Questions are good and normal and needed. In any meaningful relationship, we ask questions to get clarity for any number of reasons: so that we don’t make assumptions, so that we can be helpful in our life and work together, and so that we may reason together when that’s needed.

Our relationship—elders and congregation—is not so different in that respect. We love one another and mean to work well together for our shared mission. So, let’s engage in a little Q&A, hosted this year on Sunday, November 12, at 4:30 p.m.

What’s the Purpose of This Q&A?

Here’s an important clarification we make each year: this event is not in response to a crisis. This event is not for the airing of opinions. Don’t worry if you’re new around here and scared of an event like this. This is not one of our more embarrassing evenings in a year, but one of our most encouraging evenings.

God’s charge to elders is to be prepared to apply and proclaim the Holy Word in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2). It reminds them of their charge to cherish Christ so much that they can answer with Christ at any time (1 Pet. 3:15). It also gives individual elders an opportunity to minister to everyone all at once (1 Pet. 5:2).

In bullet points here is why we host this evening each year:

• To promote a culture of openness and vulnerability.
• To model healthy question asking and answering.
• To enhance our elders’ unity and insight into the ministry.
• To clarify any ambiguities or gaps in our leadership for our members.
• To instruct in biblical eldership and increase the visibility for our team.
• To update the congregation on any timely projects or studies we’ve been working on.

We’ll plan for an hour and fifteen minutes.

Get Us Your Questions by September 30

If you have a question—think doctrine, church life, plans for our shared mission, etc.—you can get it to us in a variety of ways. Include your name with your questions so we can follow up if that’s needed.

• Text. Text your question to 864.735.7465.
• Email. Email your question to elders@heritagegvl.com
• Write. Grab a Connection Card on Sunday, scratch out your question, and drop that in an offering box.
• Form. Submit a question here.
• Tell. Communicate your question for the Q&A to an elder in person or through email. They’ll ask you to write it down so that we don’t lose your intent in translation, but you’re welcome to start with a conversation.

We’ll also have some time available in the evening to answer questions from you in a more impromptu.

As a help in this process, aim to submit your questions by the close of September, September 30. This lead time helps us notice recurring themes, know how to devote time to particular questions, discuss any topics as a team if needed, and order our time in a way that best serves the congregation. We’ll certainly consider any questions that come in after that date.

As a reminder, we won’t be able to answer every question that gets asked. However, if you put your name on a question and we did not answer it at the Q&A, we will reach out to answer that question for you in person or by email. In some cases, we may devote a blog-post to the topic.

Before the Q&A, get acquainted with Heritage’s elders at the About Page. Also, here’s the recap from 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 for those that couldn’t join us in previous years.