Discerning the Will of God for the Church

‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12:2

In a year of synodical conventions (District and General) when we get to vote on matters pertinent to the church, it’s good to think about the way we make decisions in God’s church.

I recall a cartoon where one synod delegate says to another, “Our constitution clearly states that the will of God cannot be overturned without a two-thirds majority.” Of course, we know the will of God can never be overturned. The will of God is the will of God. The church’s job is to discern and receive it.

Churches like our own make a distinction between matters of extreme importance such as matters of theology or public teaching, which require a two-thirds majority to be enacted, and other matters which require a simple majority.

Patrick Kiefert and Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, in their book How Change Comes to Your Church make a distinction between voting based on Roberts Rules of Order which require a simple majority for a vote to be carried and what ‘should be the goal of decisions reached in church bodies – namely, how can God’s Spirit lead us to an outcome we hope is responsive to Gods intentions or God’s will?’ They encourage ‘nurturing a climate of discernment’ in the church, the ‘ability to comprehend matters in ways that go beyond natural practices… the seeking of a “common mind” within the body of Christ.’ They comment how ‘Romans 12:2 urges believers not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed and renewed so they may “discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect.”’ *

As LCANZ members we can be thankful that our forefathers had the spiritual wisdom to imbed this ‘climate of discernment’ into our church practices. Sources close to the formation of the current LCANZ practice outlined in our constitution have described how our process for discerning God’s will for the church deliberately follows the pattern from the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. There, the apostles and elders first gathered to consider a question in light of God’s word; it was then put to the whole assembly who listened to and affirmed the apostles’ judgement, then enacted the decision in the church.

A background paper prepared for the LCANZ Commission on Theology and Inter-church Relations (CTICR) in 2001 entitled Public Doctrine: The Duties of Pastors and People affirms this process for receiving the Lord’s teaching in the LCANZ. Matters should be first considered by the pastors (theologians) in light of God’s word. When consensus is reached, the matter is brought to a synod (assembly) of the people, who listen to the pastors’ judgement, test it, affirm it by vote, and then commission those who will enact it. The 2/3 majority is the number determined to be a sufficient consensus to be confident that we are hearing ‘what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Rev. 2:7).

To borrow the words of Kiefert and Granberg-Michaelson, the will of God is ‘nurtured, tested and affirmed in the context of community.’

Prayer: Lord in this year of synodical conventions, give the people of this church the wisdom and humility to hear ‘what the Spirit says to the churches.’ May your Spirit lead us to outcomes that are truly responsive to your intentions and your will. Amen.

* Patrick Kiefert and Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, How Change Comes to Your Church © 2019 (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.) Quoted variously from p.64-67.