On Sept. 5, 1986, Sanjay was onboard Pan Am Flight 73. It was hijacked by the PLO in Karachi, Pakistan. Sanjay survived, but was seriously injured, including subsequently undergoing the amputation of a leg. His cousin was the first person killed by the hijackers. 22 people died. Listen to his account of how God worked all things for good and brought new life out of the horror of a terrorist attack.

As an elder he now asks people in their suffering to think—what glory will God have from this? (Sanjay is a ruling elder in Theophilus Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a multi-generational and multi-ethnic church, in Anaheim CA.)  https://www.theophilusopc.org

Sanjay’s three recommended books;
Prayer by O. Hallesby, (Augsburg Books, Updated Edition,1994)
Making Sense of God: Finding God in the Modern World by Timothy Keller (Penguin Books, 2018)
J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life by Paul Miller (Crossway, 2019)

Gregory Reynolds interviews David VanDrunen about his latest book, Natural Law: A Short Companion, (B&H Academic, 2023, 160 pages).

For more on Natural Law in Ordained Servant see the following;
David VanDrunen, “Natural Law in Reformed Theology: Historical Reflections and Biblical Suggestions.” OS 21 (2012): 32-38. Available here.

Nelson D. Kloosterman, “A Biblical Case for Natural Law: A Response Essay.” OS 16 (2007): 101-7. Available here.

David VanDrunen, “VanDrunen in the Hands of an Anxious Kloosterman: A Response to a Review.” OS 16 (2007): 107-13. Available here.

Gregory Edward Reynolds “Education, Natural Law, and the Two Kingdoms” OS 21 (2012): 14-17. Available here.

Stephen Tracey talks with Joshua Klein about work and  flourishing, being faithful and loving in response to God.

Joshua A. Klein is a ruling elder in Pilgrim OPC, Bangor ME. He is editor-in-chief of Mortise & Tenon Magazine. He has presented about historic craftsmanship at museums around the United States and has written articles for Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking, and American Period Furniture. Joshua is author of four books, including Joined: A Bench Guide to Furniture Joinery (Mortise & Tenon, 2020), and Worked: A Bench Guide to Hand-Tool Efficiency (Mortise & Tenon, 2022). He also serves as Associate Fellow in Mechanical Arts at Greystone Theological Institute. Joshua, his wife, and their three sons are currently restoring an 1821 cape on the coast of Maine.

Further Reading
On Work
Leland Ryken, Work and Leisure in Christian Perspective
Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work
Daniel Doriani, Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation

On Typology
G. K. Beale, Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method
Alistair Roberts & Andrew Wilson, Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption through Scripture
(Stephen Tracey also recommends Patrick Fairbairn, The Typology of Scripture )

On Flow in Thought and Work
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

And maybe take up a craft...

Greg Reynolds talks to Stephen Tracey about how ruling elders respond to conflict in the church,  whether it is among members, among the session, or with the pastor.

More Resources
“A Training Program for Elders.” (Greg Reynolds & William Shishko) 10:3 (Jul. 2001): 55-58. Available here. 

The updated version of this training program titled Let Them Serve is available from Greg upon request. [email protected]

Books on Conflict resolution in the church recommended by Greg:
Marshall Shelley, Ministering to Problem People in Your Church: What to Do With Well-Intentioned Dragons. Bethany House Publishers. 1985, 2013.
Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Baker Books, 3rd edition, 2004.
Jay Adams, Handbook of Church Discipline: A Right and Privilege of Every Church Member, Zondervan, 1896.

Greg’s three (he gave 5) books he believes elders must read:
Samuel Miller, The Ruling Elder: The Warrant, Nature, and Duties of the Office in the Presbyterian Church.
David Dickson, The Elder and his Work.
Lawrence R. Eyres, The Elders of the Church.
Gerard Berghoef and Lester De Koster, The Elders Handbook - A Practical Guide for Church Leaders.
The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.

Stephen Tracey talks to Thomas Crumplar about the issue of domestic abuse. Tom is a ruling elder at Emmanuel OPC in Wilmington, Delaware, and co-founder of the law firm Jacobs and Crumplar, P. A.

