Redeeming Harvest Leadership

Redeeming Harvest Leadership

At Redeeming Harvest, we have three titles of leadership. These titles are Priest, Deacon, and Elder. All other members are Disciples. While all leadership and members are considered equal, there are some specific duties and qualifications to each title.

The priest will share in the same duties as the Elders and Deacons; however, the priest also acts as a project coordinator and administrative assistant to the Elders. The Priest is appointed by the group of Elders and is held account by the same. The priest also fulfils the legal requirements of ordination for certain ceremonies as the law requires (such as marriages). One additional duty of the priest is to offer services in the community to groups outside of Redeeming Harvest (such as nursing homes, group homes, etc).

Elders have the same authority to perform ceremonies as the priest. Elders are also the leaders of small groups. Each small group is its own fellowship, meeting to study scripture. Elders also appoint and hold accountable the priest while also ensuring the safety and sanctity of the fellowship and ministry. Elders are appointed by recommendation and member confirmation.

Deacons can best be described as Elders in training. They assist Elders in their duties, as well as community outreach and church administrative tasks. Deacons will typically be sought out in each individual small group to work with the Elder in preparation for becoming a leader, so they are prepared to step into the role and lead.

Essentially, the Elders and Priests have the same duties, except that the priest works to coordinator activities for the Elders and meet legal requirements as needed for ceremonies. Deacons are Elders in training who will one day leave their small group to start and lead their own. This is done to ensure unity within the fellowship (by all Elders working together for growth by keeping the groups small enough to allow for engagement and deep faith relationships).

We do not use traditional titles such as father, pastor, or reverend for any of the leadership. Using an individual’s name or “brother/sister” is most appropriate, or “Mr, Ms, or Mrs” are also acceptable, as we are all disciples of Christ and none is greater than the other.

Qualifications for church leadership:

1 Timothy 3:2-7 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, soberminded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

Titus 1:6-9 “… if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it”