I have been in full time youth ministry for 8 years and have spent 7 of those as an elder in the churches that I have served. I find it extremely beneficial to my work in the church to be at the council and elders meetings. I should clarify that I am ordained within the local church as an elder and not as a ministry associate or minister of the word. Questions that have been posed: What happens if new ministry staff comes on board? Are they automatically elders? Is it healthy for a council led church to have full time staff as a permanent part of council as an elder or deacon? I know the benefits that I receive from being part of the bigger picture of the church. I am curious how other churches handle the "staff interaction with council" beast.
Comments
When I was youth pastor at Cornerstone CRC in Chilliwack I was ordained as an Administrative Elder in the role of Youth Pastor. Thus I attending both the Administrative Elder meetings and the Pastoral Elder meetings. It was hugely beneficial to my ministry in Chilliwack to be on both bodies. Personally I would recommend that any full time paid Youth Workers be permitted to attend both meeting whether they are ordained or not.
I believe there is more value in attending as council meetings than trying to avoid them.
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