New Elders for King’s Church Manchester
Sunday 23rd November was a very important day in the life of King’s Church. Richard Anniss preached from 1 Corinthian 11:3 on the nature of God’s headship; he focussed especially on the relationship between the Father and the Son. He explained how outside of the Kingdom of God it was impossible for people to fully understand an order within complete equality. Such a notion does not compute in unregenerate minds that have come to see authority as potentially abusive because of bad experiences of authority.
God however, is totally good. His authority is therefore totally good and something we welcome. Looking at the Godhead is the way we can understand the right use of authority. Jesus is absolutely God, yet he submits Himself to the Father who is the source of all authority. The Father loves to give away His authority to the Son. Jesus builds His Church by giving away His authority to her. True authority is never grasped, only received by those who give it away.
Last Sunday there was a real dawning in the minds and hearts of people that a major part of receiving the authority of Christ is to imitate Jesus and submit to authority in the Church. Submitting to living flesh and blood apostles and elders who have themselves submitted to one another and to Christ is not therefore a burden, but a joy; doing this is the way to receive authority and be the people God intends us to be: a people acting in authority and preaching Good News of salvation, healing, justice and freedom to the oppressed, weary and heavy laden of Manchester.
Kofo Bolarin and Peter Paine were prayed for and set in as new elders to the church. There was a warm and hearty welcome from the church for them and their wives, Yetundie and Hazel. Their fuller profiles will soon be added to the leadership page of this site.
