Encountering Jesus in the Body of Christ
The Gift of Disciples of Christ Eldership
As a UCC’er engaged in inter-league play, there are many things I have come to love about serving in a Disciples of Christ congregation. One of them is the diversity of voices we get to hear during worship.
For my friends from other traditions, things work a little bit differently in Disciples settings. In our congregation, there are always at least three of us officiating the sacrament of communion. I offer the invitation and the words of institution. Two elders provide prayers of consecration. One over the paten. One over the chalice. At no point is the minister alone at the table.
This is the Disciples way of affirming the priesthood of all believers. The ordained minister is a leader and teacher, but has no ecclesiastical power that is not also given to the duly elected, commissioned, and installed elders of the congregation. Elders are tasked with leadership, teaching, and spiritual care of the congregation. Just like ordaining ministers, the service of installation for elders in the denomination’s Chalice Worship Book includes vows and the laying on of hands.
All of this leads to a group of mature and capable Christians who take their responsibilities incredibly seriously. Indeed, our congregation recently spent an entire year and a half without a settled pastor. The elders simply took turns providing ministry. The church not only survived, but thrived.
At both Elders’ meetings and in their prayers at the table I consistently hear expressions of a profound and enduring faith that simply take my breath away. More than once I have come away with tears in my eyes and a desire to simply sit quietly and listen to the wisdom that they have to offer.
Not unique, but a special DOC emphasis
To be clear, I am not saying that Disciples of Christ elders are better Christians than those in other traditions. Over the years, I have served in Presbyterian, UCC, and non-denominational settings. I have encountered wise saints like this everywhere I have been. However, the structure of the Disciples of Christ allows them to shine far more often.
Hearing Christ in others’ prayers
This weekend was one of those moments. Elder Kenny Pope gave an extemporaneous prayer that brilliantly connected the Scripture passage with the meaning of communion. Meanwhile, Elder Melanie Miller reminded us both of our dependence on God’s grace and the infinite value that grace provides us.
This is the prayer she prayed:
Holy Father, Your grace humbles us without degrading us and elevates us without inflating us. You offer us great dignity and worth; without you we are nothing and have nothing. We are grateful that You have give us the invitation to participate in something that extends so far beyond us, though we really have little to offer. We revel in Your kindness, grace and compassion. We know that You can accomplish what is needed in Your plan without us, and yet You invite use to participate in what will last forever. We ask You to guide us and to teach us how to fulfill Your unique purpose for our lives. As we eat this bread and drink this wine, that represents Your body and sacrifice, we pray that; by Your grace, we become the people You created us to be, accomplishing the works you have prepared for us to do. In Your Son’s precious name we pray. Amen.
Sharing the table with them this, and with all the Disciples in our congregation was a reminder of reality of what the body of Christ is supposed to look like. The Holy Spirit was at work. The encounter left me utterly speechless. I thank God daily for the chance to see and experience it firsthand.
