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Positions - (Exodus 18:21)
Shepherd as Impact Group Leader
Purpose: One of the most important leadership responsibilities
at the Visalia Evangelical Free Church is the shepherd. As appropriate,
this position and that of undershepherd may be filled by either
a man or woman. It is through faithful shepherding provided by
the shepherd that individuals at the Visalia Evangelical Free
Church come to Christ and are discipled.
The Shepherd shall:
- be a member of the church.
- have direct shepherding responsibility for his Impact Group
members.
- participate in the formal training for shepherds offered
by VEFC.
- convene and lead his Impact Group meeting 2-4 times each
month.
- train his undershepherd to lead.
- provide sound biblical instruction for his Impact Group.
- prayerfully seek to lead others to Christ and provide opportunity
for the rest of the group to do the same by maintaining an
empty chair for new group members.
- bring a new group to life through his group.
- invite new visitors to his Impact Group as provided by the
Family Pastor.
- faithfully attend worship and encourage his group members
to do the same.
- agree to step down from leadership if requested to do so
by those in authority in the church.
Undershepherd as Apprentice Impact Group Leader
Purpose: The undershepherd is one who is being trained
to be a shepherd. He is to assist the shepherd in all aspects
of the ministry and be ready to take over as a shepherd as God
directs.
The undershepherd shall follow the same job description as the
shepherd.
Overseer as Leader of Shepherds
Purpose: The overseer is a leader of shepherds, one who
has a group of about five shepherds to encourage, supervise and
oversee.
The Overseer shall:
- be a member of the church.
- pray for their shepherds.
- counsel their shepherds.
- visit their shepherd's group meetings quarterly.
- do what is needed to help the shepherds effectively shepherd
their groups.
- must be willing to participate in the shepherd's training.
- provide direct supervision to the shepherds by meeting with
them (in person or by phone) regularly.
- monitor the activities of the shepherds and their groups.
- provide counsel in dealing with difficulties which arise
in the groups.
- give help in reassigning group members who, for whatever
reason, need to go to a different group.
- lead his groups through the process of establishing new groups.
- complete and turn in the monthly overseer's report to the
Family Pastor in a timely manner for each of their groups.
- provide shepherding care for their shepherds.
The Family Pastor as the Leader to Overseers.
Purpose: The Family Pastor is the individual who has
general oversight of a group (10 or less) of overseers and, through
the overseers, their shepherds and groups.
The Family Pastor shall:
- be a member of the church.
- oversee each of the assigned overseers and help them effectively
lead their shepherds.
- assist in the training of the overseers and shepherds.
- collect reports and information needed to evaluate the effectiveness
of the ministry through the church.
- assist the overseers in the start up of new groups and give
special attention to the development of undershepherds.
- provide guidance and protection against false doctrine and
schismatic division.
- meet the qualifications for leadership laid out in Scripture.
Qualifications
Every Shepherd, Undershepherd, Overseer, and the Family Pastor
must:
- Confess Christ as Lord and Savior.
- Regard the Bible as authoritative and be growing as a Christian.
(Read and affirm EVFC statement of purpose and faith).
- Be Spirit controlled.
- Be committed to serve God by serving others.
- Follow the guidance of the church leaders and lead those
under his/her influence to do the same. (Open to reporting,
receiving feed back concerning ministry and evaluation).
- Not be involved in any ongoing pattern of willful disobedience
to God.
- Believe to the best of his/her knowledge this ministry is
God's will.
- Be faithful in fulfilling the duties of his position.
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