Week 3 – Culture in CFCA covering:
7) Obedience in CFCA
8) Appointing of Leaders in CFCA
9) Household Meetings
7) Obedience in CFCA
In CFCA there is a pastoral structure for leaders at various levels. The main
purpose of this pastoral structure is for peace, order, unity and governance
of the body. In order for our community to work well, leaders are vested
with authority with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. In CFCA we
promote active submission to their leaders, not blind obedience. This
means that members do not blindly follow their leaders and are
encouraged to raise questions or concerns for greater understanding of our
plans and directions. They are encouraged to respectfully express their
opinions and contrary views, bring these forth and enter into objective and
respectful discussions with their leaders. They may request for inputs or
intervention elders if need be.
More importantly, obedience to our leaders simply follows our obedience
to the Lord. Obedience to our leaders is our acknowledgement and
acceptance that they are appointed by God in their respective positions,
and they have responsibilities for our pastoral needs, continuous formation,
transformation, and renewal as people of God.
8) Appointing of Leaders in CFCA
Leaders in CFCA are appointed by more senior leaders after prayerful
discernment according to our set criteria for various stages of leadership,
with qualifications discussed with other elders when needed. Appointed
leaders are prayed over for them to receive empowerment from God and
be equipped for the task He has called them to do, because we believe that
this is His work. These are the foundations for their leadership including
their decisions and directions to benefit those under them. However, such
empowerment should not be a cause for pride, nor claims of infallibility,
nor for a demand of blind obedience from subordinates, or for insisting on
doing everything by oneself. Humility and purity of intentions are expected
from all appointed leaders in CFCA.
This empowerment includes breeding and developing leaders in the
community to further our work of evangelisation, formation,
transformation and renewal through the CLPs, training programs and
various pastoral formation teachings. This should start from the basic
Household. The Household Heads must always look for potential leaders
from among their members, develop their leadership skills and encourage
them to take on a leadership role as soon as the opportunity arises. The
growth of the community will depend on how many of our members will
become leaders and the quality of leadership they will offer to our
members, current and future. The more the community grows, the more
leaders will be required as Jesus said, “The harvest is plenty, but the
workers are few”. Mt 9:37.
Our community and respective families should also be a place where we
fervently encourage our children to discern and consider entering vocation
to the Ordained Ministry (priest & deacons - to be leaders of the church) or
religious life.
9) Household Meetings
Household members meet weekly, three times as a small cell group and
once in a larger prayer assembly. Household meetings are never cancelled,
except in extreme circumstances (e.g., emergencies, calamity, armed
conflict, epidemics), which threaten the wellbeing of members. Household
leaders who may have a "good reason” for not being able to attend a
Household meeting should not cancel the meeting, but simply assign
someone else to conduct the meeting.
The whole meeting would typically run for about 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours, as
follows:
Praise and Worship 30 – 45 minutes
Sharing/teaching/discussion 60 - 90 minutes
Fellowship 30 - 60 minutes
As a charismatic community we apply the charismatic way during praise
and worship at Household meetings. Hence, the typical format for the
praise and worship are as follows:
- come before the Lord (may be a short period of silence and/or a short
exhortation from the leader)
- sing a lively song of praise
- spontaneous vocal praising
- sing another song, then more spontaneous vocal praising
- sing a worship song
- singing/praising in tongues, followed by a short period of silence
- bring forward words from the Lord (prophecy, inspired Scripture
verses, exhortations)
- individual prayers of thanksgiving
- individual prayers of petition and intercession
- closing prayer by the Household Head
The Household Head may give some announcements during fellowship.
Regular Household meetings should not be used for service meeting.
Service meeting should be scheduled in another week of the month.
(Please see item 17 Service Meetings)
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