The New Horizons edition for February 1997 featured several articles on Domestic violence. It is available here.  Also the edition for January 2021, available here.

Suggested further reading:
Jeremy Pierre & Greg Wilson, When Home Hurts: A Guide for Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse in Your Church, Christian Focus (2021).

Darby A. Strickland, Is It Abuse?: A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims, P&R Publishing (2020)

Brad Hambrick, Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused, B&H Books (2019).

Stephen Tracey interviews his good friends Doug and Liz Babbitt on how elders can welcome, include, and connect with people affected by autism.

We must remember that  "the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (1 Corinthians 12:22 ESV)

Further reading on Autism and the Church

Grant Macaskill, Autism and the Church: Bible, Theology, and Community (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2019)
See Harrison Perkins’ online review of Macaskill’s book here
 
 Joni and Friends Resources
 Welcoming People With Autism: Four Practical Strategies

Learn the Truth About People with Autism and Welcome Them Into the Church  




We apologize that due to technical difficulties, the publishing of this episode was belated.  Thank you for your patience.

Rev. Gregory Reynolds speaks with ruling elder Jim Gidley about his becoming a ruling elder and how he has supported the work of both the local church and the OPC.

As an elder “you are shepherding people to follow their Savior in the day to day rough and tumble of life. You’re not shepherding them to be theological experts at detecting the heresies around them. You’re shepherding people to bear the cross, to keep the commandments and basically to be Christians”

Pray more. “The time you spend speaking to God for your people is more valuable than the time you spend talking to your people for God.”

Mr. Gidley has written many helpful articles for Ordained Servant.

“Biblical Theology and the Session – Part 1: Redemptive History and the Church’s Confession of Faith” 9:2 (Apr. 2000): 35-38.
“Biblical Theology and the Session – Part 2: Redemptive History and the Church Discipline” 9:3 (Jul. 2000): 50-54.
“Biblical Theology and the Session – Part 3: Redemptive History and the Character of the People” 9:4 (Oct. 2000): 72-76.
“Covenant Blessings for Singles.” 19 (2010): 58-61.
“The Education of a Monster” 21 (2012): 86-90.
“The Future of Calvinism” 2:2 (Apr. 1993): 42-47. [reprinted 15 (2006): 79-86]
“A New Stage on the Pilgrimage of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church” 8:3 (Jul. 1999): 63-66.
“Of Creation Days and the Keys of the Kingdom” 9:1 (Jan. 2000): 21-23.
“The Soul of Frankenstein” 16 (2007): 62-65.
“The Theology of Frankenstein: Deism vs. Biblical Theism” 27 (2018): 19-24.
“The Two Cultures: A Lifetime Later” 23 (2014): 103-9.
“Why a Candidates and Credentials Conference?” 21 (2012): 45-52.

The ruling elder podcast talks with Chad Van Dixhoorn about the importance of the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms to the work of the ruling elder.
Says Chad, "It is a wonderful gift to be in a presbyterian church that does not try to work around the Standards but deploys them for all their various purposes."

Further Reading
Chad Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Fatih: A Reader’s Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (The Banner of Truth Trust)

ESV Bible with Creeds and Confessions (Crossway)

Books mentioned by Chad

On the Shorter Catechism

• Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (The Banner of Truth Trust)
• Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments (The Banner Truth Trust)
• Thomas Watson, The Lord’s Prayer (The Banner of Truth Trust)

On the Larger Catechism

• J.G. Vos, The Westminster Larger Catechism, a Commentary (Presbyterian & Reformed)
• Thomas Ridgley, A Body of Divinity (out of print)

On the Westminster Confession

• Francis R. Beattie, The Presbyterian Standards (out of print)
• A.A. Hodge, The Westminster Confession, A Commentary (The Banner of Truth Trust) 
• Robert Shaw, An Exposition of the Confession of Faith, now titled The Reformed Faith: An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Christian Heritage, Christian Focus Publications)
• R C Sproul, Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession Of Faith (Revised Edition, Ligonier Ministries)

David Nakhla and Jeffrey Roach talk to Stephen Tracey about how ruling elders can help and encourage deacons. [David is Administrator for the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries, and a ruling elder in Calvary  OPC, Glenside, PA. Jeffrey is a deacon in Resurrection Presbyterian Church (OPC), Matthews, NC.]

