2026 VCCEM Leadership Team Nomination Process

Our church’s faithful work to worship, grow and serve Jesus together is greatly encouraged by our Leadership Team​ (LT). During the next few weeks, we invite all members of VCC EM to participate in the work of prayer, discernment, and calling our next Leadership Team.

Jesus continues his ministry in and through the church. ALL Christians are called to participate in Christ’s ministry as each member of His church has gifts to use for the glory of God. Some are called to particular tasks of leadership to equip the church in its discipleship and work of ministry. For us, these people serve as our Leadership Team. 

VCC EM’s LT consists of leadership team members (LTM), elders and ministers. 

In our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, leadership and oversight of a congregation is located in the session (among elders). We have taken an approach to broaden our leadership to invite more people into the work of leading the church. Most decisions about the life and work of our congregation are made together by LTM and elders. 

LTM are asked to oversee the operation of ministries and the building up of ministry team members. However, rather than serving in an isolated ministry silo, LTM participate in the whole church as they engage in conversations and decisions that affect every part of the church together with the entire LT. 

Through the office of (ruling) elder, men and women are ordained: appointed to share with the minster(s) in the leadership, pastoral care and oversight of the congregation. In our church, eldership is a lifelong call, however, elders are not always active in their serving. Elders serve a 6 year term. Elders take on additional responsibilities in addition to overseeing ministries, such as: 

  1. participating in Session and other courts of our denomination; 

  2. take the lead in our relationship with the Korean Ministry of VCC; 

  3. are responsible for the membership, stewardship, mission, and pastoral care of the congregation.

Who Is Eligible To Serve On Lt? 

  • Communicant member (baptised, and regularly worshipping) for at least 2 years
    (LT Members);

  • Actively serving VCC in some capacity (eg. OOTC, teaching, welcoming).

Qualities Of Leadership

“Election to the eldership is the call of God, through the congregation, for service in Christ’s Church....” - Book of Forms, Section 132


The whole congregation is deeply involved in God’s process of calling men and women to leadership. We ask that all members discern those whom God may be calling to serve as LTM and prayerfully consider those who demonstrate through character and action the following qualities:

  • Desire to see the church grow in its faith and love for God;

  • Faithful to God and others by keeping their commitments;

  • Personal care and concern for others, inside and outside the church;

  • Available and accessible;

  • Cooperative and humble spirit;

  • Willingness to learn about serving and leading others;

  • Select guiding principles from the PCC Book of Forms regarding eldership applied to the LTM:

    • 106.1 An elder must be a professing member of the congregation and must be “an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” (I Timothy 4:12).

    • 132. Election to the eldership is the call of God, through the congregation, for service in Christ’s Church. Since the eldership is a spiritual office concerned with the rule and pastoral oversight of the congregation, only suitable men and women should be considered. They should be committed Christians, in regular attendance at public worship, persons of sound judgment and upright character, and either knowledgeable or prepared to learn of the government of the church.


External discernment: others may speak into your life by seeing and experiencing your gifts as a member in our church and, through nomination, recognize them as gifts for leading and serving the congregation.

Internal discernment: one’s own personal sense of how God is calling us to serve him and others. More than just confidence in one’s own skill, internal discernment towards serving God in leadership can include a sense of care for people, passion or desire to see others grow and flourish, a sense of deep personal purpose or closeness with God when participating in the life of the church.

We believe that God uses both in tandem to call people to his purposes. 

Leadership Team Member (LTM) Nomination & Election (2026)

The LTM work together and serve the congregation by their faithful presence, care for church members, participation and example in the life of the church. 

Together with the pastors and elders, the LTM serve through planning and implementing ministries, discussing strategies and systems of the church to help the congregation faithfully worship and grow as a people of God. They also are mindful of who needs care and support in our church. The team works in such a way that decisions and responsibilities for the leadership and care of the congregation and its ministry workings are jointly shared by the whole LT. 

We are seeking to nominate 8 LTM (non-elders) to serve during this term.

TERM: 2 years (February 2026 - December 2028)

LT Nomination Timeline (2026)

Nomination Committee

  • The nomination committee (NC) will consist of EM elders & ministers, as they are ineligible for LT nomination due to their ongoing role as elders (NC: Pastors Joe and John, and elders Jessica, Charles, Hamin and Andrew);

  • The role of the NC is to tabulate the nominations, journey with nominees as they discern, be available to congregation to answer any questions around the LT nominations;

  • In most cases, discernment of elders and LTM will be made clear through congregation’s nomination but the NC will exercise discernment (e.g. knowledge of nominee’s personal circumstances) together with nominations;

  • For those members who wish to have his/her name removed from the nomination lists, please contact one of the NC members by January 23;

  • If a name has been missed that should be added, please notify a member of the NC committee by January 23.

Transition

There will be a period of transition and overlap for the new and outgoing LT during February.

Mid-term Appointments

In the case of an LT member unable to serve through to the end of the term, the LT may seek to replace that member by means of mid-term appointment.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I see the results of the nomination votes?
A. There is no edifying reason to disclose the results. 

Q. Are the current LT members eligible for nomination?
A. Yes, any communicant member is eligible for nomination. 

Q. I only know a few people / don’t know much about the people on the   nomination ballot sheet, should I still participate?
A. If after reading the above criteria, discerning and praying, you feel that you can   recommend even one person, then you should do so.

Take that time to find out who people are if you’ve noticed their heart for God and our church. Part of your work may be to ask a current LTM, elder, pastor or a friend in the congregation: “Who is that person who is / does ______?” 

 If, however, you sense that not participating would be wise, then perhaps that is  the best course of action. **Please be sure to speak about this with a member of our LT.