opportunity to model something different: a community where discernment is shared, where unity is cherished, and where leadership is understood as service rather than status.

In the book of Acts, the early church faced decisions that shaped its future. When leaders were chosen, the community prayed, listened, and trusted that the Holy Spirit was guiding them. Their process wasn’t about popularity or personal preference—it was about seeking God’s direction as one body.

When we vote today, we step into that same tradition. We pause. We pray. We ask God to show us who will serve with humility, wisdom, and grace. This is why our voting matters. It is an act of shared discernment— an expression of our belief that God works through the whole community, not just a few.

So, what do we look for in a church leader? Church leadership is not about titles or authority. It is about character, calling, and a willingness to serve. Qualities worth reflecting on include: a heart shaped by prayer, a commitment to Scripture, a spirit of humility, a willingness to listen, and a desire to build up the whole church. When we vote, we are not choosing representatives for our personal preferences. We are affirming those we believe God has gifted for this season of our church’s life.
Even in a loving church, we won’t always agree. We may have different instincts, different experiences, or different hopes for the future. But unity is not the same as uniformity. Unity is the commitment to walk together even when we see things differently.

After the vote is cast and the results are announced, our calling is the same: to support those who have been chosen, to encourage them in prayer, to offer our gifts alongside theirs, to trust that God is at work through the whole body. We are also called to support anyone not chosen, to give them reassurance, and to thank them for their willingness to
serve. Disappointment is natural if the outcome isn’t what we hoped for.

But unity grows when we choose grace over grumbling, encouragement over criticism, and shared mission over personal preference. Leadership is important, but it is not everything. The health of a church is never carried by leaders alone. It is carried by the whole community—by those who pray, serve, give, welcome, teach, sing, visit, and quietly bless others in ways that are never seen. SBC can rightly claim to be such a
community with ‘every person ministry’ at the forefront of all we do.

Voting is one moment in our life together. Unity is the daily work of love, patience, forgiveness, and shared purpose. I think I can speak for the current ISG membership when I say that this describes our time together over the last two years, and I am sure it will define the leadership team going forward, whoever they may be. I believe that this definition of unity also applies to our wider church, just as it does to any family, and that
these principles of love, patience, forgiveness and shared purpose are what have enabled us to carry on so successfully in our period of interregnum. (I may add that a sense of humour also helps… )

As we gather together at the church meeting on April 9th, then, may we do so with open hearts and loving spirits. May we remember that this is not a political exercise but a spiritual one. And may our unity be a witness to the world—a sign that Christ is at the centre of all we do.
Every blessing
Sue H.