CHURCH GOVERNANCE

This packet on church governance brings together materials originally compiled by several elder-minister teams serving as panelists at ElderLink Dallas 2015 and ElderLink Houston 2017. It presents a variety of different ways that Churches of Christ structure their leadership teams to maximize elder-minister partnerships.

ELDER SELECTION

Elder Selection Process: A Guide to Developing an Elder Selection Process for Your Church. This packet includes details on the entire process as well as proposed timeline.

This document provides guidance for churches desiring to create an employee handbook for staff.  It includes categories and items that churches may wish to include, along with (on occasion) sample language that may be useful in creating such a handbook.

SABBATICAL

This Guide to Ministers Sabbatical walks though how to develop and plan a restful sabbatical. The document includes resources to construct a framework, create communication boundaries, how to exit before and return after a sabbatical, and more.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

This document provides a framework for churches to utilize in development of a Sexual Harassment Policy. It includes basic definitions of harassment, steps in reporting/investigating of allegations and professional conduct in relationships.

WORKING WITH MINORS POLICY

As churches work with minors it is imperative to have a policy in place to protect minors and volunteers. We have provided a document to help churches develop a Working with Minors Policy. This document includes definitions, supervision ratios, reporting procedures and response plans.

BAPTISM

Through the years baptism has often been distorted or ignored. Thus Christian people have inadvertently lost baptism’s depth of theological vitality, its significant role in God’s transforming work, along with its ethical demands. This brief essay offers a look at the practice of baptism for those who seek to understand God’s gift of water as a sign of God’s grace.

OLD TESTAMENT

• The Presence of the Lord: Reflections on the Book of Exodus by Mark Hamilton

• Sermon Series on Exodus by Rodney Ashlock

• Ten Words of Wonder: The Ten Commandments for Today’s Christians by Mark Hamilton (updated in 2021)

• Choose Life: Lessons in Deuteronomy by Mark Hamilton

• The Choices We Make: Lessons from Deuteronomy and 1-2 Kings by Mark Hamilton (updated in 2021)

• Wisdom and Folly, Power and Prejudice: Lessons from 1-2 Kings by Mark Hamilton

• Ancient Voices, Abiding Words: Lessons From Three Minor Prophets by Mark Hamilton

NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament Speaks Today by James Thompson

• The Holiness of Jesus in Matthew by Cliff Barbarick and Kilnam Cha

• Signs of God in the Gospel of John by Cliff Barbarick

• Studies in Romans by James Thompson

• 2 Corinthians by Tim Sensing

• Colossians by Tim Sensing

• Studies in 1 Peter by James Thompson

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND LEADERSHIP

• Homiletics – A Very Short Introduction by Tim Sensing

• Preaching As Theology by James Thompson

• Six Lessons on Elder Selection by James Thompson

• Treasure in Clay Jars: The Missional Church - 12 Lessons by David Wray

• Small Groups and Pastoral Care by Stephen Mead

ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

Curated by Beth Ann Fisher in 2020, this extensive list highlights podcasts, books, videos, articles, and websites for those who wish to learn more about a wealth of topics related to race, anti-racism, and racial equality.

BLACK RAGE

Compiled by Steven Moore, this reading list includes resources for persons wishing to grow in knowledge and understanding in matters of race, racism, and racial justice. See also this interview with Moore and Randy Harris, a part of our Contemporary Christian Conversations video series.

INTERPRETING THE BIBLE IN OUR TIMES

In a series of lessons and interviews, Royce Money explores various aspects of biblical interpretation in language appropriate for adult Bible classes, taking into account the impact that cultural, geographic and religious backgrounds have on how individuals see the Scriptures. Access the session outlines and videos.

SPRINTING THROUGH CHURCH HISTORY

Royce Money led a weekend intensive Bible course (now called Summer Seminar) that included a fast-paced series of lessons on church history. Download his session outlines, and view these video interviews with his collaborators: Jeff Childers, early Christianity; Ron Morgan, medieval Christianity; Doug Foster, Reformation church history and the origin of Churches of Christ; Chris Flanders, the current status of global Christianity; and Randy Harris, the relevance of church history to today and the future.