ELDERS

Leadership of the ICF is in a Council of Elders with the pastor included in its membership.

The ICF Council is keen to receive nominations for new ICF Elders from the ICF community. The ICF Council Elders have expressed a desire for people to appreciate two important aspects that they have experienced as elders.

Joy! The experience of eldership has been a blessing: seeing God at work, getting to know fellow-elders in new ways, team work in working through the questions about leading the ICF. The work may be challenging but the joy of being involved has been quite significant.

Weakness! Our Elders are all aware of the profound truth in what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5 and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Sometimes when we read of Paul’s high standards for eldership we forget that he also wrote these words about weakness – and applied them to himself.

The amazing reality is that while we strive to reach the high standards, God understands the weaknesses and limitations and draws us into serving Him and the church anyway! And the joy of serving is often the product of His demonstrations of grace and power through frail and inadequate people!

Please consider who you think might have a passion for serving the ICF as an elder; who values the standards Paul lays out and yet is honest about personal weakness.

PETER WARREN

Peter Warren has been involved in local church ministry for over twenty years. Ordained in the Church of England, Peter has served in London, Edinburgh and Blackpool. Five years ago Peter spent a month in Cambodia on a sabbatical and he is now looking forward very much to the opportunities and challenges of working with the ICF.

Peter has two daughters. Holly is doing youth and children's work with the Salvation Army in Alabama USA, and Gemma is studying photography at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.