By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

We don't vote at our church.

I know that sounds terribly un-American and positively undemocratic but it's true. We don't vote at our church. Not at any level. Not in committee, not on the church council, and not at the denominational level.

One man approached me some time back and said, "I understand that there are no votes at your church."

"That's true," I responded.

"So," said he, "I guess that means that your are the dictator and run things to your own liking, huh?"

"Nothing, could be further from the truth," I replied, and began to explain our system of arriving at decisions.

It comes as a surprise to most people that the Bible is possibly the most undemocratic of books. In most countries the government of the church is patterned after the example set by the civil government. In the United States, most churches and denominations, in one way or another, are fashioned after the government of the host country.

The American form of government is both adversarial and democratic. The system is full of checks and balances, primarily because the three branches of government simply don't trust each other. The two major parties are at each other's throats most of the time and, even within the same party, participants often seek to undermine each other for their own gain.

When a decision is eventually made on a matter (after proper discussion, contention, and aggression), there are winners and there are losers. This is called "politics."

Anyone who has ever served on a "normal" church board in America will admit that "politics" and the accompanying strife, dissension, and splits are part of the reality of church.

But voting is seldom viewed positively in the Scriptures. In fact, when the majority rules in the Bible, disastrous results often follow. The Israelites in the Exodus wanted to worship their own way and "voted" in the Golden Calf. Adam and Eve "voted" to ignore God and eat the forbidden fruit, losing Paradise as a result. The majority "voted" to free Barabbas and crucify Jesus. And on it goes.

But, in the Council of Jerusalem noted in the Books of Acts, another system was in place. The gathered delegates discussed, pondered, and, then, simply prayed for God's will to be revealed. Finally, old Bishop James said, "It seems good to the Holy Spirit and to me that" and then went on to voice what the Lord seemed to be saying. The rest of the council agreed and, from that time on, men didn't have to endure circumcision to join the church, a decision heartily welcomed by future generations of apprehensive males.

Again, church elders were in prayer, according to Acts, and sensed that God wanted to set aside "Paul and Barnabus to the work to which I have called them." Was a vote taken? No way. When God speaks, votes are unnecessary. Paul and Barnabus were set aside for the ministry. It was as simple as that.

We call this "government by consensus."

In our church, those who are set aside for a certain ministry are allowed to minister. Thus, the minister of music does not have to endure second-guessing by board members every Monday, pastors can pastor, and groundskeepers can take care of the grounds. The "board" does not burden itself with the task of micromanagement.

However, when a decision that affects the entire church has to be made, the governing body, the "Rector's Council" in our church, is expected to pray until there is a consensus and then act accordingly.

Let that be stated again: The leaders are expected to pray until there is a sense that God has spoken in the matter.

Personal desires, ambitions, and agendas are laid aside in the endeavor to hear from the Lord. Then, when God speaks, the leaders act. It is as simple as that.

During the last four and a half years, as we have implemented this system, we have had no fights, no splits, no divided votes, no serious division on the church council, no screaming, no bursts of temper, no outbreaks of anger, no one stalking out mad, no resignations in anger, and no bloodshed. Kinda takes the fun out of church, huh?

During our search for property, for example, our church council members considered seven separate pieces of property. We gathered facts, visited the locations, and even made an offer on a couple. But, after prayer, there was a sense, seven times in a row, that the Lord was not guiding us to purchase these properties. Then one day, we prayed over parcel number eight. It was like a light came on as each member of the Rector's Council submitted his own will and plans to God.

Eventually, it became obvious to all that there was a strong consensus that parcel number eight was to be our property. Today, we own that 11.5 acres and are now praying about what to do next, regarding our building plans.

I realize that all this sounds hyper-spiritual or spooky to those who believe that God doesn't speak today. But what father doesn't want to communicate with his children? Why do we assume that our heavenly Father no longer speaks? Why do we assume that he speaks through the vote of the people, when the vote of the people rarely expressed his will in ancient days?

I have to be honest with you I'm just not smart enough to figure out the mind of God. Neither are the guys on our Rector's Council. Unless he tells us what to do, we are just clueless. It's so much easier when Dad tells the kids what to do.

I don't miss the old ways. I don't even mind not getting my own way from time to time. If I had a vote (which I don't), I'd vote to have no vote.

[Father David Epps is rector at Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in the south metro Atlanta area. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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