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Auburn Community Church
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Leadership at ACC
The leadership structure and governance of ACC
A biblical vision for church leadership:
Elders lead, father, and shepherd with spiritual authority and relational integrity. Deacons serve, support, and lead teams with care and provide functional excellence. Staff operate, minister, and align vision set by elders.
CORE BIBLICAL PASSAGES ON CHURCH LEADERSHIP:
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:17-25; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 5:1-5
CORE BIBLICAL PASSAGES ON CHURCH LEADERSHIP:
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17-38; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:17-25; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14-15; 1 Peter 5:1-5
overview on leadership
A biblical vision for church model:
At the heart of our church we hold a conviction that normalizing radical discipleship to Jesus in the American Church is both our mission and our model. We believe we are called to be a family of local churches across different cities that we call ACC.
We take church seriously and believe the local church should be shepherded locally by elders and served locally by deacons and staff. We also believe these churches should remain unified in spirit and mission.
Our senior leadership of elders and our senior pastor serves to support this family of churches.
Our aim is to see Biblical, healthy, mature local churches formed through radical discipleship so that radical discipleship to Jesus becomes normal in the American Church.
We take church seriously and believe the local church should be shepherded locally by elders and served locally by deacons and staff. We also believe these churches should remain unified in spirit and mission.
Our senior leadership of elders and our senior pastor serves to support this family of churches.
Our aim is to see Biblical, healthy, mature local churches formed through radical discipleship so that radical discipleship to Jesus becomes normal in the American Church.
leadership roles at ACC:
ELDER — APPOINT
- Father the House — Carry the heart of the house—presbuteros (Ephesians 5)
- Shepherd the Flock — Rod: Discipline + Staff: Comfort—poimain (1 Peter 5)
- Lead the Congregation –– Stand in front - episcopos (Acts 20)
STAFF — LEAD
- Align the Vision
- Oversee the Operations
- Minister to the People
DEACON — SERVE
- Activate the Gifts — Ephesians 4 (spiritual gifting identified)
- Support the Mission – Romans 12 (spiritual sacrifice offered)
- Serve the People – Acts 6 (spiritual responsibility given)
Eldership at ACC
THE ROLE OF AN ELDER:
- SHEPHERD: "Be shepherd of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve..." 1 Peter 5:2 (NIV)
- PRAY: "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 (NIV)
- LEAD: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Acts 20:28 (NIV)
ACC CONVERSATION ON ELDER PROCESS
RECOMMEND SOMEONE FOR ELDERSHIP
the Qualifications of an elder
(1 Timothy 3 + Titus 1)
- Above reproach + blameless
- Faithful to wife + manages household
- Temperate + sober-minded
- Not overbearing or quarrelsome
- Self-controlled + free from substances
- Respectable + of good repute
- Hospitable + gentle
- Able to teach + doctrinally sound
- Not a lover of money or pursuing dishonest gain + generous
Elder ordination process
Phase 1: Nomination + Qualificiation
- Member Recommendations
- Elder Application
Phase 2: Assessment + Discernment
- Theological Assessment
- Interview Process
Phase 3: Ordination + Commission
Elder Discernment Matrix
Each stage of the process helps us discern these qualities through theological assessments, interviews, and observation of a candidate’s life and ministry.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
Deacon Teams at ACC
MISSION: Deacon teams exist to serve the body of Christ through meeting tangible ministry needs, addressing practical issues, and normalizing radical discipleship to Jesus.
VISION: We want to empower the spiritual pillars, men + women of this church, to carry spiritual weight, to utilize spiritual gifts, and to build the church alongside our staff. Acts 6:4 “We will turn this responsibility over to them…”
THE ROLE OF A DEACON TEAM:
- SERVE: “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13 (NIV)“
○ diakonos” = servant
○ Address the practical needs of the congregation through a specific ministry area. - MINISTER: "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” Acts 6:1-2 (NIV)
○ Set the table for the congregation to meet with Jesus. - HELP: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” Romans 16:1-2 (NIV)
○ Spiritually hold up the house of God.
ACC CONVERSATION ON Deacon teams
RECOMMEND SOMEONE FOR church leadership
the Qualifications of a deacon
(1 Timothy 3 + Acts 6)
- Respectable – Why do people follow you?
- Sincere – Why do you want to be a deacon?
- Not indulging in much wine – What is your relationship to alcohol?
- Not pursuing dishonest gain – What selfish motive could be in your desire to become a deacon?
- Hold to truths with clear conscience – Do you agree with our doctrinal statement?
- Tested – Describe a moment you were truly tested in your faith and held firm?
- Not malicious talkers – Are you prone to gossip?
- Temperate + trustworthy – Tell us about a time you had to earn back trust.
- Faithful to marital covenant + manage household well – Tell us about your spouse + kids
- Served – Are you already serving in the church?
PREREQUISITES:
- Member: Tithing + Serving + in Community
- Doctrinal + Theological Agreement
- Meets Biblical qualifications
Deacon ordination process
Because deacon teams serve in a variety of ministries with unique responsibilities, their discernment and onboarding processes may look different across teams. Each team will follow a pathway appropriate to its function, though all begin with the same first step: a recommendation and a season of prayerful discernment.
How to Recommend someone
We invite you to thoughtfully and prayerfully recommend people within our church family who are gifted and may be called to serve in church leadership at ACC.
Your recommendation is the first step in a larger process of prayer, discernment, and commissioning. From here, our elders and ministry leaders will prayerfully determine next steps based on the specific role, qualifications, and ministry needs.
Eldership: ACC holds a high view of character, calling, and competency for all leadership. Elder candidates will be evaluated according to the biblical qualifications and invited into our formal application and interview process.
Deacon Teams: Because deacon teams serve in a variety of ministries with unique responsibilities, their discernment and onboarding processes may look different across teams. Each team will follow a pathway appropriate to its function, though all begin with the same first step: a recommendation and a season of prayerful discernment.
Your recommendation is the first step in a larger process of prayer, discernment, and commissioning. From here, our elders and ministry leaders will prayerfully determine next steps based on the specific role, qualifications, and ministry needs.
Eldership: ACC holds a high view of character, calling, and competency for all leadership. Elder candidates will be evaluated according to the biblical qualifications and invited into our formal application and interview process.
Deacon Teams: Because deacon teams serve in a variety of ministries with unique responsibilities, their discernment and onboarding processes may look different across teams. Each team will follow a pathway appropriate to its function, though all begin with the same first step: a recommendation and a season of prayerful discernment.
RECOMMEND SOMEONE FOR church leadership