Governance

Each December consistory begins to receive names to consider as nominees for the offices of elder and deacon. Each year a trickle of names are suggested. I think this is not a reflection of the quality of members as it is a general lack of knowledge of Reformed Church governance. It’s my hope this will help educate, inform and possibly inspire some to be nominated for an office.

Each congregation is governed by a consistory. Imagine how a stool must have three legs for it to function. Likewise, consistory must have three “legs” for it to function as a consistory. These “legs” are called offices. The offices are elder, deacon and minister. Together the three offices serve and supervise the local church as representatives of the congregation. The consistory also represents Christ to the congregation. The consistory has a dual role. It is both pastoral and prophetic. It serves the congregation with care and compassion while at the same time challenging the congregation.

The Book of Church Order defines each office as such:

The Office of Minster of Word and Sacrament serves as pastor and teacher of the congregation to build up and equip the whole church for its ministry in the world.

The Office of the Elder is responsible for all matters relating to the welfare and good order of the church. They provide oversight of the conduct of the membership and seek to bring that conduct into conformity with the Word of God.

The Office of the Deacon is one of servanthood and service representing Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. Deacons are to lead the members in ministries of mercy, service and outreach.

The consistory receives names suggested by the congregation. The consistory serving as the nomination committee discerns and prayerfully considers each name for the offices of elder and deacon. At the congregational meeting held after worship on the first Sunday in February, the consistory presents a single-slate of nominees upon which the memberships votes. Nominees are elected each year by the congregation to serve a three-year term.

Later in February, those elected are ordained and installed into their respective office. The first meeting of the new term begins in March. Consistory at Ponds Reformed Church meets on the second Monday of each month with the exception being July and August. For those months there is one meeting.

At Ponds Reformed Church consistory consists of nine members plus the minister. Based on the needs of the church there may be five elders and four deacons or vice versa. Usually, three members of consistory rotate off each year. The minister serves as president of the consistory but does not vote unless there is a tie. I have never cast a deciding vote because I believe it is more important to build consensus and maintain unity. If a motion comes before consistory leaving them equally divided then I will recognize consistory is not ready to make a decision.  More time is required to listen, discern and engage in conversation.

That’s consistory. Next blog I’ll address how important matters make it to consistory and decisions are made. 

A Grateful Life in Sabbath House

The following was shared by Kate S. with the congregation on October 11, 2015.

Matthew 11:28 describes Sabbath rest:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

I have come to realize that 8 Oak Street has been a Sabbath House to my family since the start.  When I became separated in 2006 I knew I was doing the right thing for my children and myself.  I was embarking on a new journey that would provide me, Emily and Andrew with an opportunity to heal and grow together as a family.  I had no idea where we were going to live because our house was being sold as a result of the divorce.  I knew I wanted to try to live in Oakland and continue to raise my children in this wonderful community.  I was at such an overwhelming point in my life; I was going to be a divorced mother with a 5 year old and a 10 year old.  How was I ever going to come through this awful time in our lives and emerge okay?   This was something I prayed about continually.  I had no idea where we were going to live.  I will never forget hearing Arlene, while we were bowling with the youth group, speak about Ponds wanting to rent 8 Oak while they determined how the house would function in the church’s plan.

I spoke to Pastor Nathan and I was chosen to rent the home.  Nathan let me know it would be for a year or 2, to enable my family to heal and figure out what would be our next step.  I remember Nathan saying something like “We know this will help, you will still be living in a home. We see this as a way to ensure you continue to better your family’s life.”  I was so blessed, I knew God had heard my prayers and had provided a home for us.  Through those first years my family did heal.  Both Emily and Andrew came to accept that their parents were divorced and worked through their anger and hurt.  We were happy and secure and loving the life we had there.  Nathan and I continued to keep signing a lease for the next 6 years since the church was still unsure of 8 Oak’s role.  Those years were wonderful years for us.  We loved that house and treated it as our own.  I enjoyed keeping it up, doing the yard work and gardening and took great pride whenever anyone commented on how pretty the house looked.  Emily and Andrew had a home that was welcome to all-I enjoyed seeing them have friends over and was so proud of the people they were becoming.

Through the last 3 years things were becoming more difficult for me financially-my salary structure had changed, I had 2 teenagers and one who I was getting ready for college.  I became that person who always appeared so together but was secretly falling apart.  I was struggling to make ends meet and the stress of that became an overwhelming burden to carry.  I felt so ashamed. and could not on my own figure out how to get myself out of the hole I had dug myself into.  I knew that I was in my last year as a tenant at 8 Oak and knew financially I would have great difficulty finding somewhere I could afford to live.  I found myself praying again for God to let me know His plan for me and to guide me to where I supposed be.

