Christ Our Chief Elder
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
Today the Moravian Church celebrates Christ as Chief Elder of our church. This was a decision that was made over 270 years ago. Prior to this, the Bishops of the unity would elect one from among themselves as the Chief Elder. This individual had the responsibility of spiritual oversight for the Unity. Leonard Dober occupied this position in 1740 but was so busy with mission activities that he felt he was not doing justice to the position. As a result he announced his resignation from the position. The Senate [council of Bishops] met in September 1741 and tried in vain to elect a replacement for Dober. Somehow none of the Bishops were elected after many sessions of voting. It was then that the suggestion was made by one of the Bishops to add Jesus Christ to the list of Bishops being voted for. The consensus of the Bishops seemed to be that none of them was worthy to hold such a position which rightly seemed to belong to Christ.
Today the Moravian Church celebrates Christ as Chief Elder of our church. This was a decision that was made over 270 years ago. Prior to this, the Bishops of the unity would elect one from among themselves as the Chief Elder. This individual had the responsibility of spiritual oversight for the Unity. Leonard Dober occupied this position in 1740 but was so busy with mission activities that he felt he was not doing justice to the position. As a result he announced his resignation from the position. The Senate [council of Bishops] met in September 1741 and tried in vain to elect a replacement for Dober. Somehow none of the Bishops were elected after many sessions of voting. It was then that the suggestion was made by one of the Bishops to add Jesus Christ to the list of Bishops being voted for. The consensus of the Bishops seemed to be that none of them was worthy to hold such a position which rightly seemed to belong to Christ.
The next voting there was a unanimous decision in favor of Jesus Christ. This was on the 16th September 1741. The council gave a time of two months for the word to travel around the unity [no phones] and set the date of November 13th, 1741 as the day that the Unity would celebrate Christ as Chief Elder. We continue to celebrate this event on November 13.
As Moravians we do not look to any single individual for leadership within our church. Whether in the congregation or at the highest levels, leadership is entrusted to groups of individuals. This group seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the larger body which also seeks its guidance in the same way. There is usually satisfaction therefore that Christ, our head and Master leads us as He wills. There has never been need for any central figure in our church apart from Jesus Christ. He truly is our Chief Elder. TodayÂ’s watchword therefore speaks to us of the reason why Christ still remains our Chief Elder and will never be replaced by any mortal. If we look up to heaven, we find God's counsels there high and transcendent, his thoughts and ways infinitely above ours. Therein is our standard of thinking and of doing. We do not seek to model our actions and words off what man does and says, but on the actions and words of Christ our Chief Elder.
As we celebrate Christ today, let us remember that our allegiance is not to any earthly individual but to Jesus Christ, GodÂ’s sacrificial Lamb, our Chief Elder.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
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