From the Elder's Pen HOW THE CHURCH VOTED Past/Future Articles

The church on the corner took a series of votes on matters of importance to the congregation and the results were not just surprising, but alarming.  Listed below are some of the issues that were voted on, along with the final results.

SHOULD THE CHURCH:              FOR   AGAINST

Sing During worship service?         90%     10%
Partake of communion weekly?      78%     22%
Worship on Sunday evening?         49%     51%
Attend Wednesday Bible Class?      39%     61%
Give generously to the Lord?         20%     80%
Visit the sick in hospitals?             15%     85%
Visit those in nursing homes?       12%     88%

When asked how the votes were taken, the elders replied that the members were not asked their opinions on the matters, nor were they asked what the Bible taught.  Instead of asking for a show of hands, the congregation voted with their feet!  In other words, if their feet brought them to services, they voted “for”.  If their feet did not carry them to Wednesday Bible class they voted “against”.  They also voted with their voices (singing), participation (communion), and wallets (giving). The elders felt that a show of hands would have produced a result more in keeping with the guidance of scripture, but taking the votes in this manner allowed them to find out how the members lived, and not just claimed to believe.  If your vote had been tallied, how would you have voted:  For or Against?  Via The Challenger Carbondale, Illinois

Submitted by Charlie Turner, Elder