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We believe that the Holy Spirit is alive and active among the members of FXCC. Consequently, the decision of the congregation will be the final voice in determining which men will serve as elders. This is not merely a democratic voting process. It is the culmination and participation in the Holy Spirit calling forth men to lead the body of Christ at FXCC. We ask that you take this as a solemn duty and approach your part in this decision with both prayer and fasting.
On two consecutive Sunday mornings we will pass out ballots and announce the date of the vote. Ballots will have three options to choose from for each candidate – “Yes”, “No”, and “Don’t know”. “Yes” explicitly states a willingness to accept and support the spiritual leadership of the candidate as a part of the body of Elders of FXCC. “No” explicitly states the opposite. And, “Don’t know” simply means that you do not know that candidate well enough to vote. The ballots may be turned in anytime between the second Sunday announcement and the actual vote date by simply placing them in the offering plate face down. Each member may vote only one time and the ballot must be signed to be counted. For a candidate to become an elder 70% or more of each “Yes” or “No” vote must be “Yes”.
The votes will be counted by the executive minister, the chairman of the elders, and one ministry leader. Candidates who receive enough “Yes” votes will be announced and confirmed by the current elders in front of the congregation on the following Sunday. Actual percentages will not be announced. Elders who have reached their term limit will begin their mandatory 12 month sabbatical 90 days after the confirmation of new elders.
Note: men who desire to become elders after their 12 month sabbatical will have to go back through the next selection process and obtain the congregational confirmation of 75% or more “Yes” votes. Additionally, elders absent from the congregation for more than 90 days will also have to begin a 12-month sabbatical period and be re-confirmed by the congregation before serving an additional term.
This brief overview of congregational confirmation may not have answered all of your questions about the FXCC elder selection model. For more information, please look through the rest of the Elder Selection home page links and read through the Frequently Asked Questions.
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