ELDERSHIP BUSINESS MEETING

At the What's Happening Now Church in the chapel is another Eldership
Business Meeting. Lets listen in.
Bro Elder #1, "The whole Eldership is here tonight and after Sis.
Servant pours our coffee the meeting will begin."
Bro. Elder #2, "No coffee for me, Sister Servant. Coffee makes me
jittery in the evening."
Exits Sister Servant.
Bro. Elder #1, "We have a problem in the Church and thus the calling of
this meeting. Bro. Concern asked to attend this meeting. This is
highly unusual but we want to be open in all our dealings, so he is with
us tonight. Well, now to our problem. It is the beginning of a new year
and as I was looking over the list of members I saw several who no
longer attend. Something has got to be done about cleaning up that
list."
Bro. Elder #4, "Yes, I agree. I never liked leaving anything hanging.
What is your suggestion Bro. Elder #1?"
Bro. Elder #1, "I received a letter from Bro. and Sis. Offended saying
they would no longer worship with us. It seems they were unhappy with
the teaching Bro. Professional did on adultery. I now hear they are
just Church hopping. I suggest we publicly disfellowship them, sending
letters to the other congregations in town telling of our dicision.
This will be a good example for the other members. The Eldership must
be be obeyed if we are going to keep order in Church."
Bro. Concern: "Excuse me! First of all, I want to thank you for
allowing me to attend your meeting. I am honored. However, if the
Offendeds have left this Church and there is no longer fellowship, is it
possible to withdraw something that is not there?"
Bro. Elder #1, "Bro. Concern, the Lord requires we publicly
disfellowship those who are a part of this Church who refuse to meet
with us. We don't enjoy publicly disfellowshipping but we must obey God
rather than man."
Bro. Elder #4, "I agree with you, Bro. Elder #1. Would you like to
write the letter to the Offendeds informing them of the
disfellowshipping, and then we can all sign the letter. Same for the
letter to the other congregations in town."
Bro. Elder #1, "All in the Eldership who are in favor of this action
please raise your hands.
Hands raised!
Bro. Elder #1, "Good, that is settled. Next on the list is Sis.
Burdendown. Has anyone checked on her since the death of her husband a
few months ago?"
Bro. Elder #3, "I heard through the grapevine she went up North to live
with her daughter. I suggest we just mark through her name."
Bro. Elder #1, "Good idea, Bro. Elder #3. All in favor?
Hands raised!
Bro. Elder #1, "Now for the most complicated of all. The Bereans
stopped coming here and started meeting in their home. Not a word to
any of the Eldership about this action. We can't let this get started.
Any suggestions on how to handle this situation? Bro. Berean was a
liberal giver and he was a fine song leader. How can we handle this
problem?"
Bro. Concern, "Excuse me, please! Isn't this somewhat like the
situation with the Offendeds? If they are gone, there is no
fellowship. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't withdrawing fellowship
to bring people back into fellowship? Isn't it for the purpose of
reuniting? Do you think this action would cause them to want to
return? I've never thought of it as punishment."
Bro. Elder #1, "It's getting late. I move we bring this meeting to a
close and deal with the Bereans in a later meeting. All in Favor...
Hands raised!
As everyone leaves Bro. Elder #1 turns off the chapel lights.