Sunday, April 02, 2006

Paid Staff

*Amadeo church believes in being bi-vocational when necessary and appreciates the importance of being involved in the community in which we serve and love.

*Amadeo church is committed to paying staff in the church when possible while recognizing that the church is greatly dependent upon volunteering.

*Additional staff will be brought on to the Amadeo Church based on needs and finances available.

*Staff budget will not ever comprise more than 60% of the budget. Ideally, no more than 50% of the budget will be used for staff.

*Amadeo Church recognizes that time spent with family and sabbath along with Church responsibilities will sometime dictate that staff can not be bi-vocational.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Women in Leadership

The USA Vineyard has been deeply engaged with the issues of women and leadership and has left such decisions up to the local congregations. Our local stance is the following:

1. Women may serve in any leadership capacity at Amadeo Church
2. Calling, Gifting and Character shall determine one's fitness to serve in ministry
3. In case of marriage, the Husband must, as the head of the household, be in agreement with his wife as to her Calling, Gifting and Character. The same will go for men in ministry, the wife must be in agreement as to his Calling, Gifting and Character.
4. In case of a single status, the women in mention will be elected by the Senior pastor and confirmed by the elders.

It is clear from scriptures that women have served in the various capacities for God's kingdom work:

Prophet Daughters
Female Deacons
Leaders and Judges

And it is also clear from scriptures that:

sons and daughters will prophesy
God used women to instruct men in spiritual knowledge and insight

Finally, it is clear and evident through modern and classic examples that God has gifted women in all areas of ministry, and that in him there is no Jew or Gentile or male or female. This can be seen in people like Mother Theresa, Shelley Trebesch, Sharon Lunt, Lara Bateman and beyond.

Finally:

To the argument that women should remain quiet in church:

If this was not a cultural issue and was in fact a literal command we would not allow women to participate in worship, socialize before church, ask questions in church, nor teach even smaller girls or women. We do not agree with such an interpretation.

To the argument that Elders should be the husband of but one wife:

We believe this points to the issue of fidelity and practical considerations of time rather than gender issues.

To the argument that Paul did not permit a woman to be in authority over a man:

He also said that women should not wear jewelry or braid their hair. We know that certain issues were related to the culture and place. We recognize that people like Priscilla helped Apollos be instructed in the wholeness of the gospel.

Friday, October 22, 2004

The Call?

Leadership Tracks

So, you feel called to be in the ministry one day. There are several assistance programs we have to help you with God's call on your life. It must be remembered that no program can prepare a person to do something that God has not called them to. So just completing any of the tracks below will not guarantee any one that God's will for them is to serve in full-time leadership. Many factors will contribute to this such as:

1. Is your house is in order?
2. Can the church afford to add staff at a given time?
3. Have the staff and elders had a confirmation of your call to leadership?
4. Do you have a good grasp of the major theological tenets in the Word?


Track 1 - The On the Job Training Track (one model - you may make your own)

Year 1: Attend Sundays regularly, Attend Small Group Fairly Consistently, Pick Weeds in the church rocks (or some simliar service), tithe (at least come close), be an inviter in your community and in your church.
---A. Attend Chariformissional Class: Amadeo Gospel & Mission Class (6 months)
---B. Attend Membership Class: Amadeo Membership (near end of 1st year)
---C. Attend Lay Person Leadership Class: (2nd year)
Year 2: Attend Sundays regularly, Host a Small Group, Be an occassional guest leader, tithe, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 3: Attend Sundays regularly, Grow & Lead a small Group, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 4-6: Grow a ministry in the church or community, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor
Year 7: Get Hired on Staff if confirmation is there from the Pastor and Elders: else, start a church, or seek employment elsewhere


Track 2 - Seminary Training

Year 1: Attend Sundays regularly, Attend Small Group Fairly Consistently, Pick Weeds in the church rocks (or some simliar service), tithe (at least come close), Attend Seminary, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
---A. Attend Chariformissional Class: Amadeo Gospel & Mission Class (6 months)
---B. Attend Membership Class: Amadeo Membership (near end of 1st year)
---C. Attend Lay Person Leadership Class: (2nd year)
Year 2: Attend Sundays regularly, Host a Small Group, Be an occassional guest leader, tithe (At least come close), Attend Seminary, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 3: Attend Sundays regularly, Grow & Lead a small Group, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor, Attend Seminary, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 4-6: Grow a ministry in the church or community, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor, Graduate from Seminary
Year 7: Get Hired on Staff if confirmation is there from the Pastor and Elders: else, start a church, or seek employment elsewhere


Track 3 - VLI Training

Year 1: Attend Sundays regularly, Attend Small Group Fairly Consistently, Pick Weeds in the church rocks (or some simliar service), tithe (at least come close), be an inviter in your community and in your church.
---A. Attend Chariformissional Class: Amadeo Gospel & Mission Class (6 months)
---B. Attend Membership Class: Amadeo Membership (near end of 1st year)
---C. Attend Lay Person Leadership Class: (2nd year)
Year 2: Attend Sundays regularly, Host a Small Group, Be an occassional guest leader, tithe (At least come close), Attend VLI Training, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 3: Attend Sundays regularly, Grow & Lead a small Group, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor, Attend VLI Training, be an inviter in your community and in your church.
Year 4-6: Grow a ministry in the church or community, Meet 4 times annually with Pastor, Graduate from VLI Training
Year 7: Get Hired on Staff if confirmation is there from the Pastor and Elders: else, start a church, or seek employment elsewhere


Track 4 - Get Hired from the Outside

Year 1-4 Serve in a church with a positive track record, evidence of growth under your supervision and some killer recommendations. If confirmation is received from the Pastor and Elders, then your hired.

