People in your church that you should be talking about at  elders/leaders meetings

I recently saw a post from Steve Kneale  about who you should talk about at elders’ meetings.  I did not disagree with the post but rather I thought it might be helpful to show another way of cutting things.

Those moving in

These are people who are new to the church or not yet members.  Has someone talked to them to help them connect? Do you know why they are with you and where they are at in relation.to faith in Christ?  Have you linked them to a small group or to Alpha/Christianity Explored?  When will you talk to them about membership and belonging?

Those moving forward

So much pastoral work is reactive to problems. However we should give plenty of time to the positives.  Think about people who are growing in faith, who are seeking to use their gifts. How are they being encouraged and discipled?

Those stwnding still/ moving around/backwards

These are the ones where there are pastoral concerns whether that’s sib, addiction,  relational issues etc. There may be practical issues attached.  In fact, we should be alert to practical issues for all the examples and not treat them in isolation to the spiritual need.

It could be that they are backsliding or they may simply seem to be not progressing and going round in circles, rather like the Israelites in the Wilderness.

Those moving out

We will see people who are struggling moving to the fringes of the church and potentially leaving.  There sadly may be those who you need to proactively remove from membership through church discipline. Hopefully people will not reach this stage without being picked up in the “moving around/backwards” stage.

You may also have people who have moved out to the fringe and could go on being unhappy there.  In those cases they may need permission to leave and that can help them to leave well.

Those moving on

These are also those who are likely to leave you but for positive reasons. For some, life circumstances will mean a change of church. I think you can also include here those who have come to the conclusion that they need to move church for whatever reason but where they have been faithful with you and are leaving well.

It will hopefully mean that you are identifying and sending people out to plant churches, get involved in ministry elsewhere, go onto the mission field.

Good pastoral care in the church needs visibility of all of these