Question: Being of Service

[wil g]

I have a question i need input on. The names have been changed to protect the innocent...lol The local area or region is putting together a new committe for a yearly event. As usual on the first meeting nominations and elections for different positions are made. For one of the positions an individual with multiple years of clean time and experiance is voted in. During the qualification process he/she is never asked about being an active member in the fellowship or whether or not they have a sponsor and if they use them. After the elections it is discovered that the individual isn't an active member of the fellowship(in other words doesn't attend meetings or any other functions except local conventions and doesn't have a sponsor). Question: Should trusted servants on committees be required to be active members of the fellowship and be sponsored? 4th concept tells us that our leaders (trusted servants) lead by example. Without shunning the individual from service how can this topic be approached? And how if at all should the committee be approached for allowing this to happen (some members on the committee were aware of individual's qualifications or lack there of). Is this even something to be concerned about? One more thing to consider; what if there were 2 candidates for the position and the other one was an active member with just as many other qualifiers.

[Brian C]

Tough one.

I need a sponsor!

God has a way of handling these things. I think in order to give more of my opinion I would need a lot more info, but that would not be appropriate. That being said, I think if I was in your position I would first think about the initial committee meeting. Do you believe there was a God conscience present. If so, maybe it was his design to get this person involved again, to get them back to basics; sponsor/meetings. I think all we can do is pray for the understanding of God's will for them & ourselves.

[wil g]

i would love nothing more than for the person in question to come back. what a great asset they would be. i'm more concerned about a committtee that would place personalities before principles. this person was put in a position of leadership because of past reputation not present example. this descision that was made also speaks to the credibilty of this committee to make sound, group conscience, H.P. led choices. a service body is responsible for putting qualified leaders in place and not setting them up to fail.
but after talking to my sponsor and praying, i will go and speak to the person involved and share my concern for them and then go speak to the chair of the service body and leave the results up to H.P. i know in my heart that everyone's motives were good and that sometimes i get to overprotective for the fellowship that gave me my life. so i tend to get upset when i feel that traditions are being negotiated.