Staff

Title: Senior Pastor
Election: Recognition by Home Church of Potential Planter, Individual Vision, Initial Confirmation of Elders
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple Leaders, Directs vision of the church
End of Term: When people leave and/or stop supporting financially

Title: Elders
Election: Elders nominated by Senior Pastor with confirmation by Associate Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Counsel Pastor, Observes & Reports needs in the church, Prayer for sick, Deals with Disputes
End of Term: 2 year terms, must take 2 years off between terms

Title: Pastor over Specific Area of Ministry
Election: Nomination by Pastor and Confirmation of Elders
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16, approval by spouse.
Duties: Mentors leaders of areas of ministry through long-term relationships, is available to assist the senior pastor as needs require, develops mature Christians through evangelism, training, discipleship, and the handing off of ministry duties. Directs Areas of Ministry, Disciple Future Deacons, works in the system and outside of the system as led by the Holy Spirit.
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Deacons
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16, approval by spouse
Duties: Directs Areas of Ministry, trains up leaders and hands off when appropriate.
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.


Title: Director of Arts Ministry
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future Art Worship Leaders
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.


Title: Elders
Election: Elders nominated by Senior Pastor with confirmation by Associate Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Counsel Pastor, Observes & Reports needs in the church, Prayer for sick, Deals with Disputes
End of Term: 2 year terms, must take 2 years off between terms


Title: Teacher/Small Group Leader
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future teachers
End of Term: When associate pastor of ministry area releases them or they resign.

Title: Director of Music Ministry
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future Music Leaders
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Director of Arts Ministry
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future Art Worship Leaders
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Director of Servant Evangelism
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Coordinate Servant Evangelism Projects and Outreaches
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.


Title: Director of Compassion/Mercy Ministries
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Coordinate Compassion/Mercy Projects
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Director of Children's Ministry
Election: Nonination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future teachers
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.


Title: Youth Pastor
Election: Nomination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciple future Pastors
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Associate Pastor in Training
Election: Senior Pastor's choice
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Disciples Leaders, Assists in vision of the church
End of Term: When ministry pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Associate Director of Music Ministry in Training
Election: Director's choice
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Teach, Serve the Director
End of Term: When ministry pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Associate Director of Fine Art's Ministry in Training
Election: Art Director's choice
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Teach, Serve the Art Director
End of Term: When ministry pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Associate Director of Children's Ministry in Training
Election: Director's choice
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Serve the Youth Pastor
End of Term: When ministry pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Associate Youth Pastor
Election: Youth Pastor's choice
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Serve the Youth Pastor
End of Term: When ministry pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Future Church Planter
Election: Nonination and Confirmation of Elders and Pastors in Training
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Teach, Serve the Youth Pastor
End of Term: When they are released for ministry.

Title: Finance Collections
Election: Associate Pastors are assigned
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Collect, record and deposit tithe, keep accounts in order
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Finance Auditor
Election: Associate Pastors are assigned
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Balance accounts, report status weekly
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Finance Purchasing
Election: Associate Pastors are assigned
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Purchase all items over $2500, and below as needed
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Title: Director of Missions
Election: Election by Senior Pastor
Requirements: 1 Timothy 3, 1 Titus 1:6-16
Duties: Lead global and local mission projects
End of Term: When senior pastor releases them or they resign.

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Leadership? Serving Outwardly.

I want to help lead in the church plant serve so what can I do?

Here are several ways to lead in Amadeo Church based on priorities for our growing church.

1. Make the time to Pray for and Lead(Spiritually Guide)/Love(through time, words & activities) your family.
2. Pray for Amadeo Church & the Higley Community.
3. Have a neighbor into your home or out to dinner at least once a week. (1st priority)
4. Have someone into your home from the church at a minimum or once a month (2nd priority)
5. Be faithful in attendance and tithe at Amadeo
6. Be a greeter and welcoming in every meeting
7. Once you have ample time set aside for family (steps 1), ample time and practice with reaching out to your community and church (steps 2,3 & 4), and faithfulness in serving in the small ways in your church (steps 4 & 5) – move onto steps A,B & C

A. Share with the current leadership about where you feel God is calling you to serve
B. Evaluate needs of the church and decide where the best fit is.
C. Begin serving for a trial basis and have evaluation at 3,6 and 12 months.


Our primary role as leaders is to be servants. If you are interested in serving in any small way, and have regularly fulfilled the requirements in steps 1-6 please email me at:

amadeochurch@gmail.com