The Leadership Council is the highest leadership governing body headed by the Senior Minister/Pastor, who along with other members of the Leadership Council, discharges the role of church eldership based from the New Testament Church in the book of Acts.
The Leadership Council is the highest overall governing body of the whole church and even the Leadership Committee of the incorporated association is subject to it.
The Leadership Council as well as the Constitution of JLHF Inc. recognizes the biblical correctness of plurality of eldership with singular leadership.
The Leadership Council provides wide perspective to the leader, counsel and points to where counsel is available on pertinent matters regarding running ths whole church and supports the proper execution and implementations of policies, procedures and guidelines as a result of decisions made with the concurrence of the Leadership Council and which are pursuant to the vision and mission of the church as well as that of the incorporated association.
The Constitution of Jesus Lord of the Harvest Fellowship, Inc. on Article VII Section (l) clause (e) stipulates further that the role of the Elders shall be to assist the Senior Minister in all matters of government in the local church including:
Spiritual Oversight
Vision and Policy
Pastoral Care
All disciplinary matters in the local church
Philosophy of ministry
The sScriptures described but did not prescribed the scriptural form of church government. However, it did give guidelines where to form basis in setting up one.
The New Testament teaches on plurality of eldership but singular leadership. It teaches three basic comparisons namely (1) a human being has only one head though many parts (2) Jesus is the head of the universal church and (3) The husband is the head of the family all of which points to singular leadership. The Old Testament in the case of Moses (through Jethro) teaches plurality of eldership but not multiplicity of leadership. Moses(one) is the head and leader and his spirit was transfsrred upon the seventy elders of Israel.
The Scriptures never taught democracy (people rule) but rather theocracy (God rules). It is not dictatorship because consultations among leaders and leaders with the people are all part and parcel of the solid decision making proeess. The Constitution (Article VI) along with the Lendership Council adheres and have provisions to that and the scriptures supports that position as well.
The Constitution further states on Article III. Affiliation paragraph five (5) "It shall dialogue, listen and adhere to other Biblical churches on pertinent and necessary matters especially on matters which concerns the world-wide church".
Strategy of ministry
Recognizing that the church is both an organism and an organization at the same time, the church adherss to a system of church management called Management by objective. It has its own advantages and limits but for purposes of unity, this has been adopted.
The Leadership Council:
adheres to the biblical principle of Team Ministry when discharging its mandate from the Constitution as well as from the Word of God.
recognizes the value of multiplicity of counsel and therefore adheres to the value of research, consultations, and counsel of men in whatever field of expertise they might have which are pertinent to the running of the church towards the fulfilment of the vision.
allows a decentralized form of organizational structure and administration when it comes to the practical outworking and execution of the overall direction/thrust of the church's plan(s) and/or project(s). This means that within the sphere of one's jurisdiction of responsibility and authority you have to make decisions and one should aspire to make the rightones. This means also that the Leadership Council always makes itself available when needed even at those levels if need be.
recognizes the advisory role of the whole church membership sitting as an Assembly for the whole Leadership Council. The Assembly performs the role of the Leadership Council as it performs its role with the Senior Minister or leader.
Program
"TERM-REAL" Program
Training - Formal (seminar, bible college, intensive courses) and informal (books, audio and video tapes, teaching materials)
Encouragement - Once a month two hour one-on-one meeting, fFellowship and fellowship meals during meetings.
Retreat - One to two days of drawing aside with God
Meetings - Handling of Church's business and spiritual affairs
Release - Into full-time or part-time ministry and place of calling
Exposure - Ministry involvement, visits in other churches, missionary trips
Acceptance
Leisure - Relaxation, furlough and break
Assembly meeting
A gathering of all members of the local church for purposes of prayer,consultation, decision, or whatever reason (with spiritual expediency) the Leadership of the local church convenes the whole membership.
Ministry personnel
Senior Minister
Leadership Council Members
Transferable principles
Leadership Council adheres to the following principles:
There is no perfect fbrm of church government. The leadership strategy of the local church can best find one that suits the lens of scripture, cultur and history of a people and locality. However, the Bible gives some guidelines.
There is no perfect form of leadership structure. The leadership of the local church can best find one that suits them and that which will facilitate the vision. However, the Bible gives some guidelines.
There is no specific guideline in the Bible as to what extent the role of women should be in the leadership of the local church. However, we adopt the position that the man should be the covering of the woman and there is no limit as to what a woman can be in the leadership of the local church.
