In March we begin the process of nominating prospective officers for 2025. As members of StoneBridge Church, you have the responsibility to nominate and elect members to serve on our Session and Diaconate. These nominees must be of mature Christian character, practice their gifts in the life of the church, and be willing to serve.
Starting this year, members have the opportunity to nominate qualified men in the ordained office of elder and deacon, and qualified women in the commissioned role of deaconess. These nominees will be presented before the Session in late spring to move forward through training and equipping. Approved nominees will go through a three-month training, focused on Scripture, theology, polity, shepherding, care, and mission. When complete, they’ll go back to the Session for final approval to be presented before the congregation in December for election.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING AN OFFICER:
Biblical - I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9.
Theological - They must be in theological agreement with the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.
They need to be a member of SBCC for at least 5 years before serving.
They must be willing to attend officer training classes.
They should have a demonstrated track record of participation and involvement at SBCC.
They must receive multiple nominations.
Officer nominees need to be approved by the session to begin training. Those who complete the training class will be interviewed by the session to be considered as officer candidates for election at a congregational meeting.
FAQ’s
What’s different this year?
We normally nominate, train, and elect men in the ordained office of elder and deacon. This year we will also nominate, train, and elect women in the commissioned role of deaconess.
Does this align with our theology and PCA polity?
Yes, it does, and the PCA’s 2017 Women in Leadership study committee expressly encourages churches to do so, selecting and appointing godly women to assist the diaconate in their responsibilities (see Recommendation #6, page 61 of the report). The report also provides relevant scriptural warrant. Today, many PCA churches either appoint or commission qualified women for diaconal work, often giving them the title ‘deacon assistant’ or ‘deaconess.’ This practice is already permitted in PCA’s Book of Church Order (9-7).
What’s the difference between ordained and commissioned?
Ordination is an official process that is prescribed by the PCA and is only reserved for men in the office of elder or deacon. Commissioning is an act of the church whereby we recognize and empower leaders in our church to carry out specific ministry and roles.
Does this mean we’ll begin having women serve as elders too?
While women can and do serve in many functions in the church, StoneBridge’s scriptural and theological convictions hold us to only having men in the ordained office of an elder.
Why are we making this change now?
The Session explores many issues throughout the year to learn, grow, and/or align to core beliefs and vision. In the fall of 2023, the Session asked a committee to explore the PCA Report on Women in Ministry and see if there were any gaps in alignment with how StoneBridge was operating and the PCA recommendations. After prayer, research, and connecting with other PCA churches, our committee presented recommendations to the Session in October. In December, the Session prayerfully and unanimously voted to commission women in the role of deaconess.