The Church by T. E. Bowen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 11, 1909

The Church

By T. E. Bowen

Instruction Pertaining to the Duties and Responsibilities of Officers and Members

The Church Clerk

The office of church clerk is one vitally related to the prosperity of the church. This office should, with all others, be filled by a spiritually minded person. In brief, the duties of the clerk might be classified under three heads: (1) Keeping the church records; (2) reporting statistics to the conference secretary; (3) corresponding with absent members.

1. KEEPING THE RECORDS.—Every church should procure, upon its organization, a “Church Record Book.” This is kept in stock at our publishing houses, and can be procured through any State tract society office. A place will be found in this book for recording the names of those making up the church membership. On the page used for these names, and on the one opposite, are columns with printed headings for recording when the members were received into the church, and how,—whether by baptism or by letter,—also when removed, and how,—whether by death, transfer by letter, or dismissed because of apostasy from the truth. The clerk should be accurate in making a complete record of these details in connection with every name, so that at a glance at these pages the preceding items may be known of each member, by any one not familiar with the record of the church. This book is for the information of the other church officers, visiting ministers, or any one who is interested in the work of the church. Much confusion results if the information is not accurate and reliable.

On blank pages further over in the book, record of the quarterly meetings, as well as of yearly business meetings of the church, should be kept. A brief account of the meeting, the number of members present, and number reporting by letter at quarterly meeting, the election of officers (giving names), etc., can be recorded.

Filling out church letters, and sending to the clerks of churches where members wish to be transferred, also the prompt returning of letters to the clerks of churches from which members have been received into the church by vote, form part of the clerk’s work of keeping the records, and should be attended to faithfully and promptly.

2. REPORTING STATISTICS TO THE CONFERENCE SECRETARY.—The furnishing of statistics which go to make up the denominational records devolves upon clerks, treasurers, etc. As soon as the yearly election of officers takes place, the clerk should promptly forward to the conference secretary the information asked for on the blank furnished him by the conference secretary for this purpose. This blank calls for the membership (as it stood at the close of the year just passed), also names and addresses of newly elected officers. If the records have been kept up during the year, it will be but the work of a few moments to fill in the items called for. The clerk should obtain from the church treasurer and Sabbath-school secretary the items of information called for on the blank pertaining to their departments of the

church work, and when all is filled in, he should forward the report immediately to the State office. Promptness of the clerk at this point is a virtue greatly to be commended.

3. CORRESPONDING WITH ABSENT MEMBERS.—Here is a service that the live, spiritual clerk can do that will bring much strength to the church. Often members live at a distance, and can meet with the church but seldom, if at all. Such should be made to feel that they are not forgotten. Good, friendly letters from the church clerk, breathing the love of Christ, will be a source of much encouragement to these members who are thus deprived of the association and help of their brethren and sisters. They have their struggles with the enemy, and often feel their isolation keenly. Let the church keep in touch with them. Where the list of isolated ones is quite large, the clerk can invite other members to assist him in writing to them. The answers received from these absent ones will often help greatly in making the quarterly meeting one of interest. These letters should be read by the clerk as the names of the absent members are reached when the roll is called on the Sabbath of the quarterly meeting. If the names are not called by the clerk (which is certainly a good old custom of the church) on the Sabbath of the quarterly meeting, then he should be given opportunity at this time to read the letters received from the absent ones, so that the church may understand their spiritual condition. As the church clerk will be to some expense if he faithfully corresponds with absent ones, it would be a very courteous act for the church to at least offer to cover the expense of postage.

In brief, this covers the duties devolving upon the church clerk. His work is important, and honor is due those who faithfully, as unto the Lord, perform the duties pertaining to this office.

T. E. BOWEN.