Dave went on to continue speaking from 1 and 2 Timothy, offering advice from Paul’s letters to Timothy on leadership to Garry and Julie.
1 Tim 3:1-5 TNIV talks about the criteria those in leadership require, namely being ‘above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money’, with the wife being ‘worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.’ (1 Tim 3:11 TNIV). He emphasised the team ministry of preaching, teaching and hospitality demonstrated by Garry and Julie and went on to look at some of the duties they are called to do: first of all, prayer (1 Tim 2:1-2 TNIV), for both those in the flock and for those in charge of the country; secondly, to preach the Word of God faithfully, opposing all false doctrine and using God’s Word to correct, rebuke and encourage (2 Tim 4:2-3 TNIV) and finally to guard what has been entrusted to them, recognising that to be a pastor is not a job, but a calling which must be guarded against the distractions of the world. (1 Tim 6:20 TNIV)
Listening to the formal charge given by Dave on behalf of the church:
‘I now charge you to:
In the power of the Holy Spirit and under the anointing of God, work together and individually to guide and lead the flock entrusted to you.
Uphold the people of God and this church by your earnest prayers.
To preach and to teach the whole Word of God as given to us in Holy Scripture.
To work together with the other leaders, and with the whole of the church, to propagate the Christian gospel with the purpose that all may be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.’
Garry and Julie both accepted this charge and the congregation were then invited to stand and respond to their charge: ‘Will you as the people of God in Goldthorpe Pentecostal Community Church, accept Garry and Julie Turner as your Pastor and Shepherd, and will you promise before God to help, support and encourage them in every way, to regularly pray for them, and accept their guidance and direction?’
After this, the elders prayed for both Garry and Julie and anointed them with oil:
A presentation of flowers was then given to Julie:
