A Church Elders’ Convention by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1907

A Church Elders’ Convention

By Arthur G. Daniells

A FEW weeks ago I saw an announcement of a church elders’ convention to be held in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. A church elders’ convention! I had attended educational conventions for teachers, medical conventions for doctors and nurses, Sabbath-school conventions for Sabbath-school workers, etc., but had never been to a convention for church elders. The suggestion was a happy one to me, and I sought and obtained from Elder Fitzgerald, president of the conference, an invitation to attend the convention.

We met at the Northumberland church, February 28, and remained together three days. The elders of all the churches in the conference except five were present. We had a good time together studying the problems with which church elders have to deal. Although we were in meeting nearly all the time, we found that the time was altogether too limited for the large, interesting, and exceedingly profitable work before us. This made it necessary to give some of the subjects only a brief and hasty study. The ground covered was about as follows: Gospel Order and Organization, including the church and the conference and all their departments; Duties of Church Officers, including clerks and treasurers; Duties of Members to the Church and Its Officers; How to Conduct Church Ordinances; How to Co-operate with the Conference in the General Work; How to Help the Young People of the Church.

The most of these questions were of profound interest to these church elders. They had never before had the privilege of meeting together for the sole purpose of studying them and exchanging the experiences they had had in dealing with them. All things considered, I do not know that I have attended a more important and helpful convention. And as I saw how eager these men were to get the information they needed to discharge properly their sacred responsibilities, and how clear-headed and practical they were in their reasoning, I became fully convinced that church elders’ conventions ought to be held in all our conferences. It must be confessed that we have neglected our church officers. We have held conventions for the benefit of ministers, Bible workers, canvassers, teachers, Sabbath-school workers, etc., but what have we done for our church elders, deacons, clerks, and treasurers? These persons are bearing the most sacred and important responsibilities in our cause to-day. Their work is constant, and often very perplexing. Many times they are obliged to deal with the most delicate and far-reaching problems. They certainly need the best work preparation for their work that can be given them.

I appeal to all our conferences in behalf of our church officers. Will it not be possible to arrange for a series of helpful church officers’ meetings in connection with the camp-meetings the coming summer? And where this is not done, should not conventions for these officers be held early next winter? Brethren, think of this. Remember that the strength and efficiency of your church officers will mark the real strength of your conference.

The church elders’ convention of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference was a good and profitable meeting, which I would like to see repeated in all our conferences. A. G. DANIELLS.