Chapter 5 Ministries in the Church / The Government of the Church
PRAYER and INTERCESSION
*Pre-Service Prayer (in the classroom from one hour before each Service), private intercession or in one of our prayer groups. There is aMen’s Prayer Meeting, Tuesdays at Cotswold House (363 Banbury Road) and a Ladies’ Prayer Meeting, Fridays 11am at 393 Banbury Road, and an All-Night Prayer Meeting from 10pm, the first Friday of the month at Cheney Community Hall. There is a group who commit to intercede for the Pastors.
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The Government of the Church
OXFORD BIBLE CHURCH is a member of the SHEKINAH BIBLE CHURCHES.
Head: The Lord Jesus Christ
Pastor: Derek Walker
Assistant Pastor: Hilary Walker
Elder: Sheila Thomas
Board of Trustees (and Financial Committee) Derek Walker Sheila Thomas, George Read (Treasurer) Peter Attwood Harold Cook, Ian Caldwell
Pastors’ PA: Kathleen Dilshad
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the Chief Shepherd. Therefore we seek His guidance for all church decisions. The elders carry spiritual authority in the Church. The Pastor is the undershepherd and head elder and has the final decision and responsibility in all spiritual matters, and Church policy. However, the Pastor should always seek godly counsel in making major decisions, especially from the elders. Where finances are involved the Pastor submits to the wisdom of the Board of Trustees. Moreover input from Church Members is always listened to and welcomed.
The Board of Trustees has the oversight of the Church finances. It is also an Advisory Board to the Pastors and has the authority to represent the Church in the absence of the Pastors and to decide disputed issues when appropriate (for example: in judging accusations against those in authority). As such it has the authority of a Board of Deacons working under the authority of the Pastors. Sheila Thomas, as an elder, presides over the Board in the absence of the Pastors.
If a Church Member sins in such a way to threaten the unity, integrity, reputation or witness of the Church (thus openly breaking the Membership Standards) then they need to be confronted according to Matthew 18:15-17: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” If they are confronted and repent then good. If not:"But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that `by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”Then if he still continues in sin: "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church (that is to someone in authority in the Church). They then will come under Church discipline. The Pastor(s) and if appropriate, the Trustees will confront the sinning brother, and if he still fails to repent, then he will be removed from Church Membership and the other Members will be informed: “But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector” (since he is acting as an unbeliever he is to be treated as such). The authority of the Church to do this is affirmed in v18: "Surely, I say to you, whatever you bind (forbid) on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose (permit) on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
The Bible gives us some cases of when this should be applied :
(1) IMMORALITY (1Corinthians 6:5-13, 2Corinthians 2:3-11).
(2) TROUBLEMAKERS bringing STRIFE and DIVISION, perhaps even moving in rebellion to usurp those in authority (2Thessalonians 3:6-15, 1Timothy 5:13, Titus 3:10,11, Romans 16:17,18).
(3) Those TEACHING serious heresy (2 John 7-11, Galatians 1:8,9)
OBC Office
363 Banbury Road
Oxford - England - UK
OX2 7PL
Telephone: +44 (0)1865 515086
Fax: +44 (0) 8721 107068
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Sunday Services
Sundays at 11am and 6pm
Cheney School Hall
Cheney Lane - Headington
Oxford - England - UK
OX3 7QH