 It was at the pancake supper in 2014 that a member of the church approached me and said I should consider applying to live in The Sabbath House. This was something I had never considered. I was already living there I thought.  How could I ask to live there for another year?  Why me?  Wouldn’t that be taking advantage of the church?  So many questions swirled in my mind. I read again the mission of Sabbath House and how Nathan referred to Richard Swenson, M.D. and his thoughts on margins and of being on a treadmill and not being able to get off.  This seemed to be describing me.   Through prayer I came to decide that I would apply and put the rest in God’s hands.  I remember picking up the application and feeling that I didn’t know if I could divulge so much-I had kept things so private and was uneasy at the thought of the judgment that may come from reviewing my application and the state my finances were in.  This process was a very difficult one for me.

I was one of three who had picked up an application and the only one who applied.  I was recommended to be the first occupant of Sabbath House.  Again, I was so blessed.  I was able to rest emotionally from the financial burden that I was carrying.  I knew that a lot of hard work lay ahead for me and I met that challenge head on.  With the help of the church I was put in contact with financial help in the name of a great guy - Joe.  He helped get me on a budget for the first time in my life.  He helped me pay down a lot of my debt.  He never judged me or made me feel ashamed of the poor choices I made.  He said “that is behind you, let’s just focus on what’s ahead.”  We spoke and emailed every 2 weeks and he guided me through the year.   

I was also meeting with the Sabbath House Committee at that time.  This was a very humbling process - I was sharing so much with people who just knew me on the surface.  I was again afraid of judgment but there was none.  Instead I was reminded of what I had accomplished I the years I lived at 8 Oak, I raised 2 children who are good people.  I was humbled at the kindness and love I felt.  This past year was one of tremendous growth for me.

I was able to achieve exactly what the outcome of the Sabbath House’s mission is.  I was able to find a home I could afford to rent and while not in Oakland I found one right in Wyckoff.  After almost 8 years to the day I had moved in to 8 Oak St, I moved out.  Andrew did not have to change school systems and is a freshman at Indian Hills.  Emily is doing so well as a junior at Rowan University-she hold down 2 jobs on campus, provides for herself and has consistently been on the Dean’s List.  I am in a better place financially and just became engaged to such a wonderful man.  God has been teaching me lessons and guiding me.  My Ponds' family and the journey I am on here has been an ever-present reminder of God’s presence in my life.  

Sandy: From Cement to Concrete

In order for Sandy to appeal to a wide-range of job opportunities, Sandy is pursuing a variety of avenues. Through the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors, she is making important contacts and learning what steps she must take to be a licensed land surveyor in New Jersey.

Thanks to Chris Schneider, Sandy learned of a class to become a Concrete Field Testing Technician. With the money she has earned working at Subway, Sandy paid the $600 registration fee and will spend two evenings (August 27 and September 3) learning about concrete.

Many of the job opportunities require the applicant to have a valid driver's license. Although Sandy has a Syrian driver's license, she is in process of studying and learning the rules of the road for New Jersey in order to obtain a NJ driver's license. She hopes to take the written exam in early September.

Now that Sandy received Temporary Protected Status from the government, we decided to let her student visa expire. The TPS protects Sandy from being deported as long as the TPS has not expired. With the ongoing situation in Syria, it appears this may be a long time before anything changes with the TPS program. In order for Sandy to maintain her student visa she would have had to enroll for a minimum of 12 credits at a school of higher education. Whereas Bergen Community College is affordable, they would have charged her a higher rate. Either way it was financially prohibitive to remain a student. Quite frankly, her goal is not to be a student but to find a job.

On October 6, Sandy began her new job as a concrete field inspector in New York City. Every day that concrete is being poured at a particular job site, Sandy is there to conduct a variety of tests on the concrete to make sure it is the correct strength. 

One-Stop Information

In the changing landscape of society, companies have discovered that people like a "one-stop shopping" experience. Walk into one store and get toothpaste, bread and motor oil. And while you're at it pick up a new shirt to replace the one you'll get dirty changing the car's oil. These big box stores have become successful for their convenience and low price. One doesn't need to be a big box store to have it all. Just the other day I stood behind a lady at the counter at Oakland Hardware. She exclaimed to one of the workers, "It's so wonderful how you have everything." As a sarcastic thought popped in my head about food, I looked over to see a variety of BBQ sauces. Soon I'll be picking up a bucket of spackle along with my gallon of milk.

With the broadening of Ponds' mission throughout the community, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. People need a one-stop place for information about ongoing mission and ministry. Welcome to the Ponds Community blog. A blog that will provide updated information about various activities, events and mission work. Unlike the bulletin and newsletter, this will not be advertising events. Instead, it's my hope this will function to answer your questions and keep everyone who takes the time informed about the life and practice of being the church of Jesus Christ in Oakland, New Jersey.

The "pages" to the right address ongoing, long-term ministries of the church.