INTRODUCTION (5)
5. The set-up of this evaluation
This Handbook consists of three sections and each section has eight chapters. These chapters cover all the different aspects of the work of the office-bearers. The evaluation takes place over a three year cycle, the usual length of a term in office. The cycle is as follows:
Year 1
- September: Home Visits
- October: Liturgy
- November: Holy Baptism
- December: Lord’s Supper
- February: Preaching & Prayer
- March: Communion of Saints
- April: Education & Instruction
- May: Task of the Minister
Year 2
- September: Church Discipline
- October: Work of Mercy
- November: Evangelism
- December: Federation
- February: Special Visits
- March: Catechism
- April: Marriage
- May: Task of the Elder
Year 3
- September: Study Societies
- October: Finances
- November: Congregation and Council
- December: Counselling
- February: Council
- March: Mission
- April: Committee of Administration
- May: Task of the Deacon
Each chapter ends with several questions to help the evaluation. It may be necessary to spell out how certain things are done in the church. But that in itself is already part of the process of evaluating our work. To facilitate the discussion and make it more fruitful the office-bearers do well to read a chapter ahead of time. At the end of this Handbook there is a section called: Mandates and Regulations. Each church has its own mandates, guidelines, regulations or policy statements. They are referred to in the pertinent chapters, but their full text can be found in the last section.
May this Handbook help office-bearers to be faithful servants in God’s house, for His glory and the upbuilding of the congregation.
Douwe G.J. Agema, v.d.m.
Attercliffe, August 2003.