Topics covered include good communication between elders and deacons, joint meetings, discretion, visitation, and the dangers of being overworked.

The article "A Holy Kind of Chaos" by Rev. T. Nathan Trice is available here

Please also visit the following websites,
The OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries

The Reformed Deacon podcast

This edition of the ruling elder podcast will also be published in an upcoming edition of the reformed deacon podcast.

Further Reading
Cornelis Van Dam: “The Deacon: Biblical Foundations for Today’s Ministry of Mercy” (Reformation Heritage Books)

There are several articles in the archives of Ordained Servant that also may be helpful.

“Balancing Sensitivity and Stewardship in Diaconal Assistance.” 7:3 (Jul. 1998): 67.
“The Biblical Foundation of the Diaconate.” (George W. Knight III) 5:3 (Jul. 1996): 66-68.
“Biblical Qualifications for Deacons, Part 1.” (Archibald Alexander Allison) 6:1 (Jan. 1997): 4-9.
“Biblical Qualifications for Deacons, Part 2.” (Archibald Alexander Allison) 6:2 (Apr. 1997): 31-36.
“Biblical Qualifications for Deacons, Part 3.” (Archibald Alexander Allison) 6:3 (Jul. 1997): 49-54.
“The Deacons.” (John Calvin) 1:1 (Jan. 1992): 21.
“Deacons and/or Trustees?” (Roger Schmurr) 4:1 (Jan. 1995): 20-22.
“Are Deacons Members of the Session?” (R. Dean Anderson, Jr.) 2:4 (Oct. 1993): 75-78.
“If You Are a Deacon.” (Nathan Trice) 23 (2014): 72-77
“The Ministry of Mercy for Today [part 1].” (Peter Y. de Jong) 3: 3 (Jul. 1994): 53-58.
“Organic Officer Training.” (William Shishko) 22 (2013): 69-71.
“The Pastoral Wisdom of John Calvin.” (John Calvin) 3:3 (Jul. 1994): 64-70.
“Pointers for Elders and Deacons, Part 1.” 2:3 (Jul. 1993): 59-64.
“Pointers for Elders and Deacons, Part 2.” 2:4 (Oct. 1993): 79-85.
“Pointers for Elders and Deacons, Part 3.” 3:1 (Jan. 1994): 3-8.
“A Proposed Job Description for a Deacon.” (A. G. Edwards III) 4:1 (Jan. 1995): 3-5.
“Reforming the Diaconate, Part 1.” (William Shishko) 1:2 (Apr. 1992): 43-45.
“Reforming the Diaconate, Part 2.” (William Shishko) 1:3 (Sep. 1992): 63-66.
“Reforming the Diaconate, Part 3.” (William Shishko) 2:1 (Jan. 1993): 16-18.
“Some Old Testament Roots and Their Continuing Significance.” (C. Van Dam) 1:1 (Jan. 1992): 14-21.
“The Spiritual Nature of the Office of Deacon.” (Carl Carlson) 26 (2017): 63-67.
“A Training Program for Deacons.” (William Shishko) 6:3 (Jul. 2000): 62-70.

Stephen Tracey talks to Thomas Crumplar about the issue of child sexual abuse. Tom is a ruling elder at Emmanuel OPC in Wilmington, Delaware, and co-founder of the law firm Jacobs and Crumplar, P. A.

Resources:
Christopher W. Shishko, “Volunteers and Your Church: Avoiding Legal Pitfalls” Ordained Servant, 23 (2014): 66-68.

Jonathan W. Shishko, “Improving Upon the Status Quo: Child Safety” Ordained Servant, 23 (2014): 69-71.

Please visit the Ordained Servant Archive for the October 2002 issue.

“Elders and Sexual Abuse – A Pastor’s Dilemma.” Ordained Servant, 11:4 (Oct. 2002): 73-77.

G. I. Williamson, “A Response to the Previous Article.” Ordained Servant, 11:4 (Oct. 2002): 78-79.