Congregational Leaders
ELM is committed to advocating for, and resourcing the ministry of all lay people and runs many courses which are suitable, useful and available for any interested people to attend.
But we also recognise that particular people are called to specific tasks of leadership within congregations, and we aim to provide information and resources that will be especially relevant and helpful to such lay leaders. Lay Preachers in particular are a Specified Lay Ministry of the Uniting Church and there is a section of our website dedicated just to Lay Preachers. This section is concerned with information for those called to be Elders, Church Council Members, worship leaders and other key leaders, and we hope to gradually add resources which will be of use to such leaders.
Enjoy exploring this section of the website utilising the links you will find to the right.
Retreat and Focus Days are available for Church Councils and groups of Elders. These can be arranged for your congregational group or for regional clusters within a Presbytery.
Elders and Church Councillors are strongly encouraged to take the following courses:
- Understanding the Sacraments
ELM Resources and worksheets for Elders, Church Councillors and other Local Leaders can be found in the booklet Every Leader Matters (which can be downloaded from our Resource Page). Please note, however, that the material is designed to be used in facilitated group settings. ELM staff are available to come and work with your group... please call us!
Church Councils are not just elected to be management bodies! They are called to be spiritually discerning bodies, focused on Christ's will rather than the vested interests of individuals. The following resource may be helpful in developing good group discernment practices in a Church Council.
LISTEN FOR GOD'S LEADING
A Workbook for Corporate Spiritual Discernment
By Valerie K Isenhower and JUdith A Todd
Personal discernment is hard enough, but corporate discernment can be truly bewildering! Isenhower and Todd offer a powerful ten-step process that will move you toward understanding God's call for your church. Listen for God's Leading includes abundant group exercises for the discernment team, spiritual disciplines for individual and team use, prayers to be used during meetings, biblical references for group lectio, and an appendix on faith-based management that could be a book in its own right. Most valuable is the continually fresh emphasis on keeping God at the heart of the process. Isenhower and Todd know how the process can go awry, so they build in practices to foster accountability and to nurture mind, soul and imagination for team faith building. The result is a vital and inspiring guide for a vital and inspiring work.
ISBN9780835899857
Published byThe Upper Room
Product codeTUR9985 $22.45
Available from Mediacom
Another key book remains useful for Elders and Church Councillors:
A Guide for elders Edited by Colin Ray (Melbourne 1994)
This book was released in 1994 and is now out of print, but can be borrowed from the Camden Theological Library.
